The Gate

Several months ago I went through a one-on-one process and felt that I had seen no-self, but i find I am still seeking. Or rather there's this continuing seeking. I keep coming back to no-self.
I understand that I is a thought and I've seen how automatic this body's actions are, but I feel I'm still wearing Patanjali goggles.

Could somebody help me see through this?

Several months ago I went through a one-on-one process and felt that I had seen no-self, but i find I am still seeking. Or rather there's this continuing seeking. I keep coming back to no-self.
I understand that I is a thought and I've seen how automatic this body's actions are, but I feel I'm still wearing Patanjali goggles.

Could somebody help me see through this?

Hello Patanjali,

My name is ToBe and I felt that I had to answer your post.

For many people who see this, it seems that there is a kind of to~ing and fro~ing going on instead of what they thought this awakening would have been.

But it's perfectly natural to simply be the ebb and flow of life.

Maybe it can be seen that the non separate 'seeing of self', as you described, was a confirmation that you, the seeking, the goggles, the feelings, the bodies actions, are nothing other than appearing to be different experiences of and as the one.

The possibility of seeing this simplicity may help you to understand that nothing is anywhere else, and the seeking is already oneness at play.

There are many very skilled guides around who may help you to rest in this beautiful contradiction we can call life.

Fullness cannot leave anything out!

All the best. :O)

:) Thank you for posting.

Dear Patanjali,

how is it to wear "Patanjali goggles" :) ? Can you give a few examples?

And how should it be? Which of your expectations aren't fulfilled?

:) Thank you for posting.

You are very welcome, it is an honour to share this with you.

I keep coming back to no-self.

Yes, exactly, when we represent life by using words, we seem to chop experience into lots of smaller and apparently unrelated symbols and sounds called words.

But in all simplicity, the 'I' which appears to 'come back' as you put it, and then apparently leaves again, is one.

No one left, no one returns.

Namaste :O)

ToBe, I have asked you not to post in other threads.
Thank you for keeping to the forum rules.

Dear Patanjali,

how is it to wear "Patanjali goggles" :) ? Can you give a few examples?

And how should it be? Which of your expectations aren't fulfilled?

Patanjali goggles: I guess my insecurities, doubts, fears etc, all the stuff that has resulted in suffering for me is still there. I don't think I expected this stuff to just not be there, but I felt my relationship to it would change, and I don't think it has.

I don't know, I realize this is all ego. I still feel as though I'm trying to break out of that mindset of being 'Patanjali'. Still seeking ways to alleviate negative feelings, or to ensure that all my interactions with people will be without any clinging tendency.

I understand that this is life, but I don't see that, which is what I expected. I expected to see through my story and realize some kind of Zen detachment from thought.

I've recently read the Bahiya Sutta, which states; 'In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized.'

I can see this in my daily experience, but there is still the impression of a receiver.

I guess my insecurities, doubts, fears etc, all the stuff that has resulted in suffering for me is still there. I don't think I expected this stuff to just not be there, but I felt my relationship to it would change, and I don't think it has.

Let's go back to the roots:
What is that "you" that has insecurities and doubts?

Still seeking ways to alleviate negative feelings, or to ensure that all my interactions with people will be without any clinging tendency.

Can you give an example?
Have you tried to look at the "negative" feelings with curiosity? And how they get used to build an identity, again and again and again? TBH, i don't know if it ever stops. But I do know that if the mechanism is SEEN, it is possible to ALLOW the negative feelings as just a passing state, like clouds passing through.

The Self is the thought pattern that tries to cling to the "positive" feelings.

I expected to see through my story and realize some kind of Zen detachment from thought.

Yes, agree. A magic wand would be nice.
About the Bahiya Sutta:
It says
In the seen, there is only the seen,...

NOT, as you write "There will be only the seen".

It is already like that. The "impression of a receiver" is a hallucination. Fata Morgana.
what is there, when you look? Is there a seer? Are you doing seeing?
Or is there only the seen, effortlessly?

Detachment from thought is impossible as there is nothing to detach from thoughts!

There are either delusional thoughts of self arising or there aren't. In experience there there are, and when those thoughts stop arising there will be no sense of self.

How do they stop arising? Thoughts being aware of thoughts and correcting them. What zen calls, mind beating out the mind. It's a one or two year process. It's not instant.

Is this essay helpful?

reallifeenlightenment.com/enlightenment-basic/is-no-self-an-absolute-fact/

Patanjali, Simply observing labeling is not the fight of forcibly removing labels.
Instead of "wanting" and trying to force the thoughts a feelings to cease to exist... take no sides, make no war against mind or feelings. Just neutrally allow and observe, without being one side of the coin trying to overcome the other side of the coin. That is the approach that works for me after crossing the gate.

To quote a friend:

"Simply observing the labeling process causes it to fade away like the Cheshire Cat -- leaving only a whimsical smile: )" – Cailin