soul meeting

[kasia]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
it's highly possible that there is no real, inherent 'self', honestly I've been having a kind of intuitive feeling for a few years, supported from some books I read and some meditation experiences on my own ... after watching a few interviews it was absolutely obvious to me that I'll "take the risk" and check the possibility/opportunity

What are you looking for at LU?
I got the link to your website from a friend and it was like a revelation, I felt very moved that there are people who questioned everything and the result of seeing through keeps going, that the insight was actually a shift! I've been always welcomed everything on my path with trust that is coming on the right time so I just decided to give it a try - if there is a way to experience "no real self" constantly and not only for a while, I felt, I'm ready to follow the way

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
actually I don't have any specific expectations ... I'm just curious how it works, what will happen ... I'm open
the words I heard in the videos resonated so strong with me that I felt great joy and said wow! many times and I'm truly exited to start further investigating and exploring the process of looking with you

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I've been a seeker for about 5 years when I started to meditate regularly, in the first 2 years everyday or so, than not so intense, once/twice a week; I participated on a few meditations retreats (also solo), read some books, completed 2-years psychotherapy (twice about a year long), participated three times on a plant medicine ceremony, practiced theta healing

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self?
11

[Vivien]

Hi,

Welcome to Liberation Unleashed. My name is Vivien and I can assist you with your inquiry.

This is going to be your inquiry. I will not be giving you new ideas and beliefs; only assisting you in examining and questioning the ones that you already have. We can have a conversation and see where it takes you.

The purpose of which would be for there to be a realisation, more than just intellectually, that there never was and never will be a separate self, as, such. All our efforts will focus on that.

I will tend to ask many questions. That's my job here. These, will be pointers towards investigating that what it is that you mistake for a self. It will be for you to examine your experience to find out what's true or not.

I would like to ask you to write only from your experience as you see it, what feels true, with whole honesty.
Also, post daily, or at least every other day. If you cannot post, or need more time, please let me know.
Can we agree on these?

When you say, you want to be guided to realise that there is no self, what do you expect that this realisation should look like?
What benefits do you expect from seeing no self?
What would stay the same?
What you do not want to happen?

Please look at these and reply with some detail and full honestly.

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

thank you very much for your response! I was surprised that I can start so fast and I'm truly happy with!

of course, I will write only from my experience and with whole honesty
and post daily, or at least very other day

I actually don't have any specific expectations how the realisation should look like ... I try not to imagine how things or experiences should look like, try to stay open to them. I trust the process and I'm sure, the realisation will look like it has to for me in the best way possible on my "state/ level" of consciousness/ awareness
I had some no-self insights but they were not constant, not permanent in the meaning of "one-way ticket" so it would be great if the shift could be done by me and be a start point of another kind of developing but supposing as all other experiences this one is also "individual", honestly, I'm curious how it will look like in my case ...
benefits from seeing no self: deeper connection with all beings (in particular human), more possibilities to contact "soul to soul" understood as conversation/ contact above (further through) the stories and roles = seeing the bigger picture
what would stay the same? I don't know, probably many things or even all actually but they will be different on the same time, my perception of them will be different ... it's also possible that nothing will be the same, that's there is a big lost related to and I will be a completely different person as I'm now ... will see ...
what I do not want to happen? it's actually impossible that I will change in a way that my daughters will say one day: I wish you come back and be my mom as you used in the past ...
I see the possibility of investigating my beliefs as an opportunity to love more real

thank you
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

I would like to ask you to learn to use the quotation function, so our conversation will be easier to read later for both of us.
So here is the link to a video how to quote:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660

I had some no-self insights but they were not constant, not permanent in the meaning of "one-way ticket" so it would be great if the shift could be done by me and be a start point of another kind of developing but supposing as all other experiences this one is also "individual", honestly, I'm curious how it will look like in my case ...

Yes, it is different for everyone. If you have an expectation, you look for validation of your expectation, and might miss the real deal :)

benefits from seeing no self: deeper connection with all beings (in particular human), more possibilities to contact "soul to soul" understood as conversation/ contact above

If this the assumed soul is the fictional self? This desire is based on the assumption that there is a person/soul/I/entity inside this body, and there are other souls/persons/I-s/entities in other bodies, and these me-s, could contact. But what if this is not the case? What if there is no inherent self/I in any body at all? What if the body is empty of a self? This is what we are going to investigate.

probably many things or even all actually but they will be different on the same time, my perception of them will be different ... it's also possible that nothing will be the same, that's there is a big lost related to and I will be a completely different person as I'm now ... will see ...

Seeing that there is no separate self is a change in perception, but not a change it personality.

The personality stays almost completely intact when the self is seen through (at least at the beginning). All the conditionings from childhood, all the traumas, all the gathered emotional pains won’t dissolve in an instant just because the self is seen through. These most likely will stay, however, they are much more accessible and easier to work with after seeing through the illusion. This is just the first step, just the beginning, and not the end. But it is the beginning of the falling away of conditionings, which can last at the end of the organism.

what I do not want to happen? it's actually impossible that I will change in a way that my daughters will say one day: I wish you come back and be my mom as you used in the past ...

The chance for this is close to zero :) All those patterns, conditionings, behaviours, won’t disappear overnight. This is not a sudden change in personality. It’s not about becoming a different person suddenly. It’s about seeing that there is no person at the core of those patterns.

This guiding is about deconstructing the idea of a ‘me’ in order to see what you are not, as what you are is not definable or findable. It is to notice what is actually here, what is actuality of experience as opposed to what thought says and describes as being here. You have to be willing to disregard everything you think you already know and be here with a curious, willing and open mind.

This exploration is a beginning and not an ending. Generations of misperceptions, learned knowledge, and a life time of accumulated beliefs and conditioning do not fall away overnight when realisation happens. What begins is the undoing of these misperceptions that keep us yo-yoing between clarity and confusion. How long this undoing takes is different for everyone. Expectations of overnight change when realisation happens can be problematic as the shift in perception can be quite subtle, and can be missed as there are expectations of what should happen, how it should look, feel and be.

Please ponder on my comments to see your expectations from a different perspective. Because what I can say for sure, it won’t be how you imagine it to be. Since it cannot be known in advance. It’s never how one imagines it to be.

So it would be the best, if you could drop all your expectations, and just start from scratch.

Please, put all the books and videos aside, we are going to be focusing on what you see and notice in your own immediate experience, rather than what you have learned. Can we agree on this?

Before starting, please read my above comments carefully a few more times and tell me what comes up by reading the comments about the expectations.
Is there any resistance to any of it?

Do you feel ready to start the investigation?

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,
thank you for your quick reply!

Please, put all the books and videos aside, we are going to be focusing on what you see and notice in your own immediate experience, rather than what you have learned. Can we agree on this?

yes, we can agree on this
for the time of the investigation I'm putting all the books and videos aside, I'll keep going with open mind and courage

Before starting, please read my above comments carefully a few more times and tell me what comes up by reading the comments about the expectations.
Is there any resistance to any of it?

there is a kind of fear coming up by reading the comments, in particular

If this the assumed soul is the fictional self? This desire is based on the assumption that there is a person/soul/I/entity inside this body, and there are other souls/persons/I-s/entities in other bodies, and these me-s, could contact. But what if this is not the case? What if there is no inherent self/I in any body at all? What if the body is empty of a self?

I guess, it has been my belief, my assumption that there is a soul inside us, that we are manifestation of life = creative energy, where soul is the core of it and I was hoping (!) it's fine to keep this one belief but now I'm seeing that I have to question, to forget ALL beliefs including this one! there are no exceptions! all means ALL! it's truly shocking! there is a sensation coming up in my body, in my heart now, showing that I'm a little bit nervous or just afraid because of this insight and the consequences of it ...
I'm feeling a kind of weakness in my legs but there is no resistance to the condition, I guess it's actually necessary but honestly there is a thought in the back of the head: "don't worry, you can pull it aside just for the process and than come back if you'll decide to do it"... oh gosh ... I know it's a background "security" and I know to notice that there is no comeback ... the voice inside the heard is speaking to me: "okay, let's do it, let's check it if it works, have fun but remember you are safe, I'm here to help you coming back if it will be dangerous" ...
you know, Vivian, it's like a big brother or father or mother speaking to a little child = me
yes, I'm afraid and this is a desperately looking for support and safe, I'm moved now and having tears in my eyes ...

Do you feel ready to start the investigation?

yes, I do
I'm afraid but I'm brave enough to start the investigation
the idea of "no self" is pretty tempting one and I'm having the unique opportunity of investigating and checking if it's true or not
it's seems to me to be like a jump into deep water, I'm both: afraid and excited at the same time, it's a mix of those feelings but I'm sure everything it's going to be okay
I'm ready

thank you
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

I guess, it has been my belief, my assumption that there is a soul inside us, that we are manifestation of life = creative energy, where soul is the core of it and I was hoping (!) it's fine to keep this one belief but now I'm seeing that I have to question, to forget ALL beliefs including this one! there are no exceptions! all means ALL! it's truly shocking! there is a sensation coming up in my body, in my heart now, showing that I'm a little bit nervous or just afraid because of this insight and the consequences of it ...

Thank you for your honestly. Every fear or resistance is important, since it can prevent you from looking.

So let’s look at what it is that you think are the implications or consequences of discovering that there are no separate selves in each body?

What is your story about?

Is that a problem? Can there be negative consequences of this discovery? Are you sure of those assumed negative consequences?

I'm feeling a kind of weakness in my legs but there is no resistance to the condition, I guess it's actually necessary but honestly there is a thought in the back of the head: "don't worry, you can pull it aside just for the process and than come back if you'll decide to do it"... oh gosh ... I know it's a background "security" and I know to notice that there is no comeback ... the voice inside the heard is speaking to me: "okay, let's do it, let's check it if it works, have fun but remember you are safe, I'm here to help you coming back if it will be dangerous" ...
you know, Vivian, it's like a big brother or father or mother speaking to a little child = me
yes, I'm afraid and this is a desperately looking for support and safe, I'm moved now and having tears in my eyes ...

You are actually safe. :) Nothing bad can happen to you. All that you are afraid of is an imagination of your mind. That’s why we have to look at this. The mind is really good at projecting a fearful future, creating fear and anxiety.

But does the mind know the future?

Are those imagined stories are actuality? Or just fantasies? Just fictions?

it's seems to me to be like a jump into deep water, I'm both: afraid and excited at the same time, it's a mix of those feelings but I'm sure everything it's going to be okay

That’s great! And yes, you are going to be okay :) there is no real entity at the core being in danger :)

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

So let’s look at what it is that you think are the implications or consequences of discovering that there are no separate selves in each body?

What is your story about?

a separate self understood like a soul is a center of my story about the world / life - we are souls traveling through time and space, light energy, consciousness/ awareness coming from the same source - the big source of life, intelligence, love etc.
and the higher self is unlimited and eternal ... which I feel like intuition and try to follow
discovering that there are no separate selves in each body makes this concept impossible...

Is that a problem? Can there be negative consequences of this discovery? Are you sure of those assumed negative consequences?

actually not, it isn't even the subject of the investigation, it's only connected to it, but I can't be sure that the soul concept isn't true after completed investigation and above all - there can be any negative consequences of this discovery if they will be true! true is true, not negative or positive ...

But does the mind know the future?

Are those imagined stories are actuality? Or just fantasies? Just fictions?

no, no way! the mind doesn't know the future, it's a kind of its objection, resistance, calculation what if? just thoughts
it's not easy to put aside everything we know or suppose to know about how life works and where is our place in ...
I know that without complete openness and awareness of those thoughts the investigation is impossible and I'm willing to take the risk :)

thank you
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

All right, let’s start it then :)

We are only ever going to look at our immediate experience.

So we are going to look at what is here now.

Let’s look at what looking is.

1. Looking can only ever happen here and now. Right now, in this very moment. It’s never about a remembered memory. It’s never a just thinking, but looking at directly what is actually (literally) here now.

2. Looking is noticing the raw experience of colour, sound, smell, taste and sensation in the present moment, right now.


3. Also, we can notice the labels and thoughts ABOUT the raw experience.
Just simply noticing thoughts as phenomena as they appear. This is how we look at thoughts.

4. However, focusing on what thought is saying, what it’s about, what the content is, is NOT looking. Although, this is what we are the most familiar with. We are predominantly focusing on the thought content, the story it tells, instead of noticing it just as an appearing phenomenon.


5. The content of a thought is an IMAGINED EXPERIENCE. It’s not a real experience, it’s just a mental representation of it.

6. Any theory, interpretation, speculation, theory, philosophy are contents of thoughts, in short, just intellectualization. Intellectualization can only ever result in gaining more theoretical knowledge, but it cannot lead to a first-hand experiential recognition.


7. Looking is a shift from focusing on thoughts to noticing the direct experience of the 5 senses and the arising of thoughts in this very moment.

Make sure that this is very clear, since this will the bases of our inquiry. If you have any doubts or questions about this, just let me know.

Sit for about 10-15 minutes and just notice:
What is actually here?

1. Colours and shapes
2. Sounds
3. Tastes
4. Smells
5. Sensations (coming from touching something, or noticing the bodily sensations or feelings that are present in the body).
6. Thoughts. A thought can appear as a pictorial/visual thought, like imagining an apple. It can appear as an auditory / verbal thought, like the word ‘apple’. Auditory thoughts can appear as a voice or a tune of a music, or an imagined sound of a car or a person.
Most of the time, thoughts tell a story, often accompanied by a ‘mental movie’ with a ‘soundtrack’ of the story :)

Could you please give examples of each of these points?

Is there anything else here, anything at all, to experience other than these 6 elements?

Is there anything that you can know of or be aware of at any moment?

Please be very thorough with this, since this the base of our investigation to see what is here now, and what is just a thought content, a story.

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

Could you please give examples of each of these points?

colours and shapes: soft, smooth shapes floating through the body, undefined colours, mostly black and red
sounds: the ticking of the clock, rain on the street, tramp, sounds in my tummy, silent vibration in my ears, heartbeat, breath
tastes: chocolate taste in my mouth
smells: burning wax/ candle, subtle wind
sensations: different vibrations in the body, weight of it, tingle in the left foot, warmth in the hips, heartbeat
thoughts: verbal commentary to the results of noticing the 5 senses experiences: strong, subtle, silent, uncomfortable etc. or simply: remember it for later when you will post a reply

Is there anything else here, anything at all, to experience other than these 6 elements?

no
even a conscious decision where to lead the attention is only a thought

Is there anything that you can know of or be aware of at any moment?

before notice it? no, I can't

thank you
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

Thank you for your replies.

Now, we have to look at the difference between experience and the thought narration ABOUT experience. Seeing this clearly is essential.

Generally speaking, we can say that there are two distinct world or realms:
- the realm of direct experience,
- and the world of thoughts and ideas ABOUT experience.

But we, most of the time, are confused by the two, unknowingly mixing them, imagining that experience is what we THINK it is.

Mistaking conceptual rendering of reality FOR reality is the source of human suffering, and also the source of the belief in being a separate self.

So let’s start to looking into this.

Sit somewhere alone for about 15-30 minutes and just simply feel into the experience what we call ‘breathing’.

Just notice all that is present; the incredibly rich array of experience that constitutes what we call ‘the breath’.

Now, notice whatever concepts, thoughts, interpretations are generated in the mind ABOUT the experience of breathing (what it is, what are its qualities, how it works, what it’s for, etc. – all the description and explanation about it).

Notice all the labels and categories applied to it (like cold, warm, shallow, superficial, depth, quick, slow, stressful, peaceful, etc.) – including the names we give to the experience (like the name/label ‘breathing’).

What are the labels? What are the thoughts ABOUT it?

And what is there on the experience’s ‘side’? What is there, what is happening independently of those labels/thoughts?

As a next step, can you notice that the direct experience of breathing, and thoughts ABOUT it appear simultaneously, side-by-side, operating / happening on their own, independently of each other?

Just notice, the rich array of experience appears independently of its thought based description, just as the description doesn’t interfere with the experience itself.

Notice that the experience of breathing doesn’t come with a tag or a label attached to it ‘breath’, right?

The experience and the thought story ABOUT it existing parallel, side by side, without meddling with each other.

Doesn’t matter what the description is about, doesn’t matter how detailed it is, those definitions are NOT intrinsic to the experience, are they?

Can the thought based definition, can the labels ever be able to describe the fullness and the richness of the direct raw experience?

Can thoughts ever fully convey what the experience of breathing is?

Please experiment with this several times before replying. From now on, please spend a whole day with each post, looking at the same thing again and again. It’s all about repeated investigation of your experience in any given moment.

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

thank you for helping me

What are the labels? What are the thoughts ABOUT it?

The labels are mostly about the physical aspects of the breathing.

And what is there on the experience’s ‘side’? What is there, what is happening independently of those labels/thoughts?

Independently of the labels the breathing process is just happening. And it’s happening on many levels at the same time.

As a next step, can you notice that the direct experience of breathing, and thoughts ABOUT it appear simultaneously, side-by-side, operating / happening on their own, independently of each other?

Notice that the experience of breathing doesn’t come with a tag or a label attached to it ‘breath’, right?

Both are happening simultaneously, independently from each other. Breathing is an organic process, it doesn’t come with a label for itself, it’s just happening.

Doesn’t matter what the description is about, doesn’t matter how detailed it is, those definitions are NOT intrinsic to the experience, are they?

No, they aren't. Breathing is a very complex process, happening on many levels.

Can the thought based definition, can the labels ever be able to describe the fullness and the richness of the direct raw experience?

Thoughts and labels (even very detailed) describe only one aspect of it each time. It’s impossible to describe the fullness and richness of the experience with a label or a thought or even a full story.

Can thoughts ever fully convey what the experience of breathing is?

There are some aspects of the experience of breathing, which cannot be described with words or visual thoughts: there is a space opening after maybe 15 or 20 min mindful breathing when we become one with the raw experience, when the breathing body disappears, I’m not sure about the breathing mind or the breathing awareness but that’s probably another story…

again, thank you
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

No, they aren't. Breathing is a very complex process, happening on many levels.

What do you mean by ‘breathing happening on many levels’?

Do you actually experience levels? Or…. Levels there only in the story?

There are some aspects of the experience of breathing, which cannot be described with words or visual thoughts: there is a space opening after maybe 15 or 20 min mindful breathing when we become one with the raw experience, when the breathing body disappears, I’m not sure about the breathing mind or the breathing awareness but that’s probably another story…

Isn’t this whole comment just a story?

Breathing mind? Breathing awareness? – What do you mean by these? Can a mind breath? Can awareness breath?

Is there actually breathing happening in experience? Or breathing is already a thought label, a mental abstraction ON the indescribable experience?

Remember, the point of this exercise to be able to distinguish what is actual (experience) and what is fiction (story only).

This ability to distinguish actuality from fiction is the bases of our inquiry. We (humans) spend most of our times mistaking fiction FOR reality.

Vivien

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

What do you mean by ‘breathing happening on many levels’?

physical, organic: the body is breathing, sensations in the body: movements of the diaphragm and the chest, subtle wind in the nostrils etc.
molecular: all organs and cells inside the body are breathing, the fact that we can't feel it directly doesn't mean that it's not true; on the other hand - while mindful breathing the subtle sensations in the different parts of the body are felt: in the feet, in the fingers, in the legs, on top of the head, while following the breathing mindfully it's also possible to feel the body of a deeper level, more complex
spiritual: the breath is like a beige between the body and the spirit, it's an undefined, indescribable connection

Do you actually experience levels? Or…. Levels there only in the story?

I'm experiencing the physical level and physical aspects of the breathing first
I guess, I'm not able to experience the molecular level of the process
there is something more in the breathing experience so I suppose it's another aspect of breathing than pur physical experience
or maybe it's a story about but would it mean that the raw experience is reduced to the physical aspects as well as we (human) to our bodies only? the breathing process can not take place without the body or out of the body, can it?

Isn’t this whole comment just a story?

maybe, yes
however, when the sensations in the body become very subtle or even are not felt anymore, the mind or the awareness is still there and the breathing process moves to another dimension or so ...

Breathing mind? Breathing awareness? – What do you mean by these? Can a mind breath? Can awareness breath?

who is breathing? what is breathing? only the body even if we don't feel it anymore? what / who actually "decides" to breath or not? what happened when we experience a state without the body? does it still breath? of course, it does, it's still alive but we can't feel it at the particular moment ...

Is there actually breathing happening in experience? Or breathing is already a thought label, a mental abstraction ON the indescribable experience?

I'm confused, I guess ... without awareness how it's possible to notice the experience of breathing at all? how it's possible to experience the breath? not being aware of the breath the connection to the present moment of it, of just happening is lost
not sure about it, I'll take a look again and again ...
thank you
kasia

[kasia]

hi Vivien,

I've came to your questions many times today ...

Is there actually breathing happening in experience? Or breathing is already a thought label, a mental abstraction ON the indescribable experience?

what actually is happening in the present moment it's much more than breathing only, however once we become aware of one activity happening (breathing for example) we start to label it, to describe it .. we (human) just use language for noticing everything we see, feel, observe, are aware of etc. So in this meaning breathing is already a thought label, trying to describe the process which is happening

the experience and the process of labeling it are separate actions, going simultaneously

Can the thought based definition, can the labels ever be able to describe the fullness and the richness of the direct raw experience?

Can thoughts ever fully convey what the experience of breathing is?

no, it's impossible to describe an experience fully, because 1. we simply are not aware of the fullness and the richness of it
2. spoken or written language is simply too poor to fully convey what the particular experience is, in our case breathing but I suppose it can be any other experience as well

Remember, the point of this exercise to be able to distinguish what is actual (experience) and what is fiction (story only).

This ability to distinguish actuality from fiction is the bases of our inquiry. We (humans) spend most of our times mistaking fiction FOR reality.

thank you! the sentences were very helpful!
with love,
kasia

[Vivien]

Hi Kasia,

physical, organic: the body is breathing, sensations in the body: movements of the diaphragm and the chest, subtle wind in the nostrils etc.
molecular: all organs and cells inside the body are breathing, the fact that we can't feel it directly doesn't mean that it's not true; on the other hand - while mindful breathing the subtle sensations in the different parts of the body are felt: in the feet, in the fingers, in the legs, on top of the head, while following the breathing mindfully it's also possible to feel the body of a deeper level, more complex
spiritual: the breath is like a beige between the body and the spirit, it's an undefined, indescribable connection

Can you see that all of these are just a thought description ABOUT the indescribable experience?

The point of this exercise to be able to distinguish between thought stories and actuality. This is very important.

I'm experiencing the physical level and physical aspects of the breathing first
I guess, I'm not able to experience the molecular level of the process

You guess? Please don’t guess. Whenever you want to use words like "maybe", or "I suppose", "I think", “I guess” ..... stop yourself, here the thinking ABOUT starts and the looking stops. Breathe in, look again.
This looking takes a bit of practice until it gets fluent.

there is something more in the breathing experience so I suppose it's another aspect of breathing than pur physical experience
or maybe it's a story about but would it mean that the raw experience is reduced to the physical aspects as well as we (human) to our bodies only? the breathing process can not take place without the body or out of the body, can it?

The problem is that you are approaching this exercise on the mental/intellectual level. But the whole point is to see what is there when this whole intellectualization is put aside.

This is the way to go… to see experience directly as it is.

We have to go back to look at what is experience, and what is just a story about it.

Please investigate each points very thoroughly

1. Looking can only ever happen here and now. Right now, in this very moment. It’s never about a remembered memory. It’s never a just thinking, but looking at directly what is actually (literally) here now.

2. Looking is noticing the raw experience of colour, sound, smell, taste and sensation in the present moment, right now.


3. Also, we can notice the labels and thoughts ABOUT the raw experience.
Just simply noticing thoughts as phenomena as they appear. This is how we look at thoughts.

4. However, focusing on what thought is saying, what it’s about, what the content is, is NOT looking. Although, this is what we are the most familiar with. We are predominantly focusing on the thought content, the story it tells, instead of noticing it just as an appearing phenomenon.


5. The content of a thought is an IMAGINED EXPERIENCE. It’s not a real experience, it’s just a mental representation of it.

6. Any theory, interpretation, speculation, theory, philosophy are contents of thoughts, in short, just intellectualization. Intellectualization can only ever result in gaining more theoretical knowledge, but it cannot lead to a first-hand experiential recognition.


7. Looking is a shift from focusing on thoughts to noticing the direct experience of the 5 senses and the arising of thoughts in this very moment.

Make sure that this is very clear, since this will the bases of our inquiry. If you have any doubts or questions about this, just let me know.

Sit for about 10-15 minutes and just notice:
What is actually here?

1. Colours and shapes
2. Sounds
3. Tastes
4. Smells
5. Sensations (coming from touching something, or noticing the bodily sensations or feelings that are present in the body).
6. Thoughts. A thought can appear as a pictorial/visual thought, like imagining an apple. It can appear as an auditory / verbal thought, like the word ‘apple’. Auditory thoughts can appear as a voice or a tune of a music, or an imagined sound of a car or a person.
Most of the time, thoughts tell a story, often accompanied by a ‘mental movie’ with a ‘soundtrack’ of the story :)

Could you please give examples of each of these points?

Is there anything else here, anything at all, to experience other than these 6 elements?

Is there anything else other than these 6 elements that you can know of or be aware of at any moment?

Please be very thorough with this, since this the base of our investigation to see what is here now, and what is just a thought content, a story.

Now look at breathing… and please look at what is a story and what is the actual experience of it.

Vivien