Don´t take life too seriously

[Barauna]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That the concept of a personal self (me) is an illusion, just created by thoughts.

What are you looking for at LU?
I´m looking to know more about liberation, nonduality but not just intelectual understanding. I hope that joining the forum will give me the real experience of nonduality/liberation. Basically the end of seeking.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
I think that a conversation with a guide, someone who already realized the truth and crossed the "gateless gate" can help me in the process of nondual awakening. I think I already had glimpses of the truth but need to embody 100% this experience.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I have twenty years of spiritual / personal development seeking. I´ve read tons of books and tried some techniques and approaches like
A course in miracles, mindfulness techniques, mindsets and had my own insights and realizations along the way.

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

[Anastacia42]

Good morning!

Sorry for the long wait. We've got more interested clients than we have guides. Thank you for your patience.

My name is Stacy and I can be your guide, if you would like. I was also an ACIM student - for 25 years - and I think it helped prepare me to see no self. And I had seen some before I did LU.

One thing I want to make very clear up front is that with me, you must post every day. If you know yourself and your schedule are such that you cannot do this, tell me, "no," and someone else can guide you, please.

Yes, if once in a while you must post later, please post a note telling me when you will return.

If you haven't already read the disclaimer, please read it now and just confirm to me that you have read it. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Also please read “Liberation Unleashed is not …” in the FAQ’s of LU. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/about/faq/#faq-1041

Some housekeeping guidelines:

1. Post at least once a day, or every second day. If you need more time, or are unable to post for several days, just write a quick post on your thread to let me know please.

2. There is no one judging answers given, so please be 100% honest in your answers and inquiry.

3. This exploration is based on actual experience (AE) - smell, taste, sound, sensation, color and observed thoughts. Long-winded analytical and philosophical answers are best avoided and may even hinder progress. This is not a self-improvement process. There is no ‘self’ to improve.

4. Put aside all other teachings, philosophies, rituals, practices, books/reading and so on for the remainder of this investigation. Really put all your effort and attention in to seeing this reality, as it is. If you have a daily meditation practice, it is fine to continue that but is not necessary for this exploration.

Technology is not perfect and sometimes there is a glitch which can wipe out your responses. It is advisable that you copy and paste questions asked into Word, answer them there and then copy and paste them to your thread. Always save a copy of what you have done, it will save time in the long run!

To begin with, so that we both become aware of what your expectations are about this exploration. In your own words (not from actual experience, but just honest answers), could you please answer the 4 following questions:

How will life change?
How will you change?
What will be different?
What is missing?

Throughout this exploration I would like you to answer all questions that I have written in blue text. Please answer all questions even if I miss using the blue text.

Please answer questions individually, remembering to use the quote function to highlight the question being answered.

Below is a link to the video with instructions on using the Quote Function. Please watch it. Use the PREVIEW button to make sure your text looks right before you hit "SUBMIT."

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660

What would you like for me to call you? What time zone are you in, please?

Much love,

[Barauna]

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for your reply. Yes I already read the disclaimer and guidelines.

Just one question, maybe I didn´t understand very well

What you mean by "You have to post every day"?

I have to post every day once we start the guiding conversation, If so yes I can.

Or I have to post every day here on LU forum?

Best regards,

Marcus.

[Anastacia42]

Hi Marcus,

Welcome.

I have to post every day once we start the guiding conversation, If so yes I can.

Or I have to post every day here on LU forum?

To me those are the same. Every day in the LU Forum now that we've started. So, good.

There were 4 questions in blue. That's the first exercise, checking expectations.

Loving,

[Barauna]

Post every day once we start our conversation, I got it.

Ok, let´s start!

How will life change?

Well I think that with a shift in perception, life will flow more easily

How will you change?

intelectually I think that without a strong sense of "I" my relationship with others, events, emotions etc will be different in some way

what will be different?

I don´t know exactly but as I answered on the last question, I think the approach to life in general will be better

What is missing?

Maybe get rid of this sense of something is missing, that I have to accomplish something, That there is some permanent happiness at some point in the future I think.

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,

While it will all be different than the expectations, those are mostly reasonable. I wouldn't look for "permanent happiness," exactly, though. More peace &equanimity often, but For some people it turns their whole lives upside down and it has to be all reevaluated in terms of what they can see.

Now what comes up when it's read that there is no self, never has been, and never will be? That it is all just a made up story?

Loving,

[Barauna]

Now what comes up when it's read that there is no self, never has been, and never will be? That it is all just a made up story?

A very subtle sensation...like...if the "me" doesn´t exist there is nothing to hold on...

then a feel a soft fear to let go of this "identity", this "me"...like...is the only thing i´m used to all my life.

[Anastacia42]

Good noticing. Fear is exactly what that is checking for.

Only fear & expectations can prevent SEEING.

This is how to LOOK for no self in the exercises - we call them "pointers' - that we will be doing here:

Colored Socks

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.

Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment..

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.


Loving,

[Barauna]

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.

Could you elaborate more about the difference between sensation vs emotion and

thought arising (but not the content)...

What you mean by "but not the content"...just notice the thoughts arising without identify with them ?


Thanks in advance,

[Anastacia42]

Yes. Our next exercises will help you do just that.

Emotion is Body Sensation plus a label and/ or a story about what the Sensation "means." In Actual Experience it means *nothing* but that's one of the things you're here to SEE or learn.

thought arising (but not the content)...

What you mean by "but not the content"...just notice the thoughts arising without identify with them ?

Just that a Thought Arises, but any story or "meaning" that thinking assigns to it is *meaningless*.

Let's start with identifying what is Direct Experience and what is not. Try this:

Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup, simply= image/color
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all Actual/Direct Experience) and report back with lists exactly like the one above.

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please. (No one seems to understand "exactly,* but give it a try.)

Refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience in the prior post if that helps. Those are the only items any experience can be.

Loving,

[Barauna]

Hi,

this is my list:


Neighbours talking - sound
Food cooking in the pan - image/color
Noise of fan - sound
birds in the sky - image/color
my hands on the desk - sensation
Drinking gin - taste
thinking about possible conversations - thought
Seeing my wife - image/color
wind on my skin - sensation

[Anastacia42]

*whew* Right!

Very good! The point, of course is that everything on the left side is a made up story and everything on the right is Direct or Actual experience.

Now try this:


Mind Labeling Experience

Here is an exercise which examines the way in which the mind labels experience - it takes about 20 minutes and you will need a pen a paper.

This exercise is broken into 10 minute lots. For each 10 minute period pay attention to any bodily sensation ie is there any tightening, or any relaxing?

For the first ten minutes write down what you are experiencing right now using the word “I”.

For example:

I am sitting on a chair,
I am hearing a clock ticking,
I am looking at a computer screen,
I am feeling hungry.

Get right to the point, no past or future fantasy, just a plain description of your experience right here and now.

Post this list.

Then for the next ten minutes continue writing down what you are experiencing but this time without using the word “I”. Just describe the experience as it is happening using verbs.

For example:

sitting on a chair,
typing,
breathing,
blinking,
hearing the clock.

Post this list, too.

(Again, watch what is happening in the body.)

At the end of the twenty minutes compare the two ways in which the experience was labeled and answer the following four questions:

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

2. What is here without labels?

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

4. Did you notice any differences in the body? Describe this.

Relax, have fun. Looking forward to your replies.


Loving,

[Barauna]

Hi,

there is my list:

First

I am hearing a bird singing
I am feeling the wind on my skin
I am sitting on a chair
I am breathing
I am looking at a computer screen
I am feeling the taste of the coffee
I am hearing the car´s noise at a distance


Second

Breathing
Sound of men working
Sound of fan
Looking at screen
Tasting coffee

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

I´m not sure if TRUER is the right word, but the second one was more peaceful, like there is no one claiming the experience

2. What is here without labels?

It feels like an open awareness of what´s happening in the moment

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

No, the experience happens before the labels

4. Did you notice any differences in the body? Describe this.

The only difference I noticed was the body was more peaceful, seems like there wasn´t any interference as I said in the first answer.

[Anastacia42]

Yes, very good. You've got it. Thank you.

I´m not sure if TRUER is the right word, but the second one was more peaceful, like there is no one claiming the experience

Exactly. No one TO claim the experience, as you will SEE.

The only difference I noticed was the body was more peaceful, seems like there wasn´t any interference as I said in the first answer.

That's actually a pretty big difference. It is very good that you notice it. Many people don't.

Let's talk about truth versus lies a little bit.

Can you remember a time you lied to someone you love?

Now scan your body.

What Sensations are found & where?

Loving,

[Barauna]

Hi again,

I´m sorry but this exercise didn´t work very well for me

The memory I have is distant and I didn´t feel any specific sensation.


That is something wrong??