The Gate

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
The "I" is created through unconscious belief. The person I think I am is an illusion. Reality does not know a person. In reality there is a realization of forms in space and time. There is a body that is lived. And this body is a temporal appearance of the reality.

What are you looking for at LU?
through the guided dialogue of question and answer, it is possible to reach a deeper insight. So that it becomes more and more obvious that this believed "I" is pure fiction. So, a deeper insight could happen...

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
I think, it is easier for me to go through the questions with a "real" human then alone. As I am already learning at "the work", it makes it easier to look and listen closely when a real counterpart is present.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry? Eckhart Tolle, Healing the Inner Child, Satsang, the Work of Byron Katie

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self?
9

Hi,

My name is Stacy and I can be your guide, if you would like.

Why only 9 on willingness to question beliefs?

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 know yourself to be a skeptical person, prone to doubt, I may not be the best guide for you. I never had any doubt. I can connect you with one of our other guides who did & who can guide you better than I.

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?

Loving,

Why only 9 on willingness to question beliefs?

when I would write 10, then I feel like superwoman who never fails...

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

Life changes in its ways. Mostly I cannot tell in which direction. It happens..

I change also in ways I cannot tell.

Everything is always different. It seems not, but it truly is

Missing in my head is stillness of believed thoughts

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

Stacy, thank you for working with me. You can call me Christa. My timezone is "Lissabon". I life in Portugal. English is not my motherlanguage, it is swiss-german. But I try to understand you and to answer that you understand me.

Hi Christa,

So far, so good. Use Google translate, if needed.

9 is just being willing. May or may not be successful.

Your expectations are mostly reasonable.

Please watch these:

https://youtu.be/vJQcD588g2w

and

https://youtu.be/PUDzrCLlrj4


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


Loving,

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

Yes, it is all just a made up story! To belief in this separate self is the source of all fear.

peace is.....always here

Sounds good. Now . . .

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,

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

yes, it is clear for me :)

Good, so let's practice 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. Same word forms. Same order. EXACTLY.

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,

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

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please. Same word forms. Same order. EXACTLY.

Seeing oats, simply= image/color
Smelling oats, simply= smell
Feeling the oats, simply= sensation
Tasting the oats, simply= taste
Hearing the flake machine, simply = sound
Thought about eating oat flakes, simply = thought

Seeing the car, simply = image/color
Smelling the inside of the car, simply = smell
Feeling the chair in the car, simply = sensation
Tasting....no
Hearing the motor of the car, simply = sound
Thought about driving the car, simply = thought

Seeing hay, simply = image/color
Smelling hay, simply = smell
Feeling the hay, simply = sensation
Tasting...no
Hearing the hay, simply = sound
Thought about giving hay to the horses = thought

Seeing fruits and vegetables, simply = image/color
Smelling fruits and vegetables, simply = smell
Feeling fruits and vegetables, simply = sensation
Tasting.....no
Hearing the packaging, simply = hearing
Thought about buy fruits and vegetables, simply = thought

Seeing wood, simply = image/color
Smelling the burning of wood, simply = smell
Feeling the peaces of wood, simply = sensation
Tasting.....no
Hearing the burning of wood, simply = hearing
Thought about making fire in the oven, simply = thought

Seeing dirty dishes, simply = image/color
Smelling the soap, simply = smell
Feeling the plates, simply = sensation
Tasting...no
Hearing the stacking of the dishes, simply = hearing
Thought about washing dishes, simply = thought

Excellent. Here's the next step:

u]Mind Labeling Experience[/u]

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 i.e. 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.

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.

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

At the end of the twenty minutes compare the two ways in which the experience was labelled 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?

Loving,

Mind Labeling Experience

I am sitting on my bed
I am hearing music
I am scratching my skin
I am feeling press my organs in my body
I am moving my body position
I am changing my body position again
I am scratching my head
I am feeling that my skin itches
I am hearing steps outside the house
I am feeling cold feed
I am thinking to make fire in the oven
I am thinking to stay sitting
I am hearing the dog baking

sitting on the bed
hearing music
breathing
feeling the up and down of the chest
hearing cough
feeling sleepy
feeling relaxation
closing the eyes

1. sitting on the bed without labeling is truer

2. without labeling there is just presence/peace

3. Yes, labels affect the experience. With the "I am" there is a lot more unrest.

4. with label the body is in a constant restlessness, the reactions of the body are strong and unpleasant. The body reactions are in the focus.

Okay, good.

3. Yes, labels affect the experience. With the "I am" there is a lot more unrest.

Let's look closer at this:


Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving,

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Seen is red but thinked is green

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

both, there is no clarity

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label suggest something else

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

green is a label that overlays the actual experience of red

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

red stays red, but because of the belief of the label, ideas about "good" and "bad" arises in the mind, and the focus goes to the ideas. The red colour is not anymore important

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

The labels have an affect on "reality"

Let me know what is SEEN.

seen is red

Good! You've mostly got it. RED is seen no matter what the word means. This illustrates the difference between Direct Experience and labels, stories, the content of thoughts.

Most people get all except the fact that labels do not affect the reality of what is in Direct Experience. Calling it Green in no way makes it green, right?

Try this one, now.

Friend/Stranger

Bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

Then bring up a thought about a character labeled "stranger."

Compare these thoughts.

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

Now, bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

After that, look at a thought about the character labelled "me.”

Is there a difference?

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

Let me know what is found.

Loving,

Bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

Then bring up a thought about a character labeled "stranger."

Compare these thoughts.

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

there is no difference

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

it is just different content

Now, bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

After that, look at a thought about the character labelled "me.”

Is there a difference?

yes, it feels different because of the "me", but in the same moment I also realise there is no difference

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

it has a sense of reality this "me-character"...it looks like true...