Discovery

[Swift]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That the self that I think about and worry about is not the real me, that thoughts are an external Factor like the rain or the wind but I see them as actually being me and myself. That I have created a construct of self but that really there is only existence

What are you looking for at LU?
Help to escape from the illusion that is my constant thoughts and beliefs and confusions I want to find a more centered self and calmness in the world and escape from my life being overrun by thoughts fears and emotions I want to lose my desire to control the world around me and to accept the way that it actually is

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
I would hope to be guided into examining things that I'm resisting. I would hope to be shown that there are things that I am not willing to address to get myself into a more centered and real understanding of what life actually is and what it could be

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I have never thought in terms of religion I have no religious faith I have adopted the self-help route, such as self-help books, meditation, various classes but I find that I've hit something of a point where there is something that I am not grasping about the confusion that I've bring into my own life with my excessive thoughts

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

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,



Hi,

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

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?

Loving,

[Swift]

High Stacy,
thanks for the reply.
I would post very regularly but unfortunately it is impossible for me to commit to every single day.
Many thanks for your consideration
Lucy

[Anastacia42]

Okay, what would you think? Every other day? Every 3 days?

This is for you. It helps to keep the momentum going every day. Posting here helps you to do that.

Let me know, and remember to answer the questions in blue if you think we can find a schedule that works for you.

Thanks,

[Swift]

I suffer from Fairly frequent migraines so it would be difficult to be specific but I would post regularly and I would be very surprised if it weren't at least every three days
thanks again

[Anastacia42]

Alright. Please answer the questions in blue inm6 first post, using the Quote Function explained there with a video.

You might try reading, The Way Out: A Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-Revoluti ... 155&sr=8-1

Much love,

[Swift]

I like to be called Su and I'm in the UK

How will life change?

I hope it will seem simpler

How will you change?

I hope I will be calmer and have a greater understanding of what life really is

What will be different?

I will no longer be overrun by my mind and have more time for what is going on around me

What is missing?

I don't feel that there is anything missing I feel like there is too much of the things that are wrong

[Anastacia42]

Hi Su,

Good answers.

Now it comes up when reading the there is no self, never has been and never will be? That it is all just a made up story?

Loving,

[Swift]

Now it comes up when reading the there is no self, never has been and never will be? That it is all just a made up story?

Sorry but this doesn't really seem like a question to me
I understand the concept of there being no self I just can't really feel that in my day-to-day life

[Anastacia42]

You're right! I missed a typo.

WHAT comes up?

Thanks,

[Swift]

It's a difficult concept but it's one that I can accept
where I struggle is when I come across a situation and it feels more like I'm having an emotional than a psychological response

then I seem to be completely taken over by the idea of self because it feels like it is instinctive emotion rather than thought

[Anastacia42]

Emotions are a Sensation plus a label & a thought story. Or just a labeled Sensation.

This is a sidetrack, but think of the Sensations of fear. Reply with those & I'll give the next step.

Now, next for seeing no self...


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,

[Swift]

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

I do understand the difference between the experiencing and the feeling, but I find it hard to live by it

for example today I was out walking and I saw a dog coming towards me .
that was my experience but what I thought was oh no I'm scared of dogs I must cross the road
I find things like this difficult to overcome
I understand that I'm only scared of dogs because that is what I've learned to think but that doesn't seem to make it any easier to not think it

[Anastacia42]

Okay, but this is the difference between Direct Experience & *labeling* or *thinking* not feeling.

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. 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,

[Swift]

al of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above

decided to have a cup of coffee= thought
heard kettle boil= sound
watched water pouring into Cup= sight
felt coffee in mouth =Sensation
tasted coffee= taste
felt feet hitting ground =Sensation
looked at view out of window =sight