The Gate

Hi John,

So, when you consider self Keith in ordinary fashion, what immediately comes up for you - whether thoughts, feelings or anything else.

A mood, a feeling of wanting or lacking something.

Keith xx

So, when you consider self Keith in ordinary fashion, what immediately comes up for you - whether thoughts, feelings or anything else.

A mood, a feeling of wanting or lacking something.

Ok, these are typical associations around a story of me, self.

Who lacks something? Me!
Who has a feeling of want? Me!

So, let's take this mood. And let's say in some way this mood is Keith's-self-in-action.
Another way to put it, is that this mood is the closet thing we have to Keith's self.

Does that ring true?

Much love,
John

Hi John,
Yes that does ring true.
Keith xx

Hi John,
Yes that does ring true.
Keith xx

Ok, good. So, to all intents and purposes we're taking mood to be self.
and this rings true.

Now, does it seem to you that your mood/self can do things?
Does it seem to have autonomy?

Much love,
John

Hi John,

Now, does it seem to you that your mood/self can do things?
Does it seem to have autonomy?

It does sort of seem to.

Keith xx

Now, does it seem to you that your mood/self can do things?
Does it seem to have autonomy?

It does sort of seem to.

Indeed, the mood/self does sort of seem to have autonomy.
That you have established by observing it.

How can you observe this
and this Be you
at the same time?

Hi John,

How can you observe this
and this Be you
at the same time?

It can’t. So, none of the contents of consciousness can be me...

Keith xx

Hi John,

How can you observe this
and this Be you
at the same time?

It can’t. So, none of the contents of consciousness can be me...

Keith, ask this mood/self directly to use its autonomy to lift up the left hand.

See what happens.

Hi John,
I asked the mood/self to move the left hand, and it couldn’t do it. The hand could stay still or move, and that wasn’t to do with the mood/self. It was an intention (I think) that moved or didn’t move the hand.
Keith xx

Hi John,
I asked the mood/self to move the left hand, and it couldn’t do it. The hand could stay still or move, and that wasn’t to do with the mood/self. It was an intention (I think) that moved or didn’t move the hand.
Keith xx

Is there trust that the hand moves as and when required?

Is there trust that the eye blinks, and the body breathes, as and when required?

Explore and feel the depth and extent of trust in life as expressed through you, as you.

Much love,
John

Hi John,

Is there trust that the hand moves as and when required?

Is there trust that the eye blinks, and the body breathes, as and when required?

Yes, these things are taken for granted. It was surprising and reassuring to notice how I trusted breathing to happen, and then a bit disconcerting.

Keith xx

Is there trust that the hand moves as and when required?

Is there trust that the eye blinks, and the body breathes, as and when required?

Yes, these things are taken for granted. It was surprising and reassuring to notice how I trusted breathing to happen, and then a bit disconcerting.

Ok, that's fine. Notice trust, how trust is the foundation for everything we do.

Now, let's say you're thirsty as a very thirsty person, and about 100 yards ahead you see a small pool of fresh water.
Hurrah! There is water! - you shout.

As you walk closer, the pool starts to shimmer, and shimmer some more, and soon it's recognised that it's a mirage.

The recognition starts to sink in, it's a mirage. Damn.

And now, you're angry because the water is gone.

Was the water ever there?



The self is a mirage.

Was the self ever there?

How will life be different when something never there is still not there?

Much love,
john

Hi John,

How will life be different when something never there is still not there?

I imagine stuff will just keep happening: choice will be made; breath will be breathed; work will be done; emotions will be felt. And without anyone doing those things. Do I trust that? Not enough I guess.

Keith xx

How will life be different when something never there is still not there?

I imagine stuff will just keep happening: choice will be made; breath will be breathed; work will be done; emotions will be felt. And without anyone doing those things. Do I trust that? Not enough I guess.

Ok, good that we've reached this perception: "And without anyone doing those things".
Perceptions are so interesting.

I once worked with a fella, many years ago, who couldn't pass a work interview for love nor money, he would get very nervous, and often angry in the interview. I drove out to see him one cold wet evening.

I asked him how he saw interviews, his perception of them, you know what he said: "It's like having the Sword of Damocles over my head". Goodness me. Is there any wonder he was nervous, angry? I'd be nervous too.

But it got me interested in perception. Perception is just a picture. But cunningly, it's a picture we take for reality. So good is the picture, so effortless in the way it presents, that we rarely, if ever, question it's truthfulness. And so, whatever our picture is, comes to dominate our thoughts and actions.

Take ourselves. We have a perception, a picture, of ourselves. How we see ourselves. We act like it's true. But it's neither true or false. It's a perception, a picture. Not true, just a view. And views switch.

Returning to "And without anyone doing those things" - imagine this in a frame, a picture frame, held in front of you, such that whenever you consider this inquiry business, you look through this frame and see 'without anyone'. If that were me seeing "without anyone", I'd be terrified. Like proper shitting myself.

So Keith, the job here is to see that a perception is a picture in a frame we hold before our eyes.

Sit with that, meditate with it if that works for you, and penetrate through this notion that a perception - whatever it is, it true - to see it is a view, rather than true.

Thanks Keith.

With warm wishes,
john

Hi John,

Returning to "And without anyone doing those things" - imagine this in a frame, a picture frame, held in front of you, such that whenever you consider this inquiry business, you look through this frame and see 'without anyone'. If that were me seeing "without anyone", I'd be terrified. Like proper shitting myself.

I’ve been sitting with “without anyone” as a frame, and it does seem to be a basic perception of mine, and it is terrifying although I don’t let the terror in very far. I’ve been allowing that this is a perception, and not the truth, and that feels like it could be heaven.

Keith xx