The truth of life

[kyleleey]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
My understanding is early in life we learn/are directed to believe there is a me, and 1. The mind becomes identified with thoughts and the body and starts developing a persona or identity which gets built on over time. We develop a view that this is who I am, what I like, what I believe. This is incorrect perception as we are one consciousness.

What are you looking for at LU?
I want to know the truth of who or what I really am, and the truth of the situations in my life. To see life as it really is and be more free of the suffering identification with 'me' creates. I'm aware there are stories and conditioning running my life and wish to see more clearly the truth.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
Someone to help me question and look. Someone who has experienced liberation and would be able to suggest different ways of seeing, looking, maybe unpack my current perception. To hear where I am at and understand and have the motivation to help guide.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I've been studying yoga and meditation for 20 years. Initially for health reasons, stress etc. The discovered the spiritual aspect of yoga. I have been meditating regularly most of this time - most recently insight meditation. Reading books etc on the topic. In recent years I came across Adyashanti and resonated with this his teachings on Liberation. I've been interested in self realisation for a while, probably more so in the last 7 years. I've taken a few psychedelic journeys for spiritual insight.

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

[Anastacia42]

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

Truth is the most important thing here

One thing that is helpful is to come to this forum
& post every day. Sometimes the site goes down. It will be back. Just come back later.

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,

[kyleleey]

Hi Stacy : )

I was very excited to receive your email.

I am working through the message and info and will get into the questions tomorrow to start.

Thank you so much

[Anastacia42]

Great.

I'm in the middle of moving, but I'll answer as soon as I can.

Loving

[kyleleey]

Thanks Stacey

So my name is Kyle. I am female.

Is it ok to continue my yoga practice like postures and breathing. Plus do you suggest I stay off social media?

I live in Australia, near Byron Bay in a town called Mullumbimby.

I'm pretty tired today so will look at the questions tomorrow. Best wishes moving. I'm doing that next week!

Kyle

[Anastacia42]

Hi Kyle,

Yoga & social media are both fine.

There's no "e" in my name.

Looking forward to your posts.

Loving,

[kyleleey]

Hi Stacy

Apologies for the mistake in your name. Where are you based?

OK so here's my stab at the questions

How will life change?

I don’t know. I’ve heard other people’s experiences and descriptions, but I don’t really know how life will change for me. It’s hard to comprehend what it would be like not having a ‘me’ life revolves around. I feel very present and aware sometimes, like things are just happening, so perhaps more of that?
It’s funny when I got your message and read the questions and guidelines. I said to myself - is this what you really want – you have no idea what will happen or what it will be like. But I feel this is my goal in life, to be awake in the world to serve.

How will you change?

Another I don’t know.

What will be different?

Feeling repetitive, unless I am missing something, I don’t know. I feel that only through direct experience will I know.

What is missing?

There is this longing for something, for things to be different, or having his will make me happy, whether it’s a relationship, or a new job, a home etc. It has felt ongoing for many years, but it is peppered with times of feeling content or at peace with my life – when things I want to happen are happening ; ) There’s this like, I WANT to know. I have experienced altered states a few times via meditation and psychedelic mushrooms and both times revealed this joy and wonder, rather than the seriousness I often feel – “like when did I get so f’king serious” Perhaps there’s some expectation this joy might be more part of my life experience.

Kind regards
Kyle : )

[Anastacia42]

Hi Kyle,

Today I'm in Longmont, Colorado, the most beautiful state in the union. Friday I move to Texas. My husband has children and grandchildren there so he wins. It's too hot. I know because I'm a native Texan and I lived there 37 years.Oh well.

hard to comprehend what it would be like not having a ‘me’ life revolves around

There is no such thing as a "me" so you are living with no me now

Your expectations are fairly reasonable.

Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.


Loving,

[kyleleey]

Hi Stacy

Back to Texas it is! Life has it's plans...

Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.

I feel bewildered and some cognitive dissonance when I really consider this statement. So what am I then if I’m not this separate person in the world? What does a separate self even mean? Separate from what? It’s hard to believe because it feels all that I am, this identity, my body, thoughts, feelings. I intellectually understand how the mind is creating and cementing a narrative ongoing.

I don’t have much time today so that’s all I have for now. I’m also pondering this statement.

There is no such thing as a "me" so you are living with no me now.

Will write more tomorrow.

Kyle

[Anastacia42]

Yes, but it's HOT there. Oh well.

What you've written is enough. If there's fear, let me know & we will deal with it. Let's move on.

There is *already* no "I." Never has been.

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,

[kyleleey]

Thanks Stacey

Can you provide a little more explanation on these two please? Perhaps an example/s.

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

My take - Feeling is the pure sensation in the body without the labels. Thoughts as a phenomena of the mind - the content is often focused on the past or imagination related to future.

Kind regards
Kyle

[kyleleey]

And I don't think there is any fear there to be dealt with.

[Anastacia42]

Definitely! We are about to do some pointers that will help, also.

Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)

My take - Feeling is the pure sensation in the body without the labels.

Yes. Perfect. It's only an emotion after it's interpreted & labeled.

Thoughts as a phenomena of the mind - the content is often focused on the past or imagination related to future.

The content is almost always about past or future. but even if it's about now, it is a made-up story. And it is never true.

So, let's practice seeing these, just to be sure.

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.

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,

[kyleleey]

Thanks Stacy

I'm going into moving mode myself now for new few days so will try to post at least one example per day.

I hope you are settling to your new place with good aircon!

Love

[Anastacia42]

Okay. We leave Friday.