The Gate

Closer. Thank you. Please include the question number in the quotes, but otherwise, thank you.

So "I" is a lie. That makes without "I" truer& that's why you feel more peaceful.

2 is correct. Just Direct Experience.

3. Correct

4. Above

Let's go a little further.

Here is how to distinguish truth from lies. I'm sure I've talked about this.


We often lie every day & don't realize it.

For example, the grocery clerk asks, "How are you?" You reply, "I'm fine." While, yes. there is a sense in which we are always fine, even in the middle of suffering, at that moment, you were grieving the death of your dog, you had a slight sore throat & you had a headache, but you didn't feel like sharing all of that with the grocery clerk, so you lied, "I'm fine."

Also, it matters none at all how "distant" the remembered lie is. Besides the fact that time itself is fictional, a kind if lie, as we recall the lie it becomes present in this moment, as if it were happening now. This brings the body Sensation that accompanies lying.

Lies can be intentional or unintentional, conscious or unconscious, even so automatic that we ourselves are fooled.

The story of a separate "self" is a lie.

This is the lie you came here to see through. Therefore, it is helpful to notice the body Sensation of lying as one of the tools for finding the truth of no self.

You want to be in touch with body Sensations & able to clearly express them in words. This will help.

Lies are usually felt in the heart or solar plexus as a contraction that we may label as tight, heavy or tense.

In contrast, truth is usually expansive. We may call it loose, light or relaxed.

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

Here we count anything, lies we think of as "big" or "small" that "matter" or don't "matter."

How are you? I'm fine. No, your knee hurts, but you don't feel like discussing it with the grocery clerk.

It's a lie. A seemingly "bigger" one will work better for this exercise.

Find the lie. I don't need the whole story, just a few key words to refer to it.

Then scan your body for any Sensation (DE or Direct Experience), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely.

What is found?

If you think the memory you used wasn't clear enough, find another one or lie to yourself right now, make something up.

1 + 1 = 14 is a lie.

I love eating worms is (probably) a lie.

Or call up a video of a lying politician & notice what Sensations arise as you listen.

I will give you a clue: it is not that peaceful Sensation you felt before when you omitted "I." (refers to an exercise I gave before this one)

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

"Peaceful" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see that?

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

I thought about the time I lied about something at work. I said that I had done something when I hadn't. I couldn't remember a time when I had lied to someone I loved recently.

What is found?

I think I feel an involuntary pulling in of the navel/diaphragm area. Apart from that, couldn't feel much.

Thanks,
Pri

Hi Pri,

involuntary pulling in of the navel/diaphragm area. Apart from that, couldn't feel much.

That's good enough. I just want you to recognize the difference between truth & lie.


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

Hi Stacy,

color=#0000FF]When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

I see the word green in red color.

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

Red color

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)?

No, the label green doesn't have one-to-one correspondence with reality. The label green is different from the actual red color.

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 just a label.

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

No.

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

Redness doesn't become good or bad. Labels have no affect on reality.

Thanks,
Pri

Yes, good. Let's bring this together some.


Actual/Direct Experience - Apple

Have a look at an apple (or any fruit you like.) If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise. Google for a picture of an apple.



When looking at an apple, there's color; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."

What is known for sure? Color is known and thoughts are known.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Actual experience does not refer to thoughts ABOUT something…because that is only just more thought.

Actual experience is sound, thought, color, smell, taste, sensation and the fact of thought arising, but not its content.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

While these thoughts are known, what they talk ABOUT can't be found in actual experience.

This is what is meant by "looking in actual experience." What you know for sure, and, is always here.

Taste labeled ‘apple’ is known
Color labeled ‘apple’ is known
Sensation labeled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched)
Smell labeled ‘apple’ is known
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known

However, is an apple actually known?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Or this one?
Explore ‘Sense of Self’

Let’s say that you have lost your keys and you swear that you left them in your coat. You go to look and check all the pockets - the keys are not there. You swear they must be as that was the last place you remember them. You have a vivid memory of putting them there after you left the house. But when you check they are not there. At this point you can keep believing that the keys are in your pocket, or you can admit you were mistaken.

This is just like that. You may see clearly that the self is an illusion but still feel a sense of self - just like the keys. But feeling something to be true and seeing that it is or is not is different. This is why we may find ourselves coming back to your expectations at the start and at the end.

Now, I’d like to ask you to explore this SENSE of self very-very thoroughly. Not by thinking about it, but by FEELING it. Keep the focus of attention on the sense of self and inquire:

Does the sense of self have a location?

Does the sense of self have a shape or a size?

Does the sense of self say or communicate anything?

If the answer is yes, how does the sense do this exactly?

Does the sense of self have any characteristics or attributes?

What is the sense of self ‘made of’? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Sensation? Thought?

What is found?

Loving

Hi Stacy,

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

They label the image as apple.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?

Color and thought saying "apple".

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

There are sense experiences related to apple- image, touch, taste. But the existence of apple cannot be proved apart from the sense experiences.

However, is an apple actually known?

No. Apple is a label for a set of sense experiences.

I haven't come to any conclusion about the "the sense of self exercise". Still working on it.

Thanks,
Pri

Sorry. I doorbell mean ton past both of those.

But go ahead, if you like. I'll give you Palm Flipping when you've done this.

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

No worries. Do you want to give me the next exercise? I haven't reached any conclusion about the sense of self exercise.

Thanks,
Pri

No. Not until you reply to Sense of Self. please.

Don't "come to a conclusion. " Let it come to you.

JUST LOOK

Thank you

Hi Stacy,

Does the sense of self have a location?

No

Does the sense of self have a shape or a size?

No

Does the sense of self say or communicate anything?

No

If the answer is yes, how does the sense do this exactly?

Not applicable

Does the sense of self have any characteristics or attributes?

No

What is the sense of self ‘made of’? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Sensation? Thought?

Nothing.

Thanks,
Pritha

Very good.

The last one is okay, but it's made of the lie Sensation contraction plus a thought label.

How does it FEEL to see this?



Here's the next one:

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving,

How does it FEEL to see this?

I don't see this fully. Do you mean that I am taking some images (of body parts) and some sensations like breathing and tension on the face etc to be myself (my body) out of all the different sense experiences?

How is the movement controlled?

Can't tell

Does a thought control it?

No

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

Not sure. Seems automatic.

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

The right hand is automatically chosen. Maybe because I am right-handed.

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

No

I have changed my answer to this question.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

Not sure. I can control the movement? as I can stop it whenever.

Hi,

Yes. Contraction Sensation plus a label "self, " which is a thought, is all that's there. No self. Just a story.

Keep looking until you are clear that you are not doing it. No one is there to stop the hand.

It just happens, as you noticed in all of your other answers.

Can you see that?

Loving

Can you see that?

I think I see it. That the hand starts on its own, turns on its own and stops on its own.