Monday, March 19, 2012

Ultimate Irrelevance

This process, as the previous Disclaimer post suggests, is not in the control of a separate I. If it was, it would NEVER come to this.
Everything I ever thought about life is completely irrelevant to what is.

This is a bit of a shocker, even though it's been seen for a while. This awakening is like a penetrating oil, it loosens the nuts and bolts of a self constructed in thought. And now I am not sure if I am screwed or unscrewed :-)

I'm voting screwed.
In the sense that it's a powerful taking away of meaning, importance, and sense of special-ness.
If I never had another special thought about anything important, absolutely nothing would happen. Good, or bad.
That's how important all this thinking and striving and manufacture of meaning has been.
One way or the other, it is no longer relevant.

I could wait till dying and look back and have a good laugh.
What the hell was all that about? The passionate belief in things? The striving? Only to return to nothing, no-one, and the great blank at the end?

Or I could have moments where it is acknowledged that there is no-one here but the character, and it's all a play, but carry on. Like you do.

Or just live with the open space.

Crap.
I'm screwed.

I'll be posting a couple more conversations where someone else took the step towards ultimate irrelevance.
With much love.
Elizabeth

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Awakening: not what you thought

Recently we needed a disclaimer for the Liberation Unleashed forum.
A few of us had read Jed McKenna before arriving at the Gate. With a nod and a laugh to the Jed-i, please read on:

"Disclaimer
The method of inquiry used on this site may actually work, unlike many spiritual practices. It may change how you regard your self, your relationships and your world. Neither you nor we can predict how this will turn out for you. If you are already fragile, it may exacerbate any mental condition or disorder, or it may not. If your relationship sucks, it may improve it, or not. If you have strong religious or spiritual beliefs, direct experience may support them, or (in our experience) not.

You are responsible for your honesty, integrity and focus. 
We advise that you be willing to take the risk and accept that a leap into the unknown is just that.

All we can do for you is show you the door, you have to walk through it. 
Enter at your own risk."

This would have both thrilled and frightened me.
What do you think? 
Much love, Elizabeth


Thursday, February 23, 2012

A massive dose of I don't care.

I do not give a shit.
In the middle of a rant or a right snit, it all breaks down and there is nothing to care about.
Bit disconcerting.
Er, didn't I used to be wildly passionate?
Endlessly energetic in the pursuit of truth, knowledge, and the right point of view?
When did all this become something I no longer cared about?

A friend (thank you, Alexander) gave me a new word this week:
MY-nification is the process of associating everything in the world with a central point called 'I'. It all belongs to a me. It's a point of view. Unique to a me.
Currently, nothing belongs to a me.
Although there are a couple of dogs and a nice man who seem to be around a lot of the time :-)
This is ridiculous.
Surely a rational, grown, and educated human can hold an opinion?
Be described by an adherence to morals, principles, and ideas?
Have a nice spiritual programme and grow a little teary describing it's benefits?
OK, guilty on the last bit. This not caring IS the benefit.

No one really notices that I don't care. They still get food and conversation and hugs and I show up for the social conventions dressed like a nice, rational, grown-up human.
They may not notice that my requirement that they care about what I care about, is no longer in effect.
They may never know how little it concerns me that they are how they are.
Caring is a very small word. I'm both indifferent to you and enchanted by you. Is there a word for that?

Much love.















Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Diego Stargazer: Guest blogger

I am a big fan of Diego's writing, but even more enamored of his clarity.
This is a recent post of his. I hope you enjoy.


The Day I Left For Good

standing attentively listening
a thousand eyes open to the suffering of the world;
but that’s not how I woke up.
Hundreds of hours of energy healing practices
extending the sense of touch
through chakras, organs and solid objects;
that’s not how I woke up.
Many thousands of mantras
the speech of the Buddhas
chanted diligently, dutifully, determined;
but that’s not how I woke up.
Fasting regularly to develop discipline
and self control
and good health
patience too;
but that’s not how I woke up.
Reading hundreds of books
by authors with unpronounceable names
who made everyday experience sound exotic;
that’s definitely not how I woke up.
Attending empowerments
rituals, services
and blessings
could not have had
less to do
with how I woke up.
Bowing three times
before pictures of holy people
burning incense
or ringing bells;
that really had no part in how I woke up.
There is just one thing
that had any part to play
in how I woke up:
I left.
I left here for good.
I never did wake up.
Waking up just got tired
of following the I around.
Enough of this farce !
Said the awakeawarenothing
That had never been anywhere else
What a frabjous day !
That memorable day
the day I left for good.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

And now, The Book!

Ilona and Elena, who started the kind, gentle, self-killing machine that is Liberation Unleashed, have put together a book of their work with people who saw through the illusion of a separate self.

Below is the link to a free download, professionally put together by talented volunteers. All work on this book was done over the internet by a free-form working collective of people in  many different countries, without a squawk of egoic "me".

If you EVER tried to get a project off the ground in the workplace, you will know why they call in facilitators and mediators and fixers. I was one of those fixers, so please understand, this is odd.

I always wanted a spirituality that worked when I got up off the cushion.
This is very portable. Enjoy!

http://liberationunleashed.com/LU_Books.html

In other news, life is good.
Lots of ideas and bits of protective story are falling off.
Including the ones about awakening and enlightenment.
Both oversold, and in reality, literally beyond expectation.
Without an idea to hold the world in a fixed place, this is a constant surprise.
It's like being a kid again :-)

Much love, Elizabeth

Sunday, January 29, 2012

"It's so simple!"

This is an excerpt from a conversation with B. I was glad to talk with him, because, like many people in recovery, he had already found limits to self and self-will. This process is a further subtraction of self-concept from life. 

Elizabeth

We can do more searching if you like. Ask more questions. It's been the pattern for a long time. Patterns take some time to unwind. As they say in a certain program "it took you years to get in this mess, it's going to take a little time to clean up." Different times, for most. Some people blow it all out immediately and are left without a sense of self at all, I have not met one of those. Seem rare. 
This was even quieter for me. A few days of intense focus and then a "huh?' look at that." Just, saw. Took a couple of days after wandering around saying huh :-) and having moments of intense clarity. Then other things happened, like they do. 
This process is to lead us to seeing through the illusion of the separate self. 
I think you now see how a self puts itself together.
When you have a day or two of living this, could you sit down and write a summary of how that was?
What's life like, knowing that the self is a construct? 

I'll pass that on and ask a friend to invite you to an online group of people who are past this threshold, and embarking on the clean-up, or joy dance, or gratitude. Sounds familiar, probably. 
Much love, B. I look forward to hearing about this day.


B.
Yes Elizabeth, I am in the intense focus phase. Almost just like you are describing.... moments of clarity....simpleness... then "huh? " I do see how a self is constructed. Its the next part, the illusion part that is waffling. It comes and goes. 
Excellent idea for me to live with this for a day or two and see what shakes out. Was going to ask about that. If I get stuck I will come back in the interim and ask. Your work with me is appreciated. Will be back...


B.
Oh....my.....God!
I see!!!!!
It is so simple. I was making it so so hard.
Like everyone else.... Its all we knew how to do.

yesterday

I'm reading and looking and asking and looking hard... is it (the key to truly seeing the illusion) under this rock?.... look over there...where is it?.....its got to be there somewhere... all the rest of them found it....
can't find the damn key.... until my head hurt..literally. 
Its like I had put the key in and turned it but the lock was stuck. Come on lock.... OPEN!


then a little later in the day. 
Taking the dog for a walk and looking at things and just being, just walking....
The voice in the head started muttering about something...
It started to say, "I" .... and then it hit me. Wait... That "I" is just a thought.... OH MY GOD.... Its just a thought.
Just a thought.... not real. Just a thought!!!! Not real! where is it? where is this I? Is it real? Can I find?
I can't...


What is real?
If it can be felt seen heard tasted smelt.....its real. If it comes up in a thought...
not necessarily real!!!!! OH MY this is so very right in front of our noses.
So very much in front of THIS nose.... but wasn't seen..


It is now.
There is no I. not now, not yesterday, not ever. 
All just a big fat thought in the head. A huge one. A smothering one. 
We've all bought into it. I bought into it. 


No I. There's just whats going on. 
Life.
Now.
Here.
How simple. How clear. How easy once "I" got out of the way.
Whew................!!!
More to come. Off to work soon. 


Elizabeth - Thank you so very very much!
And all others on here....posters, liberators, all.
I've read most of your dialogues. Thank you!

Elizabeth
You are very welcome! The people who put in all the work on the front and back end of this forum, thank you, also. 
Looking forward to your next post.


B.
"What is an I, if you were trying to explain it to someone who needed to know?"


An I is a figment of almost every living human’s imaginataion. It’s the core of what we refer to when we say I, me, mine, myself… At a very young age, you start to know your name and then comes the sure process of identification with this image of yourself as an I. That’s me you tell yourself, this is MY stuff, MY face, body, family, life……….Look in the mirror, that’s me. The stories start and the I is at the very center of every one. I did this, I did that. I know this or that. Everything that comes into contact with the I sticks to it. Good and bad.
The I likes it or hates it and every shade inbetween. The I is almost never satisfied. It gets what it thinks it wants, and then something else is wanted. The I is deeply afraid it won’t be someday and is continuously concocting schemes to protect itself and also how to get what it wants or at least what it thinks will ease the underlying suffering of separation it feels. It doesn’t know that it is feeling separation…..Just a deep knowing that something is missing. Not whole. Theres no end to it. Even though you can’t find an I anywhere in reality, this assumption is unquestioned by the world. 



What I have learned is that the I is truly only a thought. It is an illusion. A superb illusion. This I can be searched for but not found in the real world. To find it is a very subtle process that can be seen by almost anyone with the right patience and pointers. Its like it was there all the time right out in the open but almost impossible to see. When the seeing happens, clarity starts.


"What is it like now, is it any different? When you have a day or two of living this, could you sit down and write a summary of how that was? What's life like, knowing that the self is a construct?"


The last two days at work have been an absolute joy. The heart is open. I have talked to more people and had genuine conversation with them, looked them all in the eyes, and felt connected, than in a long long time. Its like whatever fear I had is gone. Fear of rejection… fear of disapproval…. Who cares? Not “I”. There is truly no self to be afraid or hurt. 


The fear being gone is what I’m noticing….. Another example: B. had big fear of being broke… not having enough money….(even though I really do) always I thought (key word thought) I had to get the very best deal on everything I buy. Why? Fear. So I would turn this whole thing into “Bill is the best deal finder” to puff up my ego…. To really compensate for the fear I was feeling... I saw this pattern in all its glory yesterday. Wow! 


That’s a beautiful thing to see the stuff that runs you…then there’s a choice. 


So something came up where I had to buy something (car mirror) and I started into my ‘look on ebay for the best…..deal and then check over there….’ Then I just stopped. What am I afraid of? There is no self to be afraid of anything. I guess nothing then. Bought the damn thing full price at the dealer and got it out of the way. That’s big for me. No matter how much spiritual stuff I had read studied in the past, lack has always been a big one for me. No real anger for a long time….. a few small disturbances, but quickly let go of. My heart being open is similar to the times I would do the backup team on the seminars I had mentioned. I would feel an opening up during and right after….then slowly but surely the heart would close up for protection from daily life……It is very open right now. And peaceful. 


B: 
Now I know what Tolle means when he says that joy is vibrantly alive peace..... That's whats been going on for me lately, just this deep feeling that all is OK as it is and I do not have to do anything... And then I find a big smile...And then gratitude.... and not in response to anything specific.... just being. I am waking up every day with this feeling... and it is actually vibrant. I have never felt anything like this before other than momentarily. It is amazing.


It was very interesting to see what would happen with all of this while going to the funeral. This was my first real venture outside the comfort of home and work since I saw the illusion the other day. The funeral was for my wife's cousin, she was a little older than my wife, she died of lung cancer but had never smoked in her life! I had only met her a handful of times so did not know her well. What I did get was that she was a very kind and accepting person....that's what I remember of her. The service was christian and I did my best to bear with it as I have a completely different interpretation of what Jesus said than the Christian church does. It was difficult to find a lot that was real in what they were saying... But it was OK as it was. As the funeral service got going they started to play some music and I don't even remember what it was... something country.... and the singer's evocative voice came out and just shook me to the core. Wow! Tears of sadness, joy... my wife was surprised. So was I. Thought a lot about who dies.. What or who is it that really dies? Not life. Life goes on. All is OK. 


Noticed when I was driving up and back (250 miles) I didn't bitch anyone out! (Well maybe just one :) 
Anyway, there is more acceptance of what is. Everywhere. A lot more. There is no I to be hurt. There is no reason to get upset over anything and especially the little stuff. And its truly all little stuff. 
The other things that happened on the trip turned into eventually a comedy of errors. First the wife left her purse at a restaurant.... we got it back. Whew! Then I lost our cell phone ....didn't get it back! Bummer. The car which is usually flawless had an idiot light come on when we were halfway home... didn't know for sure if we were going to get home. We did. This kind of crap would have normally sucked my attention in and I would have owned it and that is all I would have been thinking about. Especially losing the cell phone. I would have beat myself up over that for a week. Well I thought about it, and was able to fairly quickly let go of it and I think me doing that helped my wife let go of it too. It is just a cell phone, just a car...just a little ripples on the surface... 
The ocean is unperturbed. There is a depth of peace that I haven't known before.. 
This is all just life... doing as life does.  B. has no control of it. Wife also noticed how well we were getting along and no real fighting! 
Nice.


I notice that the sense of self is still here... diminished... but then I also know that its an illusion and in reality it is not really here. Never has been here. There's only the illusion of a self. This is kind of a paradox. I had bought into it hook line and sinker like the rest of mankind. Liberation is a good term for this. There is no I. There is just what is in front of me right now and that is what is true. 
Thoughts are thoughts and are real but not necessarily indicative of what is true. I'm not taking my thoughts as seriously as I have in the past. There are alot of times they are not to be believed. Noticed a few times some doubt came in.... this was allowed to be and it passed.


Several days ago I didn't think I was ready... but I do now. What is the next step?
Namaste,
B.

I never know what the next step is for a free person :-) but B. chose to guide others on the Liberation Unleashed forum, and is doing so now.
Love to you, dear reader.  

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A young man sees emptiness.

A young man (I was never this together in High School) sees through the illusion. This is the entire dialogue, begun on December 27th, 2011, 6:40 am


Elizabeth:
Hello, and welcome.
Can you say a little about your background and why you are here?


J:
Hey Elizabeth,
I'd be glad to.
I am in California. My family moved closer to the ocean because of my asthma - it was difficult for me to breathe back in our home town.
Right now, I am in my Senior year at my local high school. I don't have that much interest in school, but I manage to get good enough grades to appease my parents. Teachers like my because I am quiet and don't interrupt. Classmates like me because I remain calm and smile often.
After school, I play on my high school's tennis team. Or if our team is not practicing that day, I'll play some volleyball down at the local gym.
To earn some money, I walk dogs. Dogs like me and I like them - we jive together quite well.
Honestly, I'm just floating through life like a piece of drift wood. Money doesn't interest me like it once did. Nor do cars, computers, status, women, or video games. Don't get me wrong - I'm not depressed. It's just that I've realized that the stuff that's supposed to make you happy is really just an obstacle to happiness. That my 'self' - the aggregate of my thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions, desires, wants, aversions, and all that other good stuff that I identify with - is just in the way of reality.
So to get rid of it, I meditated. Remained in the moment. Acted mindfully. And lo and behold, I came to the realization that I am not myself. Rather, I am simply awareness. With this realization accompanied a sense of equanimity and spaciousness overflowing with love. Awareness does not discriminate, judge, or distinguish - everything is the same under its eyes. All is one. One is all.
Woah!
Unfortunately, my foray into ego-less awareness was short-lived. Doubt came slithering into my mind and dragged me back to my ego, full of low-grade suffering and discontent.
So why I am here? I'm not sure what triggered this episode of mini-Enlightenment. I've tried to replicate it with only partial success. I would greatly appreciate your help, Elizabeth, in finding this trigger.
Much love,
J
P.S. I may or may not have experienced egoless awareness. (I) think (I) did. =)

Elizabeth:
Hi J,
Nice to meet you. Thanks for the background. Seems like you are ready for the next step. Lots of us arrive here with some of it dialed in already, have had some interesting experiences, but the seeking continues.
Welcome!
This will be a series of questions that lead us closer to seeing through the illusion of self. I recommend staying to the end of the conversation, you seem serious about it, that is a good start.
You wrote:
"That my 'self' - the aggregate of my thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions, desires, wants, aversions, and all that other good stuff that I identify with - is just in the way of reality."

Tell me how you construct a self from the above.
What is the process, as far as you observe it directly?
Not beliefs or knowledge about the construction, but the actual process in action. Reporting honestly and thoroughly will give us a lot of information to start with, always helpful.
Here is a starting point: Look at a computer in front of you. It's a 'your' computer. How did it become something attached to a you?
Looking forward to hearing from you on this.
I learn something every time :-)
Love, Elizabeth


J:
Hmmm... good questions!
Why is it 'my' computer?
Ownership - For the most part, I control this computer. I can download what I want, go to whatever website I want, delete whatever I want, etc. I could even destroy it or sell it.
Memories - I've been using this computer for roughly 5 years now - my mind holds many memories of me working with it.
History - This computer records the websites that I visit, programs I install, etc. It keeps a running list of the things I do to it.
On to the self. How do I construct a self? I don't think 'I' actually did anything. It sort of happened by itself.

The way I see it, my self is the little voice/little man inside my head. The voice/man that tells me what to do, who to call, when to go, how I look, etc. It's an ongoing source of directions. It's the owner.

That makes my body and emotions 'the computer'. I identify with my body because I can control it. I think I identify with my body stronger than my emotions because I have more control over my body than my emotions.

For example, the voice right now is telling me to write this message to you. Since this voice is in control of my body, my body responds and writes the message. I guess I've always believed that 'I' am the Owner, so I identify with the voice/little man.

When the little man/voice feels angry, I identify with the anger because I identify with the little man/voice.
And when I think about other people, I think of them in terms of the little man in their heads. If their funny, nice, mean, energetic, sad, ditsy, powerful, etc. I don't purposefully do this. It happens by itself.
Furthermore, when I think about other people's little men, I automatically compare to my little man. Once again, it happens by itself.

Very strange! It's funny - I've been exposed to these concepts before, but they didn't actually click with my mind until I started actually thinking about them.
I'm excited to hear the next questions!

J:
My previous post is a jumble - let me try that one more time.
This evening, I was taking a long hot shower which is my absolute favorite time to think.
My brain began to have a dialogue with itself that went something like this:
A: "This is my body that is experiencing this lovely shower"
B: "My implies ownership and therefore control. Well then... who (or what) is the owner of your body?"
A: "My brain!"
B: "Really?"
A: "Sure! My brain thinks 'right leg up' and my body responds accordingly!"
B: "So who is the owner of your brain? Did something ever put a dog collar around your brain? Is your brain someone's bitch? Can you control how you think? What you feel? What you desire? Where is the little voice in your head coming from?"
A: "..."
Cue me spending ten desperate minutes searching for the little voice.
I didn't find anything. Fear began to rush into my head. To comfort myself, I began to ask "who exactly is the one being feared." At that moment, I felt very alone. Disconnected. Separate from my body, thoughts, and emotions. It was an uncomfortable experience. And strangely, I felt increasingly aware of my body. It was like my consciousness was 6 inches behind my back, flooding a floodlight of awareness onto my body. And it did not feel good at all.
I felt like I was alone, drifting in space. No stars, planets, or colors. Just myself and blackness.
Then suddenly, a real big grin appeared on my face. Just for 15 seconds or so, I felt the opposite of my earlier experience. Happy. Interconnected. Comfortably aware.
And just as soon as the smile came, it was gone. Back to the fear.
I got out of the shower and began to write this post. After this experience, I think I understand the difference between an intellectual and actual understanding of no-self.
Elizabeth, I'd like some help understanding what happened. Furthermore, I am confused about the relationship between my body and mind. Sometimes, my body just acts without thought. Other times, thought is required for my body to act.
Very strange.
J


Elizabeth:
Interesting how even a little honest looking works so well and so quickly. And it's nice you get the difference between a direct experience and an intellectual one. We can use your experience here to move to the next question. Your answers will be found as you answer the questions for yourself.
That's the direction we are going in. A direct experience of truth. Not more thoughts about it. Nothing second hand.
Have you noticed that ownership begins with a thought, represented in language with possessive pronouns such as me, mine, and I?
So in reality, there is a computer. In thought it is MY computer, with a history and a story. Even a future, as you plan for upgrades or replacement.
How very interesting that things which appear to be attached to a self, partake of the characteristics of a self. Almost as if they were part of a self.
Can this be true?
A body appears to be part of a self, also. Responding to the brain. Where thoughts appear. Thoughts which claim that they are controlling the body. So, let's look at them, very closely, as we go through an ordinary day.
1/ where are the thoughts coming from? In reality?
2/ Do they really control your body? Exceptions?
3/are all thoughts about a self, or a self in relation to the world? Or are there different categories?
4/ are thoughts real?
5/ are thoughts always about real things?

This is a lot of serious looking, and please write copious amounts about the process of looking and checking. This leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for both of us, if we need to backtrack for any reason, to identify a sticky bit, or work out a belief.
Your process is also serving as a guide for others, so doubly useful.
I check in here at least twice a day, so should not be too long before you get feedback.
Have a very interesting day, J :-)
Love, Elizabeth

J:
Hey Elizabeth,
This post will be a mix between answers for your questions and some brainstorming.
First, the brainstorming - this will help me get my thoughts out on paper.
Who am I? I don't know. I identify with my emotions, thoughts, and body. These are all interconnected. But is there a sole "I" who stands apart? I have not found one, but I continue the hunt.
What is self? Google tells me it is "a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, esp. considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action." According to this definition, self is formed in relationship with others. But what is a person's essential being? And how exactly do you compare two or more person's essential being? Hmmm... good questions to explore in the shower.
What exactly do you do with a self? At first this seemed like an easy question. But it was actually quite difficult for me to answer. I think you use your self to live your life... to interact with other people... to grow... to pursue your goals... to make friends... and to find a place in human society.
Why would I want to get rid of my self? Or... why would I want to recognize that there was no real self to begin with? Happiness and peace... a very "selfish" goal ironically. "No self, no problem" as the saying goes. There seems to be a gentle tug towards the realization of no-self, like a moth drawn to a flame.
What's going on in my mind right now? Categorization. Perception. Distortion. My senses take reality in and my mind automatically alters it, putting the stimuli in the category of "MINE!" Or "THEIRS!" Or "YOURS!" Or "GOOD", "BAD", "WANT", and "AVOID". This conceptualization takes "a computer" and turns it into "my computer". This same conceptualization is what takes "a person" and turns it into "me" or "you". For example, today I felt jealous and hurt that my cousin was ignoring me. Already, I have conceptualized "jealousy", "hurt", "my cousin", "ignoring", and "me." There was no thought put into this. There was no command for this to happen. It simply happened by itself. This conceptualization is a habit. I think it can be unlearned.

What's going on in my mind right now? #2 Rehearsing and rehashing. Reliving the past and imagining the future... this is when my sense of self is strongest. Hmmm... it seems like the self could be my mental images of me doing something or another. When I think of my past memories, something inside me starts nodding and saying, "Yup. This is who you are. This is your story!" Hmmm... is my self my story? The story of the past and the story going into the future?

What is self? #2 Maybe... my self is the story that I tell myself about who I am and the life I live. This definition strongly resonates as truth to me. It is the story that I have conceptualized in my head. There's the center of the story who is the protagonist (this is me), the antagonist (in today's case, my cousin who ignored me), the setting (from 1994 to 2011, in Modesto and Santa Cruz), the events (waking up, going to school, learning, talking to friends, getting mad at Dad, getting happy with Dad, eating food, all the other little things going on in life), and the resolution (my death whenever that may come). My mind has conceptualized a story for me, the protagonist, to live within, work within, love within, learn within, and die within. Not only that, the story has created who I am... "I am a student. I am athletic. I am calm. I am quiet. I am a teenager. I am lazy. I am a dog lover. I am a tennis player. I am reserved. I am loving. I am kind. I am boring. I am bland." With those attributes, the story has told me... no, more than that.... controlled who I am and what I should do and who I should be and what are my goals and who should I love and where should I live and when I should talk and how I should react and what should I say and yaddah yaddah yaddah.

Jesus. This seems like a big piece of the puzzle.

Woah! And in this part of the story, Jordan is heroically trying to recognize the nonexistence of self by communicating with another character called Elizabeth (who is a very awesome person for helping Jordan in his time of need). This is an all-encompassing story!
How do I get rid of the story? Hmmm... I guess I just have to start living without the story. Since the story exists in the past and future, that means that I should live in the present. How do I do that? Probably by focusing my attention on whatever is going on right now at this very moment. Of course, I need to stop conceptualizing so there are no more characters and events in the story. No more "my"! But hold up... what exactly is a "story"?
What is a story? Google informs me that it is "an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment." Hmmm... "for entertainment" are the key words here. This is a story that has literally captured my mind and held it captive for the past 17 years. I think it is the greatest story ever told... one that has totally occupied my mind.

Do I want even want to get rid of the story? I look back fondly at my past 17 years of life. Laughing with friends, eating dinner with the family, going to movies, playing tennis, sitting on top of my dad's shoulders at my brother's baseball game in modesto... do I really want to lose that? Sure there's been some times when I've felt like shit, but for the most part, life has been good to me. And what about college? Marriage? Traveling the world? All that stuff in the future that I want to do. Do I want to lose that? Hmmm.... actually, I won't be losing much at all. Because however great this story is... it's just a bunch of concepts. Ideas. Perceptions. The awareness will remain. I don't know if I want to wake up... but is just seems like the right thing to do. Call it a gut feeling. And if I want to go back to the story, I think I'll be able to do so.


Is the story real? "Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed"... no, the story is not real. It is imagined. It is supposed. It is not reality. It is reality through a lens of perception. Subjectively... it is quasi-real. Objectively... it doesn't exist at all.

So why do I want to get rid of the story? Why should I stop believing in the story? "No self, no problem." = "No story, no problem." I find this to be true. I think that once I stop believing in the story... love will fill the void. Light. Happiness. Once again, gut feeling.

How does Elizabeth fit into the picture? Hmmm.... I have a strong intellectual understanding of no-self that is tantalizingly close to an actual understanding. During parts of my day, I exist without self. For a few minutes, I stop believing in the story. But only for a few minutes. I'd like to exist without self for an entire day. That is my goal. Elizabeth... I have a feeling that you've already made this journey. I would greatly appreciate your advice and questions that will help me recognize no-self.

I wrote this from 9:30PM to 10:30PM. This post evolved and developed the further I got into it. Thanks for reading.
Love, J

Elizabeth:
You are working this, questioning, following the reasoning. Good. This is a subtractive process, stripping away our unquestioned beliefs.
You are moving towards answering the questions about thoughts that require your direct observations.
The purpose of this process is to see through the illusion of a separate self. This is pretty stark. Not looking for a self, not looking for a no-self. We actually see that in reality, no separate self, no entity, is owning and directing, living life.
This is where people get fearful or creative.
This is why the Elizabeth character will keep focusing us back on the thoughts, although she appreciates the working down to the rational bones. That's part of it for sure. It is useful.
So, notice that you are circling the direct looking at thought.
And just start looking in such a way that you can honestly answer the questions. If you can't answer, just say so and we'll come at it from another angle.
No worries from here.
Thanks, and look forward to your next post.

J:
Back to the questions about thought:
1/ where are the thoughts coming from? In reality?
2/ Do they really control your body? Exceptions?
3/are all thoughts about a self, or a self in relation to the world? Or are there different categories?
4/ are thoughts real?
5/ are thoughts always about real things?


1. Okay... here are two very basic observations about thoughts.
Thoughts come in the form of language. Language is symbolic.
I am aware of my thoughts. I am usually unaware of the reasoning that results in this thought.
I think the most important of these observations is point #2. To illustrate this point, here is an example.e

I was playing volleyball with cousin today. I thought to myself, "Woah. S isn't that good of a volleyball player. She's making us lose." The reasoning behind the thought went something like this:
S is my cousin.
We are playing volleyball.
A good volleyball player can hit the ball hard, set the ball in the proper location, and predict where the opposing team will place the ball.
Savannah does not display these characteristics.
Therefore, she is a bad volleyball player.
Since the score is 2 to 6 right now, we are losing.
S is the reason why my team is losing

I was completely oblivious to this reasoning - it occurred automatically in my unconscious mind. Even more fundamental than the reasoning is the processing of external stimuli in my brain. I was also oblivious to that. So what is the source of thought? The unconscious mind where the reasoning occurs. I'm really only aware of the end product - the thought.

2. Do thoughts control my body? Yes and no. No, in the sense that I don't think to myself, "right leg up, right leg down, left leg up, left leg down" when walking. Thoughts, however, do influence my body. Thinking, "I am happy" makes me feel happy. Thinking, "Go left", makes me go left.
The real control of my body comes from my unconscious mind. It directs me and instructs me how to walk automatically.

3. Some thoughts are about a self, or a self in relation to others. The most frequent and strongest thoughts have to do with my bodily needs - "I'm hungry, I'm tired, I'm thirsty, I'm cold, etc." (Perhaps the unconscious mind uses thoughts as means to get my body to do something ASAP). In fact, most thoughts are about a self, or a self in relation to others. Still, lots of my thoughts simply describe an object, sing a song, do math, or remember directions.

4. Because thoughts influence my body/emotions, they are real. Not the best logic, but calling thoughts fake doesn't make sense to me. The content of thoughts, however, are extremely subjective and often incorrect.

5. Nope. Some mornings in class, I'll catch myself thinking about having superpowers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a nutshell, this is how I think thoughts occur:
Stimulus (Sensation, Emotion, Thought) > Mental Processing > Thought
Much love, J

J:
Something is starting to click...
I am not in control of my mind, body, or emotions. My unconscious mind is.
How can I expand on this, Elizabeth?
I'm feeling light and airy right now...
J
Elizabeth:
Good stuff, Jordan. Working it down. So, thoughts pop into mind pretty much fully formed, by a process you are not conscious of. Some thoughts refer to self, some to a process. Thoughts themselves are real, the content is ah, questionable at best. It's interesting that the only way to question thoughts is with thinking about, and excavating the likely culprits...but those are thoughts also.
So there are thoughts, and thoughts about thoughts. You say they are generated by the unconscious, which is a semi-controller, you think...but don't know.
I'd add that thoughts are impermanent. They vanish. Or the story, and the thoughts, can change completely over time. Think of a story that did that. Like Santa Claus :-) A character that you believe in till the evidence mounts up. Made up of thoughts, a story.
Let's look a little more deeply. Is anything/anyone actually controlling, or is control an illusion, of thoughts claiming ownership and do-ership after the fact? Let's look very directly at what we are doing right now.
As you type, what is typing? What is the actual experience of typing out a flow of words, mental representations?
Where are the thoughts coming from? Anyone in control of them? The fingers?
Check it out.
Then, today I'd like you to try this: As you move around, pick things up, open doors, walk, see how much of that needs a self to own and direct it. In reality. Does a self do the dishes?
And when the self thoughts come in (you've identified some thoughts as being about self, and some not) check to see at what point they come in. Before the action, during, or after? Keep a very close eye on the wee impermanent things. What are they up to?
This requires some fierce focus and coming back to it again and again. But the results are illuminating.
Let me know what you find!
Love, Elizabeth

J:
I sit down on my chair, coming with an intention to answer your questions. Right now, there is no thought saying, "I am here to answer Elizabeth's questions about what goes on in my thoughts while I type this message to you. But... while I typed the previous sentence, a thought popped up, saying "better include 'about what goes on in my thoughts' for clarity's sake." As I write these words, I speak them aloud. I am not aware of any thoughts going on in my head as I write these sentences. I just hear words. If I stop speaking aloud, I think the words as I write them instead. As soon as I finish typing one word, the next word comes from my mouth (or in my head), and I write that word to. It's like a machine gun: shoot, reload, shoot, reload, shoot, reload. Cue mental image of machine gun firing bullets. Lasted 3-5 seconds.

I pause. The intention was lost. Now it is back. My hands dance around the keyboard, clicking and clacking away. "This is poetic!"... that thought just popped up. Made me laugh. I'm typing again. I have no control over my hands right now. Thought just popped up: "You do have control over your hands." Hmmm... opposite response to my words. Strange.

I keep typing. "Why do you keep typing." Don't know. Mini-conversation between page and thoughts. "Cute", says my mind.

Hmmm... this time, I typed the words on the screen before saying them aloud. "Habit... writing" those two words just popped into my head. "This is a habit you do when you get writer's block"... my mind completes sentence. Just backspaced. Automatically noticed that something was wrong in previous sentence. "Can't remember." Thinking words now.

Noticing breathing. Forgot earlier point. Adjust posture. Breathing again.

Lost train of thought. Hmmm.... "You're just doing that to prove a point" mind says. Pause. Try to ignore sounds from television in living room. Look... no scroll down to Elizabeth's post. Gotta answer questions. Strong intention to answer question. Feel angry for stream of consciousness. "Don't worry Jordan, you're looking directly at reality... this is what you're supposed to do!" my mind reassures me. Eyes saw red lines below consciousness, telling me I spelled it wrong. Right clicked, chose correct spelling. No thought involved. Habitual.

"Time to look at Elizabeth's questions," mind reminds me. Scroll down.

Look for select words: computer, typing, anything involved with this thing I'm doing now. Find one. No thought involved. "Gotta highlight, copy, quote, and paste!"

Is anything/anyone actually controlling, or is control an illusion, of thoughts claiming ownership and do-ership after the fact? Let's look very directly at what we are doing right now.
As you type, what is typing? What is the actual experience of typing out a flow of words, mental representations?
Where are the thoughts coming from? Anyone in control of them? The fingers?
Check it out.


"Ahhhhhhh yeah!!!!!" my mind says. I chuckle. I have no idea what's going on right now.

Reality moving too fast. Typing can't keep up.

Look back to quotes. Didn't think... maybe I did. Can't remember. Looking up. tilting head.

As I read words, say them aloud in head. Rereading. Heavy breathing. "Indicative of some big realization."

I chuckle! "That's funny." Notice that I breathe heavily once I'm on the verge of realizing something. Habit. In the previous observation, thought "Notice..." and my hands and mouth took over. The mind triggered a reaction by thinking one word, and the hands and mouth completed the sentence.

"This is getting ugly" "Quotes!!!!" Shit. Elizabeth, quotes mean thoughts, not spoken word. Not thinking right now. Writing and speaking aloud. Can I write without speaking aloud.

asdlkjadsfkj;ladfskjl;fadsjlk;ghladfskj;lafskj;fsad yes asdklfjj;ladfskk;ljdfsakj;ldafskj;ladfskjl no lk;adfskj;lfadskj;lfadskj;ldlafskj;fdaskjadfskj;lfsad weoaf adfsk;ljadfsjlk;adfsj yes i love godasf d god damnit

I have to speak or think while I'm writing. Speaking is easier. I am not aware of speaking and thinking at the same time. Perhaps my speaking covers up my thinking. Notice previous sentence is nonsensical. Do not think. Edit.

DOne. STOP. Over. Tired. "Will analyze in 5 minutes." "I'm hungry. Thirsty!" "Not sure if including "I'm" in earlier sentence out of habit or to prove a point or because I'm talking to you Elizabeth about self, or for another reason. Weird.

I've got a friend named Elizabeth. Start chucklin. Laughter. No idea what's going on. Hands are still dancing. Okay. Stop. Intention is gone for now.
J
Wowza. This stream of consciousness was extraordinarily enlightening! Here's what I notice from this 10 minute rambling of mine:

[list=]
[*] I am oblivious to what's going on. Sure, I've meditated and was aware of lots of things. But it's not till I wrote it all down that I realize how much stuff I'm missing!
[*] Control. It's an illusion. It's... just reactions. My mind selectively chooses pieces of information to support this idea of control. I think to myself, "Because I think 'left arm up' and my left arm goes up, that means I have control!" But my mind ignores the underlying belief that I have control, that my body considers whether or not to follow the order, the assumption that I have an I, the emotional and habitual protection of beliefs (I sometimes feel like an idiot when I someone proves me wrong), the environmental and sociological conditioning of the existence of an independent self, and another belief that I am responsible for my own actions... therefore, I have control over my own actions. Plus, whether my emotions at the moment dictate that I be open-minded and receptive or closed-minded and unreceptive. Sorry. Rambling. Point being that my mind cherry-picks.
[*] My emotions, thoughts, and body are interconnected. Body triggers thought and emotional response. Thoughts trigger bodily and emotional response. Emotions trigger thought and bodily response. This all happens in a very, very chaotic way! A crazy symphony of sensations in my body resulted in that post.
[*] Impermanence - my thoughts, emotions, and body were moving incredibly fast. So fast that it was nearly impossible to document them. In fact, I had to ignore many things because my hands wouldn't move fast enough! My awareness was also very jumpy - it moved from one object to another in a heartbeat, searching for the strongest/most prominent sensation.[/list]

Thank you for introducing me to that insightful exercise, Elizabeth.

Besides the exercise, you also suggested I look at whether or not I needed a self to complete my daily activities. Let's back up a little... I am an not totally clear what a self is. Is it my story? Control? Thoughts about 'I'?

What is your definition of a self, Elizabeth?
Much love and typing,
J

J:
Food for non-thought, here. =)
This is a response to the question in my previous post.

Santa Claus. Big, fat, and jolly. Generous. Gives presents to kids. Wears red and white. Trademark words are: "Ho ho ho!" Rides in red sleigh powered by magical reindeer. Embodies the spirit of Christmas.

J. Skinny, white, and calm. Intelligent. Loves dogs. Wears tee-shirts, shorts, and sandals. Trademark words are: "blah blahblah blah blahblahblah, man" Rides in Subaru Forester powered by dead dinosaurs. Embodies the spirit of the 1960's.

The similarities are uncanny!
Santa Claus is a character defined by select attributes (clothing, words, emotions, ride) and a story (brings presents to billions of children around the world in one night, writes a list of who's naughty or nice).
J is a character defined by select attributes (clothing, words, emotions, ride) and a story (moved to Santa Cruz because of asthma, good yet lazy student, loves dogs).
An integral part of each of these character's is control - each is believed to have control over oneself.
What I'm seeing more and more is that:

(1) The character is not static. The attributes and story constantly fluctuate moment to moment.
(2) Control is an illusion. It's all reaction.
(3) The character is created by thought and fueled by belief. He's only real in your head.

Why do I believe in J, but not Santa Claus? Why do I believe the thoughts and story about Jordan, but not the thoughts and story of Santa Claus? There's much more in common between these two characters than there are differences.

Is it because of the belief that there just has to be someone experiencing reality? It's all goes back to belief, doesn't it? J... is as real as I want him to be. He is as real as I think him to be.

J:
There was no story, attributes, or character to begin with. I imagined it.
J

Elizabeth:
Hey, J :-)
You answered your own questions. It was right there. There is more.
What is behind that busy illusion? Look behind. Tell me what you see.
Much love.

J:
"Emptiness. And it's beautiful."
J

Elizabeth:
It is beautiful. I sat here for a while and looked at it with you. Such an amazing...
Happy no birth day, Jordan. It will be easy to remember the date!

It's time to ask you some Gate questions. These have a couple of purposes.
Sometimes a very determined I will make a cunning attempt to own even this, so we look and see if there is any confusion, or I-dentification we can clear up before you go off. Saves years of trouble.
It also serves as a record for you, as life changes.
Some other guides will check this over, see if there is anything I missed. And invite you to aftercare with others, as it's probably difficult to talk of this to many people in our lives.
It's a diverse group (coughs).
So, the questions.
1/What's the I?
2/Is there a you, at all, in any way, shape or form?
3/ You've walked around for a day or so, with the new view. What's the difference between there being a you and there being no you?
4/ What was it that cracked you out?
I was surprised to find there was homework assigned to awakening, but really amused :-)
Much love, Elizabeth

J:
Yay! Thank you very much for your help, Elizabeth.

1. The 'I' is a character with attributes and a story. There is also an element of control, identification, and ownership over one's emotions, body, and thoughts. The 'I' is the stuff of thought... in reality, there is no story, control, identification, or ownership. It's just misguided thought fueled by belief, a result of language based on self, conditioning that supports the idea of self, and a system that places an enormous amount of value on getting more for one's self.
2. Nope. J is Santa Claus - an imaginary character.
3. Less thought. More awareness of body. No identification with body, emotions, or thought. If there is identification, notice how that conflicts with reality. Quietness of mind. Emptiness of mind. Less responsibility. Less guilt. More freedom. Notice how mind automatically thinks in terms of self. More smiles. Egoless awareness. Getting out of my head and sticking to the present moment.
4. Santa Claus. Examining St. Nick's character and story and comparing it with J's character and story. Lotsa similarities were found.
Much love,
J

Elizabeth:
Thanks, that covers the work nicely.
We'll see if anyone has a supplementary question, but I don't see much else to do. You clearly see the chief mechanism that builds an I, and as time goes on, you'll discover more subtle aspects of I building, but it's going to be much harder to sneak past this knowing.
In particular, when you start to suffer, you'll know you've just attached to something. I now look forward to suffering as it flushes out another identification to look at. Just look, and it disappears like the Cheshire Cat. Eventually. Leaving you with a smile. Another fading fiction!
It can be a bit of a ride, a back and forth, right after Gate, that is quite normal, no cause for alarm. It settles when it does.
Ilona will invite you, in a bit, to the after-group. Lots of discussion.
This has been fun work with you, J. Look forward to hearing more from you and how it goes. PM me here any time, any reason.
Hug and love, Elizabeth

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Miguel's awakening, and the new Spanish Speaker's Forum

I've had the distinct pleasure of working with people on Facebook, email, and lately, on the Liberation Unleashed forum.
This direct pointing process recently became available in languages other than English.
Miguel is one of the founding members of the new Spanish forum, after bravely seeing through the illusion of self.
In a language he is not entirely comfortable in.
That is motivation!
Here is part of the dialogue. He's seen that self is an illusion, and it's sinking in.

Miguel:
After the intilial "Click" awakening is happening slowly.
There's no i but identification with thoughts yet and everything seems to be as always.
But there's no me.
Yesterday inquiring had a beautiful glipse if the truth. I was awakening in to reality. The feeling was like a tree growing and blossoming, life showing all its beauty. It is beautiful.
When i inquire this glimpses happen more and more often.
This last night i saw for the first time really clear that there is nobody in there. Really clear. It was kind of a frightening "experience". NOBODY in there. "I" was like a clock working by itself. All my being was a clock working alone, without a doer. Only happening. It was amazing to see it directly.
This morning started some inquiry and again, the direct experience of life blossoming by it self. I was part of the game of life. I was one with life. This realization is really powerful and when u see it all desires stop coz all is here and there's nothing to get. Here is the best of all the spiritual experiences possibles, the best orgasm, the best of all your desires accomplished, the best of all the gifts...
Its very beautiful and tears tends to appear cz the search stops.


Next day: Miguel
Thoughts continue appearing with the action. And there's still identification. I still believe that this thoughts are doing anything.
But one thing has disappeared today. The fear of losing it and the insecurity of losing my awakening. Now i feel more secure about this, more established in it.

Elizabeth:
We've been talking a bit offline, and you've been talking to others, and it's all becoming clearer, day by day. Layers and layers of belief come up, are questioned, sometimes come back. We are not in a hurry, as the journey is, as you say, amazing.
This is the process. I've heard it referred to as the natural state, as we relax into what we really are.
Please post here as you like, it helps others, we've heard that so often.
Love.

Miguel:
Yeah, its getting established slowly day by day.
Yesterday was a very intense day with lot of movement. The silence, the presence of truth is really overwhelming sometimes and some layers of fear appeared. Theres a feeling of losing control or driving me crazy sometimes cz i know all is slowly falling down. That's the feeling and it brings fear here.
Today i'm feeling more balanced and really tired cz of yesterdays movement.
The most beautiful feeling was the feeling of my aura, my etheric body getting really light and the feeling of space full of lightness inside the body. Like if all the solid thoughts and emotions are getting lighter. It feels so good.

But experiences comes and goes.  We all know that and they are not the objective. Better not to get attached to this kind of stuff although is good to enjoy it the time it is there and maybe inquire a bit about whos enjoying this experiences.
Today i feel more grounded but tired. Feels like today i'm resting from yesterday whole being "trip".
It feels like i see more clear that there's no Santa. It feels like santa is being attachment dissolved and getting smaller and smaller. Theres no fear about loosing it now and see with more clarity.

Next day: Miguel
Whole being purification was really powerful yesterday and theres no doubt here about whats happening here and that this is real and its really happening (mind didnt want to belive 2 days ago).


If you'd like to see the whole conversation, and many more, please go onto Liberation Unleashed, and look at the Liberations link on the Board Index.
If you'd like to do this in Spanish, please apply to Miguel and his friends on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/miranohaynadie/

Still free, still on the internet, still amazing.
Much love, Elizabeth