In this post, I will assume that you already have completed step 1 and 2.
If not, you can find them here:
1: https://steemit.com/life/@navidzar/atheist-guide-to-shiva-step-1-direct-experience
2: https://steemit.com/life/@navidzar/atheist-s-guide-to-shiva-step-2-exploring-life-directly
So lets begin,
We have so far been exploring our Direct Experience of life.
We have seen that life, in its essence, consist mere of a seamless stream of sensation, perceptions, thoughts and emotions.
We have also recognised that our thoughts and beliefs have the ability to create stories, meaning and such, and to project them on to our experience.
Just take a minute now to see if what I concluded above is a somewhat harmonic description of your experience.
I do not want you to believe me here. Make this your own truth, or throw it away.
So, today, we will turn our attention around.
Instead of focusing our attention on our experiences, we will turn our attention to our Self.
We will turn our attention back to that which is aware of our experience.
This exercise is very simple. Just dedicate a few minutes and do it properly.
Sit comfortably and relax. Take a couple of deep breaths.
Focus on your Direct Experience, such as sounds, colours and shapes of the current scene. Give this around 10 seconds.
Now, Focus for another 10 seconds on the sense of just being. Just the total sense of existing.
Now, ask your direct experience: -What is it that is aware of the current life-experience?
Remember now from the previous steps: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED in what the mind wants to answer. The minds answer will always be labels, concepts, ideas, opinions etc - we wont settle with those copouts here.. We want to find the real deal :)
So keep to your direct experience and ask your self again: -What is it that is aware of my existence, of my thoughts, of my experiences. What is aware of me even doing this exercise? - Let your direct experience answer without words.
Give this exercise at least 3-5 minutes and be sincere. You are exploring who you really are, behind all the ideas your mind have about you. It might be worth some effort ;)
Now, my friends, I want you all to share below what you find.
- What is your direct experience of your essence?
- Is that which is experiencing your body and mind, also a body?
- That which is experiencing your eyes reading this text, does it have a color?
- Does your direct sense of "I" have a color? size?
Answer me from your experience, not from your thoughts, beliefs or ideas.
And we will go on from there! ;)
Love you all
/ Navid