\n<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been hanging around in awakening circles, you might\u2019ve heard the term direct experience or actual experience thrown around.<\/p>\n
Direct experience points to what is experienced in this moment.<\/p>\n
Not in thought. Not in the future or in the past. Right here, right now.<\/p>\n
Direct experience is simply:<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s thought, which is often an obstacle when inquiring into the sense of self, separate self or ego.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n You can still use thought in everyday life, but for this specific application, it is rarely helpful.<\/p>\n When you think of an apple, that\u2019s not direct experience. You can\u2019t grab it and eat it. You can sort of feel it in a vague way, but it\u2019s not a tangible thing.<\/p>\n When you remember a song you like, that\u2019s not direct experience either.<\/p>\n This distinction between what is experienced now vs. thought is important. Once you truly see it, you realize that you\u2019ve spent most of your life in a conceptual la-la land.<\/p>\n In terms of awakening, it\u2019s vital, because it allows you to see how the illusion of self is created.<\/p>\n When two or more physical senses come together, the illusion begins forming. This is especially true when seeing, hearing, and feeling start dancing together.<\/p>\n For example, you might imagine what you\u2019re doing tomorrow (see\/image), you feel apprehensive (feel\/sensation), and you say to yourself that you wish wouldn\u2019t have to do it (hear\/internal talk), then you feel sad (feel\/sensation).<\/p>\n And all of the above feels (feel\/sensation) like it\u2019s happening to someone (feel and see\/image), referring to a self.<\/p>\n This often happens in the blink of an eye, which is why it\u2019s so easy to miss, yet it is there for anyone to see.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a whole meditative approach that focuses on this, it\u2019s called mindfulness or Vipassana.<\/p>\n However, to start, begin to notice what is here right now.<\/p>\n Listen to the sounds for a few seconds.<\/p>\n See the colors around you.<\/p>\n Feel the sensations in your body without going into story.<\/p>\n If you have trouble staying with direct experience, you can label see, hear, or feel. If you see a cup, say \u2018see\u2019 silently. Then look at the cup for a few seconds.<\/p>\n Then if your attention is drawn to a sound, say \u2018hear\u2019, and listen for a few seconds.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the simple approach. Let\u2019s take a few examples.<\/p>\n How do you know what color your pants are right now?<\/p>\n Did you think about what you put on earlier today? If so, that is not direct experience. Instead, look at your pants. See, right now, what color they are.<\/p>\n Now, look at something else in the room. Notice the color and shape. Then close your eyes and see the same object. Do this a few times to get familiar with how they feel and look different.<\/p>\n Listen to something , and then stop the sound. Now remember the sound.<\/p>\n Note the difference.<\/p>\n You could use your phone\u2019s alarm clock for this, or a ringtone, or music, or the sound of your voice humming.<\/p>\n Anything works as long as you can start and stop the sound, and then remember hearing it.<\/p>\n As you get used to this, it\u2019s easy to slip into a kind of conceptual direct experience, where you\u2019re thinking about the present moment without noticing it.<\/p>\nWhat is Not<\/span> Direct Experience?<\/h2>\n
Why is Direct Experience Important?<\/h2>\n
How to Practice Direct Experience<\/h2>\n
Example: See<\/h2>\n
Example: Hear<\/h2>\n
Avoid This Mistake<\/h2>\n