Okay thanks Stacy - please find my answers below - some answers are short towards the end as they are answered earlier on (I hope)
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No - there has never being and could never be a separate entity, 'self', 'me', 'I' - nor has there ever been or could there be. Impossible. There is only life, what is happening, sounds, images, tastes, thoughts, sensations- the marvellous meaninglessness of life as it is.
2. Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.
The illusion of separate self was conditioned into this body mind as a child, the constant indoctrination of parents and society, giving 'me' a name, reinforcing that identity with various identifiers (place, nationality, family history, etc) - 'I' can recall this but also remember as a child never finding this satisfactory and incomplete - there always seemed to be much more, a sense that this body/mind was not the constricted separate self defined narrowly in the way it was conditioned but rather something much more unrestricted, deeper and more intimate with everything. 'I' always felt that looking back on my life - moments of incredible intimacy with sound, sights or sensations which were leading me to an understanding that there is no separate 'self' hearing, seeing, or Sensing- but just sound, just the seen, just sensations.
3. How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.
Exhilarating! Like flows of energy pulsating through this body - hard to describe, like a joy that defies explanation, unmotivated joy - before the dialogue 'I' carried a lot of doubt and Stacy really helped 'me' to see what 'I' was already seeing but just hadn't the confidence to realise- the intimate connection with everything- 'I' now realise 'I' had already felt it, known it, embodied it but just was in denial - in doubt. Doubt still pops in in thoughts but they have no impact now, like clouds drifting across a blue sky
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
Stacy shared a blog that challenged 'me' to look, really look at what is, and also some questions re looking at the 'self' - it was also the direct challenging of the process, forcing this body mind to strip away the overly analytical mind cultivated over many years, to drop the labels and just look. In looking, listening and Sensing there was a realisation of what actually is, not what 'I' thought there was - extraordinary really and so simple, and yet it has taken this body/mind 50 years to see it again!
5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.
Decision just happens, it is life unfolding as it should in the only way it could. So earlier this body mind decided to have yogurt and falafels for lunch (I know strange combination 😁) - there were so many factors that decided that, none of which ultimately this body mind made a decision regarding - it could be said 'I' choose the food, but it was what was available in the shop, there was conditioning about what this body mind should eat etc etc - decision happens, there is not a single, separate, entity that makes a decision - it is life unfolding to realise whatever needs to happen. It just is.
Describe intention & give examples from experience.
Like decision, there is ultimately no such thing as intention, as in a distinct intention of a separate body mind - intention just happens, conditioned by multiple factors beyond the comprehension of an individual body mind - in fact no single body mind has a distinct intention - or makes a decision- it is just life unfolding in the only way it could.
Describe free will & give examples from experience.
No such thing. Life just happens. Its an illusion - any single perceived action of free will - eg choosing to go to the cinema - is formed by multiple factors beyond the comprehension of an separate body mind - it is life deciding in the only way it could.
Describe choice & give examples from experience.
Doesn't exist. An illusion. Same as free will - life happens as it does.
Describe control & give examples from experience.
We don't have control. It's all an illusion. Life unfolds in the only way it could. No matter how carefully we may plan, we have no control ultimately over what will happen.
What makes things happen? How does it work?
Life. Everything just happens beyond the ability of anyone to understand. We may think we have an understanding with some limited connection with reality e.g. how an appliance works, how a system works, planning etc but ultimately the mind or intellect cannot understand what is going on or control it - it is life unfolding as it does, impossible for the human mind to understand.
What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience
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Ultimately this body mind is not responsible for what happens - life happens in the only way it could, no separate body mind could possibly be responsible for something so complex. This body mind may have once claimed responsibility for writing a piece of music, or fighting with somebody - the factors that led to these things happening were more complex than a single separate body mind could possibly be responsible for.
6) Anything to add?
Thank you SO much Stacy and LU 🙏❤️