It seems that you passed the gate.
For checking this for us and for you could you answer the following questions in total honesty.
Is there a 'me', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
How does it feel to see this?
How would you describe it to somebody who is very interested, but has never heard about this illusion.
What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
Is there a 'me', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No, only as an idea, not in reality, not as any sort of separate entity with a life of its own. Never was.
Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
As babies we are open awareness. Then parents and people around us start telling us we have a name, certain characteristics and teaches us what to believe about ourselves and the world. That's how we learn separation. We believe what others say, and we start to imagine ourselves to have a center, to be a someone all these judgements are about and starts building a separate entity called "I","me" as separate from "you". Pure fiction, but it shrinks us to a limited sense of self. And that is not a bad thing. It's just the design of human life it seems. Luckily, a belief is just a belief and if created it can be undone. Once the basic belief of a separate person is there, every experience (of thoughts, emotions and sensations) is then thought to be "personal" and owned, and builds layers upon layers upon layers of beliefs until a whole system is there and we think we know who we are and how the world functions.
How does it feel to see this?
*smiling* Spontaneous joy, giggling and a great sense of freedom. A landing in a soft, gentle being home.
It's amazing how seriously we take our "selves"! We are so important, and our protection is the main thing to care about in life. Secure, secure, secure. To see is to live in uncertainty. The "Don't know" is expansion and is no longer frightening here.
How would you describe it to somebody who is very interested, but has never heard about this illusion.
I wouldn't be able to describe. I'd lead them to investigate for themselves since it has to be experienced to be valid. I'd start with asking them what a thought is. How would they characterize a thought? Can you touch it, can you hold it, can you show it? When agreed it's purely abstract, I'd ask if they know where thoughts come from, what decides what thought will come up, if they can keep a thought, where thoughts go when they dissapear etc. Examine in detail how a thought works. And then I'd ask if they can see, hear and notice the thoughts, and if so - who is noticing? And I'd ask if the noticing happens also between thoughts, when there are no thoughts, and if so, is thoughts who they ARE? If there's something still there noticing...? And then take the discussion from there depending on the answers that come.
What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
The major shift came with the thought:
- Wouldn't it be nice to not have this "I"?
And the inquiry question:
- Isn't that already the case?
It all became hilariously clear how it had always already been the case! =)
After that there was some turmoil and a strong protesting, and when that was - and still is, should it come - totally allowed and seen and FELT to the core, it is seen as "what is" and not argued with, then it's as if it looses its power. All calmed down to this background peace. Particularly when the sense of self was fully allowed to be there too, dropping the belief something was not right if it was still there...
No, only as an idea, not in reality, not as any sort of separate entity with a life of its own. Never was.
Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
As babies we are open awareness. Then parents and people around us start telling us we have a name, certain characteristics and teaches us what to believe about ourselves and the world. That's how we learn separation. We believe what others say, and we start to imagine ourselves to have a center, to be a someone all these judgements are about and starts building a separate entity called "I","me" as separate from "you". Pure fiction, but it shrinks us to a limited sense of self. And that is not a bad thing. It's just the design of human life it seems. Luckily, a belief is just a belief and if created it can be undone. Once the basic belief of a separate person is there, every experience (of thoughts, emotions and sensations) is then thought to be "personal" and owned, and builds layers upon layers upon layers of beliefs until a whole system is there and we think we know who we are and how the world functions.
How does it feel to see this?
*smiling* Spontaneous joy, giggling and a great sense of freedom. A landing in a soft, gentle being home.
It's amazing how seriously we take our "selves"! We are so important, and our protection is the main thing to care about in life. Secure, secure, secure. To see is to live in uncertainty. The "Don't know" is expansion and is no longer frightening here.
How would you describe it to somebody who is very interested, but has never heard about this illusion.
I wouldn't be able to describe. I'd lead them to investigate for themselves since it has to be experienced to be valid. I'd start with asking them what a thought is. How would they characterize a thought? Can you touch it, can you hold it, can you show it? When agreed it's purely abstract, I'd ask if they know where thoughts come from, what decides what thought will come up, if they can keep a thought, where thoughts go when they dissapear etc. Examine in detail how a thought works. And then I'd ask if they can see, hear and notice the thoughts, and if so - who is noticing? And I'd ask if the noticing happens also between thoughts, when there are no thoughts, and if so, is thoughts who they ARE? If there's something still there noticing...? And then take the discussion from there depending on the answers that come.
What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
The major shift came with the thought:
- Wouldn't it be nice to not have this "I"?
And the inquiry question:
- Isn't that already the case?
It all became hilariously clear how it had always already been the case! =)
After that there was some turmoil and a strong protesting, and when that was - and still is, should it come - totally allowed and seen and FELT to the core, it is seen as "what is" and not argued with, then it's as if it looses its power. All calmed down to this background peace. Particularly when the sense of self was fully allowed to be there too, dropping the belief something was not right if it was still there...
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
The colour of my eyes has shifted to a darker blue... =)
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
Thanks for your very clear answers.
I’ll ask other guide from LU to confirm that you are through the gateless gate or to ask some questions if they like to clarify something.
This will take some time because they are all over the world in different times zones.
I’ll ask other guide from LU to confirm that you are through the gateless gate or to ask some questions if they like to clarify something.
This will take some time because they are all over the world in different times zones.
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
Hi Cinnamon,
The other guides confirmed.
If you like to join us at FB let me know via Personal Message to Patrick what your FB name is.
All the best
Patrick
The other guides confirmed.
If you like to join us at FB let me know via Personal Message to Patrick what your FB name is.
All the best
Patrick
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
Thank you so much, Patrick! You're a great guide and I'm truly very, very grateful for having had this connected conversation!
Re: Open invitation, jump in and start the dialogue
(Hm. It says the message has been sent, but it's still in the "outbox" and not in "sent messages". Has it really been sent then? If not, please give a note here.)
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