Thanks, Dridhamati. I'll await a response in due course.

P

Hi Dridhamati,

Is there anything here that still needs to be addressed now?

No, I think we have covered everything.

Also, what do statements like “concept of no separate self”, “‘non- self’ development” or “fundamental belief” elicit now?

Errr, a sense of embarrassment.... This seems like a long ...

Hi Dridhamati

Only to say I can have thoughts about choices etc but I can't control the outcomes. Sometimes the outcome is as intended sometimes it isn't.

Perhaps the more interesting aspect is that these are all just thoughts. If you can't control your thoughts you can't control choices etc.

P

Hi Dridhamati,

Re Q5, in terms of making things happen we have covered that in the dialogue (arm movement was the example). As for intentions choices and decisions I have thoughts about these but there is no strong relationship with outcomes even more so in the case of control.

P

Hi Dridhamati,


Could you please elaborate a bit more on the answer to Q5 below? A couple of examples would help.

Let me reflect on this.

Does this 'fear' need to be looked into here in this dialogue?
Who/what is feeling scared?

No. Not much sense in being scary of losing something that never ...

Hi Dridhamati,

I'm back from a very pleasant sojourn (albeit in the opposite side of the country from you).

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

No and No

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it ...

Hi Dridhamati,

Many thanks for this. It's good timing for me. I'll reflect on this 'en vacances' and report back on my return.

Pat

Hi Dridhamati,

Again, thanks for this, especially the holiday/life practice.

Excuse the the poor wording re the 'residual sense of self' I really meant the tendency of the mind to hijack the sensory experience and concoct stories. The suggested practice will help in this respect.

It feels like we ...

Hi Dridhamati,

Thanks for this - very helpful, especially your explanation on the sixth sense.

So a 'self' can't be found in experience. Yet all these years (and probably still now, at least sometimes) there was and is a strong sense of this 'self', of an 'I' doing 'things', 'in charge'. When this ...

Hi Dridhamati,

Q. Can a ‘self’ be located, something that bears inherent and unique ‘P’ characteristics, in any experience, in any of the 6 senses?
Q. Where is this doubt originating from?

The answer to the first question is no. The only doubt could relate to the sixth sense so I would like to be ...

Hi Dridhamati,

The main thing is the issue of separating direct experience from that implied/inferred from thinking. We think we know how our body works and rely on that rather than the raw experience.

I've found the experience very interesting and challenging.

In terms of things to pursue there ...

Hi Dridhamati,

If this body isn’t obeying ‘my’ orders, who/what is in charge of this body then? No one.

- Can ‘P’ be found anywhere in the activities? No
- Are ‘you’, ‘P’ in charge? No
And lastly:
- Can this 'self', referred to as ‘P’, be found anywhere in experience, in all 6 senses? No

P

Hi Dridhamati,

- If this body isn’t obeying ‘my’ orders, who/what is in charge of this body then? Good question!

Q.: is that causality: ‘thought’ -> ‘arm movement’ actually observed, or is it inferred (issued from subsequent thinking)? Inferred. Body movements don't involve an observable thought ...

Hi Dridhamati,

And I assume the arm does not necessarily obey the thought command, does it.
Q. Is the assumption correct? Yes

- What is/are the cause(s)?Thought
- What is/are the effect(s)? Arm movement

P

Hi Dridhamati,

It's just a thought and body movement with no relationship in experience just cause and effect.

P