Thank you Xain. You have been incredibly helpful and patient.

I'm thinking that I expected more of a feeling of conclusion, like when you're finally home at the end of a long journey. Or a sense of a relief. But I'm realizing that neither of these passing states could be liberation. Just more ...

4) 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. (Feel free to use conventional language here)

The illusion of separate self is only a belief that the mind, body, being is owned and ...

Hey Xain, sorry for not posting in a couple of days. I've been a bit busy lately and haven't had much free time.

Has any thought ever been created by you?
No. Thoughts appear on their own without "me" doing anything to create them.

Has any thought that has appeared ever made reference to a real ...

I guess the sadness came from letting go of something familiar. Although there wasn't anything to truly let go of. I think there has been a lot of surfacing emotions during this process that had been buried. The sadness has passed though.

I guess I imagined discovering that there is no separate ...

Yes, that makes sense that thought patterns will slowly diminish. I guess it's a part of living in an era of instant gratification that there is a desire for an overnight release from suffering. I am noticing more and more when "I" thoughts appear and I realize that the root of the thought, "I", is ...

There is still the belief here that there is a separate self / person acting and that has the slightest bit of control or choice. Is there?
Describe that one.

No there isn´t. There are thoughts saying that I should be able to keep irritation, anger, frustration in check and that I shouldn´t be ...

Sure, we can say that 'choices were made' as a general description of past events. But . . . is there anything capable of choice? Could it be that the whole 'choice / freewill' argument is all based on thoughts / ideas (and as such, is essentially an 'illusion')?
Choice would imply that there is a ...

Sorry I won't be able to answe using the quote function. I'm not near a computer, so I'm using my iPhone.

There isn't really an "I" that receives prompts. It is only an idea. A question or prompt is given and a response is returned. There isn't actually anyone here who receives a prompt or gives a ...

What created that thought?
The thought was triggered by the prompt you gave me, but I don't know what created it.
Does the thought have an owner?
No, because there is no one here to own it.
Does the thought (or imagined object) appear in a specific location?
It feels like it appears behind the ...

When you say 'I' am choosing, what exactly is this 'I' that you are referring to?

The "I" is only a thought being attributed to another thought about making a choice.

Specifically, what is 'the mind' - How is it influencing things? Is that what you are finding?

The mind is only whatever ...

There are just the senses themselves and thoughts add all the details like what is being sensed, and what is doing the sensing.
Does this seem clear to you?

Yes. Perfectly clear.

Choose one of the arms - It doesn't matter which.
When you feel the moment is right, raise the arm you chose into ...

Okay I'll go one by one.

Examine 'hearing' - In the experience of hearing, is there a separate 'hearer'.
Are there two things in hearing - The sound, and the separate hearer? Or just 'hearing'?

There only seems to be sound, or hearing. The mind is struggling with this, but when I really examine ...

Huh... I never really realized that about all sensations. I mean I can understand it, but when I actually test it out, all that is there is whatever is being felt. Then comes the interpretation by the mind to make sense of it. It's sort of strange. Actually very strange. I claim this body as mine ...

Ok, keeping it simple.

I cannot identify what is doing the seeing or reading. When I look, I don't find anyone or anything, except thoughts about what I think I should find. Seeing and reading just seem to happen. There is only the screen of the computer that is seen and words that are read and ...

Hmm. I had to think about that for a while. When I refer to myself, I mean my point of view, that which is receiving sensations. Although I understand intellectually that I am not my body or my mind, I still find myself identifying with them. While I was at work, I was observing how I am not the one ...