Hi Kevin

That was quick and thank you for your patience and guidance.

I really appreciate the opportunity for following up with aftercare - I think it's very important.

But can I send a personal message to you about the facebook page and if so how do I do that?

Thanks.

With Kindness

Blackbird

Okay, thanks.

Blackbird

Hi Kevin

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

No I can't find a separate self or me when I look closely. If it's not here now, it never was.

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

Hi Kevin

That's okay about not replying.

I am feeling more comfortable so I'll have a go at the questions again when you send them.

Thanks.

With Kindness

Blackbird

Hi Kevin

I'm posting because you asked me to every day.

I've been busy carrying on with life and keep coming back to thinking about the video, still feeling quite relaxed about it and accepting of choices just happening/unfolding.

Haven't go much more to add but wondering if you are supposed to ...

Hi Kevin

I'm not feeling so intense about looking at present, almost like a relaxing into accepting that life is just flowing and unfolding from previous events. That choices are just happening without any I/me in control and they are just part of a stream of causality - as Sam Harris says ...

Hi Kevin

Keeping this Sam Harris video in mind, name instances where you do have choice or control.

I've just watched the Sam Harris video again and found it really helpful that he often talks about causality and the unfolding of whole processes from prior events. How choice arises from the ...

Hi Kevin

Thanks for your reassurance and I'm glad it's not a race.

Keep looking.
Does choice really exist on any level, or is that a nice story we tell ourselves?
Could it be that we are reacting to external and internal stimuli and make up the story that there was some choice involved?
Don't ...

Hi Kevin

What is making choices?

I honestly don't know right now. I'm obviously getting confused about how choice comes into being if there is nothing to make it.

How is it that awareness is making choices or intentions?

I guess pure awareness doesn't but I don't know how to explain it any ...

Hi Kevin

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

Not that I can find when I look from my direct experience. If I can't find it when I look now - it's never been there. It is a fabrication/story/a made up character.

2) Explain ...

Hi Kevin

With 'you' revealed as a thought story, what remains?
Processes of ever changing thinking, emotions, sensations, movement, habitual patterns, living

What experiences?
Experiences arise out of thinking, choices and actions unfolding

What thinks?
Mind stream with no boundaries ...

Hi Kevin

At this point can you say with a huge yes that the separate self is, and always has been, nothing but an illusion?

I can say yes but it doesn't feel like a huge yes. It's more like seeing through an illusion but still having remnants of mist, or habitual patterns and ways of being ...

Hi Kevin

Solely from direct experience:

Is the "body" just another thought label for sensations (namely tactile & kinesthetic)?

Does the body experience sensations and thoughts?

The word body is just another label for tactile and kinesthetic sensations.

Tactile and kinesthetic sensations, and ...

Hi Kevin

What control --substantial or insubstantial--does a 'me' have over thought?
Keep looking.

I spent time looking over the weekend during meditation especially and it became obvious that there is no me in control of thought. Thinking arises quite randomly as a process, just like breathing ...

Hi Kevin

What control --substantial or insubstantial--does a 'me' have over thought?

It feels like those words are read, so there is reading, focusing on the question, then random thoughts volleying around for an answer. So in this moment no 'me' controlling thought - but still feels like there ...