Hi Jon,

That's great!

Thank you for your skilful guidance. I'm very grateful!

Best wishes,
Earnest

Hi Jon,

4)What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?


It was on Sunday evening (29 Nov) just after reading your post for that day on the forum. I was washing the dishes and looking to for a “self”. I was very tired and, as I remember, my looking was half-hearted. A thought came ...

Hi Jon,

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 see a separate “self” except in thoughts. If there is no separate "I" now, there can never have been a separate “I”.

Having said that – it is clear when I look that ...

Hi Jon,

My late replies have become a bit of a habit and I’m sorry about that.

Looking is the key and there is often a thought that it is 'me' that is doing the looking but then there is some sort of shift that need not be very dramatic but there is a kind of relaxation. I will not tell you that ...

Hi Jon,

I’m later than I hoped (yet again) with this reply – I apologise.

Let's look at this idea of 'non-existant' 'I'. Yes we look to see if a 'self' can be found in sensations and thoughts. On looking it is seen that no 'self' can be found. At this beautiful point no answers are given and no ...

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your reply. I'll post properly tomorrow (need sleep now).

Best wishes,
Earnest

Hi Jon,

A brief update.

The sense of resolution or relaxation is still present. Yesterday there was more resting with experience in moments when I wasn’t involved in doing things.

Still there is some lack of clarity regarding the non-existence of an “I”: I don’t feel I’m at the “obviously no ...

Hi Jon,

I’m quite tired tonight, so please excuse me if my post is a little incoherent.

It feels as if some sort of shift has happened, though I’m not sure quite how to characterize it. Last night, after reading your post, I was looking for a “self” while doing something in the kitchen. (I was ...

Hi Jon,

I’m sorry for being a little late with my reply.

It is worth continuing to look for 'I', 'self', 'chooser' and 'decider' in various different circumstances or situations. At least until it is clear that, when looked for, these will never be found.

Yes, I’ve been continuing to look for ...

Hi Jon,

You did notice how thoughts of an 'I' 'choosing' in a 'future', can appear as well as thoughts about a 'me' that 'chose' in a 'past'? Does an actual 'self', an entity, appear at any moment (to do choosing) or are these thoughts always ABOUT an assumed 'me'?

No self materialises and does ...

Hi Jon,

Just checking in - I hope to reply to your post this evening. I was very tired yesterday evening!

Best wishes,
Earnest

Hi Jon,

PIck a number at random between one and ten. Did 'you' choose that number? Or did it simply appear?

The number simply appeared - there was no sense of choosing it.

Many things happen that appear to be the result of a 'choice' but in that case shouldn't it be possible to catch the ...

Hi Jon,

I tried this exercise some more today:

If you look at the palm of the right hand. Take a good look. At some point, the hand will flip to show the back of the hand. Try to find either:
- a you that told it to flip
- the exact moment the flip was initiated and how
Do it several times and ...

Hi Jon,

I’m replying later than I’d hoped!

There is the famous Father Christmas analogy. Probably you are familiar with this? But anyway, as young kids we believe that there is a real entity dressed in red that comes down the chimney? But then, later on it somehow becomes clear that this is not a ...

Hi Jon,

I need to get some sleep before work in a few hours, so I will reply to your post tonight (Friday), I hope.

I've continued looking for a self that makes decisions, without success! And I've had a few goes at the "hand raising" exercise you suggested.

Best wishes,
Patrick