Hi Nina,

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever? In actual experience, there is no separate self. It is not possible to know from actual experience whether a separate self ever existed.

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of ...

Hi Nina,

This is from 15th May:

So the observation is that there is nothing really to call "I" or "self." Actually there is nothing (or no thing) at all. But that was just an experience, and the realization is sort of "after the fact." And there's a sense of someone who had that experience, so ...

Hi Nina,

Almost everybody believes that a memory thought is referring to something that has happened.
That a memory thought is a different thought than a non-memory thought.

What is memory exactly? (from Actual Experience) Memory is a thought story.

What is the memory ‘made of’? Thoughts ...

Hi Nina,

There is a general assumption that there is a linear time that started (if started at all) somewhere very far in the past and advances to the distant future. The present moment (now) is considered to be a very small fragment of time or an event that is moving forward on this linear time ...

Hi Nina,

Watch thought for a couple of minutes ... like "clouds in the sky" or a "river flowing by"
Then start looking for a thinker.
Does thinking have a sensation? Thinking does not have a real sensation. Sometimes there are imaginary sensations that arise as thoughts.

Where does thinking ...

Hi Nina - Thanks for letting me know. I hope you don't have to recreate it! Did you check the "saved" folder?

Hi Nina!

Sometimes thought can seem like a "barrier".
There could be "fear" or "resistance" - (sensation + the thought labels "fear" and "resistance") which can seem of "confuse" looking (confusion is just another thought).
Look at the thoughts and sensations that arise in response to the ...

Hi Nina,

It is a beautiful day here! Clear, blue sky and views of a dark blue sea and green fields. A rare thing on the English coast! (Story)
Is there a mental image/colour that arises in response to this description? Yes, the description evokes several colorful images and also pleasant feelings ...

Hi Nina,

sensation is the actual experience of sensation
taste is the actual experience of taste
sound is the actual experience of sound
taste is the actual experience of taste
colour is the actual experience of colour.
Thought is the actual experience of thought.

Looking again, What does the ...

Hi Nina,

What is the "whole body" in actual experience? The experience is a variety of things: pressure, release, movement, pulsing, warmth, twinging, aching, heaviness, etc.

Here is an exercise to help with this question:

Sit with eyes closed for about 15 minutes.
Pay attention only to the ...

Hi Nina,

Is there a "feeling" of an "I" or a separate self?
Does the sense of a separate self have a sensation?
If so, does the sensation have a location?
There is an impersonal felt presence that seems to be centered in this "body".
Is it possible to point to the impersonal felt presence?
Not ...

Hi Nina,

Is there a "feeling" of an "I" or a separate self?
Does the sense of a separate self have a sensation?
If so, does the sensation have a location?
There is an impersonal felt presence that seems to be centered in this "body".

Is there an "I" that exists beyond language? Or is it just ...

Hi Nina,

Very challenging assignment! May need to look some more at this.

Is there just one "I" thought? Or is there a thought of "I" writing, "I" walking, "I" smiling, "I" eating? Is there an "I" thought of a moment ago and an "I" thought about the future?

There isn't just one "I" thought. An ...

Hi Nina,

In actual experience (sound, colour/image/, taste, sensation, smell and thought), where is the story experienced? Is the story located somewhere?

The story is experienced as thought. The thoughts are primarily verbal in nature, with occasional flashes of images. The story itself doesn't ...

Hi Nina,

There has never been a "you" to interfere.
There has never been a life the belongs to "you".
There is just experience unfolding.


I believe that but don't really see it, perhaps because there's nothing to see. My everyday experience seems like there is a story about me and I'm the ...