Hi Bodhi,

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

No, there is life that is happening but there is no 'self', 'me', or 'I' that can claim ownership of any of it. There never was a separate self. There is an experience of sight ...

Hi Bodhi

I have been observing life closely this week.

Daily life seems to be less of a struggle and more of an observation of unfolding.
There is a felt sense of emptiness that arises at times throughout the day. There is no judgement present with this emptiness, more of a "No-thingness" if ...

Bodhi,
I think this is exactly what I need !

It is hard to get out during the week, so In the meantime I will look through our conversation again.

I will report back this weekend.

Take care
-Ed


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Hi Bodhi,

"What does surrender mean to you?"

I guess for me it means letting go of the idea that there is someone or something that needs fixed.

"No need for 'self-help' then?"

Exactally ! Self-help has literally been my only focus in life since I was just a child. Now that I am realizing that ...

I never really understood the idea of how I create a "me". Looking back, I think the biggest way I had created a "me" is the tension I spoke of. That this tension/resistance was somehow "me" and I had to work hard to fix it. I could not exist unless I was something that needed to be fixed. Now I am ...

Bodhi,

How do I feel after our initial conversation ?

I feel an openness and clarity through my day. I do not get caught so easily in the thoughts and stories that arise.

Before our conversations, I would endlessly search through podcasts and YouTube videos for the perfect technique to Enlighten ...

Hi Bodhi,

"Is it possible that the body appears inside this awareness?"

Yes. This body appears inside of this awareness. It is still a new feeling for me and seems like I only notice this to be true when I am in the present moment and not a lot of activity is present.

"Can you feel skin when you ...

Hi Bodhi,

"Can you see how the "I" narrative (self-referential thinking) is related to the tension clearly? One feeding off the other?"

I notice that the tension is present when the "me" story is operating, yes.
This arises mostly when the "story of Ed" is here. The past and future story, the ...

Hi Bodhi,
Having a nice weekend here, thanks :)

I have completed llona's exercise.

I can see now that the tension in the body was an attempt to separate "myself" from reality. This separation was done in order to feel as if "I" was in control of what was out "there".

When this tension was in the ...

Hi Bodhi,
I hope you are having a nice weekend.

"Can you confirm that you cannot find an Ed through all the senses - sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste ? "

Yes, I can confirm that when I look at each of these, There is only an awareness present, there is no "Ed" to be found.

"You are already ...

Bodhi,

I think that at this point, my expectation of what sight would be like while awakened is a factor.

"The mental commentary I am referring to are the formation of thoughts as words, which then refer to what is being experienced. "

When sight arises, I do not have this commentary. I can see ...

Hi Bodhi,

I think I am slowly putting some of the pieces together here.

We are interested in the truth here...

The purest truth comes in its raw form, and if it is tampered with it is no longer pure.

One thing that throws me off is the commentary.

Back to the sunset example, I understand how ...

Bodhi,

Thank you for the explanation, it was very helpful.

I think I might have a hint of what this is pointing to.

We create observer/ observed when we try to silence the other senses. When we experience a sunset, for example.... the observer/observed response is to look at the scene. To look ...

Bodhi,

"When do these shapes turn into words you can hear ?"

They turn into words a second after I see the image.

"During these exercises have you always known what the image was going to be before you took the snapshot?"

No, I didn't know the specifics.
When I am in a room and close my eyes and ...

Bodhi,

I have again completed "taking non-selfies" exercise again and this is what I found:

" At what time during the taking of your snapshot do these "objects" get named (or labeled ) ? "

"Is it before you open your eyes, when the eyes are momentarily open, or after you close your eyes and see ...