Hi Michael,

Thanks! I didn't realize there was a PM sitting there, or a new forum... There was an odd day recently, but all is well.

Love,

Been

Hi Michael,

Thank you for everything!

Love,

Been

Yes, it is a bit like watching characters or puppets. Is that upsetting for you? or funny?

Neither. Kind of nonplussed. Especially if it's an interaction, and I'm watching but not reacting as expected. It appears to frustrate other characters, the not playing along.

Can you describe in a bit ...

Hello Michael,

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

No. No.

2) 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.

The ...

Hello Michael,

Is there an 'I' that controls thoughts?

No.

Can an 'I' be found that generates thoughts?

No.

Does the thinker of the thought appear in experience? Can it be found?

No, there is no thinker to be found.

Could it be that the 'I' that thinks is also just a thought?

Yes ...

Hello Michael,

Can you state with a big, fat, unequivocable YES that you have seen that there is no separate self?

It's been seen that there is no separate self, yes.

Can ‘you’ stop a thought in the middle?

No.

Can 'you' choose not to have painful or negative thoughts?

No.

Can you ...

Hi Michael,

:-)

Is there any boundary between 'you' and the sound?

No, there is no boundary. There is a direction, when focusing on a particular sound. The same thought as before of "that's over there" and others like "that sound is closer than this one" or "that is louder than this".

Any ...

a temporary belief in some random thought or other

Oh. The thoughts are part of everything happening. There's nothing to believe them. It comes down to that. Ha! That's hilarious. It really is.

Thanks for everything :-)

Been

Hi Michael,

I am happy to continue. Thanks for putting the time into the reply that didn't make it.

Life has been more enjoyable and less stressful the past few days. The moments of crankiness are pretty easily traced to a temporary belief in some random thought or other, in retrospect. It is what ...

Thank you for the guidance, Michael.

All the best,

Been

Hi Michael,

Where does the object end and the self begin?

There's no point at which it stops and I begin.

Is anything carrying out an 'act of perception?

At first, with various objects, there was the thought "it's over there, and I'm over here". But in looking at it, there's just looking ...

Hello Michael,

What comes up for you when you drop the notion of a separate self seeing and listening etc?

When I drop the "I", it's like I lose a sense of the "object" being sensed. Rather, it's more about the sensation. Or even, as if the sensation and the object are the same thing.

For ...

So as a warm-up exercise, can you write a few lines to convey some of your direct experience as you (I assume) sit in front of your computer now?


Sure. My right nostril seems almost completely plugged, but air flows in and out the left one. There's a constant quiet clearing of my throat to open ...

Hi Michael,

Thank you for taking the time to help me with this process.

Firstly, can you identify what your expectations are and briefly write them for me.

Oof. I do have expectations, don't I? To have a moment where it "clicks" and there's just seeing clearly, without blindly believing the ...

Hi Michael,

Thank you very much for wanting to work me.

Yes, this is all okay.

I appear to be subscribed to the thread. Looking forward to working with you.

Have a wonderful day/evening!

Been