Hi Vince! By referring to "relativity," I meant that these responsibilities are those of the false, separate "I." I can see how my answer was confusing. It's clear to me that these are just part of the illusion -- more thought patterns. So, I'll answer this question again, from direct experience ...

Hey again Vince! Here we go…

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

No, only in thoughts. There was never a separate self; only the persistent thought of one. Let me reiterate, there IS still a separate self in thoughts. But I ...

P.S. things came up for me (family duties) each of these past Zoom call times. I would still love to join an upcoming on.

What is your practice these days, if any, Vince?

Things have been unfolding as they do, since we spoke last. I don’t feel like I need to do anything to know clearly that I am THIS, but I still enjoy the process.

Someone mentioned to focus on the “I” feeling; so I have been doing that.

Thanks, Vince! I’d love to join, pending time zone difference.

As for me… I can’t say I’m awakened. It feels impossible to say that about my self - there’s clearly no one here to awaken. I can say, however, that for much of my life, I now realize that I was in a trance of thought. Now, I don’t feel ...

We just need to clean up those pesky doubt thoughts.

There’s no “I” here except in thoughts, but… with that being the case, how can I say that there is no “I” here? It seems like the “I” is saying it. I see that this question is just a thought, but it is a nagging one.

Is there anything to ...

Right, so... to consider whether there is "awakeness" or a "shift" here, is to assume there is a "me" here that could be awake (and at one point was not). Asking, "Am I awake?" just perpetuates the illusion.

Can you see how carrying a story that you are not there yet, inhibits this experiential ...

Does you being aware of them include being aware of what happens the millisecond after the direct experiencing of the sense organ stimulation?

Yes… ownership (I saw this, I did this, etc.), identification, categorization.

What makes you think that you're not 'awake'?

Strangely, I haven’t ...

Thank you, Vivien, for our discussion. I do appreciate your time and attention. I’ve actually gotten some nice insight and wish our dialogue hadn’t concluded so abruptly. Vince… thank you for taking up the task!

What is actual… the “right now” seeing, hearing, tasting, touch sensations. And ...

As if you could get this by thinking.

You think that you are not thinking. Do you see this?

Sorry, but it seems that I cannot help you

From your web site:

"But I don’t want to give the impression that seeing through the self-illusion will eradicate all patterns and conditionings, all at once ... And I am not implying either that there are no more conditionings and patterns to dissolve ...

One other thing that is contributing to confusion. Aspects of experience can cease. Sight can be taken away. Hearing as well. Every sense perception can be removed. Reality cannot be removed. So… why is perception being taken as reality?

I guess my confusion is this… Let’s take “seeing” for example.

There is “seeing” in all 3 states - waking, dreaming, and psychedelic.

If you appeared to me in either of the 2 latter states, and asked me whether I existed; and whether there is “seeing,” I would say “yes.” If you asked me whether ...

One thought more… sight comes and goes, hearing comes and goes. So does touch, and smell. All experiences are transient. Therefore, experience is not reality. Reality cannot come and go. Please let me know your thoughts on this.

Well… here comes a confusion… whatever is ‘experienced’ with psychedelics, that is NOT direct experience.
But... isn't it the same for sober 'experience'? What's the difference, exactly? There is direct experience in both states. There's also direct experience in a dream state. These states only ...