1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No and 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 illusion of the ...

Hi Ankita,


Can you say from direct experience that you see this, fully and confidently? :o)
Yes i see this (:


Indeed, the mind has worked really hard, hasn't it? :) It may begin to rest a little easy when it sees for itself that it is safe to take the hands off the illusory steering wheel ...

Oops looks like I have sent this about 4 times on accident xD

Hi Ankita,

Can you say with 100% confidence now that there is no self?

If we could define self by:

an entity that exists separate to what is happening
a sense of ownership of experience
the desire to change what is arising

There is just what is arising. no self and self both arise.

Let me ...

Hi Ankita,

Can you say with 100% confidence now that there is no self?

If we could define self by:

an entity that exists separate to what is happening
a sense of ownership of experience
the desire to change what is arising

There is just what is arising. no self and self both arise.

Let me ...

Hi Ankita,

Can you say with 100% confidence now that there is no self?

If we could define self by:

an entity that exists separate to what is happening
a sense of ownership of experience
the desire to change what is arising

There is just what is arising. no self and self both arise.

Let me ...

Hi Ankita,

I guess what is underlying this is that I can actually control something and I would prefer to have 'better' experiences in the future. But looking at this I can see through. Yet the sense that I am in control seems quite real.
I really don't know what claims to be in control, what is ...

Hi Ankita,

Just got home from surgery and all went well thanks for the good wishes :)


How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE ...

How does it FEEL to see this?

It feels like 'oh yeah' and natural.

Hi Ankita,

No worries all is well, I hope you are too (:

Is there a difference in these thoughts?
They are both just thoughts but it seemsthat I am immediately pulled into the content of each one initially

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?
Just the content

Is ...

No worries. Here's wishing the surgery goes well and you come out feeling great and dandy. x
haha thanks to you (:

Do the stories about what is being looked at change what is looked at?
Oh yes I understand what you are getting at now.
No the stories about what is being looked at does not ...

Hi Ankita,

I agree and will stick to everyday from here on in :) although I am having surgery on my knee 13/03 so that may disrupt for a day or two.


Can a thought experience anything?
Are there any expectations that DE will somehow be richer, more of anything?
Can seeing be more of seeing ...

Hi Ankita,

Hope you had a nice weekend.

I have been making effort to practise DE:

working on my laptop

seeing the screen = just seeing / images
smelling nothing in particular = just smelling / sensation
hearing a low buzz = just hearing
tasting aftertaste of tea = sensation + thought
sensing ...

Hi Ankita,

Is "breathing in" one of the 6 things in DE?
Is taking a breath anything more than one sensation after the other, that thought then labels as a breath?
Thats true, when I look at 'smell' it appears as breathing ah yes this is a sensation. Looks like some concepts being held like ...

Hi Ankita,

Is "breathing in" one of the 6 things in DE?
Is taking a breath anything more than one sensation after the other, that thought then labels as a breath?
Thats true, when I look at 'smell' it appears as breathing ah yes this is a sensation. Looks like some concepts being held like 'nose ...