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

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

The final 'test' is a set of answers. Would you like to answer them now?

Yes.

Hi Henri, do I/me/mine get a certificate of completion, merit badge, secret decoder ring?

I do very much appreciate the clarity that has come about through this process, and again, thank you for your insight and generosity. I sense there is more deepening and clarity to occur around this matter. I ...

You might enjoy this one: Very much enjoyed!

Nature Exercise
Go out into nature and spend some time watching the movement of the whole. See how clouds move, trees swing, leaves wiggle, grass moves, insects, birds - all move all the time. Then move focus to sensations and see how they too are in ...

Hi Henri, thank for the responses and exercise. I have a busy day ahead and won't be able to give this its due until tomorrow. But, I want to thank you again for the keen insight and time that you so generously give me. It feels like every day there's a bit more clarity around this matter. Really ...

Hi Henri, thank you for the video links. I enjoyed Pernille and have been working with allowing/accepting/loving difficult feelings for some time. Very good to be reminded by such an articulate teacher. I did redo the 3rd unfindable inquiry. That examination of the 'objects' is a useful exercise ...

Before the doubt thoughts, what is the primary sensation or feeling?

Before the doubt thought is simple peace. I suppose it is something knowable, but not a sensation or feeling in the usual sense of "I feel this or that". It is a presence without an 'I'.
What is being avoided by going into ...

A few questions:
When you say that the glass could be cleaner, what is it that you're looking for?
Henri, now it seems to be no-self, the open empty space under and inside life, and a lot of chatter around it, thoughts about it, doubts, wanting something more. And, in general, a sense of ease and ...

To begin wrapping things up: Can you say with 100% certainty that there is no separate self, controller, thinker, feeler?
Hi Henri, sounds so ominous 'wrapping things up'. This process of getting to clarity about no-self started in 1998 with a question that Ramesh Balsekar posed in an article I ...

What do you expect it to look like when the illusion of self is seen through?

Henri, this is an interesting question because the word 'expect' implies a future happening. It seems to have already been seen through. The 'openness/emptiness' that dawned on June 7th is generally available and often ...

And there is not really a thing called no self, like there is not a no Santa Claus. A nitpick, but that is my job here ;-)
There seems to be a noticing or recognition (thoughts) about no-self – "Oh, there it is again, that emptiness or absence at the core of me." So, the me-sense arises, thoughts ...

Hi Henri, thanks for this discerning response.
Reactivity is explored after the separate self. The more layers of the illusion that drop away, the more the protections of shadow material bubbles up, so it would be normal that as the separate self illusion weakens, stuff would come up ...

Hi Henri, I'm involved in an ongoing investigation with you to repeatedly get to places where the habitual experience of the 'me sense' is subverted. Look at points of choosing, is there anyone making the choices? No. This thought that occupies the mind now, is there a self creating, guiding ...

Hi Henri, this has been a very busy week and I did a day long zazenkai yesterday. I think of sitting down to write you everyday and then it gets away from me. Another engagement today, but will try to gather my thoughts and write more later, or tomorrow morning. Thank you for your guidance and your ...