Did Erin ever exist?
Erin only exists as labels and concepts. There is no separate entity "Erin."

Then close your eyes and see if there is a line between you and out there, between you and life itself. If yes, where is the boundary?
There is no line. I am part of the movement. There is ...

What binds things and their name together
A sound, sight, touch, taste, or some other sensation comes into my consciousness then fairly quickly the label of what it is comes up. For example, I hear a bird then the thought bird comes to mind.

Do you? Take a look in direct experience and tell me ...

Hi Becca,

Can the heaviness itself say, “I am you”?
Can the sensation behind the eyes claim ownership?
Or is the claim “this is me” always arriving as another thought?

The heaviness itself doesn't say "I am you." I feel like I'm labeling the sensation me. It seems to be a chicken and egg thing ...

Hi Becca,
Happy Tuesday!

Is there any recurring mental image that comes when I say ‘Erin’? Try ‘me’ and then ‘I’…
There are no specific recurring mental images when I think Erin, me, or I. When I think "Erin" I see things in my memory of myself doing things like riding a bike or being at home ...

So right now where would you point if I were to say where are ‘you’ located?
What I see now are sensations in my heart and head that I label "I" there is no I.

Paying attention only to the pure sensations, without relying on thoughts or mental images:
Can it be known how tall the body is?
Does ...

Hi Becca,
Thanks for your patience. Things have been a bit hectic since I returned. I found the mirror exercise really interesting.
In response to the other questions:
This heaviness… is there an I inside of it? Is there an I inside of any sensation?
There is no I inside the heaviness - I realize ...

Hi Becca,
Our friend has died. We’re currently in his hometown for the funeral and to visit with the family then will be heading home tomorrow. I won’t be able to respond until I’m back home, but will as soon as I can.
Thanks,
Erin

Hi Becca,
I understood you meant layer. LOL, no worries.

Now, what specifically are these ‘feelings of ownership’? Look one lager deeper.
When I actually look I realized that the feelings seem to be a heaviness in the body that I then label “ownership.” I don’t think I would if it it wasn’t in ...

Hi Becca,
Without changing the sentence, where is the “I” it refers to?

I feel like I'm back at the start trying to find the "I." I feel even more lost now. I'm not my body. I'm not a separate entity within my body or my mind. I feels like a substantial thing, but I cannot find it when I look ...

What happens when you look right now?
There are thoughts, sensations and feelings, but I don't find a separate entity.

What tells you that?
Is that coming from direct experience?
Or is it another thought about what awakening is supposed to look like?

t is just anecdotes and books that I've ...

Nothing changes, but everything is different.
That’s the thing, while I have moments of insight- I don’t think everything is different. Small steps? I feel less clinging to that I and more aware of just experiencing, but not completely not always.
What are your expectations for a shift?
I don’t ...

What is noticed in this ‘everything’?
Just the:
Seeing
Hearing
Feeling
Without the “I”

How is everyday life looking from here?
Is it gone, the I? I don’t think so. I feel more engaged daily with just sounds or sights or feelings without that I filter, and even though I had that kind of wow ...

This is often the case in the body, but don’t attach “lightness and openness” to a goal.
Wise words - I had to laugh about this, as that feeling is often what I look for or find when I'm not seeing or feeling what I often label as the "I".
We are repeatedly told in meditation retreats not to get ...

Give it a go, see what happens.
Once there is no me, there is a lightness and openness. It was interesting watching the me disappear. It was kind of a relief. There seems to be a lot wrapped up in the idea of me and without it some of that also dissolves.

Now take a look. Is ‘I’ triggered? or ...

Is that explanation or interpretation a problem so long as the mechanism is seen as an automatic process and not ‘you’?
I had to laugh when I read that and thought about it. It isn't a problem especially when I can see it as an automatic process and not 'me.' I don't always recognize that but have ...