HI Necip!

But suppose defensiveness, anger, or an impulse to argue had continued arising even after the sense of "me" disappeared.

Would that mean a separate self had returned? Or could all of that happen without anyone owning or controlling it?



I have not been able to clearly observe ...

When you say "I bought into it," was there actually someone believing those thoughts, or was believing simply happening?



Initially, there was a train of self-referential thoughts and strong feelings arising together, making things feel very personal. When selfing was recognized, the situation ...

Hi Necip!

Recall a recent situation in which someone criticized you, disagreed with you, or treated you unfairly.


Someone close to me was upset about some situation they were dealing with, and they criticized me.


What happened in your immediate experience at the moment you felt affected ...

When happiness or unhappiness arises, is there actually someone experiencing it, or is there just the experience itself?

Please look at a concrete instance rather than answering from your understanding of how the process works .


My partner and I were enjoying spending time together at one of ...

Did you ever become happy?


Happiness appears and passes. When Happiness appears, the thought “I am happy” may claim ownership of that emotion.



Did you ever become unhappy?


Unhappiness appears and passes in the same way happiness does. The same process of claiming ownership can occur with ...

"When the sense of 'me' became less prominent, the situation felt more impersonal, and the resistance subsided."

Now, when the sense of "me" is strong, is there actually a separate self present?


There is no separate entity. There are only thoughts and sensations. It appears that selfing occurs ...

Hi Necip!
Hope all is well!


Let's explore something different now.

Recall a recent situation in which you experienced frustration, irritation, anxiety, or emotional discomfort.



An unpleasant relationship issue arose.



What exactly was happening in direct experience?



There was a ...

Please describe one specific instance in detail:

What happened just before the choice?

There was a sensation of thirst, followed by a thought about drinking some water. Then the action of reaching for the cup happened.

I can’t find a distinct event of deciding or choosing
it seems to be ...

Hi Necip,
I’ve been sitting with your questions for the past two days. I’ll be busy this morning so I’ll respond later today or tomorrow morning.

Thanks!

1. When an intention arises, is there anyone who creates or owns that intention?


After spending the day waiting for intentions to arise, I found that there is no one who creates intentions. Intentions just arise and go away the same way thoughts do. No one owns the intentions, just as no one ...

Hi Necip!

I spent yesterday looking into these questions. I’ll be fairly busy today, but I’d like to continue investigating them as I go about my activities. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.

With Love,
Jon

Is there anyone looking directly, or is there only the act of looking itself?

I cannot find anyone doing the looking. There is only looking.



When it comes to making a decision, can you find a separate 'you' who decides, or do decisions simply happen on their own, just like thoughts and ...

Look directly: can you find anything that is doing the identifying?

Or is ‘identification’ simply another name for thoughts, feelings and sensations arising together and creating a stronger sense of me?



Ah yes, thank you for catching that! When I look, there are only thoughts, feelings, and ...

When the sense of “me” becomes stronger, is there actually a “me” there that becomes stronger, or is there simply more selfing (thinking of me) taking place?


Well, I cannot find a “me.” “Me” is just an idea or thought, and it appears that this thought of me is a habitual pattern. What seems to ...

Hi Necip,

I won’t be able to respond to your questions today because I’ll be busy running errands. I’ll reply tomorrow.

With Love,
Jon