Derek & Vince
I have so much gratitude and love for your guidance.

All I can say is thank you

(1) When I look at the simple process of life, it just seems all too simple, without the possibility of a “me” anywhere. In reality I can see there never was a “me” only an illusion. of one. That illusion was very strong at times but I can now see truth of its existence.

(2) This separate self ...

Thoughts arise and the experience of the moment happens, and then a new moment happens with its unique experience. It seems pretty simple. Life just unfolding. No Self involved. How does the idea of Self even get involved in this process? Why does this Self pop in to try and change this simple ...

I can't tell what is there before thoughts happen. It seems like the thought and the awareness of it are there at the same time. But I definately do not see a Self that is there before the thought, or any type of entity. Everything just is in this moment, there is no before or after. Thoughts just ...

With your guidance Derek, I changed my statement from “I feel there is still something there” to “I believe there is something there.” And then I looked at that. That made a big difference. It made it more approachable. Then I asked what is that belief, what is there? As I looked and looked at it, I ...

Thank you Derek
I can see this as a deep seeded belief, which as you say is just a thought process. It is almost as if there is a defense mechanism in play to protect the idea of Self. But it is really a learned process that is still believed. I will keep looking at this for a while to really see ...

It seems like if I just look at what is going on in the present moment, it is much more clear, but the more I think about it and try to figure it out, the more complicated and harder to understand it gets.

I can sense that there is something alive, that is part of my being. And I can see the label that I use called "me" is just a thought. But somehow I still relate that "me" to this aliveness, and that just doesn't make sense. I would like to see this "me" for what it really is. When I look for it ...

I appreciate any help you can give me in seeing more clearly.

When I look at my thoughts I can see them arising, and I can see that they are arising on their own. I cannot find a self that is creating the thoughts or has control over them. I can intellectually conclude that there is no self in ...