hi metta, ok thanks...

- when just looking around and noticing, is anyone looking?
no there is just seeing/percieving, experience is arising without there being a 'me' looking. The 'me' or 'I' is just a conceptual overlay - though very convincing when believed in!

- when looking at the hand ...

ok here goes...

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

There is the word 'me' with all the connotations it has. It is a concept. I cant see a actual 'me' , or what the word points to, in my actual direct experience, outside of thoughts. So whilst 'me ...

hi metta...


im wondering what the next step is now...do you give me the questions?


sparsa

hi metta.

yes i feel ready to move onto the final questions.

thanks for your ongoing guidance and support.

sparsa

Can you find a self anywhere when looking?? If so, then please explain that to me so we can de-construct it. When looking no I cant find a self anywhere.

There was no finding of a separation in the awareness of you or the cup. What were the feelings then? It felt quite a simple experience ...

hi metta..

Can thought and the content be separated?

From what is sensed experientially, it hasnt been possible to separate thought from content. Its like a thought is nothing but content. Thought seems to be a label for a particular catogery or kind of arising and passing experience (ie mental ...

hi metta.

Thoughts are not self, does that seem clear to you?

When im looking closely at the arising and passing of thoughts it seems clear that the thoughts are just arising and passing, there seems no 'I' deciding when they arise and when they pass. Its more like they are just popping up from ...

hi metta here are my replies...

Can you find a self anywhere at all?

Ive been looking at the times when I most believe im a separate self doing from its own volition.
Two examples come to mind:

If part of me is anxious about some unresolved area in my life, I can think sort of 'right, I need ...

hi metta.

sorry the above response is abit confusing in terms of layout. i was still trying to get a hang of the quoting etc. i hope its clear. i tried to edit and then delette it and get it tidy but i couldnt work out how to do that.

sparsa

Hi Sparsa,

It sounds like there has been some helpful background to seeing no self. You might be familiar with walking meditation. It is an exercise I recommend. Walking very slowly, noticing each foot as it comes up, what lifts off the ground first of your foot, what touches the ground first ...

Just to add abit more.....

im starting to see more clearly the additional stress belief in seperate self places on life - its like trying to twist experience into something it isnt. Im eager to loosen the unnecessary and avoidable tension and suffering this creates. I dont expect this will resolve ...

hi metta. thanks for your time.

i became interested in buddhism around fifteen years ago, and since then have maintained a daily meditation practice. Over this time i have moved from quite formal structured meditation practices with an emphasis of effort and doing - to more receptive just sitting ...

hi.

ive been a practising for buddhist for around fifteen years and feel i might benefit from the approach on this site.

im happy to respond daily.

sparsa