Thank you my friend

Beautiful Canfora!
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No. Miranda is like a character in a novel, or a movie - a compelling character, who is not real.

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it ...

Dear Canfora,

The fear that protects the illusion of a separate self is trying to tell me I'm not ready for the final questions, but I am!

Let's give it a try, anyway.

Much love and gratitude, and tearful giggles,

Miranda

I really am so grateful. This is such a clear, simple, beautiful experience - who'd have thought? ;)

Dearest Canfora,
I can't find anyone! There is no me in charge. The sense of ... relief .... yes, freedom - in this knowledge is ... exhilarating :)
You know, when I was 21 an Indian guru gave me the spiritual name 'Niramaya' which means 'without illusion' ... for the first time I understand what ...

Hi Canfora,

I just wanted to share that I reread this thread so far, and when I saw the sentence you wrote back in the beginning, about there never having been a Miranda, I suddenly 'got' it! I just laughed and laughed and laughed :D

Which is not to say I'm through the gate, but it was a ...

Hi Canfora,
Thanks for the link ... I read the article.
A tree arises in my mind ... it is a tree that has special significance for this experiencer called 'Miranda' ... this makes 'me' frustrated because i can't seem to get away from this oh-so-special individual. i can't stop the thought from ...

Hi Canfora,
Yes I will make a concerted effort to get back to you immediately. Already what you say about the life situation is helpful... reminding me it's not personal. You ask:
"What do you expect to get with crossing the Gate, Miranda? How do you think "you" and "your life" would change?"
I have ...

Oh Canfora, I do love you! It is so good to come back here and find you've not given up on me!

It is quite difficult NOT sharing my life situation with you ... it's so tempting! But I don't want to get caught up in the story, so suffice to say there is much drama and tension and sorrow in my life ...

Hi Canfora,
Thanks for your reply... yes I suppose I do hold a fantasy that life will become easier once I break through the illusions. I will try to answer these questions.
Miranda, does this feeling come and go? Is it permanent or temporary? What happens to the "fear" when you are asleep without ...

Hi Canfora... been feeling very ... flat.Been trying to look at, in, behind, beyond the fear... it seems to have gathered in my shoulders, and I am becoming quite bowed by it ... very hard protective shell forming. I am trying to see what it is protecting ... just this feeling of being unsafe. Oh ...

Hi Canfora... yes, I am afraid .... I have so much 'knowledge' about enlightenment, and experience glimpses of oneness ... yet here i am, still, editing myself so i sound like i know what you mean by oneness! Ha! Everything I've shared with you is true ... lots of lovely still quiet peace etc ...

Hullo lovely Canfora!

Here is one experience I will try to pin down with words ....

I had a very sore right side of chest - torn cartilage .... I was lying in bed, going into the pain, consciously trying not to run away from it, but shine the light of awareness on it ... my partner said something ...

"Awareness" and "I" are labels that we use to point to something.

When you say "There's an Awareness that is bigger than the little 'I'...", are you saying that you are awareness? Is awareness in any way personal? Can there be awareness without an I to be aware?

Hi Canfora,
Thanks for getting ...

I just scrolled back and saw I'd missed one of your posts. Now to answer...
Canfora wrote:
Is there an "I" watching before the thoughts appear?
There's an Awareness that is bigger than the little 'I'...

Canfora wrote:
Can a thought make "you" safer? How?
Thoughts, like life rafts in a stormy sea ...