Thank you, Steve!

I will send you my info via private message. I would really like to be apart of the group on facebook.
I am so grateful for your support, patience, and guidance! :):)

so very grateful,
Jessica

Hello, Steve!

Do you decide, intend, choose, control events in Life? Do you make anything happen? Give examples from your experience.
HA! No, I do not decide or choose or control events. Before the label has already been placed on a decision is has already been made, it is only after the decision ...

Thank you for your patience with this, Steve :)

here goes...

How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.
Reporting off of what I Have seen the past few days…it feels the same as before only now there is space ...

Hello, Steve

Yet another long, long day. This weekend has been very busy. Just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten the questions, just need a bit more time!''

In deep gratitude,
Jessica

Good evening, Steve

To answer the next question:

Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.

The separate self is a form of labeling and language used to describe the experience of life ...

Steve!
Yet another long day. I have much to write...I will elaborate more tomorrow.

Grateful,
Jessica

Hello, Steve

Answering one at a time...as time permits of course (I may do more)

Is there a separate entity 'self,' 'me,' 'I,' at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

There is no entity “me” in reality. There is the experience of life and life happening with the labels of ...

Thank you for your help, Steve.

Okay, I understand where you are coming from. The clarification is much appreciated. So, to answer your question...

What is the "Jessica" in that sentence? What is it that owns these habits, preferences, and tendencies?
"Jessica" in the context of that sentence is ...

Hello, Steve

So, I listened to the video a few more times and really enjoyed the message. Especially seeing through the illusion of self and the metaphor of "suffering is to the mind as pain is to the body". Though, he got a bit carried away with the butterfly metaphor....

Isn't it really a ...

Thank you for the wonderful video, Steve.

I really appreciated the part where he was talking about not expecting the suffering to go away because the expectation creates another "self" and that suffering dissolves on its own in time. A much needed video. Though, I was only able to watch it once and ...

So glad to hear that you are feeling better! :)

Look and make sure you can verify that in your experience. During those times when your attention seems to be wrapped up in story, is there a real "you" or is it the illusion of a "you"?
It seems real until attention is there. When the attention is ...

Sorry to hear about yesterday.I hope you are feeling better, Steve.

To answer your questions...
Looking directly, now, at your actual experience, is there a separate "you"? Yes or no?
looking at direct experience there is no separate "me". There is the label placed on the thoughts claiming that ...

Hello Steve,
Today was a very long busy day and there is some limits on time for this post. I will post in more detail tomorrow.

Grateful,
Jessica

Steve,

Are you really any less present during the periods you call "caught up in story" than at other times?
When I read this I actually smiled :) The very fact that I can see "I" getting caught up in a story means that "I" is being seen through, otherwise this would not be observed in the first ...

Steve,
wow...
But you have a tendency to keep looking for more. So you sometimes go along with thoughts that seem to offer some kind of loophole, even though you know deep down that it's not a real one. That's the intellectualizing.
Yes, I do. There is the thought that "there MUST be more..." I ...