Hey

1)" Regarding the imagined future- if thoughts continue to imagine/think about a self enough, is it at all possible that those thoughts will 'become real' in the future, creating a separate self, a bit like the story of pinnochio?"

Funny... I was reflecting on this too.... No because "I" isn't ...

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

No there is no separate entity “self”, “me” or “I” in my direct experience. Was there ever? Not in the present moment experience only ever in thinking.

2) “Explain in detail what the ...

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"Have you seen through the illusion of a separate self? Do you have any doubts or uncertainties?"

Yes... The only uncertainties I had we have cleared up in this thread... I don't believe I really ever had a strong sense of a seperate self. In general i am more easy about not knowing everything ...

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"Can you find the 'self' anywhere in your in the moment direct experience?

No

Is it perhaps the body or in the body - if so, where exactly?

No It's not in the body.

Is it perhaps the mind?

No ... The mind isn't even a thing and the brain is part of the body and It's not i the body.

Is it ...

jearing lol that just happens sometimes to.... Hearing I ment of course :)

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"When seeing happens, is there a 'seer' separate from the seen?

Where hearing happens, is there a hearer that is separate from the heard?

Same thing with touch.

Same thing with smell and taste

And finally, is there a thinker separate from the thoughts?"

No to all... seeing is just ...

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"Pick up two random objects, then make a 'choice' as to which object gets lifted up by the hand. again, try to observe what happens, particularly at the point where the choice happens, do this multiple times if it helps.
Is there a self which is choosing or does choice just happen?"

No ...

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"Observe your movement in the moment, just look, don't interpret or categorise - Is there any 'I' there separate from the experience controlling it?"

No... I have been dancing around in the kitchen all morning, before and after reading ur post... There is no controler controling how I move my ...

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yAy....and relief....This communication malarky can be messy!

"Good question, any answer I were to give would be speculation though as in truth, I don't know for sure."

This is why I think it's good to answer anyway... Seeing this answer somehow creates ease, of course there are things we ...

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"If the future is just thought content that we know is not real (thought content & future), then can you see that everything after the 'but' is just speculative thought and can be dismissed?"

Yes I can see that the future isn't here now. May be a better way to say what I mean is... thought ...

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It's come from here...

"Insight into no self cannot be gained intellectually, so no amount of answers could help, it would simply add to the many ideas and thoughts going on which you believe. Until you can see for yourself that thought content is not real but imagined, you are completely ...

"The current focus is on separating the real from the unreal, let's look at the facts as Mettasattva sees them (you may need to correct this and please do so if it doesn't reflect your current thinking or anything's been missed)

1) Nothing truly exists outside the present moment.

2) Thoughts can ...

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I believe this would be a lot easier if I could ask questions and recieve answers to my questions but that's not how it works here. Also I'm finding it difficult to see how this line of questioning is helping in judging whether I see through the illusion of a seperate self. Could u please ...

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I not going there because I just get a lot of unpleasent feeling and it is considered spectulation so there isn't much point...I am prepared to say that I find it difficult to believe that what I experience is the only reality there is....life is so much more than just me.

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"Would you agree with this? Or are there exceptions?"

I would agree that it is the only reality we can be CERTAIN of. I would add a but here, however I can see how all my buts are getting in the way.