Xain,

Thanks for these questions.


"If asked "*what* am I?" (presuming an I), an answer is "I am awareness, of sensations & thoughts."

Is this an existing thing? Or a thought appearing?
It's a thought. There are sensations and thoughts. There is no separate awareness of sensations and thoughts ...

Thanks, Xain. No worries about the delay. I will respond tomorrow. Peter

Xain,

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
If asked "*what* am I?" (presuming an I), an answer is "I am awareness, of sensations & thoughts." But the I is just a figure of speech. This question could instead be phrased "what ...

A few further thoughts, Xain,


1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No. This is evident -- no need to look for it each time to answer this question.

2) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference (if any) between ...

Xain,

Thanks!

Expecting any sort of change is to assume that there is something or someone TO change.
Yes, I see expectations and seeking ("to meet" expectations) are thoughts based in an assumption of a persistent self.

However, is there is an 'I', a separate self that is 'missing something ...

Xain,

Following on from my last post:
It's clear that finding no self isn't contradicted by thoughts happening: when there's conversation or back pain or just drifting into thought, thoughts arise that seem premised on "me" existing, but these thoughts move on; a self is never found when sought ...

Xain,

It is 'your' guiding though - Are there any other areas to examine, or questions that you have?

Thanks. Looking again at consuming thought / identification with 'I':
"...go into long cycles of consuming thought...

Could it be that what you are describing is the memory (a thought) of ...

Xain,

Thanks, hugely, for this guidance.


"Sitting on a porch now as a shadow flits across a tree as part of the play of life, there's a suspicion that there's little more to be seen. But then there's a doubt that this thought is just a crafty self-protection, to obviate the need to look. Then ...

Many thanks, Xain.

I will respond tomorrow. (Wednesdays are the one day that I work very late.)

Best wishes
Peter

Hello Xain,

Thanks for these questions.

So . . is there a separate self here right now? Is there a 'you' locatable?
Can you find one?
No, no self is found. There is simply experience here now.

There is a body here - Is it 'you'?
No. This body is just an idea -- an idea that it's the source of ...

Hello Xain,


Would you say, then, that the statement 'These are my fingers' is simply a thought - An idea.
There isn't a 'real' owner of 'fingers'?
Yes, "my fingers" is just a thought, not pointing to a real owner. "My fingers are typing this" is a thought; but there's just typing happening ...

Xain,

Thanks for your patience -- I see I drifted into ideas, and your suggestions bring it back to the simplicity of what is experienced now. I will respond tomorrow evening.

Best wishes
Peter

Xain,

Thanks for pointing out confusion!

Look at the fingers right now.
Now look at the 'thing' that owns the fingers.
What was found?
Nothing is found. The fingers are not owned. They just exist, flexing, straightening, typing.


"Similarly there's a closer awareness of thoughts from this mind ...

Xain,

Do you have any further questions?
No, not right now.

Xain wrote:
You said also say 'My body'.
So you believe the body is owned.
Is this fair to say?

No, that's a figure of speech. The body just does what it does, not controlled by an owner.
Equating lack of control with lack of ...

Thanks, Xain.

You said 'My experience' - What is having this experience?
If you say 'I am having it' then what exactly is the 'I' that is having it?
Don't think or analyse - Go to the experience of this moment.
Does it appear like 'the body' is having the experience?
The Body 'sees', 'hears ...