Lol! Nice looking there- let's just follow that up-

Another guide asks the following:

Is there any connection between 'I' and thoughts? Only that "I" itself appears to be a thought.

Is a thought real? No.

Is the content of the thought real? No.

What is the difference between an appearing ...

And then, of course, I look back over what I've just written and see that it is all just a bunch of thoughts. And who is it that is unable to see through the illusion of self???

How many thoughts are appearing right now?
When I look for thoughts, I can't find any, but they seem to appear one at a time when I'm not looking for them.

Does it matter?
Only to the extent that these expectations distract me from what else is occurring now.

Is it silly? Yes.
Can a thought ...

Visiting friends in California and didn't get to read or see video. Good conversations here though on related topics including Sam Harris' work. Today looks like another full one but will try and take some time to follow up. Thanks, Bob.

Well Hannah, I am just discovering a whole slew of hidden expectations that I got from 'The Gate' and from 'Enlightening Quotes.' For example, from the Gate: 'Once this is seen, it can never be unseen.' and 'no thought or feeling can ever consume you again.' Or 'Now I can sit and just be without ...

Damn! OK, now and no one.

Quote function doesn't work with my iPad.
The key question is, is it clear that you could say Bob is a persona, a costume, a character like batman, not a real entity?
Yes.

Ever heard that Who song 'won't get fooled again'. Well sorry, probably will. But once it's clear how to see through the ...

3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
I'm having difficulty responding to this now. Initially it felt freeing. The last few days have been chaotic and right now my mind has been racing, my heart pounding ...

Whatever, and I mean whatever is coming up IS the fuel for the fire of more looking. Burn baby burn ;) Got it! Yes! I think I'm done.

Is it possible to escape the feeling if that's what's going?
Where and what is this you that could escape? The mind tries to escape the feeling by projecting a ...

What is this experience of depression and disgust, hopelessness- give me the raw, unadulterated sensations, rather than the story about them. Be fearless and look straight at what is actually going on here when this stuff is coming up.
OK, shoulders rounded, shallow breathing, tightness in chest ...

Bummer heh? Does life really ever correspond to the thoughts/ideas/expectation about it?
What an anti-climax. I mean where are the choirs of angels announcing Bob's awakening, the unending bliss, the permanent beauty and oneness perception. Talk about being sold a lemon...

Well, that's a little ...

Hi Hannah,
Just to let you know, we are leaving for California tomorrow, so I may not be able to post again until Tuesday. Thank you for your guidance. Where from here, who knows?

Anything else need addressing at this point? Or is it just clear there is no separate self?
It is clear there is no separate self, but even after addressing expectations, I guess I was expecting something to be different. Some shift in perception, something. But nothing is different in any way ...

What is this I that can believe thoughts, that's not also a thought? Look for that.
Yes, it is a thought that thinks it believes thoughts.
yep. No other (objects) so where does that leave the self (subject), the other side of that idea?
The subject, too, is a thought with a label.
I'm assuming ...

Thanks for letting me know about the illness. I've found physical illness actually can be ideal conditions to look at direct experience of the body, as the sensations are so intense, and also less thought analysis often comes up to confuse the issue. But no problem if you need to take a break too ...