What does an "illusion of something apart from the rest of the world" look like? I mean, do all these things ( body, limbs organs etc) create this illusion? Are they not just body, limbs, organs, senses? Nothing in these things inherently says "you are apart from the rest of the world". So what is ...

Fair enough. It really was clumsy wording though! What I meant was that there is something that can be seen. I may have been influenced by my Spanish. Entidad can be translated more as unit as in, there are 24 entidades in this tray of Coke.

So, the thing that can be seen is (a better choice than ...

An entity is something that exists in itself, actually or hypothetically. It need not be of material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is animate. -WIKIPEDIA

Even so, this may not be ...

,,,perhaps the easiest thing is to replace has with is!

...is the mass of flesh and bone!

So the entity is the mass of flesh and bone? And this mass of flesh and bone has a body ( which is a mass of flesh and bone?)

The entity is the body which is the mass of flesh and bone! It's all one and the same.

...is the mass of flesh and bone!

Well...you're right. Language has its limitations. Really, all is. That's probably the easiest way to answer it all.

What I mean is that there is a mass of flesh and bone that is labelled with my name.

There are thoughts. The thoughts seem like reality, but they are not. They are just thoughts ...

Hi
I've been holding off replying until I have a bit if experience to reflect back on. Here are my answers.



1) Is there a separate entity, a me, a self, an I, anywhere , in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

This one is the easiest to answer! And the answer is No. A resounding no. Looking ...

Are you here? I realise this might just be a limitation in language, in that English requires a subject and object, but I want to make sure its clear. Are you here? Are you also the other people, the walls the sky?

I am here!

In the sense that this is the answer to the question, " What [not who ...

Maybe give me a bit of a rant about where you are with all this, how you are seeing things in every day life, what has changed, if anything. What hasnt changed, if anything. What is clear, and what is unclear. As much as you want to write.
Ha! Where am I? I'm here. As in "I + am + here": here is ...

Hi
Im a bit worried now though. You seem to have the wrong end of the stick,like totally the opposite of what I have been pointing at ( which is my fault, if anyones )

Don't worry! I'm just being imprecise. Yes - I know that thoughts are real...I meant that the contents of the thoughts are not ...

Hi

Are you looking for consequences of not having that belief any more , as in "what would it mean if I didnt believe in a self?"

Yes - I think this is what I am looking for. But I think I also know the answer!

If you are just the experiencer, and not the doer, then in what way does this "self ...

I am sure that it is my obtuseness which is at issue here, Neil! I don't think that I am the thinker of thoughts any more. My limited stint meditating has shown me that this is most definitely not the case. But I think that I still regard myself as the perceiver of thoughts.

I imagine your answer ...

Something is stopping me from seeing! I think it might be, as you suggested, the perception that I am busy trying to align my thoughts rather than just relaxing and opening my eyes.

This sort of seeing is not the sort of seeing that I am used to. My eyes seem to be open, but I am no longer sure ...

Thanks, Neil.
There is no you to be compassionate. There is no you to break out of samsara. There is no you that is suffering. There is no thing that is trying to see the truth.

There is no you that gains enlightenment. There is no such thing as enlightenment.

Whew! Yes, I can see how this ...