Still here

[Ghata]

Hi Geoffrey,

so sorry to hear about your shoulder. I hope it gets better soon. And yes, experiences like that lose their
drama.

If you like to look into the pain, there are some lovely discoveries waiting for you. Feel free to play with it or not.

Just feel the pain and go beyond the label pain into the sensations and feel them. See whether you can tell whether they are inside or outside of your body, just sensing them. Where is the border of your body? How do sensations change when just staying with them?


And here are your final questions. You can split them up, you don't have to answer them all at once.

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

2) 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.

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.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

5) Can you talk about decision, intention, free will, choice and control? What makes things happen? How does it work? Give examples from experience.

6) Anything to add?


Sending you lots of love,
Ghata

[Geoffrey]

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 seperate entity, me or I , in any shape or form. There never was.

2) 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 illusion of a separate self self is just a thought , specifically the "I" thought. It starts when this thought is believed and expanded upon.

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.

It feels like a relief. It is actually remarkably similar to learning that Santa is not real. There's a feeling of being deceived, of feeling dumb, but also recognizing the truth. There has been quite a range of emotional reactions.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

I'm not sure, I think it was the realization that I had been trying to escape, trying to lose the sense of self.

5) Can you talk about decision, intention, free will, choice and control? What makes things happen? How does it work? Give examples from experience.

Sure. But I have no clue how any of that works, it just happens. There is no me making it happen, or deciding, or intending or choosing, or controlling. There may be a thought of "I decided", etc., but it's just a thought, an add on.

6) Anything to add?

Just to add that your expert guidance is very much appreciated.

Love, Geoffrey.

[Ghata]

Hi Geoffrey,


thank you, beautiful answers :-).

I am going to ask a couple of other guides to look over your responses to make sure I have covered everything.
It may take a day or two.
In the meantime please talk about what you are experiencing and how you are feeling.


Sending you lots of love,
Ghata

[Ghata]

Hi Geoffrey,

Sure. But I have no clue how any of that works, it just happens. There is no me making it happen, or deciding, or intending or choosing, or controlling. There may be a thought of "I decided", etc., but it's just a thought, an add on.

Would you please give a few examples?



Sending love,
Ghata

[Geoffrey]

Would you please give a few examples

Ok. Yesterday I decided to go see the new Star Wars movie. It's seems like a decision was made, but no "I" made that decision, it just happened. I chose vanilla ice cream rather than chocolate , again there is no denying that a choice was made, but where is the chooser.

I asked quite a few people their opinions of the movie. They varied widely, from loving it to hating it. But what I noticed was all the opinions seemed to reflect or reinforce their sense of self. It was as if they were saying this is me, this is who I am. It became clear that their opinions were not a reflection of who they are, but actually the illusion of self, happening moment to moment.

Geoffrey

[Ghata]

Hi Geoffrey,

thank you, great answer :-)

Please have a look at the PM (personal message) I sent you within this forum.


Sending lots of love,
Ghata