Requesting a guide!

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

It was just commentary, the choice was already made. There was no one doing the choosing. 6 months ago this would seem weird, now it seems perfectly normal.

Yes! Now take note of any other choice happening. Do 'you' chose? Or is there just choice happening. Is it simply another movement in what is?

There is no I to choose, there is just choice happening
“Is it simply another movement in what is?” -- This is where I get confused. I’m not sure what you mean by this. There is needing a roll. Choice happens. - This is what is.

A question -- there were lots of rolls there, I could have chosen any number of them. If I had a criteria for selection, does that negate choice? There was no one to do the choosing but there was still choice. yes - no? I would say yes, there were a lot of rolls! I could have chosen any one from 2 or 3

As above. Look and see what happens. Just notice. Does the hand reach regardless of the commentary?
Where do questions come from Larry? From out of what do they appear? Are they yours? Do you control their coming and going? Where do they go?

The commentary follows the action of the hand, reaching for the selected roll. The commentary is secondary, it’s just thought.
I do not know where questions come from. What stimulates them, maybe. With seeing, they’re just there,
From out of what do they appear I also do not know; They are just there in consciousness.They are not mine.
I do not control their coming and going. If resolved they just disappear, if unresolved, who knows.

Right now it’s not here, but the more I look at it, the more it looks like just another fantasy. It’s just thinking. It has nothing to do with anything, it’s just thought. It is just thought that creates this, then tries to explain what it's being bothered by; which is just more thought.

Now track down thoughts power! What can any of these thoughts actually do?
Try watching or noticing thoughts as you notice or look at sensations.
What is clinging to the stories you have picked up from your 40yrs of reading? What does thought think is going to happen if that story is dropped?

“What can any of these thoughts actually do?”

When there is seeing - nothing.

“What is clinging to the stories you have picked up from your 40yrs of reading?”

The ego. It is at war with what is.

“ What does thought think is going to happen if that story is dropped?”

It will then be free of 40yrs. of reading.
If seen through it will just be more info floating around in the brain.

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry

Yes, the commentary has nothing to do with anything but commenting on what is actually going on right now. I was just watching a movie and wondering about the hand/arm being just "what is". I looked down at my arm, and it didn't belong to anybody. It is just a hand/arm. This might not be phrased right but "I" then wondered who or what sees this arm?

Lovely. Yes commentary is happening, and is thinking? Who????? Did you find a who? Or was there just seeing?

The question came across as seeing or being aware of. The better question is more like: If this arm is just "what is" then who is in charge of or where does direction come from. The arm still reaches out, but where is the source of the direction. I still use the word "weird" because when the arm is seen as "what is" it almost feels as if it has a life independent of "what"?? It just seems weird.

OK – what is direction? Experiment with that? Shut your eyes to start off with. Move your hand or arm. Try up and down etc. Really investigate that! What is direction? Does it exist in our direct experience or in something else…..?

Track down this source! Can you find a source? Why does there have to be a source? Is that thought wanting to explain again? Is the arm independent of what is? How is that possible?

“Is it simply another movement in what is?” -- This is where I get confused. I’m not sure what you mean by this. There is needing a roll. Choice happens. - This is what is.

What gets confused Larry! LOL – thoughts again! Well it simply means what is – and what is is what is! I call it movement coz everything ‘appears’ to move and change! You can put in any label you think fits better! ‘Needing’ a roll?????? Did you decide that too? Check!

I do not know where questions come from. What stimulates them, maybe. With seeing, they’re just there,

What do you mean by stimulate? Are you suggesting control of some kind?

From out of what do they appear I also do not know; They are just there in consciousness. They are not mine. I do not control their coming and going. If resolved they just disappear, if unresolved, who knows.

And do you decide what thought to have before you have it?

“What can any of these thoughts actually do?”

When there is seeing - nothing.

So you ‘know’ that thoughts don’t have any power? You experience this?

“What is clinging to the stories you have picked up from your 40yrs of reading?”

The ego. It is at war with what is.

So what?
Big hugs Sarah xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

Yes, the commentary has nothing to do with anything but commenting on what is actually going on right now. I was just watching a movie and wondering about the hand/arm being just "what is". I looked down at my arm, and it didn't belong to anybody. It is just a hand/arm. This might not be phrased right but "I" then wondered who or what sees this arm?

Lovely. Yes commentary is happening, and is thinking? Who????? Did you find a who? Or was there just seeing?

No who, just seeing.

The question came across as seeing or being aware of. The better question is more like: If this arm is just "what is" then who is in charge of or where does direction come from. The arm still reaches out, but where is the source of the direction. I still use the word "weird" because when the arm is seen as "what is" it almost feels as if it has a life independent of "what"?? It just seems weird.

OK – what is direction? Experiment with that? Shut your eyes to start off with. Move your hand or arm. Try up and down etc. Really investigate that! What is direction? Does it exist in our direct experience or in something else…..?
Track down this source! Can you find a source? Why does there have to be a source? Is that thought wanting to explain again? Is the arm independent of what is? How is that possible?

I would like more time with this.

“Is it simply another movement in what is?” -- This is where I get confused. I’m not sure what you mean by this. There is needing a roll. Choice happens. - This is what is.

What gets confused Larry! LOL – thoughts again! Well it simply means what is – and what is is what is! I call it movement coz everything ‘appears’ to move and change! You can put in any label you think fits better! ‘Needing’ a roll?????? Did you decide that too? Check!

Well yea, we all decide what we would like for dinner. There might be no one doing the deciding but dinner still has to be planned.

I do not know where questions come from. What stimulates them, maybe. With seeing, they’re just there.

What do you mean by stimulate? Are you suggesting control of some kind?

No, sometimes I'll see a pretty girl who looks like my old girlfriend.Then thoughts about her come up.

From out of what do they appear I also do not know; They are just there in consciousness. They are not mine. I do not control their coming and going. If resolved they just disappear, if unresolved, who knows.

And do you decide what thought to have before you have it?

No, of course not.

“What can any of these thoughts actually do?”

When there is seeing - nothing.

So you ‘know’ that thoughts don’t have any power? You experience this?

I've seen it both ways. When seeing, thoughts have no power. When reading the news, and on autopilot, sometimes I will read something inflammatory, and the next thing I know a fantasy is running, and the whole body is agitated.
I then get aggravated when this happens. I do see this. I don't know who gets aggravated. It's all thought and thinking.

Thanks Sarah -- Larry

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry

would like more time with this.

Fine – think the book has some stuff on this?

Well yea, we all decide what we would like for dinner. There might be no one doing the deciding but dinner still has to be planned.

Check this please! Is this really the case? Or is this thoughts again? Is there a ‘you’ doing any of this? Or does it simply happen?

I've seen it both ways. When seeing, thoughts have no power. When reading the news, and on autopilot, sometimes I will read something inflammatory, and the next thing I know a fantasy is running, and the whole body is agitated. I then get aggravated when this happens. I do see this. I don't know who gets aggravated. It's all thought and thinking.

‘You’ get aggravated? LOL. Did you laugh after seeing this? :)
Big hugs Sarah xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

OK – what is direction? Experiment with that? Shut your eyes to start off with. Move your hand or arm. Try up and down etc. Really investigate that! What is direction? Does it exist in our direct experience or in something else…..?
Track down this source! Can you find a source? Why does there have to be a source? Is that thought wanting to explain again? Is the arm independent of what is? How is that possible?

I would like more time with this.

wrote Fine – think the book has some stuff on this?

I’ve been doing the hand exercise with eyes closed.
There is no sense of direction, just movement.
Perception = direction?
I can’t find a source.
The arm is not separate from what is.

I have a lot of books on my kindle, thank you for asking.

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

Well yea, we all decide what we would like for dinner. There might be no one doing the deciding but dinner still has to be planned.

Check this please! Is this really the case? Or is this thoughts again? Is there a ‘you’ doing any of this? Or does it simply happen?

Yes it's thought. I'm not going to wait until dinner time then walk into a supermarket and spontaneously grab stuff
to take home to cook. Thought has decided hours earlier what to have for dinner. There is no "you" doing any of this,
but there is still planning ahead.

Thanks again Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry

I’ve been doing the hand exercise with eyes closed. There is no sense of direction, just movement.
Perception = direction? I can’t find a source. The arm is not separate from what is.

Is there even movement? Is there just sensation? Its interesting once starting to look at this! What actually do we ‘know’!

Yes it's thought. I'm not going to wait until dinner time then walk into a supermarket and spontaneously grab stuff to take home to cook. Thought has decided hours earlier what to have for dinner. There is no "you" doing any of this, but there is still planning ahead.

So it is known clearly that there is planning happening but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling it etc? There are decisions happening – but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling it? There is thinking happening but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling them, sending them, or even deciding what thought to have before thinking it?
So are there any areas where you feel control is still felt? Are there any other areas not clear Larry?
Big hugs Sarah xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

I’ve been doing the hand exercise with eyes closed. There is no sense of direction, just movement.
Perception = direction? I can’t find a source. The arm is not separate from what is.

Is there even movement? Is there just sensation? It’s interesting once starting to look at this!
What actually do we ‘know’!

So it’s late summer now. Sitting on the balcony, it’s dark already.
The orange glow of the parking lot lights illuminate the complex.
It’s really nice and warm so the crickets are making a racket.
If I say “the crickets are making a racket” that is thought, labeling.
If I call it a sound, it’s still labeling. For communicating, it's just sensation.
Same with the orange lights, “orange lights” are a label. So is light, it’s just sensation.
But is there audible and visual sensation? Communication could be difficult.

Sarah7 wrote: "It’s interesting once starting to look at this!"

Excellent, you lead

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry

Excellent, you lead.

Lovely! Don’t need to Larry – it is known! How are you separate from this?

And the rest Larry? So it is known clearly that there is planning happening but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling it etc? There are decisions happening – but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling it? There is thinking happening but no ‘you’ doing it, no ‘you’ controlling them, sending them, or even deciding what thought to have before thinking it? So are there any areas where you feel control is still felt? Are there any other areas not clear Larry?
Apart from interest – any more questions? Do you feel the illusion of self has been revealed?
Big hugs Sarah xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

Do you feel the illusion of self has been revealed?

Yes, bring on the final questions if you wish.

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry
Take your time with these. There is no rush. Please answer as clearly as possible and with as much detail as needed, given that words are wholly inadequate! I will look over the answers and see if there is anything I have missed, then pass them onto other guides who will also check. OK!

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) Do you decide, intend, choose, control events in Life? Do you make anything happen? Give examples from your experience.
6) Anything to add?

Hugs Sarah xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

Just #5 left to answer, will do a rewrite, then should be ready in a day or 2.

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

ThAnks Larry. No rush. S xxx

[lmellen]

Hi Sarah,

I've finished the questions, need a little clean up and will post tomorrow.
I still might have a problem with choice. No one to make a choice, but there is still choosing.
I was in a pub with a friend, and scanning the beer selection I would definitely say I choose the beer I wanted.
No one doing the choosing but there was comparison involved until one was selected. I was watching this process.

Thanks Sarah -- Larryxxx

[Sarah7]

Hi Larry
OK – lets address this thoroughly first OK!

I still might have a problem with choice. No one to make a choice, but there is still choosing.
I was in a pub with a friend, and scanning the beer selection I would definitely say I choose the beer I wanted.
No one doing the choosing but there was comparison involved until one was selected. I was watching this process.

OK – is preference there and happening? Is choice there and happening? So ‘you’ would be there and happening also – yes? Can you find the you choosing? Or just thoughts about you choosing? Look very closely!
Do you see thoughts about what thoughts you are going to have? What precisely was noticed here? You noticed thoughts comparing – yes. So you should clearly also see a you doing the comparing? Where? If the comparison wasn’t going on – what would the hand of done? Test this! Try lots of different choosing’s with or without comparing. Notice what happens.
Hugs Sarah xxx