Guide request

[rvh]

Thoughts are real.

Thoughts are definitely real. BUT. The content of them (what they are about) are not. None of it can be found in actual experience.

Example:
If I had in my left hand an actual bottle of water and in my right I was holding up a sign that said H20...which would you choose?

The word? Or...the actual water?

Good point.

Let me look at this for a while.

There is a body that is real.

Separate from other bodies.

This body is not my wife or children or neighbour.

It has a mind that has thoughts.

there is observation that the other bodies are different from this one.

Few questions for you.

It get's really subtle here...
1) Can a mind be found in actual experience? Or is it just another thought? A thought that is calling itself "the mind"

2) Yes the what we call the body is real. Difference does not = separate though. Thought says "I am separate from that"

I know one of the biggest "clues" to an apparent "separation" is vision/sight. Doesn't mean it is actually true though. Try this for me.

3 ) Close your eyes. What happens to the "picture". The sight of your wife and children, the room you're in, this "body" when your eyes are closed?

What happens to this writing when your eyes are closed?

Again, I will have time to look at this later today.

However, I won't have internet for most of the day.

So I will report back tomorrow.

Thanks again Cody.

Nice pointing :-))

[rvh]

There is a body that is real.

Separate from other bodies.

This body is not my wife or children or neighbour.

It has a mind that has thoughts.

there is observation that the other bodies are different from this one.

Few questions for you.

It get's really subtle here...
1) Can a mind be found in actual experience? Or is it just another thought? A thought that is calling itself "the mind"

By "Mind" I just meant thoughts in general.

2) Yes the what we call the body is real. Difference does not = separate though. Thought says "I am separate from that"

Yes, I "Get" this now.

I know one of the biggest "clues" to an apparent "separation" is vision/sight. Doesn't mean it is actually true though. Try this for me.

3 ) Close your eyes. What happens to the "picture". The sight of your wife and children, the room you're in, this "body" when your eyes are closed?

It disappears.

What happens to this writing when your eyes are closed?

Disappears.

What, I noticed yesterday:

When there are no thoughts there is no separation.

When there is no separation, there are no thoughts.

Focusing on no separation can stop thoughts.

Thoughts cause apparent separation.

[rvh]

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

No, it is all just thoughts.

Thoughts pretending to be a separate self.

There never was anything else.

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.

Thoughts are constantly commenting on experience as though it is a personality that has opinions, beliefs.

Thoughts are telling a story about experience as though they are a separate person.

Sometimes is as though they are talking to someone else and trying to convince them of a certain opinion, or that the fake self is like this or that. (Rehearsing what it will say to others)

And when we communicate to others, (Talking) we do this verbally. (Thoughts turn into words)

Its the same agenda.

Convince others that this separate person is like this or that.

Whatever it thinks might be advantageous to its agenda.

Projecting a false image that it perceives might be "Safe" or "Beneficial" for desired outcomes, or avoiding outcomes it sees as undesirable.

I agree that it no doubt originated with language putting labels on everything, and thus creating the illusion of separation.

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 has been a progression of insight.

An unfolding of the perception of truth.

No-self, Non Separation, everything just happening by itself.

No ONE doing anything.

There is a feeling of peace, stillness, less thoughts, a connection with experience. (Non Separation)

There is just experience.

Thoughts are seen for what they are more and more.

Far less fear about potential future outcomes.

Desire for many previous interests has disappeared.

It feels like they are pointless.

It's like the feeling of something missing has gone.

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

The most memorable insight was that the body just moves itself.

That everything just happens by itself.

That felt like a huge "Shift".

That felt like I was already "There".

But there was doubt, uncertainty, and misconceptions.

The persistent pointing by Cody was what finally Got me there, Step by step, to see clearly what is true.

Clearly seeing non-separation was the last significant insight for me.

I had seen it clearly many times, but thoughts were interfering with their interpretation.

Answers to the last 2 questions to come.

rvh

[codyjdennis]

Thanks for those responses. :)

You seem really clear. After you send the last two responses I will send these off to the other guides and we'll go from there.

Just wanted to mention though..when you wrote "thought causes apparent separation". You are spot on. The keyword here is 'apparent'. All they are, are thoughts and although it can 'appear' to create separation, do thoughts actually have that kind of power?

[rvh]

Just wanted to mention though..when you wrote "thought causes apparent separation". You are spot on. The keyword here is 'apparent'. All they are, are thoughts and although it can 'appear' to create separation, do thoughts actually have that kind of power?

No.

Thoughts can't create separation.

There is no separation.

There never was.

It was an illusion created by belief (thoughts) in a separate self.

All thoughts were supporting this belief, creating an illusion of separation.

Once it was clearly seen to be not true, it can no longer be believed in.

The thoughts about separation still occur, but they are not believed in any more.

Is that better?

Thanks

rvh

[codyjdennis]

Awesome rvh. Just wanted to be thorough.

[codyjdennis]

I'm going to pass this off to the other guides. You've seem very clear (at least to me). I'll get back to you soon.

Best,
Cody

[rvh]

5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen? How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

There is no one who could have control.

There is no one to choose anything.

There is no one who could have free will.

Intention and decisions are an automatic process.

Current experience is interpreted by conditioning.

(The sum of all experience to that point, that has resulted in Opinions and Beliefs)

The Intentions and decisions that result are thoughts generated automatically as a result.

6) Anything to add?

Many many thanks to Cody and LU :))))

[rvh]

6) Anything to add?

End of seeking :-))

[codyjdennis]

Hey rvh,

One guide had a couple questions for you.

1) In answer to #1: "Thoughts pretending to be a separate self."

If a thought were to come along as the words/feeling - "this is me, this is who i am"
who/what is doing the pretending?

2) "There never was anything else."

How do you know?


- Cody

[rvh]

One guide had a couple questions for you.

1) In answer to #1: "Thoughts pretending to be a separate self."

If a thought were to come along as the words/feeling - "this is me, this is who i am"
who/what is doing the pretending?

Nothing.

It is just a thought.

2) "There never was anything else."

How do you know?

There are no memories of anything other than just thought about an "I".

There is no "I" to know.

There is just knowing.

[codyjdennis]

Thanks rvh!

I notified the guides you responded. Just waiting for a reply from them.

- Cody

[codyjdennis]

Hey rvh,
Few more questions for you from the guides.

1) Look at your beliefs about thoughts and compare them with what you can see happening in reality - what is going on here/now.

Where are thoughts, can you find them?
Are thoughts thinking?
Are thoughts making a you?
What can thoughts do?

2) Who or what is there to know? Is there a "who" or a "what * that has a knowing?

- Cody

[rvh]

OK, I'll have a look.

Thanks Cody

[rvh]

1) Look at your beliefs about thoughts and compare them with what you can see happening in reality - what is going on here/now.

Where are thoughts, can you find them?

They just arise and disappear as part of what is happening in this present moment.

Are thoughts thinking?

No.

Thoughts can't "Think".

Are thoughts making a you?

No.

They refer to an "I" that cannot be found.

Thoughts can't DO anything.

What can thoughts do?

Nothing.

2) Who or what is there to know? Is there a "who" or a "what * that has a knowing?

There is just knowing.