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[MikeB]

You asked:

How would a separate self exist in life without being detected by the senses?

I’m not the self that I think I am. A self might look for itself, but could never find itself. It’s impossible.

On and off, for the last couple of days, I’ve being playing a game of “Let’s Pretend There’s No Separate Self”. Life has been going on just as before. No pieces have fallen off. Early days yet, though.

M

[Canfora]

Are you trying to build a case of evidences? What for?
The only thing required to see there is no self is looking. And looking doesn't need special preparation or mind games. You just have to look to what is here right now and see that a self isn't present.
When you look, can you see there is no you here to be seen?
Can you also see there is no entity doing the looking? Or thinking the thoughts?

[MikeB]

Looking . . .

M

[MikeB]

Sick today.

M

[Canfora]

Thank you for letting me know. I wish you a speedy recovery.
C

[MikeB]

Thanks for your good wishes.

If there is

no entity doing the looking

then who is it you keep asking to look?

M

[Canfora]

then who is it you keep asking to look?

I have no idea! However I'm 100% sure it isn't a separate self :)
Can you find the looker or not? If one exists it must be findable!

Do this exercise please, maybe it will help:

Seeing the computer screen is happening. With your finger, draw a line in mid air, from the observer to the observing to the observed - from you, to the seeing, to the computer.

Is this what can be seen / experienced?: Observer (separate entity) ---- > Observation (action) ----> Observed (separated objects)?

Are three distinct 'things' here: an I, separated from the seeing, separated from the computer?

What is seen, experienced - instead of thought to be happening?

****************

Did I ask you how the idea of no self makes you feel, Mike? Maybe not. Are you afraid how life can change if this is seen with clarity?

[MikeB]

Looking . . .

M

[MikeB]

Still looking . . .

M

[Canfora]

Me too :)

[MikeB]

Can you find the looker or not? If one exists it must be findable!

Taking some deep breaths, sense of body on chair, feet on ground, fingers on keys, thoughts in background, no looker to be found.

Seeing the computer screen is happening. With your finger, draw a line in mid air, from the observer to the observing to the observed - from you, to the seeing, to the computer.

Is this what can be seen / experienced?: Observer (separate entity) ---- > Observation (action) ----> Observed (separated objects)?

Are three distinct 'things' here: an I, separated from the seeing, separated from the computer?

What is seen, experienced - instead of thought to be happening?

First, I noticed the thoughts (“how to do the exercise, finger, words”). Next, took some deep breaths, let eyes defocus. Then, just colours, the pink one changing every moment. No separation, no sense of “me” seeing. Finally, looking back at the memory, words trying to say what happened.

Are you afraid how life can change if this is seen with clarity?

Keeping thoughts in background (which takes an effort) – no. Thinking – default mode – yes.

M

[Canfora]

If you stay with the fear, accepting what is happening in this moment, and look at the fear, what can you see causing the fear, in it's origin? Is it a you?
What happens to the fear when you look at it?

Take care,
Sandra

[MikeB]

If you stay with the fear, accepting what is happening in this moment, and look at the fear, what can you see causing the fear, in it's origin? Is it a you?

A real “fear”, in my experience, is a sudden unmistakeable sinking feeling in the gut, and that’s not what follows the thought of “no self”. It’s more a sense of general unease, as if a myriad thoughts suddenly rise up, saying, “Nooo!” So I don’t see it, or its cause.

What happens to the fear when you look at it?

Staying present, so many thoughts go past so quickly, that I can’t say.

M

[Canfora]

Mike, would you say that fear is not an issue here?

Have you been looking for a self in your normal everyday life? How is the looking going? What do you find when you look?

[MikeB]

. . . would you say that fear is not an issue here?

It isn’t.

Have you been looking for a self in your normal everyday life?

No. But I’ve gone back (several times a day) to ways of keeping in the present, and there’s no self there.

M