Bonjour Michel,
Par ce magnifique dimanche de printemps, je suis heureuse de t'envoyer mes réponses.
J'en profite pour t'exprimer ma reconnaissance pour l'attention que tu m'as porté jusqu'à la prise de conscience finale qui m'engage sur un nouveau chemin.
J'espère rester en contact de quelque manière que ce soit!
Avec gratitude,
Sophie
1) Is there a 'me', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No because "me" is a mythia...
There was never a me but only the creed in a me. That's where the big answer is.
"me" is a mythia "i.e. that which is wrongly imagined or of questionable origin."
2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
A
/ What is the illusion of separate self ?
To use Nick Vujicic (Life without Limbs) word : F.E.A.R is False Evidence Appearing Real.
I'd say "I the separate self " is F.E.A.R.
Paraphrasing his article on his site:
"Have you ever been paralyzed by the separate self ? There is a path before you that you know you must walk, but the separate self stops you. Deep down you realize that if you face your separate self, you can help others overcome theirs. By coming out of your own bondage, you can help set them free.
I’ve often said that fear — F.E.A.R. — is False Evidence Appearing Real. In fact, I tell people that fear is more disabling than having a disability!".
I'd add that the separate self too is more disabling than having a disability! ...cause the separate self is F.E.A.R producing fear!...fear of the other, fear of not succeeding, fear of not being able, so many fears!!!
B/ When it starts and how it works?
It started as a useful program being installed on a fresh new computer ready to receive any new fonctionality that enables it to be more efficient. With time and the powerful conditionings of society, it's slowly slowly becoming a virus. This "I virus" metaphor is grealy developed by Ilona on
http://markedeternal.blogspot.com/2010/10/save-me.html
So It is ending working as a malicious software...
3) How does it feel to see this?
1/ JOYFUL
As I'am of a joyful nature I feel now like "Hey Ya" (better to explain it in music!):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17q4a ... y-ya_music
This clip illustrate indeed how i feel: On the scene of life, I am the different characters playing different roles, the singer, the musicians, the cameraman filming, the girls dancing and screaming, the family looking the show on TV screen and dancing, the TV screen itself, the fan running on the scene and being taken away, the picture on the polaroid...and so on...
2/ LIKE A WHEEL WITHOUT CENTER
I feel like a wheel without center. Before the center called "I" was in comand and the outer has to adapt to its will. So, it was moving like with buckled wheels...really not smooth and confortable with up and downs that make me feel nausea...
Since I saw there was no I in substance but just a belief of a I, it burst out like a soap bubble or disappeared in mouth like coton candy...
(I wrote an article on '"the coton-candy I " quoting Ludo on my blog... but in french
http://coeur-eveil.blogspot.fr/2012/02/ ... -papa.html)
4) How would you describe it to somebody who has never heard about this illusion.
Depending on people background I'd use metaphors like the one of computer/software or the budhist metaphor about a rope being taken for a snake.
5) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
1/The question around "free will". Actually, it was completely unexpected that Michel sent me an english text (!) that he presented himself as philosophical...the title being:
"The wisdom of the infinite" A guide to intellectually comprehending the nature of Reality
I get somewhat liberated from a preconceived idea that something had to happen mostly on a physical/emotional level while reading:
"Thus, the first and most crucial step towards becoming enlightened is the perfecting of one' s intellectual understanding of Reality. I really can't stress this enough. It is absolutely paramount. Nothing of any real significance can be achieved without it."
2/ After getting the point about free will and going through the text , I just came to a point where i get the feeling of
Consciousness observing itself through me!...a really weird and awesome sensation, also a bit frightening. Synchronistically, I stumbled upon the blog of Damon that brought me to coment his article:
http://untyingtangledthreads.blogspot.f ... l?spref=fb
So,now Damon!
Back again on your blog facing this "cosmic eye" (cosmic-I!) again...and this tremendous phrase:
"What you are looking for is what is looking, the looking itself and what is being looked at, simultaneously."
Did it spring up to you spontaneously?
...cause here is the story: some years ago while sitting on a bench at the bottom of the "Sacré-coeur" (Sacred-heart) in Paris, I distinctively suddenly heard in myself:
"Don't forget you're an eye to look at my place"
I clearly identified on the spot it was the Universal Consciousness desire that "I" leave free space for it to experience its own creation.
But i get no clue at that time about how to withdraw and leave the seat to let IT see...
Now that I've done the process on L.U, when i related this story to Michel my guide, I "stumbled upon" this post of you with this big huge Eye/I as an echo to this tremendous phrase...So, waouwww...just wanted to share it...cause now "what is looking" has taken the place...
...well is taking the place.
Ce "je" qui n'existait pas avant la naissance de votre corps et qui disparaîtra à sa mort, ce "je" limité par le temps, vous le considérez comme acquis. Transcendez les concepts et soyez sans idées."
Nisargadatta Maharaj
