Could you do me a favour and respond to the following from your experience.
- Was ‘me’/‘myself’ ever a living being that moves, speaks or thinks?
No, ¨Me¨ is a story, a mental construct created by ¨I¨ thoughts. A story can´t move, speak or think.
- Explain in detail what the illusion of ‘me’/‘myself’ is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.
There is an experience, then there is a thought who connect that experience to an entity called ¨Me¨. Then another experience, then another ¨I¨ thought. This keeps going and because of all the experiences and the connections to the entity ¨Me¨, this ¨Me¨ becomes a whole story of someone who has a past and a future. The illusion is the act of believing in this story of ¨Me¨.
- 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 freeing. There is a more relaxed and joyful state. There is more peace because there is no one to defend. Of course, there still has to be care for the body and things have to be done to function in the world, but there is no self to defend.
Before I started when I was critiziced or verbally attacked, there was the believe that I had to defend myself. That I had to protect my self image. Now, when the story plays, I look at the story and I know that it is a story. There is more space. Life is more of an adventure :)
- What was key in seeing this?
Honest looking with the help of a guide. Also really wanting to know and keep investigating. Keep asking yourself quesions and stay with the experience, don´t entertain ideas, Look!
- Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. Does ‘me’/‘myself’ make things happen? Is ‘me’/‘myself’ in control of anything? How does it work? What is ‘me’/‘myself’ responsible for? Give examples from experience.
¨Me¨ is a story. A story can´t make decisions, have intentions, have free will, choice or control. A story can´t control anything. The story isn´t responsible for anything.
When I walked in nature and there was a decision to make, go left or right? There were thoughts and then there was the walking to the right. There was no ¨Me¨ who choose to go right, the choice was made, it just happened. Another example is when you let me do the exercise with the hand resting on the table. The hand rested on the table, there were thoughts about raising the hand, but the hand didn´t move. The hand raised on his own accord.
- Anything to add?
Not really.
Best wishes,
John
