Path or No Path

[Canfora]

That's a nice list, thank you for sharing!

Here are the questions, there is no need to answer them all at once, you can answer just a few at a time -- remember to focus in your present experience while you're answering them and don't forget to give examples in Q5:

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) 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.

6) Anything to add?

[pwsamadhi]

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

No, only a thought that is illusory or conceptual.

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.

The illusion of the separate self is a conceptual thought or story of an individual mistaken for identity. I have no idea when it started. My best guess would be childhood when parents teach a child, "this is mama", "this is papa", '"you are peter". By the way, this is just a story/assumption.

I see the illusion as the "I", "me", or "my" thought that arises and passes. It's just a little voice that tries to establish itself as the identity. But it is disregarded as false or not important. Quickly brushed off.

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.

I'd just list what I previously mentioned.

• Clarification and recognition of thought content vs thought
• Clarification and recognition of direct experience vs second hand knowledge
• Useful exercises to help one see direct experience
• Got more in touch with direct sensory experience, has been very helpful for some of my mindfulness practices
• Seeing that the separate self is illusory
• To see that life unfolds as it should regardless of what "I" do or don't do
• With knowing, able to see the mind's story and ignore or disregard them as not true
• With knowing, able to feel negative emotion but to let it bypass with more ease
• To take things as not personal

[Canfora]

Sounds good. Waiting for the last 3 answers.

[pwsamadhi]

Weird, for some reason I didn't see the three.

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

Don't think there was one last bit, but just a series of examples. It may have been one or two of the exercises the first guide had me do. One was asking me to see if I can stop thought. I couldn't, so I saw that and came and went on its own. Also, the exercise of visualizing a cup and understanding it's not real, likewise with the "I". So here we have a visualized conceptual "I" that came and went as it pleased, and in that recognition, saw that it was false. That it was just thought.

Some of the statements regarding seeing the world in bare sensory phenomenon and all as experience helped as well in seeing that all there is are just happenings and no self separate from experience and existence.

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.

Decision, intention, free will, choice and control are all illusory. They automatically imply that there is some doer or separate entity causing volitional action. But in reality, action just happens. And now there's just a watching or experiencing of the thoughts and action spontaneously arising. I don't know how it works, but it just does. It is beyond me. From the perspective of time, it seems to be cause and effect, but in reality it's always just now.

6) Anything to add?

No, I just want to say thanks for helping "me" see. The patience and persistency of the guides have been very useful, as were the creative exercises. LU has been productive in my understanding and well being. Much gratitude.

[Canfora]

Thank you for your answers! I will ask LU administration to check if we missed something or if it's time to let you go :)
I'll post when I know something.

[Canfora]

You've already been blued! Welcome to the other side of the gate Peter!
I would like to suggest that you become a LU guide. I think you have what it takes and it would be a wonderful way to deepen your seeing of the illusion. You have the tendency to rely deeply on knowledge. Having clients questioning your way of thinking would be good for you...
It was a pleasure being your guide, I admired your commitment with this exploration.
Take care,
C

[pwsamadhi]

You've already been blued! Welcome to the other side of the gate Peter!
I would like to suggest that you become a LU guide. I think you have what it takes and it would be a wonderful way to deepen your seeing of the illusion. You have the tendency to rely deeply on knowledge. Having clients questioning your way of thinking would be good for you...
It was a pleasure being your guide, I admired your commitment with this exploration.
Take care,
C

Awesome, thanks! It's been a pleasure dialoguing with you. I can see that having knowledge challenged is a great thing. I'll let you and the other admins know when I'm ready to be a guide.