Josh

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem

No. There is simply awareness. That is all that’s ever been"

Are you saying that there is no person/I that is aware, but rather there is an awareness that is aware of what is happening?
If not, what do you mean exactly by your above comment?

There is only awareness itself— that is what is aware, there is no “person.”

Or when thoughts become distractions and take on their own narrative

How does a thought take on its own narrative?
What can a thought do?

A thought occurs. It can do nothing to the underlying awareness that is me, but it can distract into the illusion of a separate self.

It is liberating to step away from the illusion of a separate self

What is it exactly that steps away from the illusion of a separate self?

The real “me” is awareness itself—not the illusion of a separate self—and that is what is stepping away.

Over the past few days, there has been more sinking in to this understanding

What is it exactly that sinks into this understanding?
Is there something separate from this understanding, so it can sink into it?

No. There is only awareness itself. This was a clumsy attempt to describe how the “narrative self” was coming to terms with recognition of its non-existence.

Recognizing that I exist without the body and am not my thoughts pushed me over; that the self is nowhere to be found

What is this I exactly that exists without the body?
What is this I exactly that is not its thoughts?

Awareness itself exists without the body and is not thought. It is simply awareness.

"There is awareness and thoughts arising in the awareness.

Is there awareness + thoughts that arise in awareness?
Where does a thought end and its awareness starts?
Is there an awareness which is something special, apart from the five senses?
Is awareness something independent of and prior to sense perception?

There is only awareness. Not “awareness of awareness,” but simply awareness itself. Thoughts are an illusion. The five senses are merely a manifestation of awareness.

Decisions, intentions, etc. are part of the illusion of a separate self, the illusion of free will....

” Please give examples ONE-BY-ONE to each (how they work in everyday life):

”Decision”

There is no “me” to make a decision. It occurs spontaneously.

“Intention”

There is only awareness. There is no “me” to have an intention. Things get done independently of a “me” that intends to do them.

“Free will’

What is “free will”? This would require a “doer,” which does not exist inside awareness.

:Responsibility”

There is no “me” to be responsible. But this does not override a lifetime of social conditioning of behavior.

Many thanks.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

When I read the answers, I see that there is still things to clarify.

A thought occurs. It can do nothing to the underlying awareness that is me, but it can distract into the illusion of a separate self.

The real “me” is awareness itself—not the illusion of a separate self—and that is what is stepping away.

Is awareness a noun or is there only being aware ?

Is awareness (being aware) you ?

Is being aware personal or impersonal? Elaborate a little on that.

No. There is only awareness itself. This was a clumsy attempt to describe how the “narrative self” was coming to terms with recognition of its non-existence.

There is confusion in what you write : it is better to say clearly "... recognition of the non existence of a separate self". Do you agree with this ?

Is what is called a body separate from the knowing of it ?

Are thoughts separate from the knowing of them ?

Are appearances separate from the knowing of them ?

Does "being aware (awareness)" needs the five senses to know "itself" ?

Best wishes

Warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

Is awareness a noun or is there only being aware ?

Is awareness (being aware) you ?

Is being aware personal or impersonal? Elaborate a little on that.

Awareness is a noun. Otherwise there would be a “doer” of awareness. “I am awareness” is a close as I can come using a concept to describe something non-conceptual. If “I am awareness,” then it is personal; but it can also be impersonal when I recognize that awareness can stretch to infinity.

There is confusion in what you write : it is better to say clearly "... recognition of the non existence of a separate self". Do you agree with this ?

Yes.

Is what is called a body separate from the knowing of it ?

Are thoughts separate from the knowing of them ?

Are appearances separate from the knowing of them ?

Does "being aware (awareness)" needs the five senses to know "itself" ?

There is no separation: not of body and knowing thereof; not of thoughts and knowing thereof; not of appearances and knowing thereof. Awareness does not need sensory input to know “itself.”

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

Awareness is a noun. Otherwise there would be a “doer” of awareness. “I am awareness” is a close as I can come using a concept to describe something non-conceptual. If “I am awareness,” then it is personal; but it can also be impersonal when I recognize that awareness can stretch to infinity.

Yes, in grammar, awareness is a noun. In our dialog "awareness" = being aware = knowing. You said "awareness" could be personal, then there are billions of awarenesses. Is the knowing principle personal? Is the capacity of seeing thoughts personal?
Is the capacity of seeing, hearing, ... personal?

There is no separation: not of body and knowing thereof; not of thoughts and knowing thereof; not of appearances and knowing thereof. Awareness does not need sensory input to know “itself.”

Fine.

Best wishes

Warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

You said "awareness" could be personal, then there are billions of awarenesses. Is the knowing principle personal? Is the capacity of seeing thoughts personal?
Is the capacity of seeing, hearing, ... personal?

There is no individual “me” to whom knowing or sensory perception could be personal.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

I will submit again your answers to my fellow guides. Patience.

Warissem

[warissem]

Hi Josh

The real “me” is awareness itself—not the illusion of a separate self—and that is what is stepping away.

How does awareness step away ?

This was a clumsy attempt to describe how the “narrative self” was coming to terms with recognition of its non-existence.

How does the "narrative self" come to terms with its non existence ?


Can you say with 100% certainty that there has been a SHIFT from intellectual understanding of there being no separate self other than an idea to an experiential, visceral recognition of it?

If yes, could you please point to the moment when the SHIFT ITSELF happened with as much DETAIL as possible?
How did the shift itself FELT?

What is the difference between intellectual understanding and a deep, experiential, visceral recognition of it being a fact?

Warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

The real “me” is awareness itself—not the illusion of a separate self—and that is what is stepping away.

How does awareness step away ?

Awareness doesn’t step away, it realizes that there is no separate self.

This was a clumsy attempt to describe how the “narrative self” was coming to terms with recognition of its non-existence.

How does the "narrative self" come to terms with its non existence ?

The “narrative self” distracts from awareness and can lead into a loop of thinking.

Can you say with 100% certainty that there has been a SHIFT from intellectual understanding of there being no separate self other than an idea to an experiential, visceral recognition of it?

If yes, could you please point to the moment when the SHIFT ITSELF happened with as much DETAIL as possible?
How did the shift itself FELT?

As mentioned on October 29, I had a perceptual shift during a paired direct inquiry meditation. I was seeing myself as a golden light with a black figurine clinging to it. And then I saw that “me” could exist without the black figurine, just as the pure golden light. And in that moment I felt happy and blissful, recognizing that there was no separate self and that there was just awareness. Sadly, the all-pervasive happiness and bliss only persisted for a few days—but it can still be found.

What is the difference between intellectual understanding and a deep, experiential, visceral recognition of it being a fact?

Intellectual understanding is just that—another “fact,” possibly of little operational relevance. The deep, experiential, visceral recognition is an all-pervasive shift in perception of who “i” am and an acceptance that there is only awareness.

Any suggestions how to restore the all-pervasive feeling of oneness and absence of an individual self, rather than having to look for it?

Many thanks.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

Any suggestions how to restore the all-pervasive feeling of oneness and absence of an individual self, rather than having to look for it?

Is there a you wishing this ever faded experience to last for ever ? Look.
Is there a you swallowing in the absence of an individual self ? Look.

Best wishes

warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

Many thanks.

Is there a you wishing this ever faded experience to last for ever ? Look.
Is there a you swallowing in the absence of an individual self ? Look.

When looking, there is no me.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

Give a rant to the seeing that there is no separate self. I want to be convinced that you have really seen that and it is not an intellectual understanding.

Best wishes

Warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

Give a rant to the seeing that there is no separate self. I want to be convinced that you have really seen that and it is not an intellectual understanding.

Not sure what is meant by “give a rant,” but assuming that you are asking for a more detailed description of the moment when I saw through the illusion of a separate self.

I was receiving questions as part of a paired direct inquiry meditation. In my mind, I was a golden blob of light with some sort of black figure-like fluid on the exterior. The person asking the questions said: “Do you need the black figure in order to be you?” And in that moment I saw that the black figure not necessary and that I was the pure golden light—and that that golden light was part of EVERYTHING. That is, there was no separate “me.” I asked: “Is it really that simple,” but the gentleman asking the questions didn’t understand immediately what had happened to me.

From that moment onward, there has been a place of calm at my core, which can be accessed with vary degrees of ease and with lesser or greater persistence.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

What is going on ?

Is there something missing ?

Do you need more seeking ? If yes, give details, if not give details.

How are the feelings after seeing no separate self, how are the sensations in the body ? How is the flow of thoughts ? Give some descriptions from the new perspective.

Best wishes

Warissem

[Jcharap]

Dear Warissem,

What is going on ?

Life is happening.

Is there something missing ?

Attachment to a “me.” Nothing is missing.

Do you need more seeking ? If yes, give details, if not give details.

On what basis could a comparison be made?

How are the feelings after seeing no separate self, how are the sensations in the body ? How is the flow of thoughts ? Give some descriptions from the new perspective.

Feelings are much more calm and seemingly detached. Sensations are more vivid. It is possible to interrupt the flow of thoughts and simply “be”; this is desirable and becoming easier. From the new perspective sensory perceptions are more alive and it’s possible to be closer or better integrated with them...yet somehow more distant.

Many thanks.

Best,

Josh

[warissem]

Hi Josh

Attachment to a “me.” Nothing is missing.

What do you mean by "attachement to a me" ?
What is attached to a me ?

It is possible to interrupt the flow of thoughts and simply “be”; this is desirable and becoming easier. From the new perspective sensory perceptions are more alive and it’s possible to be closer or better integrated with them...yet somehow more distant.

What is interrupting the flow of thoughts?

who is to be closer to sensory perceptions ?

Warissem