Hi Luchana,
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form?
There is no seperate self, the 'I' or 'me' only existed in thoughts, nowhere to be found in reality, no shape and no form, just as a label in language and concept, it's so simple, really!
Was there ever?
Never. Only in memories but a memory is a content of a thought.
2) Share in your own words what the illusion of separate self is and how it shows up in experience.
The illusion of separate self shows up when language and labeling were started using by toddlers, as tought by parents (or as the story goes, don't really know again if babies really existed).
In the experience: the sensations are showing up, then in some thoughts and speeches or in writtings there is a concept of an 'I' as a subject and a separate object not just what's happening.
Then a thought appeared with the content of a story about oneself as the experiencer, a point of view, referential position, whereas in reality there is none, no-one to experience separatedness.
Also, through your inquiry, what is different now?
Life just continues to be the same as it was before.
And also an added knowledge (or just a memory in a thought?) to be able to see that there's never a separate self again and again.
3) How does it feel to see this?
Seeing happens, more looking and noticing more sensations in 'here' along with the appearance and disappearance of thoughts.
Thoughts just come and go, and life felt more open or relaxed with so much richness in viewing, hearing, tasting, smelling, etc.
What is the difference from before you started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.
The difference is just another thought appearing with the content of an insight that Reza is just a character in a story, in the real life there is no separate 'self', only one 'this' and all the experiences are flowing 'here' whereas in the past few days, there is a belief that 'I' or this Reza is a real entity with capability to do something.
Not again, and never really, the belief of 'I' is just a thought too!
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
No last bit, no causality, no time-continuity, it just seen and heard.
Looking along with all the sensations and the thoughts happens.
So, just LOOK (it pushed but not-me who made the will to look)
5) a) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control.
They are all ideas, happening only in the story of someone, but there is no one, just the unfoldings of life and all those story of decision/intention/free-will/choice/control happens in thoughts.
What makes things happen?
Don't know. Things just happen.
How does it work?
Don't know too. There are some explanations in thoughts but it's not real. In reality there are clarity and doubts, looking clearly and some unknown darkness are experienced, so looking continues..
Give examples from your own recent experiences to how things happen and how things work.
When this Reza, the 'I' thought to decide to leave his wife, it felt like a solid decision and planned to chose some actions but in reality of what's happening just happens, the relationship just continued, experiencing sensations in the body, lips, skins, with seeing and hearing when making love comes along with thoughts arising never affecting reality, so all the thoughts are not the truth.
b) What are you responsible for?
Nothing. It's like a joke!
Give examples from your own recent experiences to how this works.
This story of Reza appears as if he had responsibilities at work and at home; as a father, a son, a worker, a husband, a friend, etc.
But really, what happened is whatever happened, no doer or decider of something to do as a responsibility and there is no one to be held responsible of every actions he did. Just a story.
This is just a story and responsibilities are ideas or concepts in memories/thoughts only. In reality, no one really knows how :-)
6) Anything to add?
Yes, there are some misteries and the knowledge of no-self doesn't illumate all of the unknown, so no enlightenment yet.
Maybe you can give another pointers to other truths in life?
Thank you,
Love, Reza.