Flow is everything

[thistle]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
There is no You - just experiences - hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting - and thinking

What are you looking for at LU?
I want to go through the gate. I know that it is possible and it is right. I been "studying" this for the last to years and my life - the "me" - are so different since I started my journey. I don't take others opinion personal as much as I use to. Before I hated to sit by myself - now I love it - to be in stillness. Being at one with the sky, the water, animals and other human beings. I'm more at ease with myself and other people and life in general.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
That my guide can help me the last meter through the gate. Help me with my fears and doubt - not about that it is possible, but doubt that it is possible for me.

I've talked to Todd Lent and he would like to guide me :-)

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I've been seeking for 40 years. Buddhisme, tibetan healing, therapy, rebirthing etc.
The last 2 years I've been following a non-dualistic teacher in UK and I've been listening/seeing teaching on fx Youtube. Eckhart Tolle, Pernille Damore, Kim Eng, Tenzin Wangual Rinpoche, LU etc.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self?
11

[vegansatori]

Good morning!
Lovely to see you here!
I'm heading to work now, but I will write back more later. And I look forward to seeing you in our meeting on Sunday!
Have a great day until then!
Todd

[thistle]

Hi Todd
Thank You🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 - it was so nice meeting You. I’m sure that you can help me through the gate.
What was the name of the book that you recommended?
I know that you will send me some notes from the book but I think that I will to by it.
Actually - about the tibetan healing….the others in the organization do meditation- I don’t.
Maybe I will one day 😉
I look at the water and the nature.
Have a nice evening.
🎶😊Sanne

[vegansatori]

Hi Sanne!
It was so great talking with you today! I'm really looking forward to working with you. :-)

Okay, let's take care of the formalities first, and then we'll dig in!

It doesn't sound like this applies to you, but you’ve read this disclaimer, right? http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Beware that the forum sometimes goes down. I would highly recommend composing your responses in another program and pasting them into the forum. I would have lost many hours of typed messages had I not done this!

We'll use a mixture of conversation and direct pointing exercises to aid your inquiry. I won't be asking you to believe or accept anything. I’ll be asking lots of pointed questions, but the actual work of Looking and accurately reporting what is found (or not found) is totally up to you. The pointers work really well, but only if you do them. :-)

To get an idea of exactly where you are right now, can you please answer these questions? One of the biggest hindrances to Seeing no-self is the habit of creating falsely grandiose expectations. We’ll need to address those right away if they are showing up for you. Please answer as honestly and thoroughly as you can.

What is wrong with things as they are now, and in what ways do you expect them to change after “crossing the Gate”?
Do you expect any changes in your personality/relationships/mental states, etc.?
How will being “Awakened” feel?
Is there something missing now that you expect to find?
Do you have any fears, anxiety, or reservations about this process? (Please feel free to be very honest about this if you do.)

If I have written questions in blue text, please try to answer each one as specifically as possible.

Also, for the sake of clarity, please answer questions using the Quote function for each, if it’s not too much trouble.
Step one: select the text to quote.
Step two: press the "Quote" button above the text edit field.
Please let me know if you have any questions or problems.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, the name of the book is “Being You” by Anil Seth. Again, his categories of the self-illusion are:
The Body as Self – the feeling that I am my body
The Narrative Self – the memory of past events, my name, family, address, etc.
The Perspectival Self – the feeling of being an entity looking out from behind my eyes, located somewhere in the middle of my head
The Volitional Self – the feeling that I can make choices, and choose whether or not to perform an action
The Social Self – the way I perceive others perceiving me

Lastly, I know we talked about it, but here's just a little exercise about Direct Experience to make sure we're totally clear on it:

Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

When we talk about Direct/Actual Experience, what we’re talking about are simply the raw experiences before thought attaches concepts, names, or meaning to them.
This is what you’re going to use to Look and report back in all of the pointers I’ll be giving. In a handy reminder form, Direct or Actual Experience is:

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Physical sensations, not emotion. Emotions are just physical sensations mixed with thoughts)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Here's a labeling exercise that I would like you to try multiple times throughout the day. Label daily activities with the raw Direct Experience (DE) that you experience – color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup = image/color/shape
Smelling coffee = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup = sensation
Tasting the coffee = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee = sound
A thought about drinking the coffee = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories as you really experience them.

Please write back a few of these lists for me to check out. But the more important thing is to do it regularly.

(If it helps, please refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience.
Post several of your own observations in a list exactly like the one above, please.)

Okay, that's plenty for today. I know you'll be busy for the next day or so, so take your time.
Have a great day, and I'll talk with you soon!
-Todd

[thistle]

Hi Sanne!
It was so great talking with you today! I'm really looking forward to working with you. :-)

Okay, let's take care of the formalities first, and then we'll dig in!

It doesn't sound like this applies to you, but you’ve read this disclaimer, right? http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Beware that the forum sometimes goes down. I would highly recommend composing your responses in another program and pasting them into the forum. I would have lost many hours of typed messages had I not done this!

We'll use a mixture of conversation and direct pointing exercises to aid your inquiry. I won't be asking you to believe or accept anything. I’ll be asking lots of pointed questions, but the actual work of Looking and accurately reporting what is found (or not found) is totally up to you. The pointers work really well, but only if you do them. :-)

To get an idea of exactly where you are right now, can you please answer these questions? One of the biggest hindrances to Seeing no-self is the habit of creating falsely grandiose expectations. We’ll need to address those right away if they are showing up for you. Please answer as honestly and thoroughly as you can.

What is wrong with things as they are now, and in what ways do you expect them to change after “crossing the Gate”?
I don’t think that anything will change but I expect that my perception of thing will change. I will not be attanched to any thoughts or feelings. The ”things” just is. Not bad – not good – just is.

Do you expect any changes in your personality/relationships/mental states, etc.?
I expect that I will see everything more with ease. Laugh at people, situations, the weather, my economy, concerts, my husband (I already do ;-) – everything.
So my personality will change. I expect that I will be more quietly with others. Just beeing, without any opinions. I expect to be less energetic – I sometimes get to much energy. On the other hand I expect to be better to just follow my energy and do more creative things – e.g. ceramics. In stead of seeing tv.

How will being “Awakened” feel?
To be in a flow – just drinking a glass of water, practicing on my oboe, being in my garden, cleaning the windows – just flow

Is there something missing now that you expect to find?
Yes – confidence in life

Do you have any fears, anxiety, or reservations about this process? (Please feel free to be very honest about this if you do.)

I fear that I will change so much, that other people will find me strange. They already do – but much more.
I fear I will stop being responsible – e.g. our economy (I’m the one who take responsibility about our economy)

If I have written questions in blue text, please try to answer each one as specifically as possible.

Also, for the sake of clarity, please answer questions using the Quote function for each, if it’s not too much trouble.
Step one: select the text to quote.
Step two: press the "Quote" button above the text edit field.
Please let me know if you have any questions or problems.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, the name of the book is “Being You” by Anil Seth. Again, his categories of the self-illusion are:
The Body as Self – the feeling that I am my body
The Narrative Self – the memory of past events, my name, family, address, etc.
The Perspectival Self – the feeling of being an entity looking out from behind my eyes, located somewhere in the middle of my head
The Volitional Self – the feeling that I can make choices, and choose whether or not to perform an action
The Social Self – the way I perceive others perceiving me

Lastly, I know we talked about it, but here's just a little exercise about Direct Experience to make sure we're totally clear on it:

Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

When we talk about Direct/Actual Experience, what we’re talking about are simply the raw experiences before thought attaches concepts, names, or meaning to them.
This is what you’re going to use to Look and report back in all of the pointers I’ll be giving. In a handy reminder form, Direct or Actual Experience is:

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Physical sensations, not emotion. Emotions are just physical sensations mixed with thoughts)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Here's a labeling exercise that I would like you to try multiple times throughout the day. Label daily activities with the raw Direct Experience (DE) that you experience – color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup = image/color/shape
Smelling coffee = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup = sensation
Tasting the coffee = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee = sound
A thought about drinking the coffee = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories as you really experience them.

Please write back a few of these lists for me to check out. But the more important thing is to do it regularly.

(If it helps, please refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience.
Post several of your own observations in a list exactly like the one above, please.)

Okay, that's plenty for today. I know you'll be busy for the next day or so, so take your time.
Have a great day, and I'll talk with you soon!
-Todd

[thistle]

Hi Sanne!
It was so great talking with you today! I'm really looking forward to working with you. :-)

Okay, let's take care of the formalities first, and then we'll dig in!

It doesn't sound like this applies to you, but you’ve read this disclaimer, right? http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Beware that the forum sometimes goes down. I would highly recommend composing your responses in another program and pasting them into the forum. I would have lost many hours of typed messages had I not done this!

We'll use a mixture of conversation and direct pointing exercises to aid your inquiry. I won't be asking you to believe or accept anything. I’ll be asking lots of pointed questions, but the actual work of Looking and accurately reporting what is found (or not found) is totally up to you. The pointers work really well, but only if you do them. :-)

To get an idea of exactly where you are right now, can you please answer these questions? One of the biggest hindrances to Seeing no-self is the habit of creating falsely grandiose expectations. We’ll need to address those right away if they are showing up for you. Please answer as honestly and thoroughly as you can.

What is wrong with things as they are now, and in what ways do you expect them to change after “crossing the Gate”?
I don’t think that anything will change but I expect that my perception of thing will change. I will not be attanched to any thoughts or feelings. The ”things” just is. Not bad – not good – just is.

Do you expect any changes in your personality/relationships/mental states, etc.?
I expect that I will see everything more with ease. Laugh at people, situations, the weather, my economy, concerts, my husband (I already do ;-) – everything.
So my personality will change. I expect that I will be more quietly with others. Just beeing, without any opinions. I expect to be less energetic – I sometimes get to much energy. On the other hand I expect to be better to just follow my energy and do more creative things – e.g. ceramics. In stead of seeing tv.

How will being “Awakened” feel?
To be in a flow – just drinking a glass of water, practicing on my oboe, being in my garden, cleaning the windows – just flow

Is there something missing now that you expect to find?
Yes – confidence in life

Do you have any fears, anxiety, or reservations about this process? (Please feel free to be very honest about this if you do.)

I fear that I will change so much, that other people will find me strange. They already do – but much more.
I fear I will stop being responsible – e.g. our economy (I’m the one who take responsibility about our economy)

If I have written questions in blue text, please try to answer each one as specifically as possible.

Also, for the sake of clarity, please answer questions using the Quote function for each, if it’s not too much trouble.
Step one: select the text to quote.
Step two: press the "Quote" button above the text edit field.
Please let me know if you have any questions or problems.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, the name of the book is “Being You” by Anil Seth. Again, his categories of the self-illusion are:
The Body as Self – the feeling that I am my body
I know that feeling


The Narrative Self – the memory of past events, my name, family, address, etc.
I know that to

The Perspectival Self – the feeling of being an entity looking out from behind my eyes, located somewhere in the middle of my head
I have been doing that when I been walking I the e.g. forest

The Volitional Self – the feeling that I can make choices, and choose whether or not to perform an action
Yep

The Social Self – the way I perceive others perceiving me
Yep-yep

Lastly, I know we talked about it, but here's just a little exercise about Direct Experience to make sure we're totally clear on it:

Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

When we talk about Direct/Actual Experience, what we’re talking about are simply the raw experiences before thought attaches concepts, names, or meaning to them.
This is what you’re going to use to Look and report back in all of the pointers I’ll be giving. In a handy reminder form, Direct or Actual Experience is:

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Physical sensations, not emotion. Emotions are just physical sensations mixed with thoughts)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Here's a labeling exercise that I would like you to try multiple times throughout the day. Label daily activities with the raw Direct Experience (DE) that you experience – color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup = image/color/shape
Smelling coffee = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup = sensation
Tasting the coffee = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee = sound
A thought about drinking the coffee = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories as you really experience them.

Please write back a few of these lists for me to check out. But the more important thing is to do it regularly.

(If it helps, please refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience.
Post several of your own observations in a list exactly like the one above, please.)

Okay, that's plenty for today. I know you'll be busy for the next day or so, so take your time.
Have a great day, and I'll talk with you soon!
-Todd

[thistle]

Hi Todd

Now I'm tired - I look in to it tomorrow :-)
Good night :-)

[thistle]

Hi Todd
It has been wonderful to just be by the Water and working in my Garden. It’s away for me not to have melt-downs.
About the labeling - it’s difficult not to when life goes on.
It’s like a wave I ride on - just go from one thing to another.
It easier for me when I’m at home but as now - this day- I have a lot to do - then I just go ahead- on the wawe
Does it make any sense?

- Sanne

[vegansatori]

Hi Sanne!
First off, I have to apologize. I just realized today that you had actually responded to my questions. For some reason when I saw the messages that you’d quoted, your answers blended in so much that I didn’t even see them, and thought you’d just had an issue with the site and that my post got repeated by mistake! Again, I’m sorry for missing that!

What is wrong with things as they are now, and in what ways do you expect them to change after “crossing the Gate”?

I don’t think that anything will change but I expect that my perception of thing will change. I will not be attanched to any thoughts or feelings. The ”things” just is. Not bad – not good – just is.

Yes, this sort of thing is possible through the Gate. Some of it might not stabilize until the further fetters are seen through.

Do you expect any changes in your personality/relationships/mental states, etc.?

I expect that I will see everything more with ease. Laugh at people, situations, the weather, my economy, concerts, my husband (I already do ;-) – everything.
So my personality will change. I expect that I will be more quietly with others. Just beeing, without any opinions. I expect to be less energetic – I sometimes get to much energy. On the other hand I expect to be better to just follow my energy and do more creative things – e.g. ceramics. In stead of seeing tv.

Some of this might happen, some might not. We’ll see! ;-)

How will being “Awakened” feel?

To be in a flow – just drinking a glass of water, practicing on my oboe, being in my garden, cleaning the windows – just flow

Nice. Again, the full expression of this flow comes later (F9) as you know. But even remaining in Direct Experience in our life can bring a lot more of this when we are no longer so attached to thoughts.

Is there something missing now that you expect to find?

Yes – confidence in life

I’m not sure I could guarantee that you’ll gain confidence in life. If anything, more of the ability to surrender to what is. Would that be okay?

Overall, I would ask you to put aside any expectations. They might seem like good motivation, but in reality they lead to unhelpful comparisons, and feed a lot of doubt and questioning that can completely obstruct your progress. Do you think you can set all of that aside?

Do you have any fears, anxiety, or reservations about this process? (Please feel free to be very honest about this if you do.)

I fear that I will change so much, that other people will find me strange. They already do – but much more.
I fear I will stop being responsible – e.g. our economy (I’m the one who take responsibility about our economy)

I understand where you’re coming from. These are things that don’t usually happen. You’re generally the same person outwardly as you always were. Especially if you’ve only seen through the self, and not the further fetters. Even those can make barely perceptible changes to a person’s outward functioning.

The Body as Self – the feeling that I am my body
I know that feeling
The Narrative Self – the memory of past events, my name, family, address, etc.
I know that to
The Perspectival Self – the feeling of being an entity looking out from behind my eyes, located somewhere in the middle of my head
I have been doing that when I been walking I the e.g. forest
The Volitional Self – the feeling that I can make choices, and choose whether or not to perform an action
Yep
The Social Self – the way I perceive others perceiving me
Yep-yep

Okay, good that you’re able to recognize them. Do you currently feel identified with any or all of these in your daily life?
If so, is one more prominent than the others?

It has been wonderful to just be by the Water and working in my Garden. It’s away for me not to have melt-downs.

This sounds really nice!

About the labeling - it’s difficult not to when life goes on.
It’s like a wave I ride on - just go from one thing to another.
It easier for me when I’m at home but as now - this day- I have a lot to do - then I just go ahead- on the wawe
Does it make any sense?

Honestly, I’m not quite sure that I fully follow.

Just to clarify, are you clear on the concept of Direct Experience where we simply attend to the raw data of our senses without intentionally labeling or conceptualizing them?
I want to make sure we’re fully clear on this distinction because all of the exercises we’ll be doing will be done in this Direct Experience awareness.

That’s why I asked you to do the exercise where you label some of your experiences like I had listed in the green list above. Would you mind doing that for me, just so I know we’re on the same page? Thanks!

Here it is again:
Label daily activities with the raw Direct Experience (DE) that you experience – color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup = image/color
Smelling coffee = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup = sensation
Tasting the coffee = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee = sound
A thought about drinking the coffee = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories as you really experience them.

Please write back a few of these lists for me to check out. But the more important thing is to do it regularly.


As far as your response, are you saying that sometimes you don’t feel like an egoic self, and seem to just float through on direct experience, while at other times you get caught up in, and identified with thoughts? Did I get that right?

So let me ask, when you are sitting by the water, or working in your garden, where is the self felt?
How do you know there’s a self there in those moments? (It might be different in one situation versus another.)

If you don’t know offhand, the next time you engage in one of those activities, tune in to your experience to find out. Is it something in the body? An image in the mind? Get very curious about what feels like a self, and let me know what you find!

Again, I’m very sorry for the confusion in having missed your answers, and for the slow reply!
Have a great day!
-Todd

[thistle]

Dear Todd

I spoke with Pernille yesterday and she told me that you are in love with each other.....
So so wonderful - it warms my heart so much.
I saw the interview that Angelo made with Pernille and her eyes is shining like the sun :-)

I have also listen to your teaching on Youtube.
You have a beautiful voice :-)
Actually - it is easier for me to listen than it is to read. Of course I can read and understand but when I here things it is easier for me to digest and take in.
I head the introduction and started at "the flow"
THAT I GET!!!
Troughout this day I been thinking flow flow flow

I have a lot on my plate right now.
So dear Todd - I would like to take a pause until after the 28. marts. I'm so sorry. I was so eager without being realistic.
I listen to You, Pernille, Angelo or LU every morning and every time I drive or if I wake up at night.
So I'm on - all day long, but I'm not reading or writing.
Does it make any sense?
I will come back.
- Sanne :-)



I have answered the questions You asked below


Is there something missing now that you expect to find?
Yes – confidence in life
I’m not sure I could guarantee that you’ll gain confidence in life. If anything, more of the ability to surrender to what is. Would that be okay? Yes

Overall, I would ask you to put aside any expectations. They might seem like good motivation, but in reality they lead to unhelpful comparisons, and feed a lot of doubt and questioning that can completely obstruct your progress. Do you think you can set all of that aside? Yes

Do you have any fears, anxiety, or reservations about this process? (Please feel free to be very honest about this if you do.)
I fear that I will change so much, that other people will find me strange. They already do – but much more.
I fear I will stop being responsible – e.g. our economy (I’m the one who take responsibility about our economy)
I understand where you’re coming from. These are things that don’t usually happen. You’re generally the same person outwardly as you always were. Especially if you’ve only seen through the self, and not the further fetters. Even those can make barely perceptible changes to a person’s outward functioning.

The Body as Self – the feeling that I am my body
I know that feeling
The Narrative Self – the memory of past events, my name, family, address, etc.
I know that to
The Perspectival Self – the feeling of being an entity looking out from behind my eyes, located somewhere in the middle of my head
I have been doing that when I been walking I the e.g. forest
The Volitional Self – the feeling that I can make choices, and choose whether or not to perform an action
Yep
The Social Self – the way I perceive others perceiving me
Yep-yep
Okay, good that you’re able to recognize them. Do you currently feel identified with any or all of these in your daily life?
If so, is one more prominent than the others?
I think ”The Perspectival Self” is the most prominent

It has been wonderful to just be by the Water and working in my Garden. It’s away for me not to have melt-downs.
This sounds really nice!

About the labeling - it’s difficult not to when life goes on.
It’s like a wave I ride on - just go from one thing to another.
It easier for me when I’m at home but as now - this day- I have a lot to do - then I just go ahead- on the wawe
Does it make any sense?
Honestly, I’m not quite sure that I fully follow.

Just to clarify, are you clear on the concept of Direct Experience where we simply attend to the raw data of our senses without intentionally labeling or conceptualizing them?
I want to make sure we’re fully clear on this distinction because all of the exercises we’ll be doing will be done in this Direct Experience awareness.

That’s why I asked you to do the exercise where you label some of your experiences like I had listed in the green list above. Would you mind doing that for me, just so I know we’re on the same page? Thanks!

Here it is again:
Label daily activities with the raw Direct Experience (DE) that you experience – color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup = image/color
Smelling coffee = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup = sensation
Tasting the coffee = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee = sound
A thought about drinking the coffee = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories as you really experience them.

Please write back a few of these lists for me to check out. But the more important thing is to do it regularly.


As far as your response, are you saying that sometimes you don’t feel like an egoic self, and seem to just float through on direct experience, while at other times you get caught up in, and identified with thoughts? Did I get that right?
YES

So let me ask, when you are sitting by the water, or working in your garden, where is the self felt?
As I am in the middle of my head and body - The Perspectival Self

How do you know there’s a self there in those moments? (It might be different in one situation versus another.)
Well – I know that I should’t feel a self but I do. To gaze at night into the dark blue sky is where I take of – into the univers.
2 days ago I was in a flow – just following one now into the other. I had a great day.
Yesterday I felt the same when I was practicing. But in the evening I played a sort of concert at the church and my reed (the mouthpieces for oboe) went completly crazy. My ego was BIG. A lot of thoughts – blaming and shaming myself.
I woke up in the night – felt awful – tried to embrasse the feeling of shame and then I realized that it was thoughts – that help a bit…..:-/

If you don’t know offhand, the next time you engage in one of those activities, tune in to your experience to find out. Is it something in the body? An image in the mind? Get very curious about what feels like a self, and let me know what you find!

[vegansatori]

Hi Sanne!

I apologize for the late response. Life has been getting busy lately! (I’ve been distracted for some reason… can’t imagine why that would be! ;-) LOL)

Hahaha, thanks so much for your support! Yes, it’s been a wonderful, and unexpected thing so far!

Thank you so much for your kindness regarding my voice and YouTube channel. You're very sweet!

Actually - it is easier for me to listen than it is to read. Of course I can read and understand but when I here things it is easier for me to digest and take in.

This is really good to know, thank you! I’m planning on making more Direct Pointing videos, so I will definitely share them with you, and you will likely inspire me to make more. Then you can listen to the videos and do the exercises on your own. And you can come here to share your experiences and answers. Does that sound good?

I head the introduction and started at "the flow"
THAT I GET!!!
Troughout this day I been thinking flow flow flow

So happy that you resonate with this!

I have a lot on my plate right now.
So dear Todd - I would like to take a pause until after the 28. marts. I'm so sorry. I was so eager without being realistic.

This is absolutely no problem! I completely understand. Take all the time you need. (It gives me time to make some more videos for you too!) :-)

I will come back.

I look forward to it!

If so, is one more prominent than the others?

I think ”The Perspectival Self” is the most prominent

Okay, perfect, we’ll work with that one soon, then!

As far as your response, are you saying that sometimes you don’t feel like an egoic self, and seem to just float through on direct experience, while at other times you get caught up in, and identified with thoughts? Did I get that right?

YES

Okay, great to hear, thanks!

So let me ask, when you are sitting by the water, or working in your garden, where is the self felt?

As I am in the middle of my head and body - The Perspectival Self

Perfect, well seen, thank you!

How do you know there’s a self there in those moments? (It might be different in one situation versus another.)

Well – I know that I should’t feel a self but I do. To gaze at night into the dark blue sky is where I take of – into the univers.

There’s no should or shouldn’t here. It’s normal to feel a self. We just have to be completely honest about our experience so we can work with it.

2 days ago I was in a flow – just following one now into the other. I had a great day.
Yesterday I felt the same when I was practicing. But in the evening I played a sort of concert at the church and my reed (the mouthpieces for oboe) went completly crazy. My ego was BIG. A lot of thoughts – blaming and shaming myself.
I woke up in the night – felt awful – tried to embrasse the feeling of shame and then I realized that it was thoughts – that help a bit…..:-/

Ah, I’m really sorry that happened. To be fair, some of these old reactions and selfing will likely not go away spontaneously with seeing through the first fetter. Habits of pride and embarrassment can still arise. But you’re right that it’s all thinking and not touching anything real. However we also don’t want to just use that as method of bypassing what we’re feeling instead of letting that “shame” feeling exist in the body, and just be with it.

I won’t give you anything more to do right now, but good luck with everything, and let me know when you’re ready to start again!
Have a great month!
-Todd

[vegansatori]

Hi Sanne!
Congratulations! :-) I heard about your illuminating "driving experience" from Pernille!
I'd love to hear all about it.
Do you feel like you're through the gate? Do you have any questions?

If you believe you've had a shift, I can give you the final questions we give at LU. How that works is that you answer them, and then I share your answers with other guides to see if they have any follow-up questions for you to see if we need to continue working on anything we might have overlooked.

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your experience. I'm soooo happy for you!
Have a wonderful night!
-Todd

[thistle]

Ups - I have just made a reply - when I submit it vanished -
I'm so tired and happy - I write tomorrow or could we zoom - I have so much to tell...
Good Night
- Sanne

[vegansatori]

Hi Sanne,
I'm sorry that happened! That's why I always suggest composing the reply in a Word document or something. Sometimes this site has issues that lose a lot of writing!

Yes, if you would like to Zoom about it, I think I should be free today. Let me know if you're available.
Otherwise, I look forward to hearing all about it!

Talk to you soon,
-Todd

[thistle]

Dear Todd
😅 I remembered what you said - afterwards. My brain is not working 🤣 When I saw that my Mac was a bit lazy I took a foto of the screen. I mail it to you. I don’t have the “energy” to write.
I wrote to you that I felt drunk/high - I still do.
I’ve only have to practice today so you just say when😊
Thank You so much🙏🏻
-Sanne