Greetings Elad !
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
ANSWER:
No, there is no separate entity 'self' ,'me', or 'I' exist on any shape of form. It was never there at all.
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.
ANSWER:
Illusion of separate self is when there is a belief that there is a separate "I" or "Me" living in the body, who controls bodily movements , thoughts , emotions, feelings, sensations and makes decisions.
I don’t know when it all started . Being taught at toddler age, could have learned to interact with the "others" with this body /mind mechanism as "Setu", in which "I" lives , makes the decisions, thinking the thoughts, controls the things, and owns various experience of life including the sensations of pleasure , pain and suffering.
With the direct looking -
"I" or "the self" is nothing but the collection of the stories, conditioning, images, likes, dislikes, sensations, feelings . "I" or "the self" is just a fictitious entity, nowhere to be found or seen.
3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before we started this dialogue? Please report from the past couple of days.
ANSWER:
A great Relief. It feels free, light, not personal, not to do this or that, not to go somewhere , not a doer and no ownership on whatever life brings. Old habit is still there like Thoughts , Feelings, emotions, sensations still shows up with its stories, but on direct Seeing, It dissolves without sticking. Life happens, experience happens and yet Nothing happens. Isn't it wonderful ?
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
ANSWER:
When LU encouraged to look Without "ME" and its stories - from the direct experience and not from the conceptual thinking and the prior knowledge. In direct seeing only able to see an illusionary self, I, Me as thought , without any form or shape . This fictitious entity do not exist anywhere. Experiences happens but no owner to claim those.
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control.
ANSWER:
Examples like - Making free will decisions and choices on day to day activities like to drink coffee vs tea, or to eat oatmeal vs bread , OR to work on the Intention to achieve self-realization, and trying to controlling the outcome of an action is illusion.
There is no separate self or "I" who is making any decision, or has any free will , making any choices or control any movements , sensations or feelings. They are just the thoughts arising in the awareness.
6) What makes things happen? How does it work?
ANSWER:
Things happens, life happens with no reason , with no ownership or doership. "I" don’t know how anything happens. It just happens and awareness aware of these experiences.
7) What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
ANSWER:
Nothing. There is no separate Self or "I" responsible for anything. "I" do not exist to think the thoughts , feel the feelings or sensations. Those are the experiences, which comes and goes in awareness with no one to pick up and experience those.
8) Anything to add?
ANSWER
My sincere gratitude to Elad and LU for your guidance on this Self-Inquiry process. Thank you !
