Lovely. So here are the questions, please answer all of them in one message and make sure that you copy each question before the answer so it is easy to connect Q's & A's.
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 we started this dialogue?
4) What was the moment where clarity clicked; describe what happened.
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control (separately).
6) What makes things happen? How does it work?
7) What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
8) Anything to add?
All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
With love,
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
Enjoy, take all the time you want with this.
With love,
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
⸻
1) Is there a separate entity ‘self’, ‘me’, ‘I’, at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
Answer:
No. These are words and thoughts learned for describing experience and perspective, not an entity or anything in reality that can be pointed to as something actual.
⸻
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:
The illusion of a separate self begins when language is acquired. As language becomes more sophisticated, we live more and more inside thoughts (including the concept of “self” and attributing things to it as if it were real), and less in direct contact with reality as it is directly experienced.
The practices made clear to me the gap between the intellectual understanding that there is no actual entity called “self” and the ability to experience reality without being in a fusion with the self-story—where everything is attributed to it or separated from it.
After the direct experiential knowing a few days ago of the absence of “self,” there is growing awareness of thoughts arising and habits that were previously attributed to a separate autonomous self presumed to choose. Now they are experienced as occurring by themselves, without an “I” who controls or chooses.
When there is no direct looking, thoughts and actions still arise, and they include the concept of “self” in all linguistic forms, even internally as thoughts. In those moments, the attention is caught in the illusion of self.
When direct looking appears, there is now a “stable ground” that recognizes the illusion and the pull into it, and it becomes possible to return to experiencing reality while aware of the absence of a separate self.
⸻
3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before we started this dialogue?
Answer:
It feels like truth, not belief or understanding. It is clear knowing, and it is liberating.
When pain arises, there is more openness to experience it with less reactivity from old habits that occur on their own. There is more compassion and connection to others and the world.
These are precious moments. It comes and goes, and whenever awareness notices the grasping of the self-illusion and the struggle that comes with it, there is an ability to return to the knowing that it is an illusion—and that releases the struggle.
It is still surprising and touching to see this happening again and again.
⸻
4) What was the moment where clarity clicked; describe what happened.
Answer:
It happened a few days ago. I was sitting in the morning reading João’s chapter.
When I finished and looked at the trees, the roses, the birds, and the clouds, there was a direct experience of everything happening by itself. There was no real “outside of me,” because there is no “me/self.”
It felt like being part of everything.
And the thoughts and emotions “inside me” were also seen as just labels of language—descriptions of something simply happening, just like nature that I was observing with vivid experiential awareness.
There was no “I” who experiences—there was nature/body/thoughts/emotions, and there was seeing/awareness of what exists or arises, and it was not “mine” or “not mine.” It simply appeared.
It was surprising in its quietness and calm. The knowing appeared out of nowhere—simply there and available.
⸻
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control (separately).
Decision:
A concept that explains thoughts about future actions or past actions, attributing them to the illusion of a separate autonomous self that supposedly chooses.
Intention:
Attention/awareness that arises toward something, with a direction toward a future action.
Free will:
A thought describing an illusion in which there is a separate autonomous self with the capacity to choose independently.
Choice:
A behavioral expression attributed to a separate self as an autonomous, self-contained agent.
Control:
A supposed ability to influence the environment or “myself,” but this presupposes an existing self that controls—yet no such self exists.
⸻
6) What makes things happen? How does it work?
Answer:
This question seems to ask for an explanation of something that is not known, and it also contains an implicit assumption that someone or something causes things to happen. That belongs to the realm of belief.
Thoughts arise such as: “people cause it,” “a higher power,” or even “the wind moves the leaves.”
But in direct looking, things simply happen. Then explanations appear—thoughts, science, theories—which attempt to predict or understand how or why things occur.
It is clear that everything happens by itself.
“Influencing” and “being influenced” are divisions based on the illusion of self / non-self.
In actuality, there is life happening, and even the thoughts that try to understand or explain are simply part of what is happening. They are useful in some contexts, but they explain reality through the illusion of self and through the limits of language—which does not allow seeing reality as it truly is.
⸻
7) What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
Answer:
If there is no “I,” then “I am responsible” in the sense of autonomous choice is an illusion.
Who is the one who “takes responsibility”?
At the same time, the arising of intention toward truth-seeing and the actions that follow are simply something that appears—an organic movement. It “activates” this organism that is labeled “me,” which does not exist as an independent entity, yet functions in the world and is aware of how actions affect “others” (or the world, nature, the planet, animals, people—any labeling that refers to parts within the whole of life).
⸻
8) Anything to add?
Answer:
It feels important to share honestly that answering these questions with words was like trying to put out fire with fire, or dry water with water.
It is paradoxical yet not necessarily contradictory—and that itself feels very new.
I am curious to continue this inquiry and see what arises next.
And again—deep gratitude and much appreciation for your guidance, Elad. ❤️
1) Is there a separate entity ‘self’, ‘me’, ‘I’, at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
Answer:
No. These are words and thoughts learned for describing experience and perspective, not an entity or anything in reality that can be pointed to as something actual.
⸻
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:
The illusion of a separate self begins when language is acquired. As language becomes more sophisticated, we live more and more inside thoughts (including the concept of “self” and attributing things to it as if it were real), and less in direct contact with reality as it is directly experienced.
The practices made clear to me the gap between the intellectual understanding that there is no actual entity called “self” and the ability to experience reality without being in a fusion with the self-story—where everything is attributed to it or separated from it.
After the direct experiential knowing a few days ago of the absence of “self,” there is growing awareness of thoughts arising and habits that were previously attributed to a separate autonomous self presumed to choose. Now they are experienced as occurring by themselves, without an “I” who controls or chooses.
When there is no direct looking, thoughts and actions still arise, and they include the concept of “self” in all linguistic forms, even internally as thoughts. In those moments, the attention is caught in the illusion of self.
When direct looking appears, there is now a “stable ground” that recognizes the illusion and the pull into it, and it becomes possible to return to experiencing reality while aware of the absence of a separate self.
⸻
3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before we started this dialogue?
Answer:
It feels like truth, not belief or understanding. It is clear knowing, and it is liberating.
When pain arises, there is more openness to experience it with less reactivity from old habits that occur on their own. There is more compassion and connection to others and the world.
These are precious moments. It comes and goes, and whenever awareness notices the grasping of the self-illusion and the struggle that comes with it, there is an ability to return to the knowing that it is an illusion—and that releases the struggle.
It is still surprising and touching to see this happening again and again.
⸻
4) What was the moment where clarity clicked; describe what happened.
Answer:
It happened a few days ago. I was sitting in the morning reading João’s chapter.
When I finished and looked at the trees, the roses, the birds, and the clouds, there was a direct experience of everything happening by itself. There was no real “outside of me,” because there is no “me/self.”
It felt like being part of everything.
And the thoughts and emotions “inside me” were also seen as just labels of language—descriptions of something simply happening, just like nature that I was observing with vivid experiential awareness.
There was no “I” who experiences—there was nature/body/thoughts/emotions, and there was seeing/awareness of what exists or arises, and it was not “mine” or “not mine.” It simply appeared.
It was surprising in its quietness and calm. The knowing appeared out of nowhere—simply there and available.
⸻
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control (separately).
Decision:
A concept that explains thoughts about future actions or past actions, attributing them to the illusion of a separate autonomous self that supposedly chooses.
Intention:
Attention/awareness that arises toward something, with a direction toward a future action.
Free will:
A thought describing an illusion in which there is a separate autonomous self with the capacity to choose independently.
Choice:
A behavioral expression attributed to a separate self as an autonomous, self-contained agent.
Control:
A supposed ability to influence the environment or “myself,” but this presupposes an existing self that controls—yet no such self exists.
⸻
6) What makes things happen? How does it work?
Answer:
This question seems to ask for an explanation of something that is not known, and it also contains an implicit assumption that someone or something causes things to happen. That belongs to the realm of belief.
Thoughts arise such as: “people cause it,” “a higher power,” or even “the wind moves the leaves.”
But in direct looking, things simply happen. Then explanations appear—thoughts, science, theories—which attempt to predict or understand how or why things occur.
It is clear that everything happens by itself.
“Influencing” and “being influenced” are divisions based on the illusion of self / non-self.
In actuality, there is life happening, and even the thoughts that try to understand or explain are simply part of what is happening. They are useful in some contexts, but they explain reality through the illusion of self and through the limits of language—which does not allow seeing reality as it truly is.
⸻
7) What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
Answer:
If there is no “I,” then “I am responsible” in the sense of autonomous choice is an illusion.
Who is the one who “takes responsibility”?
At the same time, the arising of intention toward truth-seeing and the actions that follow are simply something that appears—an organic movement. It “activates” this organism that is labeled “me,” which does not exist as an independent entity, yet functions in the world and is aware of how actions affect “others” (or the world, nature, the planet, animals, people—any labeling that refers to parts within the whole of life).
⸻
8) Anything to add?
Answer:
It feels important to share honestly that answering these questions with words was like trying to put out fire with fire, or dry water with water.
It is paradoxical yet not necessarily contradictory—and that itself feels very new.
I am curious to continue this inquiry and see what arises next.
And again—deep gratitude and much appreciation for your guidance, Elad. ❤️
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
So beautiful Roni, I have no questions to these answers, so I will let other guides look, and see if they have questions. This can sometimes take a day or a few days.
With love,
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
Wow.
Dear Elad,
I read your response and there was a sense of surprise, joy, excitement, gratitude, and a lot of curiosity
about what else will arise along the way.
🙏🏻❤️
Dear Elad,
I read your response and there was a sense of surprise, joy, excitement, gratitude, and a lot of curiosity
about what else will arise along the way.
🙏🏻❤️
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
🌺🙏🌺
Three other guides read your responses and also didn't have any further questions, which means you have "graduated LU" 🙃
As you know, there is no one to own, have or hold onto realization. Essentially, conditioning is gonna continue to play out. And there will be a new perspective (or the new perspective will be clearer) from which to see it, and this is gonna open availability for new freedom to unfold, as you already experience 🤍
An administrator, Nerina, will invite you to the facebook group (not a very active or great group IMO, but sometimes good stuff comes up), and I will also give you more info on "from here" soon.
Do you have any particular questions at this point?
One more thing for now: Once this shift has settled more, and should you have the impulse, I think you could become a good LU guide. And LU guides who ALSO have training and a broad perspective on emotional/relational/psychotherapeutic elements is still a rarity. Something to consider for the future.
But for now, mainly, relax, enjoy, discover!
Three other guides read your responses and also didn't have any further questions, which means you have "graduated LU" 🙃
As you know, there is no one to own, have or hold onto realization. Essentially, conditioning is gonna continue to play out. And there will be a new perspective (or the new perspective will be clearer) from which to see it, and this is gonna open availability for new freedom to unfold, as you already experience 🤍
An administrator, Nerina, will invite you to the facebook group (not a very active or great group IMO, but sometimes good stuff comes up), and I will also give you more info on "from here" soon.
Do you have any particular questions at this point?
One more thing for now: Once this shift has settled more, and should you have the impulse, I think you could become a good LU guide. And LU guides who ALSO have training and a broad perspective on emotional/relational/psychotherapeutic elements is still a rarity. Something to consider for the future.
But for now, mainly, relax, enjoy, discover!
With love,
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
for helping me—with so much patience, persistence, and sensitivity—to walk through the gate that was never really there, and to see ❤️❤️❤️
I’m giving what is appearing now space and time, and I will definitely reflect on what you suggested and update you when the knowing of what comes next arises.
With much appreciation and love
🙏🏻❤️
for helping me—with so much patience, persistence, and sensitivity—to walk through the gate that was never really there, and to see ❤️❤️❤️
I’m giving what is appearing now space and time, and I will definitely reflect on what you suggested and update you when the knowing of what comes next arises.
With much appreciation and love
🙏🏻❤️
Re: All you need is love. Requesting Elad as guide.
A joy and privilege 🙏💗
With love,
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
Elad
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
- Kahlil Gibran
One gets there by being there.
- Master Woof (Gilbert, Ta Hui)
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