Is there an owner of perception? Take a look.
No, no owner of perception. But it does appear to change.
Exactly, so is there a someone who comes and goes and can get lost?
No, though I sometimes feel like I am lost. I understand that it is impossible, but my experience does not always align with that understanding. It's interesting to realize that even if I think I'm not aware that that awareness does not change or move or stop.
Is this sense of awareness:
a) direct experience
or
b) a thought?
My sense of awareness is direct experience, but there is also an "idea" of awareness that seems to be a thought. When I look at awareness I can see it. It is a direct experience. I can turn my awareness to itself and see it.
Can direct experience be 'important'?
I’ve been thinking about this question. Direct experience isn’t something that can be important. It is something that just is. Just experience. What seems important to me is the awareness of direct experience, but when I look at that, I can’t find an instance where truly I’m not aware. I can’t find a difference between awareness and direct experience. Maybe direct experience is something that is me and awareness is the ability to observe it?
Can you find the separate entity that you feel has been attacked, apart from the and sensations, thoughts? Or is the sense of self always tied to a thought?
No, I can't find a separate entity apart from the sensations and thoughts. I just feel the anger, which makes my body constrict, and my thoughts start explaining or defending. There is a thought that there is someone that I am defending - that needs defending and a feeling of self-righteousness sometimes that I'm right and they are wrong, but when I look there is no entity there. there seems to be a lot of emotions around "being wrong or rather being right."
Are there 'others' who could be responsible for choosing to push your buttons? :)
No, others are not responsible for my reactions. I strongly believe we can only control our own selves, not others. Someone may say something I don't like, but how I respond is the important thing. I may not be able to control my emotions, but I can control how I respond even if I feel upset or angry. At least that's what I aim to do by taking a breath and trying to be more aware of what is going on internally. I am not always successful and sometimes just react, which is rarely wise.