Any pointers ready to talk?

[dreamer]

It is ok. Question 3 is ok no need to go over it again.

Question 2

When attention turns inward to reflect on experience itself – when we seek to re-experience experience, looking for explanations or understanding, when we question it (as opposed to just allowing it to be).

I like your answer here - it is a little unusual in approach, very often it is answered by a story about how I is imposed in childhood. I read your answer as how 'I' is coming to existence in the now - that's great, nothing wrong. Could you just give an example from everyday life to illustrate what you mean? Some other guide would to see that. Thank you.

You are doing great.
Vivi

[RuthRudd]

Thanks for the encouragement. I’ve gone down with a cold and am feeling a bit rotten today.

Sorry I missed out the word ‘No’ (as in ‘no need’) in posting the first answer to Q3.

I see our posts have crossed a bit. I’ve been putting thoughts down while you’ve been posting again.

I’ll go back to Qs 2 & 3 anyway.

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
The idea of a separate self is an assumption that there is some kind of identifiable container or owner-entity for all the thoughts and sensations and responses or reactions that make up experience. As if there is something separable and identifiable apart from the stream of experience itself. When you really look closely at actual experience there is nothing in the experience to support that idea.
I see that it starts once experience is categorised, or when we try to chop it up and examine it. Most basically ‘I’ ‘like’ or ‘don’t like’ my experience. But a LOT then follows. I separate myself out from the experience and say 1. there’s me, and 2. there’s stuff I like and 3. there’s stuff I don’t like. I assign my ‘preference’ as a characteristic of something – that something I call ‘me’. Everything else to do with the fiction of ‘me’, inner and outer, etc. is built upon that basic categorising.

3) How does it feel to see this? describe in detail.
There is a release of anxiety. Deep seeing that there is NO need to put effort in to check over or police experience; acceptance of experience as it is. Something loosens, settles.

It’s sort of obvious once you’ve seen it. Experience is the same, but different. Once you see there is no ‘I’ to be in charge you see that nothing comes of trying ‘to take control’ or ‘take responsibility for …’ I may as well try to control the weather by effort of mind. Ease replaces effort. It makes no difference to anything whether ‘I like’ or ‘I don’t like’, in fact those thoughts no longer make sense.

I’ll try to keep quiet for a bit so we can get back in synch.

Cheers
R

[dreamer]

Thank you :) Hope you'll feel better soon.

[dreamer]

Hello Ruth

Confirmation have happened. You have passed the Gateless Gate.
Congratulations!

I'll send you a PM

Warm regards Vivi