The Gate

Does the question "WHY" make sense anymore ?
What is your relationship with "why"s :)

No - there's just "Is" - "isness" - there is something happening
If I get sucked into "why?" it just invites stories, thoughts, fabrications which obscure direct experience.
I don't trust why or any of the answers to it.

Thank you Adil. Love Sara

Does the question "WHY" make sense anymore ?
What is your relationship with "why"s :)

No - there's just "Is" - "isness" - there is something happening
If I get sucked into "why?" it just invites stories, thoughts, fabrications which obscure direct experience.
I don't trust why or any of the answers to it.

Thank you Adil. Love Sara

Thank you sara.

look at your hands...
then your body...
then feet...
what is the feeling ?
does a thought say it is me ?
do they belong to you ?

The initial feeling is that they are familiar but the more I look at them, that feeling disappears and they seem more strange or alien, more "not me".
No
No

Thank you Adil. Love Saras

look at your hands...
then your body...
then feet...
what is the feeling ?
does a thought say it is me ?
do they belong to you ?

The initial feeling is that they are familiar but the more I look at them, that feeling disappears and they seem more strange or alien, more "not me".
No
No

Thank you Adil. Love Saras

Brilliant Sara
Are you ready for final questions..

Sara ?
Are you ready for final questions ?

Yes Adil - Ready for final questions (sorry for the delay in replying).

Love Sara

) 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 you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen?
How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
6) Anything to add?

Short answers, from your own experience, are best.xx

) 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 you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen?
How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
6) Anything to add?

1. No and no.
2. The illusion of separate self feels very real and strong based on ME and MINE and I think it starts in very early years (i.e. a baby doesn't experience it like this). And then this mistake is taken for how things really are, that there is a separate me with everything else out there. This is illusory. Things are much more interconnected without that subject/object divide.
3. It feels freeing and a relief to see this. Things can be held more lightly with more perspective and at times more empathy and kindness is evident alongside the sense of interconnectedness.
4. When strong emotion is experienced, that helps me to turn towards my direct experience and look at who is the one experiencing those sensations.
5. How can I describe what doesn't in fact exist? Things just happen. I'm not responsible. The exercise about raising the hand from the table is an example of this.
6. Thank you !
Love Sara

) 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 you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen?
How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
6) Anything to add?

1. No and no.
2. The illusion of separate self feels very real and strong based on ME and MINE and I think it starts in very early years (i.e. a baby doesn't experience it like this). And then this mistake is taken for how things really are, that there is a separate me with everything else out there. This is illusory. Things are much more interconnected without that subject/object divide.
3. It feels freeing and a relief to see this. Things can be held more lightly with more perspective and at times more empathy and kindness is evident alongside the sense of interconnectedness.
4. When strong emotion is experienced, that helps me to turn towards my direct experience and look at who is the one experiencing those sensations.
5. How can I describe what doesn't in fact exist? Things just happen. I'm not responsible. The exercise about raising the hand from the table is an example of this.
6. Thank you !
Love Sara

Thanks for the answers Sara,
Can you talk a bir from the second part of question 3 and question 4 please. (On the question 4 it is asked when and how did you realize that there is no seperate self, what made you see is asked can you please talk more ) we need to write more for our guide friends to look in out conversation and see..

Thank you
:)

3b) What is the difference from before you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?

Can you talk a bir from the second part of question 3 and question 4 please. (On the question 4 it is asked when and how did you realize that there is no seperate self, what made you see is asked can you please talk more ) we need to write more for our guide friends to look in out conversation and see..

Thank you
:)

3b) What is the difference from before you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?

3b - The main difference is that although I still get caught up in stories from time to time, I can see them more clearly for what they are (thoughts, stories about "me" and "mine") and I don't believe them in the same way as I did before. They are not real.There Is just something happening and "I" don't need to be commenting on it all the time.

4) I think the realisation of no separate self has dawned slowly rather than being an "AHA!" moment although some experiences and some of the exercises as well as what Adil has written have helped me along. So for example, being in the grip of a strong emotional reaction and realising it is bodily sensation and thoughts and being able to drop the story of "me". Also some of the exercises such as who decides to raise the hand? And substituting different letters of the alphabet for "I" exposes the fallacy and how ridiculous the notion of "I" is. Adil pointing out that once you realise there's no Santa, you don't have to keep reminding yourself of the fact - you just know.

Thank you for the answers my dear Sara..

Let's re write our answers by adding your new answers to the questions please for me to present to my guide friends..

I am giving you the questions again for you to reform and write your answers please..

Thank you..

Sending much love.

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 you started this dialogue?
Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen?
How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
6) Anything to add?

Dear Adil, of course I am happy to do that but at present I am quite unwell with a chest infection. I will get back to you once I'm feeling better. Love Sara

Dear Adil, of course I am happy to do that but at present I am quite unwell with a chest infection. I will get back to you once I'm feeling better. Love Sara

Thats ok Sara.
Get well soon.
Sending you much love.