Postby Valentrs » Tue Oct 09, 2012 6:26 am
"Is there a 'me', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?"
No, there is a persistent "habit" that has been unexamined for the course of this life to this point.
"What the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works?"
It is a persistent habit of thought that identifies thoughts and feelings as "Me". The impetus for its persistence maybe survival functions that evolved in us or common past/childhood experiences, but it seems that it arises after events, feelings, behaviors and thoughts, and takes "ownership," of them, crediting them to the hypothetical "me."
"How would you describe it to someone who never heard about it, but have interest?"
It seems that instead of trying to describe it conceptually, it might be better to ask them questions that direct attention to the absence of an actual entity called "Me." In that way, they may get a taste of it experiential without added belief systems. Aside from that, the experience here seems to be of a "clear space," in which thoughts, feelings and the habit of the "I thought" arise.
"How does it feel to see this?"
It's startling, calming, and in a way very simple. Relaxing, because much of the mental gymnastics that have been used to seek this seem to have fallen away. Its also challenging to many of the belief systems that have been held here for so long. It also seems the process maybe an unraveling over time.
"What was the last bit that "made click to happen" and made you see through the illusion of self?"
When you pointed out that "even the "thinker" is a thought," something in that set off a recognition that kept coming up over and over for several hours, frantic thoughts about everything, with the awareness of a "clear space." After a while, the "Inside" got comparatively very calm.
