Looking for a guide

[codyjdennis]

Feeling like everything is up for questioning now. I have so many assumptions and especially spiritual conditioning that seems to be unstable as I'm questioning it.

Hi Cody
great work!
just wanted to comment on this on part....

I guess it's kind of paradoxical to me. I notice in my experience there is "something" just here. It has never changed. Some call it perfect or pure. It can't really be defined. Anyway it seems more like this "pure space" is maybe trying to experience growth. Non perfection. Lying. Pain. Suffering...the works. It wants growth. Not every moment is pain otherwise life would be terrible but you cannot experience or know growth without mistakes or the opposite of what we call "good" (And honestly life would kind of suck if it was 'perfect' all the time like we say in our heads not wanting the polar opposite of "good" to come). So you have something that doesn't change at all along with a constantly changing "person". That's why I say it feels like life wanted to experience being unconscious and is now is having an urge to become aware of itself.

"Something just here"
"Pure Space maybe trying to experience growth...."
"It wants growth"

Take a look here at these... can you find anything concrete to point to?
Are these real, or just concepts the mind has made up to to describe something?

I can't find anything concrete like how I was describing "something here". Right now it feels like it's just a conditioned belief that would bring some 'comfort' to the idea of a self. It's another concept I'm using to describe something I can't find.

------------
GENERAL OBSERVATION

- There is this concept or idea of a 'soul' or 'awareness' here. Even further there is an assumption that even if it does exist somehow it's mine. Beautiful concepts...but in DE can it be found? If someone asked me how to find it could I show them?
...No. It feels more like again comforting assumptions by the mind. Even these concepts can be taken as "finally this is what I am" and be used as an avoidance to actually looking. Also how could a soul be 'mine' if an I can't even be found? This 'my soul' would imply a separation and a separate self which cannot be found.

- Going back a little bit to what was said last night. I realized this morning that we all have these assumptions about how people are so ignorant and stupid. (All of them are based on an I) and when I'm honest with myself I could question in my own experience like if 'I' could wouldn't I just be as open as humanly possible, just overflowing with love for everyone and just fulfill this idea of perfect human as Jesus or Ramana is portrayed. It seems like we all just operate out of the possibilities we see at any particular moment. How could you hold any grudge against anyone knowing everyone is just doing the best they can?

- Also looking back to times of confusion if it was my choice to be confused wouldn't I have been able to will myself into not being confused. This is apparent to me in classes or learning something. If we all had that choice I'm sure we would never be confused and would have a photographic memory. So how would that be our choice?

Right now I can see in those times yes confusion and maybe frustration arose but it was not someone's personal emotion. It was just confusion and that's it.

- I don't know if this sounds crazy but I've considered this for a while now...If looking at my direct experience and only that how do I know for 100% certainty my family, friends, people truly exist. The only time I can say they exist for 100% certainty seems to be when I am with them in DE...in the Now. Maybe even if a phone call or text happens. Other than that they only exist as something in my mind as thought.
It's almost like they don't exist in my experience...until they appear and do.

- I love the statement "if you had a box and you put all thought in there what would it look like?"

...it would be completely invisible and there would only be a box there empty. How real is it then?

---------------
MORE RELEVANT DIRECT EXPERIENCE QUESTIONING

1. Is there really an 'inner' and 'outer' or I this just an idea? Can a dividing line be found?

I cannot find a real dividing line. Where an experience ends and I begin. There is just experience.

2. Is there really a seen and a seer? Are they two separate things? What is true?

No. The seer and the objects that are seen, are one. You cannot separate the objects from the field of vision. Objects that appear to have distance are still not separate from the seeing itself. No matter how much you will yourself you cannot separate yourself from objects at any time. Even with eyes closed an experience of vast black is seen...still not separate from seeing itself.

If this is true is there truly an 'other' in comparison to a 'me'...or are these one as well?

3. Can you really separate anything from experience itself. (I.e...hearing, touch, feeling, pain, seeing, sensing). Is there experience and someone experiencing as an experiencer or is it just one? What's truer?

No. Pain, emotion, seeing, hearing has no actual dividing line. It appears that there is a 'you' hearing them but you can't actually separate or find a diving line between what's being heard and you. There are not two things an experience and someone experiencing. Just one seem less experience itself.

...It's truer to say these happen automatically and cannot be separated. There is no 'you' doing any of it.

4. When looking at the body is there truly a difference between this body and other objects in the room? Is the body just another object? If looked a in a mirror without thought could you decipher which is actually 'you'? What's true not relying on thought to say this is my body?

Without thought I could not define any particular thing as 'my body'. It appears like everything else as an object. We only label it body And mine.

Also if I had the choice to say any particular part of the body was 'mine' from looking at it in the mirror I would say none of it is truly 'me'. None if it could encompass 'me'.

Further it feels like the origin or experience is somewhere in the head area. But that cannot be found either. No origin point can be pointed to. How do I even know that I am the origin of experience or if it's just experience like in a dream.

5. We have this "I" thought...can the thought "I"actually take action itself. If stated "I need to take shower" or "I need to drink some water" is the I thought actually taking the shower or drinking? Or is it just a thought then the action happens and it takes the experience itself as proof that 'I' have done it? Check it out.

The thought I is only a thought. How can a thought sense? How can a thought taste? There is such a belief but it can't actually pop out of somewhere and take action.

If a thought comes before "I need a drink" that's fine. But it is still not the one going over to grab the drink, holding it to my lips and tasting it.

After the action it still may say "yeah I did that" but again during that moment of drinking it was not the one doing it...so it is an empty lie.

We could make it more ludicrous and say "I", "me", "mine" "myself" are all just words in the English language....how can a word speak, think, hear, see, feel. A word is a word it doesn't have that ability

--------------------
EXERCISES

1. What is happening in this moment? With your five senses, what do you experience? Sights, sounds, tastes, smells, tactile sensations, even thoughts. Just list what there is going on, don’t draw conclusions.

Sitting on a crate at work. Looking out seeing the store. Objects in the store. Machines, cups water, candy, food, chairs. The brightness outside the door with people, trees, cars. Activities of everyday life. Colors are vibrant. Hearing music and the rustling of the freezer. Subtle talking in the background and rumbling of cars rolling past. Tasting soy bean froyo. Customers are now in the store talking and eating. Hearing their conversation. Man just came in and a thought arose "This guy is kind of a jerk". He kind of pissed me off. Back to typing. Feeling my fingers hit the phone keyboard and watching words on the screen arise.

2. Notice the sounds you’re hearing, like the chirping of the birds. Notice the habitual thought “I hear that.” Now just pay attention to how sound happens. Take your time with it. Are you doing the hearing, or is it just happening?

I am not the one hearing. Hearing happens automatically. I am not in control of what I hear or don't.

3. As you go about your day today and move around, see if you can find that there is a self moving things around.
Look for this I.
As you talk, walk, drive, eat, type, check it out.
Is there a self living your life?
Or are there just thoughts about everything, including a self, seeming to live your life?
You don't have to decide or believe anything at all, just look at whats true for you.
In all that you are doing today, just keep looking at this. keep the focus on this.
Keep looking to see if there is something real, besides a thought, that owns and directs the body.

I looked at this throughout the day and no self can be found. If there was a self there would be something behind these thoughts or actions. I can not find anything. There is absolutely nothing behind anything. Especially a thought.

I also notice throughout today that so much looking is happening. You would think that since this feeling if I exist is so strong you would just be able to point it out instantly. How could there be a self in any of this of it takes an effort and looking to find it?

[codyjdennis]

This just came up...

Who the hell is asking all these questions? I would say I feel like I'm close to seeing through this but then Who is it that's close to seeing through this? Haha. Feels like I'm just going round and round.

I notice even the "looking" I am doing doesn't require an I. The I is not looking. Looking is happening.

Cause no questioner can be found. And 'answers' come as well without an I. Amazing.

It feels like there is an amazing intelligence here but it has nothing to do with an I.

[codyjdennis]

Looking back at my earlier long post. Seems like although that kind of looking may have been helpful there is a lot of mind in this. I don't get how thought is going to get this. Thought is trying to get what cannot be "got" through thought.

This can go round and round.

"I don't exist"...who is the I that doesn't exist?
"I'm going to get this"...who is the I that is going to get this.
"Maybe if I just look some more it'll happen"...who is the I that is going to look some more?

An I doesn't do...
seeing...seeing happens
hearing...hearing happens
touching...touching happens
feeling...feeling happens
tasting...tasting happens
thinking...thinking happens.

The I cannot be found. I can't touch, feel, see, hear, taste this "I" anywhere. It cannot be real. The one thing that seemed relevant in the earlier post was that thought cannot perform actions or sense. How can a word perform actions? How could a word in the english language think? How can a word own a word? LOL. It's ludacris

If it was really real there really should be an absolute instantaneous finding. Just BOOM I found it. It should be as clear as day..as clear as seeing this lamp on my desk. No effort or thought is need to know that it exists.

All of this seems like a HUGE joke. haha. Just commentary after commentary. The only thing that can be said at MOST is..."What is"..or "Existence" and even that is commentary on reality. Reality just IS and no I is involved.

[codyjdennis]

Hey Bill,

Sorry for all the posts lol.
______________________

Just had this realization tonight of there being no-self. There is just this sort of knowing that there is actually nobody here. It wasn't a zap or anything but just kind a gentle knowing that "YES...this is how it is! It's always been this way". It's an "AHA OF COURSE" in a way but very gentle. ALL thoughts are seen just to be ideas and there is no one responsible.

There is no being a self or being no-self. These are just ideas. There is a great calm and ease being experienced but there is nobody who is feeling it. Feeling is happening. If this goes it does not matter.

There is no "I've got it" or "I'm back in it". There is nobody who is responsible for these. If there is ever any thought or feeling again that says otherwise it can be checked over and over and verified in direct experience that it's just stories.

Thought is used for practical usage and there is no-one who owns thought.

Thanks,
Cody

[Bill]

Hey Cody...
Yes it looks like you've seen it.
Pretty simple huh? So simple its been easily overlooked.
This is kinda strange.... I made a post to you earlier tonite, but it doesn't seem to be showing up.
I might have not hit the final submit.... hahaha. oh my! Im glad I came back in....

It was made just before your last post...
My thoughts were that you seemed very wound up about this.
I wanted you to just take a breather... and relax a bit.
And just look for what's here.
You're right.... you can't 'think' your way through this.
It has to be SEEN.
And the best and most easy way to do that is to Just LOOK.
Look at what?
Look to see if you can find a self.... not by thinking about it...
but to physically LOOK.

I wanted to share a post by one of my friend's Delma.
It maybe the best pointer I've seen.
Its simple and to the point.
Let's see if it fits in with your latest post...

Here it is:

------------------------------

Dear Seeker, It's Never Easy to Write This....

I'm not sure how many ways I can tell you this, and so most times I just have to repeat myself. You don't listen. Thoughts crowd out the very ability to listen to direction. And! You often become frustrated with this direction and walk away from our inquiry thinking that the pointer can't be of much use. You assume that the person giving it is just wrong about what it is you need to hear in order to see this. But the truth is,

You're wrong.

There's a reason why this particular pointer is the most effective I've come across. It's direct. Blunt. It leaves no room for discussion, and my role is to end the discussion entirely.

I don't want a dialogue with you!

Don't be offended by that.

While a dialogue may help you to UNDERSTAND what's being said, that understanding isn't what's going to get this done. I'll tell you what will and I'll give it my best shot, knowing that it's worked for hundreds of people already, maybe thousands. Here it is, so listen up.

Just Look.

That's it. It's the best and most thorough pointer you're going to find if you could just stop long enough to do what's directed.

Now, you have to ask yourself this... how is it that this pointer can be it. The one. Everything. The KEY? Go ahead and ask that question. Test it out. Tear it up. How is that IT?

And when you hit a brick wall, just maybe you'll do what's being asked which is to notice that a speck of dust is more real than the self. A droplet of dew is more real than the self has ever been or can ever be.

How is that true? In what way is that true?

When the answer comes, just stop and take that in. Then scan that brain for all of the teachings which say that this is simple. Childlike. Humble. Think of all the accounts of those who've 'gotten it' and said that they couldn't believe how simple it is. And the look of wonder? It's not because they're suddenly seeing pixie dust or rainbows. It's because they stopped to follow the directive, and then they saw the truth of REALITY AS IT IS.

Now....

Just.

Look.

Look at a picture on the wall.

What is seen?

What is absent?

Look at anything.

Anywhere.

Any time.

What is seen?

What is not?

[codyjdennis]

Yeah it's so simple. I realized it's actually not found the first time you look for it.

I remember hearing similar things from Adyashanti who said in a talk something like.. "When you bring attention back towards yourself I would suggest that the first time you ask who am I and don't find anything. That's the finding. But we think there must be one so we look and look."

By the way I love that "Dear Seeker". Really wonderful pointer.

I'm not sure if you have seen this video called "Imaginary Watermelons" by nathan satsangs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM3GDt7O3As . It's funny how you can watch this video before looking and conceptually get it but you don't really know what he means till you actually look for yourself and don't find the 'I'.

[Bill]

Cody - I'd like to ask you the final questions soon...
before that... Here's something I wrote you might look at:
-----
All these attempts to 'figure this out' will not work.
See that what you are looking for, searching for is here, right now.
Its always been here. We just haven't noticed it.
We're always looking for something MORE.
LOOK. truly LOOK.
This moment, right now, is the one you've wanted your whole life.
There's nothing, absolutely nothing that needs to be changed
either on your insides, or in your outer circumstances.

The brain says no, No, NO! It can't be this simple.
Its got to be different than this, more flashy,
greater insight, more bliss, oneness.... and on and on and on.
So we overlook THIS precious moment in hopes of a better one.
Of course off in the future. That one that never comes.
This is the delusion. That this moment is not the one.
That what is here right now... THIS.... is not IT!
See this delusion. It has to be seen.

When you see it, truly SEE it, you can relax and know that this moment is the one.
It's just ordinary everyday life as it is. We don't have to hope for something better.
The seeking can stop. We can put all the books away. No more teachers are needed either.
There's nothing to learn really and we can't lose this either because whatever occurs on the
inside or outside, it is always still THIS.
We just have to stop and LOOK.
------

Now, try a few more of these exercises we've come up with to assist seeing.
If you're clear and feel you're ready we can go ahead with the questions after that.
Or if there's anything you're not clear on.. bring it up.

Notice we have a 'watermelon' exercise too!

Do this little exercise. Close your eyes and imagine you are holding a watermelon in your hands. Imagine it so vividly that you can feel its weight, the shape and texture of the skin. Hold it there, sensing it, and open your eyes. What happened to a melon? How about the sensation that was so believable? That which is real can be sensed in one or more ways. That which is imagined exists only in the mind.

The lie resides right at your own center, at the place you call “I” or “me.” Investigate. Does the thought or sense of “I” point to a reality? Just like the word “rain” points to the wet stuff in your face, or the words “fear” and “joy” point to a set of body sensations? Or is it the case that the words “I” and “me” are just words, denoting nothing more real and solid than the name “Santa Claus”?

There is no magic button, no affirmation or mantra, no secret knowledge. It is all out in the open. It’s simple, and it’s right under your nose. It’s so simple you are overlooking it. Right here, right now, sitting with your phone or tablet, point with your finger to “you.” Do it. Now look with your eyes at what the finger is pointing to. What is it? What do you actually see?

A widely-held assumption is that, in order for looking to happen, there must be someone doing it, a looker. Right now, find out if this is in fact so. When I ask you, “Look at the object in the room you’re in,” what happens? Can you closely observe the process, and tell me if there is someone involved in this process at all someone that is not merely an assumption? Check it out!

[codyjdennis]

Thanks. I'll do the exercises today and write back tonight. Want to leave here without a doubt.

I think the one things Id like to bring up before the final questions is in struggling with free will. Or the illusion of free will. In this moment right now things just happen. I can't say why but nobody is doing it. It's completely obvious an I doesn't exist here now.

I think what I'm trying to say is that when there is no I that is believed how can anything be truly right or wrong? There is a feeling of a sort of freedom in that it is OK to make what we call 'mistakes'.The burden is gone. In some ways it's like it's just expression and nobody is perfect...there "no one" to be perfect in realty...and there is joy in that. The joy of imperfection.

This also might be a burning up of those concepts.

Thanks for all your help Bill.

Much gratitude,
Cody

[codyjdennis]

Do this little exercise. Close your eyes and imagine you are holding a watermelon in your hands. Imagine it so vividly that you can feel its weight, the shape and texture of the skin. Hold it there, sensing it, and open your eyes. What happened to a melon? How about the sensation that was so believable? That which is real can be sensed in one or more ways. That which is imagined exists only in the mind.

I imagined the watermelon and when my eyes opened it was gone. The whole experience in the imagination was illusory. Holding an actual watermelon is 100% more real than imagining one. Just like thinking about a pizza is not the same as eating it. Thinking about an 'I doesn't make it real. This experience is more real than an I.

...just a side note. I think it's funny how if you asked someone what do you think is more real..a real burger or imaginary burger probably almost everyone would say without a doubt a real burger. The 'I' is the same thing. Is real experience or imagination more real? Experience.

The lie resides right at your own center, at the place you call “I” or “me.” Investigate. Does the thought or sense of “I” point to a reality? Just like the word “rain” points to the wet stuff in your face, or the words “fear” and “joy” point to a set of body sensations? Or is it the case that the words “I” and “me” are just words, denoting nothing more real and solid than the name “Santa Claus”?

The "I" points to nothing but back to itself. The "I" is no more real than Santa Claus or the Grinch.

There is no magic button, no affirmation or mantra, no secret knowledge. It is all out in the open. It’s simple, and it’s right under your nose. It’s so simple you are overlooking it. Right here, right now, sitting with your phone or tablet, point with your finger to “you.” Do it. Now look with your eyes at what the finger is pointing to. What is it? What do you actually see?

To be honest I don't know where to point. The closest thing that would even feel like a center is pointing toward the head with the eyes but even that is just looking itself. Nobody looking. If the eyes are closed you cannot find a center. Experience is just experience...the body and senses are a part of that experience but no 'I' is present. Just the thought I.

A widely-held assumption is that, in order for looking to happen, there must be someone doing it, a looker. Right now, find out if this is in fact so. When I ask you, “Look at the object in the room you’re in,” what happens? Can you closely observe the process, and tell me if there is someone involved in this process at all someone that is not merely an assumption? Check it out!

Someone is just an assumption. A thought is not needed to look around the room. Looking is happening. For example I just looked outside a window to an ambulance. A thought was not needed for instant recognition of its reality.

____________________________________

I also wanted to add that during this process of looking and not finding an 'I' the entire belief system held feels like it's falling away. An 'I' can't be found so what basis are all these beliefs on? Ultimately every belief is just an unexamined assumption based off an illusory I. The only real thing is experience itself and that needs zero beliefs to function.

[Bill]

Hey Cody,

I see there is a question about free will..

I think the one things Id like to bring up before the final questions is in struggling with free will. Or the illusion of free will. In this moment right now things just happen. I can't say why but nobody is doing it. It's completely obvious an I doesn't exist here now.

I think what I'm trying to say is that when there is no I that is believed how can anything be truly right or wrong? There is a feeling of a sort of freedom in that it is OK to make what we call 'mistakes'.The burden is gone. In some ways it's like it's just expression and nobody is perfect...there "no one" to be perfect in realty...and there is joy in that. The joy of imperfection.

Free will or the lack of free will can't really be observed in direct experience, so neither one exists except as a conceptual belief unrelated to what is known. What is, is what is happening.. thoughts about it are thoughts about it. This question gets debated alot in non dual forums.

"If there is no self to be found, who or what has free will?"

I also wanted to add that during this process of looking and not finding an 'I' the entire belief system held feels like it's falling away. An 'I' can't be found so what basis are all these beliefs on? Ultimately every belief is just an unexamined assumption based off an illusory I. The only real thing is experience itself and that needs zero beliefs to function.

Great looking Cody... apply this also to the concept of 'free will'

Is there any other possibility for the present moment than what actually is present?

Is there such a thing as awareness in which things appear? Is awareness ever actually experienced, or is it just an idea, an abstraction? Does it actually exist?

Cody, If you can find a park or a nice natural place, sit there for a bit, and watch how everything moves and wiggles, how the wind blows, how the clouds move. If you can’t find a park, a view through a window is fine too. People and animals move. Everything is one movement, including your body, breath, and thoughts. Watch the totality, and notice there is no “noticer” separate from the noticing.

[codyjdennis]

"If there is no self to be found, who or what has free will?"

Great looking Cody... apply this also to the concept of 'free will'

There is no one who has free will. It's just a concept of the mind. I tried an exercise by myself..by trying to willfully think something just to test it out. I noticed even when it feels like I am doing it, it's just arising by itself. So I'm not truly doing it. It's an illusion. Truly though like any other thought, when the concept free will is not thought of does it exist? In so many ways who cares if we have it or not things still happen!!

One of the most intriguing statements that has stuck with me over these months is:
"What is true without thought?"...not much...Just this experience as it is. The only thing you can know for sure & even that is in constant change.

Is there any other possibility for the present moment than what actually is present?

Nope! What is, IS!

Is there such a thing as awareness in which things appear? Is awareness ever actually experienced, or is it just an idea, an abstraction? Does it actually exist?

I would say the term awareness is just a concept like everything else. What is noticed is that we can write "There is awareness of sound" but these two are not separate. Hearing the sound is the awareness. One cannot exist without the other.

Cody, If you can find a park or a nice natural place, sit there for a bit, and watch how everything moves and wiggles, how the wind blows, how the clouds move. If you can’t find a park, a view through a window is fine too. People and animals move. Everything is one movement, including your body, breath, and thoughts. Watch the totality, and notice there is no “noticer” separate from the noticing.

Couldn't get to a park but I looked throughout the day and here right now out the window. Everything is just happening. Life is doin' it's thing. There definitely is nothing separate from the noticing.
____

Right now it feels like all I can know for sure is this experience right now, as it is. I've acted my whole life like I've known so much and this is truly humbling. Ultimately there is no 'self', no future, no past, no 'good' or 'bad, even the names for objects in the room are just thoughts! Even 'earth' is not earth, 'life' is not life. All of these are just in thought and no more real than Santa Claus. Useful concepts at times but life is a mystery.

What a gift it is to just be here right now.

[Bill]

Hi Cody,

I am very impressed with your clarity in answering all of the questions asked of you.
At this point we have a set of questions we ask to check this out even further.

Here are the questions we ask... we only ask these when you have confirmed for yourself
that yes, you have seen through the illusion of self.
Let's go ahead with them... if there's anything is left to address, it will come up from your answers.

Take your time with these... there's no rush. Give each your full attention.

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?

[codyjdennis]

I felt comfortable answering these tonight so here it is :). I just wanted to say thank you so much for your guiding and persistence in directing me to just LOOK. It is greatly appreciated.

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

No there is no ‘self’, ‘me’, ‘I’ anywhere. The only place it does ‘exist’ is in thought. It is no more real than imagining anything else. Reality is more real than the content of thought.

No there was never an ‘I’, ever. There was a belief in the illusion of an I but it never did really exist.

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.

The illusion of the separate self is believing in the ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘myself’ ‘my’ thoughts. I would say it starts sometime in childhood. There is probably a range of ages where it starts but we could just estimate and say it starts between age 1 1/2-3 years old. Whenever they learn ‘I’.

Right now it doesn’t seem this is personal or ‘anybody’s fault’ (how could it be?). It seems like it happens automatically as we learn the concept of I. Learning the concept of ‘I’ is a very useful tool for everyday life. When it is taken to be real is a whole other deal. It also feels like there is not ‘someone’ who creates the urge to recognize truth. There is just the movement itself to uncover what was never covered up in the first place. Even ‘other people’ who haven’t seen through the illusion of ‘I’ are already expressing life itself in their current form so there is still nothing ‘wrong’. They are already free and if there is a movement to recognize truth in themselves there are people to help guide if needed.

For me the way I see it now is that thoughts still come up. I still use I, me, myself etc but it’s just not taken to be real. Its just a play of words. It’s not something to get rid of. Nobody does the looking, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching, feeling, and thinking it’s done on its own. There is no awareness apart from experience. The experience is the awareness and vice versa. They are one. If one ever gets ‘caught’ again in believing the ‘I’…even in ‘I am no self’ it can be checked and verified in direct experience. Concepts aren’t real in direct experience.

How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.

It feels very relaxing.

Before this dialogue I would say I was a compulsive seeker. I never went to retreats but there was a compulsion to watch all these spiritual talks and read spiritual literature because I thought something would happen to me eventually. I also always thought I knew the right way. I see now it was actually more of an avoidance of life as it is.

The seeking has stopped. Everything else is kind of the same. It's the same ordinary life but the ordinary tasks are kind of taken in with a sense of awe. Everything I ever wanted is right here, right now. Nothing more is needed. It just feels like a gift to notice what has always been here and that there is 'nobody' here! Just absolutely amazing all of this goes on without an I..even when it is believed.

What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

The last bit that pushed me over was when bill posted ‘Dear seeker…’ that said “Look at anything. Anywhere. Any time.What is seen? What is not?”. It was just really just the pointing back to DE. Keep looking and checking in DE.

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.

Ultimately there no one to have free will, intention, decision, choices and control. They are concepts in the mind. Concepts that arise to 'no-self'. Life seems to just happen beautifully by itself.

An example...in a decision today at the movie theatre I said "I want some ice tea". It appears that an I is making a choice but that thought arises to no one. Just that thought itself is arising and thats kind of the end of it. And an 'I' can't drink the iced tea either...thats impossible.

Choosing clothes in the morning. A thought pops up "I'll wear this one". Why a particular set of clothes for one day over another I don't know but it changes everyday. It appears to me to be more of like inclinations that constantly change but they don't appear to anyone its just movement. It's not I am choosing. But choosing itself does happen.

Anything to add?

I would love to become a guide if thats possible.

[Bill]

Cody, your answers are so clear. Very thorough... I ran this by our other guides and they all confirm.
Congratulations! You're now blue on the forum and a little more of the website has opened up to you.
Its been great pointing for you. Its been a pleasure guiding you as you really guided yourself.

You have a very nice way of expressing this, and please do consider guiding here at some point.
We have several groups on Facebook and you can also use those for learning about guiding
and further discussion. We'll send you info on the groups.


Check out this: http://liberationunleashed.com/nation/v ... ?f=6&t=696
There are some links and info to other sites associated with LU.

Life still goes on.
If there's any more questions about anything, please ask.
I will leave this thread open for awhile if you have any further questions
or if you want to make any more comments.
It will be moved to the archived section so look for it there.
It's been great working with you and am glad you're here.

Namaste!

Oh Cody, one of our guides wanted me to ask you a question around the 2nd Q in our list...
Answer as you want....
Here's what he asked..

Bill, you could ask Cody what he means by "Concepts aren't real in direct experience." (End of answer to Q2) Are concepts real "somewhere"? Is there an "outside direct experience"?

[codyjdennis]

Bill, you could ask Cody what he means by "Concepts aren't real in direct experience." (End of answer to Q2) Are concepts real "somewhere"? Is there an "outside direct experience"?

Nope, nothing is outside of direct experience.

What I think I mean't by "concepts aren't real in direct experience" is that for example...right now I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight typing this, observing people and all the movement going on. Concepts that arise are people, typing, airport, walking etc. That is not what is really going on. It's just a description. What is actually going on right here, right now is so much more real than this commentary. So the thoughts, concepts, words etc that are arising are completely real but the content is false. They are useful words...like...'airport' but it is still false.

Cody, your answers are so clear. Very thorough... I ran this by our other guides and they all confirm.
Congratulations! You're now blue on the forum and a little more of the website has opened up to you.
Its been great pointing for you. Its been a pleasure guiding you as you really guided yourself.

You have a very nice way of expressing this, and please do consider guiding here at some point.
We have several groups on Facebook and you can also use those for learning about guiding
and further discussion. We'll send you info on the groups.

Awesome! :)

Thank you!! It gets really clear when there is just a relaxing here and now and looking. Looking forward to the groups. I am very interested in guiding. I LOVE that it is free. There is so much out there that costs money and just fills your mind that it's such a nice gesture to be able to guide another towards the truth thats already here.

Life still goes on.
If there's any more questions about anything, please ask.
I will leave this thread open for awhile if you have any further questions
or if you want to make any more comments.
It will be moved to the archived section so look for it there.
It's been great working with you and am glad you're here.

Thank you!! I appreciate that. It's been great having you as my guide as well and it is really wonderful to be here at LU.

Namaste! :)