The Gate

"If there is a sincere desire to know the truth and honestly look at direct experience, seeing the absence of self is quite"

Yes, I have read what u asked. I am hoping a guide can point in the right direction, a path to understanding unity. The myth that I am separate from all that exists. That is the truth I seek. Not only to understand but to experience that truth.

This awakening from the illusion of self is what we call liberation.

Looking beyond the bonds of the conditioning of my life.

Yes, I have read what u asked. I am hoping a guide can point in the right direction, a path to understanding unity. The myth that I am separate from all that exists. That is the truth I seek. Not only to understand but to experience that truth.

Thanks for clarifying this!

Now, I want to take a moment to talk about how we work here. The idea is that a guide- me in this case -provides questions, pointers, designed to make you look at your direct, concrete experience as it is right now. This is what you referred to as truth earlier today.

We try to stay away from theorising, speculation and doctrine and simply stick with what is directly seen to be the case.

Is that something you are willing to do?

I would still like to ask you to take a look at your expectations about this. Are you absolutely sure that you come here with no expectations at all? None?

Then why would you be interested in seeing through the myth of separation and experiencing unity? What is the point of that?

We try to stay away from theorizing, speculation and doctrine and simply stick with what is directly seen to be the case.

Is that something you are willing to do?

Yes, of course.

Are you absolutely sure that you come here with no expectations at all? None?

Yes because expectations are nothing more then preconceived ideas and assumptions that limit the ability to see the truth.

Then why would you be interested in seeing through the myth of separation and experiencing unity? What is the point of that?

understanding or reading something does not make it a part of one's life/ for example, one could read every book ever written about the game of golf but not be a good golfer. that can only happen when one practices and applies all that they have learned. in essence, "experienced golf"

the "experience of unity" will happen when one lets go of the idea of unity and simply experiences it. so i guess you could say my goal is to experience unity but that is a far cry from an expectation

separation of self is in direct conflict with the world, unless there are 7 billion worlds, which can only be true if we are separate

im not seperate

Yes because expectations are nothing more then preconceived ideas and assumptions that limit the ability to see the truth.

Yes, that is what expectations are.

Why does that automatically mean that you have none?

I'm not asking you about any general definitions, I'm interested in your actual experience as it is right now.

im not seperate

Let's take a step back. Can you describe, by looking g at your experience, what this I is?

Why does that automatically mean that you have none?

because i want to experience truth so why become involved with anything that limits that?

Let's take a step back. Can you describe, by looking g at your experience, what this I is?

A word used to describe my being that has been used for my entire life.

Why does that automatically mean that you have none?

because i want to experience truth so why become involved with anything that limits that?

Let's take a step back. Can you describe, by looking g at your experience, what this I is?

A word used to describe my being that has been used for my entire life.

Damon, I am open to another way to talk about myself without using the word "I"
Since there is no separation do the words one, us or we seem more appropriate?

because i want to experience truth so why become involved with anything that limits that?

Because experiencing what is real requires ruthless honesty and a willingness to confront your own delusions. That is often quite uncomfortable, painful even, but it is a necessary part of this inquiry.

A word used to describe my being that has been used for my entire life.

Ok, so I is a word that describes your being?

Then what is your being?

What is the me to which that being belongs?

Damon, I am open to another way to talk about myself without using the word "I"
Since there is no separation do the words one,
us or we seem more appropriate?

No, no, a thousand times no!

That is just silly. There is no need at all to change the way you use language. Please, PLEASE, don't do that here.

Conventional, normal, day to day language will do just fine.

This is not some technique you can use to make something happen. This is simply about exploring what is already the case.

No, no, a thousand times no!

Thats funny............

Because experiencing what is real requires ruthless honesty and a willingness to confront your own delusions. That is often quite uncomfortable, painful even, but it is a necessary part of this inquiry.

Agreed, i am totally cool with that

Ok, so I is a word that describes your being?

yes

Then what is your being?

I experience "my being" as a physical body

What is the me to which that being belongs?

a physical body with the ability to see, smell, touch, feel and hear. and a mind that deciphers information constantly based on my past conditioning

This is not some technique you can use to make something happen. This is simply about exploring what is already the case.

Good!!

Thats funny............

Well, yeah. It was meant as a serious point though.
Talking "spiritual talk" is not going to be helpful at all.

I experience "my being" as a physical body

(...)

a physical body with the ability to see, smell, touch, feel and hear. and a mind that deciphers information constantly based on my past conditioning

Allright.

And where in this picture- a physical body with senses, and an information-processing mind- are YOU exactly?

When you say that

I experience "my being" as a physical body

where and how is that I that is experiencing a physical body?

Instead of coming up with an answer straight away (which is possible, but not the point here) take some time to really observe what the word I appears to refer to in your experience. Can you describe that in some detail?

A quick heads-up: starting tomorrow I will not be able to post on this forum more than once a day, for a couple of days, as I will be travelling for the holidays. So, we'll need to make good use of our time :-)

Based on experience, I cannot actually pin point who I"i" am or "i" is. Thoughts occur within my being and travel around with my body. Sort of like, where my body goes, my thoughts also go. Upon looking, I aware of that.

It's wild because the only experience I can see upon looking is what I am aware of. I explain "i" based on knowledge but not experience