Ready to see

[sschulz]

Hi Andrei,
Looking for the choice point was kind of hopeless. Just a bunch of thoughts some of which were more compelling than others. Why were certain ones more compelling? I don't know, they were just what happens to be currently trending in my mind. Some thoughts just have more gravitas and then another thought adds the I and claims to have made a decision. Decisions without a decision maker. Have to remember this applies to others too.

[Andrei]

Decisions without a decision maker. Have to remember this applies to others too.

Perfect. What about "free will"? Do you have any?
What about responsibilities? Are you responsible for anything?

Back to the body. Does the body experience sensations and thought or is the "body" just another thought label for sensations (namely tactile & kinaesthetic)?

[sschulz]

No free will that's easy to see. How could there be? And that means no credit and no blame for actions. Responsibility? Well, one has to deal with the circumstances of actions so responsible in that sense but not responsible ultimately because there is no controller.

About the body, it's a group of sensations and perceptions that the mind labels and packages as"body".
Labels "my body" . Somewhere I read that just because only you feel your feelings does that mean you own them? That was very helpful.

[Andrei]

What about the other objects(nature, animals,people)? Is there a "you" that feels separated from them or is that just another thought/concept?

[sschulz]

I can see that there is no me as conventionally thought so why would there be any separation but looking at objects the visual divisions suggest it strongly. It's just where the emphasis of one's focus is it seems. Taking the focus off this false sense of separate self (by seeing it as false) its coming together now- literally-one big movement of life.

[Andrei]

Are there any doubts at all about seeing through the illusion of the separate self? :)

[sschulz]

No doubts- just need to keep looking directly. Thank you :)

[Andrei]

I have a couple more questions for you. They encompass pretty much everything so if if theres anything we didn't talk about, it should come up now.

Also, as you noticed, the journey doesn't end here. It is just getting started. We have a few extra resources for that including a few Facebook groups for aftercare, further inquiry, etc.
If you would like to join please send me a PM with your FB user.

Here are the questions I mentioned. Take as much time as you need. Afterwards I will ask the other guides to have a look, see if there's something we missed.

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 seeit 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?

[sschulz]

Thank you Andrei. I will reply when I have some uninterrupted time.

[sschulz]

Hi Andrei,

I sent you a pm but it's hanging out in my outbox. I don't see how to send it. Can you help? or I'll just try again in a coupe of hours....

Thx, Sharen

[Andrei]

In outbox it means it was sent all right just that the recipient hasnt opened it yet, so its all good :)

[sschulz]

Hi Andrei,

Answers to your questions-and finally bothering to figure out how to quote!

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

When looking directly, what is found is simply sensations, perceptions, and thoughts. There is not a place or thing found which is this "I" that I could be called the self. There is just a sense of self that was assumed and never questioned. This is all that there ever was.

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.

This illusion of the separate self is just an pre-accepted idea taken to be real. It starts pretty early with parental and societal conditioning. As early as when you learn your own name as a child and no doubt accounts for the terrible twos. It's drilled into you: your gender, name and what is yours and not yours. As an adult this accounts for the constant movement towards enhancing and protecting yourself in various ways. The focus on this mistaken identity and its perspective from a particular set of thoughts and senses brings about a strong sense of separation from others and the environment, hence the need to defend itself bringing about conflict and suffering.

3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue?

This concept of no-self was very familiar to me from my previous exposure to non dualism but what strikes me as most interesting is that it was a clear example of the difference between knowing something intellectually and seeing it for myself. It was a flash and an oddly, slightly disorienting feeling. I felt a bit of relief and also, hmmm is everything I've ever done really meaningless? Had about 5 minutes of feeling a bit nostalgic for when I thought I was doing things. There has also been a couple of circumstances that would normally have stirred up an emotional defensive reaction and it was remembered that there is no central controller and the typical response just vanished. That in itself is so worth this looking!

Please report from the past few days.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

I have been looking for years but always answered with the mind, with something that I learned. Being honest, letting go of expectations and not referring to any previously understood non dualism teachings did the trick. All the emphasis on Direct Experience and directly looking prior to interpretation of the mind finally got the shift to happen.

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.

With no entity here to run the show all that so-called free will just doesn't follow. Just like the sense of self there was a sense of decision making and choice and control. It's clear that a thought comes in afterwards-the one that says there is a self and goes on to take credit or blame for the action taken. Ultimately not responsible for anything in anyway and yet one will respond to the fallout from any action. I spent a lot of time in the witness phase but there was still a "me" witnessing. This has helped tremendously to see through that too. Now I'm not so much watching what this person does but more being integrated into all that is happening without the filter of the separate self.

6) Anything to add?

Discovering Liberation Unleashed has been pretty amazing. This is important work for all that are interested. This shift in focus is both simple yet elusive. Past glimpses came out the blue but now I feel that at anytime life gets tricky I can just look. It's easy to see where the suffering originates and now there is no home for it. I know this is just the beginning because things will come up and there is further depths of seeing but there is a real sense that this will never be forgotten and that this shift to focusing in a new way is here to stay. Super cool! So grateful to you Andrei and all at Liberation Unleashed.

Much love!
Sharen

[Andrei]

Hi Sharen,

Here's a good question from a fellow guide:

"So, you observed that Sharen is a fiction, and as a fiction, couldn't run any show, or be in control, or be responsible.

Just curious, with respect to 'no entity running the show', what kind of entity didn't you find? Were you looking for a Sharen-entity? Or something more general?"

[sschulz]

Hi Andrei,
I was looking for a Sharen entity. The personal self. I was leaving all the non dual stuff I've learned in the past out of the picture for this looking. We would have been down the awareness/consciousness hole in no time :)

[Andrei]

Thank you.
It's clear now. We all agree that you don't exist! :D
What happens next is that you will receive a welcoming message from one of our admins with more information and ofc if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

It was lovely chatting with you and looking forward to see you on Facebook!

Andrei