The Gate

Hi Nancy,

I'm not feeling as doubtful! I'm having a hard time finding any doubts at all.

That is great!

I like to ask you the 6 final questions now.
If you have answered these, I will show your answers to the other guides to see if they have any additional questions. If they have, I will give them to you to answer.

After that you will be invited to our 'post-gate' Facebook and forum groups, where you could explore and discuss more if you like. The Gate is not the end, but a start. There is a whole community of others on Liberation Unleashed (on Facebook and on the forum), who have also seen through the idea of a separate self. Actually, there are several groups to join.

Here are the questions:

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?

Warm regards, Petrus

Hi Nancy,

How are you doing?

Warm regards, Petrus

This whole time I've been waiting for a reply and just noticed it's on page two! Ok I'll get back to you soon, thanks Petrus!

Haha, funny. That happens more often!
I am glad you found it!

Regards, Petrus

Actually, there are several groups to join.

Yay! Looking forward to it!

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

There is no separate self at all, ever! Never has been.

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.

The illusion of the separate self is an idea, a thought that a personal self exists. Traditionally we're told that this personal self has its own thoughts, feelings, and some control over its body and its environment, and is separate from all the other people and objects around it. It is assumed and rarely questioned. Language reinforces this idea of a personal self.

The illusion of a separate self started between 7-8 years old. The voice in the head appeared, there was a contraction in general and imaginary boundaries formed. 'I' was born!

It's easy to see an unexamined belief in a separate self. Thoughts of a personal self happen all the time- memories, future plans, and thoughts regularly labeling actions as "I am cooking, I am driving.." which imply a separate self.

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.

There's a noticeable expansion feeling in general. Thoughts don't stick- instead of them being loud and close and torturous, they surface in the background then quickly fall away again. The uncommon intrusive thought is immediately recognized as just a thought and disappears.

It feels GREAT! Everything is considerably lighter. Body is lighter, thoughts are lighter. Much less seriousness. The dense knots of energy in the body have disappeared. Even feelings are lighter- there's no 'me' that has all those feelings!

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

Petrus pointed out a number of things:

Thoughts and feelings do not mean that un-seeing the illusion of a separate self has happened.

Thoughts and feelings of separation come and go, but they do not make a separate I.

A thought is just a thought, despite the importance given to it.

Doubts are just thoughts, with accompanying nasty feelings.

Also that eyes-closed exercise with questions about the body- wow was that a good one, and immensely helpful!

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.

All of those control type of ideas are just that- ideas, which are just thoughts. They are thoughts of an imaginary self claiming ownership. They aren't even "my" thoughts because there is no me! There is no control. There is no deciding. Free will is an illusion. Things just happen! All these things are happening- deciding, intending, thinking, choosing, looking, but no one doing any of that!

There is no 'I' to be responsible for anything, however things do get done. For example, there's no 'I' that decides to feed the farm animals every morning and evening, but this body is moved to go do that. There is not a personal self responsible for feeding this body, but the body gets fed, either by feeding itself or it is given food. There is a natural flow. :)

There used to be this heavy feeling of responsibility, but now it is gone!

6) Anything to add?

Even after seeing that no separate self exists, the LU website's forums, audio, articles, and books are a breath of fresh air! :)

Thank you so much Petrus, and LiberationUnleashed!

Great answers Nancy!

I will show the other guides...

Hi Nancy,

Does control require a controller?

Regards, Petrus

Does control require a controller?

No, control does not require a controller. There is no self, therefore there is no controller. Even if controlling is happening, it is just happening. No controller.

Is there control or not?

Is there control or not?

There is no control, meaning the ability to influence or steer actions, thoughts, emotions, or lives.

Hi Nancy,

Still some questions about control:
Observe closely while you pick up an empty cup, turn it upside down in the hand, wait a moment, and then place it back in position, right side up.

Did 'I' pick up the cup? Or turn it around? Or place it back down precisely?
Is it possible to carry out this task without the apparent control by an 'I'?

Warm regards, Petrus

Still some questions about control:
Observe closely while you pick up an empty cup, turn it upside down in the hand, wait a moment, and then place it back in position, right side up.

Did 'I' pick up the cup? Or turn it around? Or place it back down precisely?
Is it possible to carry out this task without the apparent control by an 'I'?

There is no 'I', no self exists, so there is no 'I' to pick up the cup. The cup was just picked up. The cup was just turned around, the cup was placed precisely, without an 'I'.

It seems that there is an 'I', language frequently specifies an 'I' that carefully turns the cup upside down, but that doesn't mean there is actually a separate 'I'.

Yes that task is carried out without an 'I' doing the controlling.

The other guides have no more questions.
So now a LU admin will contact you and invite you for the "post-gate" groups.

It was my pleasure to guide you Nancy! Thanks.
Petrus...

It was my pleasure to guide you Nancy! Thanks.

Thank you Petrus! It was a wonderful experience. :)