The Gate

There is only the concept of I.

Sometimes it feels alive.. but maybe I'm just imagining that.

No, you probably do have sensations, it's just attributing it to an actual I that is wrong.
Remember the video where using 3d goggles the researcher fooled his brain into thinking that the self was behind his body ?
Sensations are sensations but what they mean is the result of thought.
Remember, there is years of habit behind what you think and feel. This leads to a non-critical acceptance (more accurately, a non-investigation, a no-examination) which can lead to false conclusions being taken as normal/usual/familiar.
Ali, are you waiting for your mind to tell you that you have Seen through the illusion of an actual self ?

Ali, are you waiting for your mind to tell you that you have Seen through the illusion of an actual self ?

Yes.. I don't see it.

vinceschubert wrote:Ali, are you waiting for your mind to tell you that you have Seen through the illusion of an actual self ?
Ali said: Yes.. I don't see it.

Ali, how is the mind qualified to tell you about reality ?
The mind can only talk ABOUT something.
Experiencing is the only actual reality. (not the experience itself as that is only memory)
So think about it for years, it matters not the intelligence of the thinker, what we are talking ABOUT is beyond mind.
Stop trying to think it into existence.
Stop and consider what experiencing is expressing now, and now, and now. It doesn't matter what it is that is happening, it is reality.

Stop and consider what experiencing is expressing now, and now, and now. It doesn't matter what it is that is happening, it is reality.

This doesn't work for me.

Some questions:
1. If someone were deeply involved in the illusion of self and "looked" would they see the truth? Is there any knowledge that is a prerequisite?
2. How do these questions help me see this?
3. Is this the only way?

I really appreciate the help.

This doesn't work for me.

What is it that doesn't work for you ?

1. If someone were deeply involved in the illusion of self and "looked" would they see the truth?

Define "looked".

Is there any knowledge that is a prerequisite?

Knowledge is stuff of thoughts. It is second hand, as opposed to original. It is always ABOUT something.

How do these questions help me see this?

They are not questions in the normal sense. That is they are not trying to directly elicit answers. The purpose of them is to 'position' you to recognise something that can't adequately be put into words (thoughts).
They might better be described as koans.

Is this the only way?

Of course not. There are as many 'ways' as there are people. But 'ways' is also a bit misleading. There is no path. No method. No prescribed process.
What works for one, doesn't suit another.
Having said that, i chased enlightenment for 43 years and couldn't say if any of that contributed to my readiness for when it actually happened.
i do have stories about what helps, but no certainty that they are right.
You display one of the most important ones (in my story) and that is persistence.
Sincerity is another that you present.
i can say from my experience, that the only ones that don't succeed are the ones that quit. (having said that, i know of nobody that quit permanently)
This is not something that you earn. Hard work won't do it.
An 'aha!' experience is often the turning point.
Sometimes it is surrender that 'opens' the mind to let experiencing through.
Ali, i suggest that you go back to the beginning of this forum thread and read the guides posts (not your own answers - yet) again, looking for what you certainly missed the first time through.
As you do it, consider that any one sentence (question) can be a trigger.
Let me know how it goes.

What is it that doesn't work for you ?

See what is expressing in the present moment... a lot of things I read about enlightenment speak of this.

Define "looked".

I once watched a video about someone asking Papaji to show her the truth. He explained that enlightenment is within her and implied you can't move to where you are. He told her to stop moving and I believe she focused on the present moment or something and it was realized. I have read stories, and those who stop searching(in the future) for it after looking for it a long time see it in the present moment too.

Ali, i suggest that you go back to the beginning of this forum thread and read the guides posts (not your own answers - yet) again, looking for what you certainly missed the first time through.
As you do it, consider that any one sentence (question) can be a trigger.
Let me know how it goes.

Okay, I will make another post later.

Ali, i suggest that you go back to the beginning of this forum thread and read the guides posts (not your own answers - yet) again, looking for what you certainly missed the first time through.
As you do it, consider that any one sentence (question) can be a trigger.
Let me know how it goes.

No luck.

COME ON!!! Ali...

Do what Vince said...But this time copy and paste Anything that you think might be a "sign post" to your liberation...JUST DO IT!

We don't care at this point if your right or wrong, this is a learning process as well. We need to see where you're at and how you're perceiving what "IT " is.

COME ON!!! Ali...

Do what Vince said...But this time copy and paste Anything that you think might be a "sign post" to your liberation...JUST DO IT!

• Knowledge is stuff of thoughts. It is second hand, as opposed to original. It is always ABOUT something.

  Stop trying to think it into existence.

  Can you find anything that's having the experience of reading this? If you can (or if you can't) describe what you find in detail.

  I believe the human is having this experience. This specific human is being experienced so I label it my own personal self. It's just a label yes, but I can't deny this is not my self if that makes sense.

I believe the human is having this experience.

As it was said earlier in this thread by vince it is just a concept I have learned. I can't accept that the human and experience are not separate. I have concluded that neither the five senses or the human can experience eachother without the other so clearly they are separate.

Ignore the above post... they both exist simultaneously.

I can't deny this is not my self if that makes sense.
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Fixed typo.

I can't deny this is my self if that makes sense.
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Fixed typo this time.

There needs to be an edit button...

I can't accept that the human and experience are not separate.

Ali, when you say that you "can't accept...", is this a belief ? (you take it on faith) have you arrived at it logically ? (you believe your thoughts ?) or it is Experiencing the non-separation ?