The Gate

...and the most obvious, simple, and direct aspect of all of it - that in the very middle of the moment of direct experience, of now there is manifestly and obviously no separate self. Everything I've ever sought as distinct me is to be found here. And this nowness never comes and goes, but I flickers in and out of it.

Hi Glenn there’s a couple of points other guides would like us to look at briefly. Remember not to let this direct experience of seeing get caught up in intellectualizing about it – as you say, keeping the focus on DE is the way to navigate here. So please answer from what you see.

In Q3 you mention that the belief in self has now gone but at times experience can get stuck ‘in the spin cycle of I’, and a sense of self remains – you’ve had this ‘sense of self’ all along this journey – can you say what is different about this ‘sense of self’ when it occurs now?

Also in Q5 you mention the mind burbling on, making plans, but of course quite different actions often eventuate. Can you say a bit more about what ‘mind’ is actually experienced as in DE?

Also, is it really the case that the thought ‘I want ice-cream’ is causally connected to you getting the ice-cream (can you actually see the causation in DE?) You can probably find lots of times in your experience that you 'meant' to do something but didn't. You can lie in bed in the morning with the thought ‘I have to get up’ running for ages before you actually get up while thinking about something else. The idea that the thought "I am going to eat ice cream" or whatever is the CAUSE of ice-cream eating is a common one but try this exercise: Sitting quietly, INTEND to go touch the wall. Continue sitting quietly. What happened?

what is different about this ‘sense of self’ when it occurs now?

It does not exist in DE. That is to say, it doesn't exist in actuality as an entity, a real thing.

Can you say a bit more about what ‘mind’ is actually experienced as in DE?

Thoughts, only thoughts.

No, there's no causation by thoughts in DE.

thank you Mark.

Thanks Glenn. Will be in touch when I've heard back from the other guides.

Thank you Mark: there is actually, and in actuality only DE.

Hi Glenn no further questions please check your PM on this site for instructions on joining the post-gate groups. See you on the other side!