You can start here :)

[Not me]

First comes the thought which says "you haven't passed anything boy" And there was the feeling of worthlessness attached to it.. but it only lasted for a flash and was immediately seen as nonsense!

How would you describe this to somebody who is very interested, but has never heard about this illusion.

What is it they are interested in? Do you mean a so called seeker who doesn't know about "Non-duality?"

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

There was thinking about this question but no particular moment could be found which "did it."
More of a rather slow deepening and seeing as fact that there is no I centre to be found who has command.
But that was nothing to do with it really. My mind could easily accept there is no I, but it was baffled by the "if not ME, then WHO?" conundrum, which probably stifles loads of us!

One of the first things I would try and get someone to see for themselves is that a WHO is not necessary for life to do it's thing. Seems obvious once you see it, but until then it's the last place you'd ever look!

The thought of an I which repeats is like being hypnotized into believing that this thought I really does command and represent what goes on as a human. It's also very important for them to see very quickly that there is no I making any choices. The seeing that this I is just a thought and that there doesn't have to be a WHO was a big thing. It always came back to the who bit. If it isn't ME, then WHO? Yet, Experiencing goes on. ;)

Very important to clearly see there is no person pulling the strings. It's a touchy area as we are ripping the very foundations from under the feet of those who come down this path! Although liberating, it's also potentially uncomfortable at first. But it could be no other way than what happens. The willingness to let go of all desire to control "my" life was also a factor. It was also very useful to employ directly looking, and paying attention, careful attention to all thoughts, feelings and patterns.
I guess In the end it was just noticing very carefully and seeing how things happened and noticing what thoughts were saying and doing and what was attached to them. Toying with the idea that no one was doing any of it is deffo the clincher for me i'd say. Now it's much more relaxed in this awareness. No pressure and no perceived stress at all.

[dreamer]

Hi Jay

Thank you. I will now ask the other guides. I'll be back when they have answered.

Vivi

[dreamer]

Hi Jay

There is one more question:
What comprises (or makes up) the illusion of a separate sense of self and how it operates?

Greetings Vivi

[Not me]

What comprises (or makes up) the illusion of a separate sense of self and how it operates?

It's coming through that this separate sense of self is/was in fact important for survival, and it is part and parcel of the unfolding we call life. Without it, this moment could not be. However, Just as "I" suspected before, The illusion falls away by itself when the conditions are right. It seemed like two people were doing it, but really it's all just part of the same unfolding.

There doesn't seem to be any answer for what makes it up. Perhaps just the repetitive reference to it, and the rigid belief in it? I have no idea.

I can certainly see how it operates as Iv'e been all over it like a rash!
So, from my perspective this is what happens:

From an early age we are programmed (with good intentions) to think of ourselves as a separate individual who is in competition with everyone else. There is no unity talk or oneness conversation (at least not in my family and rarely in others it seems) and even if there is, the outside world, education, employment and all our peers are there to reinforce this idea of ME, THEM, and of course I.

We take on the belief that I is in control of this body and mind, not only is it in control, but it has ideas that things should be a certain way. Again, media, parents, schools etc reinforce this. So we have these beliefs which are by now very strong and have never been questioned. This creates lots of thoughts which are relative to these beliefs. These thoughts about people, places ,ourselves, our insecurities are constantly occupying our minds.
Comparison, worry, guilt, shame, regret, anger and lots more which are all associated with the apparent fact of ME against the world as a separate entity who has to navigate this body and mind throughout all of lifes adventure, making sure it all turns out how the thoughts are saying it should turn out. The tension this creates is immense!

We often don't see life as an adventure from this perspective, more like a nightmare for many of us! So we keep adding more and more thoughts to this original thought of a separate me and this weaves an intricate story, ever-changing but still it's like a magnet to all of the so called negative things that have "happened to us" all of our worst fears and nightmares are bundled in as feelings and thoughts with this I label and every time it is attached to a situation or when it claims ownership it brings all this baggage with it. But we don;t notice it because we have this I thought attached to everything we do. It's only when the identification with I starts to fall away or get weaker, then we notice the peace, the space and aliveness underneath it all.

So in the opinion of the life force typing these words, When there is a readiness or a willingness to give up all need for control, and when the mind is relaxed enough to drop all concepts, beliefs and philosophies, genuine and direct looking can take place and then the discovery is made that me doesn't and never has existed, but what does exist is far greater than any me could ever wish for. It's hanging on to an illusion which seems like it's been outgrown a long time but of course it hasn't. When it's time, it's time. And if someone is here then chances are, it's time! :)

Thanks vivi. It's been a pleasure walking through this with you. :D

[dreamer]

Cheers Jay
Drinking the water from the river!

I will PM you!

Joyfull greetings Vivi