1) Is there a 'me' or 'you' or 'I' , at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever? Will there ever be?
No. There never has been and never will be.
When you say "I", what in Experience are you referring to?
This body doing whatever on its on without a controller.
2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works.
The illusion of the separate self starts when we are probably around 2 years old and we start identifying who we are with a name and attributes we have been given. This identification with a name which implies a person is a lie. Because life has always happened and continues to happen whether my name or identilty has an opinion or not. There is no person at the controls of any activity. Life is just living in the present moment with out reference to the past or the future.
) How does it FEEL to see this? describe in detail.
To see that there is no self in anything is a huge releif. It is a release of all the stories about a me, all the pain and grievance about a me that has been mistreated, unloved, how great I was, how great I might be Blah, Blah, Blah. It feels like freedom to see this and it is also a resting in the now knowing anything. Really, Really
How would you describe it to somebody who has never heard about this illusion but is curious about it.
To describe this illusion seems easy because it is always already here like everyone says, however, I would use the analogy of a school which points to buildings and students but you never find a school. I would guide someone who is curious to do an inquiry looking at where they believe they are located. they would need to answer via the body not the mind when they were ready to answer.
What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look? was there a specific moment when seeing happened or was it gradual? what exactly happened?
I don't know if there was a last bit that pushed me over, however, as I looked more and more I knew there was no Valerie here and yet that felt like a mind knowing. I think the seeing was gradual. I did actually have a specific moment during silently looking when a bug hit the floor making a sound and my head moved with my eyes to find the sound. Instantly there was this awareness that I had nothing to do with moving, hearing, and looking at the bug. it was a little weird, experience is hard to put into words. So, maybe there was a last bit that pushed me over my intention for waking up was 24/7 no matter what in the last month or so. Everything came in to play perfectly.
describe the difference before seeing, at the moment of seeing, and after seeing? describe the key difference?
Before seeing everythng is still being labeled by the mind instaneously. There is an efforting to it somehow. There is some form of attachment no matter how thin. The moment of seeing is very clear, there is no question, there is a knowing. After seeing, life is still the same but there is no me seeing. Seeing is just happening on its own.
I will finish the last question tonight.