The Gate

Hi Pete,

thanks, my trip went very well. However, there was no internet. Sorry, about that.

Yes, thanks for the inspiration.

You are welcome. You can trust this process. It works, if you do the work I am asking you to do.

besupax wrote:
Thoughts, judgements and emotions are labels that happen after direct experience (seeing, hearing, tasting, touch, smell). There is no "I" that is in charge of life. Check it - again and again. Stick to your 5 senses only!!!

This is a good reminder

When you get caught up in thoughts or emotions look at what is really happening with your 5 senses only.

I do not know how thinking occurs so I cannot explain how 'me' is thinking. Thinking just seems to appear out of nowhere. Thinking appears to just happen. When thoughts arise I do not notice an 'I' that thinks. I honestly don't know what an 'I' is anymore.

You write: "Thinking appears to just happen." Yes!
"I" is not a place where thoughts appear. "I" is a thought. It appears and disappears by itself.
At some point, when we learn to speak, we learn to say the word "I". Does that mean we are given an "I" or "me"? We grow up never questioning that. Without the thought "I am thinking", thinking still happens.

I honestly don't know what an 'I' is anymore.

Did you know it before you started this process?

I can sense that life is living itself and thoughts are separate. When seen, the thoughts seem to be a never-ending running commentary from a source that's desperately grasping for things to say. It never shuts up.

Look at the mind as an automatic labeling machine, without an on-off switch. Look around you now. Notice how thoughts spring up and label objects, tell a story about things, without you having any control over them. Thoughts are just that - labels that point to things, senses or ideas, but the content of every single thought is just a story.

I do not know what to think about free will. This body and mind will still continue to live without any label and without any thought.

Now, could you please reflect on your life and pick one event (doesn't matter how big or little) that you are 100% sure you choose and explain how you did it.

Good night,
Susan

Hi Susan -

fuzz1961 wrote: I honestly don't know what an 'I' is anymore.

Did you know it before you started this process?

I thought so.

Look at the mind as an automatic labeling machine, without an on-off switch. Look around you now. Notice how thoughts spring up and label objects, tell a story about things, without you having any control over them. Thoughts are just that - labels that point to things, senses or ideas, but the content of every single thought is just a story.

The stories never seem to stop. There are small breaks sometimes. It is becoming easier to be aware they are occurring just let them be.

Now, could you please reflect on your life and pick one event (doesn't matter how big or little) that you are 100% sure you choose and explain how you did it.

There don't seem to be any events where I'm any % sure how it occurred. It's seems odd to say but it is becoming difficult to see any specific 'event' in life. It's more that life just occurred rather than an event. It's an interesting perspective.

Look forward to your thoughts,
Pete

Hi Pete,

There don't seem to be any events where I'm any % sure how it occurred. It's seems odd to say but it is becoming difficult to see any specific 'event' in life. It's more that life just occurred rather than an event. It's an interesting perspective.

The gate is not a personality shift. It is a perception shift.

besupax wrote:
Look at the mind as an automatic labeling machine, without an on-off switch. Look around you now. Notice how thoughts spring up and label objects, tell a story about things, without you having any control over them. Thoughts are just that - labels that point to things, senses or ideas, but the content of every single thought is just a story.

The stories never seem to stop. There are small breaks sometimes. It is becoming easier to be aware they are occurring just let them be.

The stories don't stop. They are happening. The mind goes on labelling, telling stories... Is "I" involved thinking?

If you can find a park, sit there for a bit, and watch how everything moves and wiggles, how the wind blows, how the clouds move. People and animals move. Everything is one movement, including your body, breath and thoughts. Watch the totality. Life is living itself.

Is it true that there is no separate entity, no "me" in real life?

Good night,
Susan

Good Evening,

The stories don't stop. They are happening. The mind goes on labelling, telling stories... Is "I" involved thinking?

If you can find a park, sit there for a bit, and watch how everything moves and wiggles, how the wind blows, how the clouds move. People and animals move. Everything is one movement, including your body, breath and thoughts. Watch the totality. Life is living itself.

Is it true that there is no separate entity, no "me" in real life?

There doesn't seem to be an I in thinking. It is true that there is no separate entity in real life. Life just is and whatever I am exist within it the same way a tree or the sky does. It is very peaceful from this perspective. The challenge is being in this perspective more than I'm not.....

Thank-you,
Pete

Hi Pete,

the gateless Gate is a concept that points to an event or non-event that radically changes the relation to reality.

There doesn't seem to be an I in thinking.

Is it true? If in doubt please check it again and again.

It is true that there is no separate entity in real life

Yes!

Life just is and whatever I am exist within it the same way a tree or the sky does.

The "I" is truly only a thought. It is an illusion. This "I" can be searched for but never found in the real world. This truth has been there all the time, right out in the open. When seeing happens, clarity begins.

It is very peaceful from this perspective. The challenge is being in this perspective more than I'm not.....

States of mind and emotion change like the weather. Without "I" peacefulness, pain, happiness, joy, suffering... are just happening - they pass through like the clouds in the sky.


Are you ready for the final questions? They will help other guides and me to determine whether you have fully passed through the gate. Once you are confirmed there are facebook groups that you are welcome to join. Let me know if there is any doubt or if you are stuck at some point. I am happy to guide you all the way through.

Warmly,
Susan

Hi Susan

the Gateless Gate is a concept that points to an event or non-event that radically changes the relation to reality.

My perceptions of what I am and where I fit in reality are changing. The concept of me as an individual or separate entity from life have fallen away.

There doesn't seem to be an I in thinking.

Is it true? If in doubt please check it again and again.

There is an I in thinking if I forget or lose this new perspective

The "I" is truly only a thought. It is an illusion. This "I" can be searched for but never found in the real world. This truth has been there all the time, right out in the open. When seeing happens, clarity begins.

I still feel cloudy and unsure as I come to terms with this new perspective. I feel so much push back from family and friends. My 'self' seems to still be battling.

Are you ready for the final questions? They will help other guides and me to determine whether you have fully passed through the gate. Once you are confirmed there are facebook groups that you are welcome to join. Let me know if there is any doubt or if you are stuck at some point. I am happy to guide you all the way through.

Please begin the final questions.

Thanks,
Pete

I will be attending a 3 day meditation retreat (Thich Nhat Hahn) beginning Friday. I will not have access to internet until Sunday evening.

Good evening Pete,

The concept of me as an individual or separate entity from life have fallen away.

The most important thing is that this is not the end of the road. It's the first step of an awakened, authentic life. While the belief in a separate and real "you" may be gone, chances are, a big part of the ego-based structure built on top of that belief is still in place. How big, only you can know. It is likely that at some point doubts will come up, reactions that may be considered "not useful" will happen, and (possibly deep) negativity will arise. The important thing here is that all these things used to cling to, and be fueled through, the idea of self, which is now seen as an illusion. So whenever thoughts or emotions come up don't judge, don't avoid, don't fight. Just stay with them, and watch them happen and unfold. It's not personal, so it has nowhere to stick to.

There is an I in thinking if I forget or lose this new perspective

Lifelong habit. Once you understood that Santa Claus was just character, but not real - did you ever forget?

I still feel cloudy and unsure as I come to terms with this new perspective. I feel so much push back from family and friends. My 'self' seems to still be battling.

Would you please rearrange the sentences without using "I". Check if it's true.
Passing through the gate does not mean that you can never get lost in the story again. It's like watching a movie and getting sucked into it. But every time you look, you know it's a story and not reality.

Before I give you the final questions: here are two more:

1. Are there any doubts at all about seeing through the illusion of the separate self?

2. When the "I" has been seen through, fully and completely, what's left?

Looking forward to your answers. Good luck with your retreat!

Susan

Good Evening -

Lifelong habit. Once you understood that Santa Claus was just character, but not real - did you ever forget?

It took a second but your point is taken. Still there but a different viewpoint/understanding.

fuzz1961 wrote:I still feel cloudy and unsure as I come to terms with this new perspective. I feel so much push back from family and friends. My 'self' seems to still be battling.

Would you please rearrange the sentences without using "I". Check if it's true.

Seeing life just as it is has provided moments of clarity. This is true. Friends and family do not understand the concept and add fuel to the 'self' and its attachments. Seeing through the illusion of self can never be taken away. This is also true.

1. Are there any doubts at all about seeing through the illusion of the separate self?

I have 'not seen' myself within the context of life. It is the truth. There is no doubt in this truth.

2. When the "I" has been seen through, fully and completely, what's left?

That is still to be fully seen and experienced. My experience to date....nothing is left and nothing is gone. There only is life playing things out like it always has been.

Good Night,

Pete

Hi Pete,

what about the hole you mentioned in your first post? Is it still there? Is it now experienced differently?

Seeing through the illusion of self can never be taken away.

Yes. In the same way as you can not believe in Santa Claus or Superman anymore.

I have 'not seen' myself within the context of life. It is the truth. There is no doubt in this truth.

Could you please clarify the first sentence here? Are you saying you have seen no-self within the context of life?

My experience to date....nothing is left and nothing is gone. There only is life playing things out like it always has been.

Exactly. It's freeing to see how roles play out naturally, and the story unfolds effortlessly. All is happening to no one, for no reason. Life is simply going on. It's safe to retire from being the "general manager" of life.

Here are your final 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. Do you decide, intend, choose, control events in Life? Do you make anything happen? Give examples from your
current experience.

6. Anything to add?

Warmly,
Susan

Good Morning -

what about the hole you mentioned in your first post? Is it still there? Is it now experienced differently?

There is no hole any longer. When sitting quiet and still, instead of a hole there is a whole.

Could you please clarify the first sentence here? Are you saying you have seen no-self within the context of life?

That is exactly what I'm saying. The perspective of no-self was seen and that sight/feeling can never be taken away.

It's safe to retire from being the "general manager" of life.

There is enormous freedom in this.

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

A separate self, me, or I only exists in thought. As thought is not reality there can be no separate self. We just are.

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.

Our sense of individuality is a by-product of our need to survive in our environment. It begins as soon as we start to learn how to meet our basic survival needs. The illusion of separate self grows as basic needs (food, shelter, safety) are meet and focus turns to more intrinsic needs (love, community) and then, wants (approval, ambition, greed). From my experience, I desperately want acceptance from my family, friends and community and have never truly felt it. My personality/ego/separate self created the coping strategies (thoughts) necessary to hide my vulnerabilities and still meet as many of my basic and intrinsic needs as well as my wants, as possible. I became my thoughts. It was all about me (my thoughts). All focus was on me; my experiences, my feelings, my wants. That is what the illusion of separate self is. As I see it now; thoughts and feelings are a byproduct of needs and wants of the physical body to ensure survival. However, they are not life. Instead they are just a small piece of a much larger Life. A car on the road, a tree in the yard, a bird in the tree, a thought in my head; these are life happening, being, in this moment. Always right here, always right 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.

It is very freeing to sense/feel this. This is bigger (from a perspective sense) than when this journey began. Many of these ideas were familiar before this episode of the journey began. The difference between now and the beginning....Now they have been experienced. They are no longer just conceptual.

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

Nothing in particular stands out. Santa Claus comes to mind but it wasn't the main catalyst. As with life, it just happened. Life just happening became center and 'whatever I am' become a component.

5. Do you decide, intend, choose, control events in Life? Do you make anything happen? Give examples from your current experience.

. There is nothing to decide, intend, choose, or control as it all is just life happening. In reference to question 4...I have seen life as just happening, emotions and feeling just happening, and events just happening but, just now, is the first time that I 'got it' regarding thoughts, intentions, and decisions. OMG...they are just life happening also...cha ching. Awesome. Please consider this as an example of a current experience.

6. Anything to add?

Grasping this last concept regarding intentions, etc also as life just happening is huge for me. The retreat this weekend will be a great opportunity to allow this concept to settle.

Thank-you,

Pete

Thank you for the answers Pete!

I will put them to other guides and see whether they have any further questions.

Many of these ideas were familiar before this episode of the journey began. The difference between now and the beginning....Now they have been experienced. They are no longer just conceptual.

The retreat this weekend will be a great opportunity to allow this concept to settle.

Enjoy the free fall of letting even the concept go as it has no "I" to stick to. Life is living itself...

Warmly,
Susan

Hi Pete,

Life just happening became center and 'whatever I am' become a component.

Could you please explain / clarify this sentence?

In regard to question 5 please provide more details from your current experience. E.g. what happens between being hungry, having 3 food options, and finally cook or buy one of them? Is there a chooser there? Also, what goes on when you are falling asleep? Is there at any time a `me` needed or involved in deciding/controlling?

Warmly,
Susan

Hello again,

Nothing in particular stands out. Santa Claus comes to mind but it wasn't the main catalyst. As with life, it just happened. Life just happening became center and 'whatever I am' become a component.

Could you please explain / clarify this sentence?

. Everything is life. It is what is. Birds, rocks, trees, my body, thoughts, feelings, emotions are just 'components' or expressions of life.

In regard to question 5 please provide more details from your current experience. E.g. what happens between being hungry, having 3 food options, and finally cook or buy one of them? Is there a chooser there? Also, what goes on when you are falling asleep? Is there at any time a `me` needed or involved in deciding/controlling?

In the 2 days since this experienced occurred there have been many experiences. None of them have been anything different than the days prior. What has changed is the perspective from which I see them. The squirrel is still the squirrel but yet now I see it as an expression of life. In the same vein, my reactions to seeing the squirrel are also an expression of life. These 2 days have been amazing. Seeing from this perspective (I can almost hear your question already, what is seeing...this expression of life is seeing) is like seeing through new eyes.

Please note: At the beginning of this journey there was a great anticipation for outside approval or an acknowledgement of some sort of accomplishment. This is no longer the case. The gift Susan helped to reveal is beyond words for gratitude. If there is more for you to share let us please continue, if not, please accept my heartfelt appreciation.

Goodnight,

Pete

Hi Pete,

thanks for your reply. It's been a pleasure to work with you. You were my first client. Thank you for trusting me and this process.

I'll let you know whether other guides have more questions for you or not.

Warmly,
Susan