The Gate

Good morning, Chuck,

Yes when I look I can see that. But it takes effort and I'm not always looking. This is known to me now though, and whether a thought comes up to question it or not doesn't really matter.

Right

I'll just keep looking in different situations so it becomes clearer and clearer. Ilona talks about staying rooted in your being in that video? Have you got any tips to do that ? Is there something I can use as an anchor? Does it get to a place where it becomes natural to always look ?

Always? No. I don't know anyone who looks 100% of the time. This expectation comes up a lot. You'll be more relaxed if you can stop expecting that.

Any meditation helps you stay here & now or "rooted in your being."

It is likely to be like this for years. Keep questioning expectations, beliefs & fears. They're only holding you back.

Going to the Zoom meetings & hearing how it is for others, including guides, can help.


Let's look at the idea of "choice."

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving,

Stacy

Hi Stacy,

How is the movement controlled?

I don't know. It just happens.

Does a thought control it?

I can see thoughts saying things but the decision is not made by thought. Neither is the control of movement.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

The only thing I can see actively doing something is the muscles in my arms.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

I don't know, sometimes a thought would try and prompt it but the hand wouldn't turn over or turn over a bit after etc.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

I don't know. Thought tries to claim this - For instance, a thought would say let's do the exercise and we'll use the right hand this time. But other times the decision is made to do the exercise and a hand is chosen, there aren't any thoughts about it.

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

No. The instructions don't specify how long to keep the palm up or down and there isn't anyone here choosing when the switch happens.

It sort of feels like a stepping back. When I do things during the day I ask myself who is doing this? who is walking etc and it feels like I step back and become the observer of these everyday activities. When I really look while doing this exercise the hand didn't really feel like 'mine' anymore.

Thank you,

Chuck

Exactly right, Chuck!

It sort of feels like a stepping back. When I do things during the day I ask myself who is doing this? who is walking etc and it feels like I step back and become the observer of these everyday activities. When I really look while doing this exercise the hand didn't really feel like 'mine' anymore.

It IS "stepping back." Feels just like that to me, too, & others who have described this.

Besides, there's no one there to "decide" anything, is there?

Chuck, have your doubts subsided? Can you see that you've SEEN?

Is there anything left to seek?

Loving
Stacy

Hi Stacy,

Besides, there's no one there to "decide" anything, is there?

It feels a bit surreal to me, I don't know if I have fully grasped what this means. It feels like this changes everything and I don't know how to look at everyday life anymore. How do you function in society when everyone has all these worries etc that they constantly talking about? Then the other person usually agrees or shares their own problems to reinforce the fact that there are problems. It almost feels like I don't belong because I can't understand these problems and can't relate to them the same way. Life had lost its seriousness to me a while ago and now it feels even more so. Its a complete mystery isn't it? We don't really know anything if we don't make up these stories.

Chuck, have your doubts subsided? Can you see that you've SEEN?

I don't know about this one. It's probably because I've watched multiple videos where they spoke of an energy release and I had expectations based on that. Im guessing this unfolding isn't finished though and since I can't control it, I'll have to release those expectations and just enjoy the ride.

I can confirm that I have seen that there is no controller/doer/decision maker though.

Is there anything left to seek?

No, just continuation of the journey to wherever it goes.

Thank you,

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

feels a bit surreal to me, I don't know if I have fully grasped what this means

Yes. It IS surreal. You'll get used to it. It will normalize. And it will continue to unfold.

As far as other people's stories, it depends. Often we just smile and nod. They're not necessarily ready to see what we see. Other times we share a little of how peaceful it is for us. If they're interested, we answer their questions, maybe show them LU or the Gateless Gatecrashers book.

I guide to work for world peace, one mind at a time.

I can't understand these problems and can't relate to them the same way. Life had lost its seriousness to me a while ago and now it feels even more so. Its a complete mystery isn't it? We don't really know anything if we don't make up these stories.

It IS a complete mystery!

Myself, I simply prefer truth over stories.

There are the video meetings & online groups, you can get to know others who see.

I've watched multiple videos where they spoke of an energy release and I had expectations based on that. Im guessing this unfolding isn't finished though and since I can't control it, I'll have to release those expectations and just enjoy the ride.

Right. For some, it's more gradual. but that doesn't make exciting video. ;)

We do have some traditional "final" questions. Would you like to answer those? It will help sum up & shows us if there's anything we missed. I'll share your answers with other guides, who may have questions.

Welcome to the "real world!"

Loving,
Stacy

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for all your help. Your clear descriptions on how to LOOK has been invaluable.

Im sort of marinating in the "I don't know-ness" of it all. It seems to be my go to answer to questions, I think I need to figure out how to balance this to the relative day to day or I'll just end up making people angry. Today was interesting, there was a lot of contraction and emotions around me and I felt like I was getting caught up in it - I probably did for periods. The lightness and equanimity felt like it had disappeared but thanks to being able to LOOK I was able to come back to the present from the thought train, so that was reassuring.

You'll get used to it. It will normalize. And it will continue to unfold.

It will take some getting used to. Smiling and nodding is probably the best bet for me with people for now I think!

We do have some traditional "final" questions. Would you like to answer those? It will help sum up & shows us if there's anything we missed. I'll share your answers with other guides, who may have questions.

Welcome to the "real world!"

Haha the real world, reading back on this thread - I think I did have expectations of fireworks even though I didn't disclose that in the initial post, but its not like what I expected, its familiar not something new.

Yes I'd like to answer the final questions.

Thank you,

Chuck

Good morning,

Yes truth does often feel familiar. Good work!

So, try these:

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) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

6) Anything to add?


~ Stacy

"Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion."

~ Rumi

And you are so welcome!

Hi Stacy,

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

No, it probably wasn't there at birth ( can't be sure because there is no memory). Then as I grew older it felt like there was and I believed it fully without questioning it. When questioned and looked for - it isn't there.

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.

It is a story to give the illusion of control and influence. Its based on language and it starts from a young age - I can see this as I have young kids. The parent says things like "you can do it" and "you are ..." and "because you did this, that happened etc". Or when the child feels something saying something like "you shouldn't feel like that.." as if you have control over what you feel. This is done enough times to condition you to feel that you have control over you actions, thoughts, feelings etc. Society also gets in on the act to reinforce this. As a parent I'm lost as to how to do it much differently - if any of the guides have any suggestions I would appreciate it.

Anyway, once you believe it, it's hard to to know otherwise. Because even if you question it, thoughts will come in and tell you that you are being silly and of course you exist and since you believe your thoughts you carry on and so the cycle repeats itself. Its only when you start seeing thoughts for what they are that you are able to glimpse into the reality of this. Even then it's difficult as there as so many doubt thoughts. There is also fear, so these doubts and fears enable this illusion until for whatever reason you move past them.

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.

Before I started this dialogue, I was doing self inquiry and trying to rest in a thoughtless space to realise this. This dialogue made me look at my direct experience and I can do this all the time, rather than just when sitting. When I first saw it while looking it felt weird and familiar at the same time. It feels very relaxing to let go and realise that this is how its been all along. There are still doubt thoughts and sometime its not clear but that's ok as I know what I know and though the thoughts may invoke certain feelings it doesn't change what I know.

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

It was really just the practice of looking at everyday activities. It also helped that I was able to see how my expectations were just some more thoughts.

5

) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

Decision is when you feel like you are deciding between one or more possibilities, afterwards you look back and say I made this decision because of.. However in reality there wasn't really a choice, millions of things came together and that decision just happened. It is like a flow and these decisions are part of the flow. At the point of the decision being made there is no-one deciding. It is really only before or after that thoughts come and claim it.

Intention is a thought. For example I may intent to wake up early every morning but it doesn't always work out like that. Its a thought we buy into and try to follow through on but intent doesn't always lead to outcome.

Free will is an illusion that make you think you had control over the decisions/choices you make when in reality there is no-one deciding.

Choice is another illusion making you think there are options but again there is really only 1 option and that is the choice being made in the moment.

Control is what thoughts make you believe you as a seperate entity have. In my experience when you can fully let go of control and be accepting of the present moment- thoughts subside as they have no purpose there.

I don't know what makes things happen. If I was to guess I would say everything all together makes everything happen but that's not in my direct experience.

The body and mind do their own thing. I don't know what Im responsible for, maybe Im responsible for getting out of the way so life can express itself fully through this body-mind.

Thank you,

Chuck

Good morning, Chuck,

Beautiful!

I don't know what Im responsible for, maybe Im responsible for getting out of the way so life can express itself fully through this body-mind.

No "I" no responsibility - is there? Who is there to be responsible?


Please answer the above and I'm going to share this with other guides who may have questions.

As far as how to raise children with this understanding, I am not a parent, so I'm going to have to let others help with this.

Good work.

Loving,
Stacy

Hi Stacy,

No "I" no responsibility - is there? Who is there to be responsible?

You're right, there is no doer/decider so there no one to be responsible for actions/decisions etc. Everything just happens anyway so what is there to take responsibility for - no credit for "good" things and no blame for "bad" things.

I guess what I was trying to say initially was whatever I am should live that truth, but that doesn't make sense either because what I am has no choice but to live that truth because it knows it.

Thank you,

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

You've crossed the Gateless Gate. No one had any questions. It is recommended that you attend some of the video conference groups to have support as you get used to this new way of being.

I'm StacyAnnClark in Colorado if you want to connect on Facebook.

Watch for a PM top right here.

It's been a pleasure.

Loving,
Stacy

Hi Stacy,

Thank you once again for giving so much of your time to help myself and others with this. I'll keep an eye out for a PM.

Chuck

You're so very welcome!

Loving
Stacy