The Gate

Hi Duka

The clue is to not lean on thoughts. Just observe thoughts, emotions, feelings, sensations, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, whatever is going on. Just observe and let them come and go. Don't resist anything and don't keep anything. Coming, going. Observing is neutral, it has no desire no aversion. It is open, aware. There is an exercise which is helpful :

Imagine for a moment a scene, one of a little mountain stream which is tumbling down a hillside gully, not far from its source. It has been raining and so the level is quite high. Consider in your mind's eye, if you can, how it flows to the right over a little rock (where, had the level been lower, it would probably have gone around the rock), then the flow goes to the left over a tree bow, and then slows a little in a broader place, before splashing over a small cascade into a pool, and so on down the mountain side. Does it choose any of its directions? Is it even really a separate entity different from the water deposited in it, the rocks, the depressions in the ground etc? Is it even the same entity moment by moment, or more the product of weather conditions and water, like an ever-changing pattern?

1. Can you find anywhere where Duka autonomously intervenes into life, choosing something that is not the product of all the elements; that is not a part of the overall flow?

2. Now please consider a regular decision made eg; what to wear in the morning, or what to eat for lunch, and describe to me what happens. There are environmental factors, there are colour preferences (but where did those come from - any autonomous intervention there perhaps?), practical issues (such as what is available), available time for preparation, purpose (eg; need to fill up for the day, or to look hip and cool for that person!) etc. Where in there is an autonomous entity intervening in the flow of life? Can you find someone somewhere?

3. Can anything be found for which Duka is responsible – if so responsible to what and for what?

Best wishes

Can you find anywhere where Duka autonomously intervenes into life, choosing something that is not the product of all the elements; that is not a part of the overall flow?

No, I cannot find it. In my Direct Experience I cannot find it.

Now please consider a regular decision made eg; what to wear in the morning, or what to eat for lunch, and describe to me what happens. There are environmental factors, there are colour preferences (but where did those come from - any autonomous intervention there perhaps?), practical issues (such as what is available), available time for preparation, purpose (eg; need to fill up for the day, or to look hip and cool for that person!) etc. Where in there is an autonomous entity intervening in the flow of life? Can you find someone somewhere?

There is not an autonomous entity intervening in the flow of life. No, I cannot find someone, I cannot find a separate entity that is making autonomous decisions.

Can anything be found for which Duka is responsible – if so responsible to what and for what?

No, nothing specific can be found that Duka is responsible for. It's only thoughts reflecting thoughts or reflecting a sensation, a memory, a perception or emotion. THERE IS NOT a separate entity deciding anything or making any decision. It's just a belief...it's just a belief and a feeling that it's believed in. It's a thought a belief that it's been believed in...that's it!

Good morning Duka

Wonderful, glad to read your answers. We can give a go to the final questions and see what is arising. Here we are.

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,
intention,
free will,
choice and control.
What makes things happen? How does it work? Give examples from experience.

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

6) Anything to add?

Ponder on each question and elaborate on the answers. Take your time to look at each question.

Best wishes

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

No, there is not. No, there was never ever a 'self", "me" or "I", however there was a belief and a feeling that SEEMS like and FEELS like there was a "self", "me" or "I".

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.

The illusion of separate self is seen on my own experience as sensation in my body, a thought of "me' or "I" which is believed in by another thought, which SEEMS like to be "me", however it's seen in my experience that it's just a belief...there is no experience of an independent entity or self. I am experiencing sensations, thoughts, perceptions and feelings passing by...then a thought come and claims "that's me or that's I".

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 feels free to see this. The difference is that before there was an identification with the thoughts, feelings and sensations as "me" or "I". Now, there are still thoughts, sensations, feelings and perceptions experienced, but there is No identification with a thought that says "it's me".

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

The experiential understanding that sensations, thoughts, feelings and perceptions are coming and going, they are not a separate entity called "me" or experienced as a independent separate self or me. There is a SEEN that thoughts, sensations, feelings and perceptions are happening...but they are not make by an independent separate self...this seemed "independent separate self" it's SEEN as a thought itself, as a belief, not as an independent entity.

5) Describe decision,
intention,
free will,
choice and control.
What makes things happen? How does it work? Give examples from experience.

Things happen as expression of life, as wisdom of life it. The is no a separate self making a decision, having free will, choice or control. Several circumstances and intertwined events make things happen. There can be a choose thought, but not a separate entity making a specific choice. A sensation of hunger arises, and then this body goes to the fridge or to the oven and a choice of eating a piece of fish or meat arises. This choice that happened to eat fish or meat, depends on several variables, such as those were the ones available, the taste and texture of each food, the smell at the moment, the temperature and ingredients that those foods were make and presents now when smelled or tasted. So, there are several variables in place and then a chosen thought or impulse happens to pick one or the other. There is never a separate entity making a choice...however there is a thought that a separate entity made the choice...but when that is SEEN as a thought or an after thought, the identification or belief of being a separate entity starts to crumble...

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

I am not seeing myself as a separate self entity anymore. Therefore, the illusion of thinking that I was responsible for this or that is not there anymore...Life is happening as this body mind. There IS Not a separate entity called Duka making any separate decisions, so how can Duka be responsible for anything that is happening? If there in no separate self Duka making choices or decisions, There is Nothing that Duka is responsible for. Life is happening, things are happening, choices are happening without a separate entity...therefore only Life is responsible for what's happening, not me as a separate self, because I have SEEN that the separate self entity is an illusion, a thought that is believed in.

6) Anything to add?

Life is happening... seeing, smelling, hearing, sensing, tasting, perceiving and thinking are happening. No separate self entity is happening...it was only believed to exist and making this body mind suffer...it was a very powerful belief and it really made this body mind suffer when it's believed in...however, this body mind is Not Yet Totally Free from all suffering...the suffering is decreasing, but it's not totally gone yet...that's what is been experienced now by this body mind...less suffering, but not total free of suffering yet.

Good evening

Glad to read your answers. I invite other guides to look at them, there would be further questions.

Best wishes

Glad to read your answers. I invite other guides to look at them, there would be further questions.

Thanks for your guidance. I really appreciated. Take care.

Hi Duka

You will be invited to LU groups on facebook.

Best wishes