The Gate

So, that something is not observable doesn´t mean that it doesn´t exist.

Hallelujah. :)

This is what I noticed today:
When I bought a ticket for the train, there was a thought ¨Now you will put the ticket in your pocket next to your mobile. Then you will make sure that the ticket is really in your pocket¨ Then the actions happened like was described in the thought. I know that this is a habit, but this was the first time that I saw a thought about this habit before the habit manifested. Interesting.

I'm thrilled you noticed this, because in developing this skill, you will notice more and more about how you tick, in contrast to how you thought things ticked.

Notice this thought is relevant to circumstances.

The question "Was there a me that thought this?" is irrelevant. 'Me' is a story. It thinketh not.

Your job is to respect the primacy of experience, and be light-touch with interpretation.

Dogma and doctrine are not our friend. :) Life is to be enjoyed, tis' a fascinating adventure.

Ok, where are you on the 'me' is made up front? :)

Can we look to wrap this up, or do you have any questions, comments to share?

WIth best wishes,
John

I'm thrilled you noticed this, because in developing this skill, you will notice more and more about how you tick, in contrast to how you thought things ticked.

Notice this thought is relevant to circumstances.

The question "Was there a me that thought this?" is irrelevant. 'Me' is a story. It thinketh not.

Your job is to respect the primacy of experience, and be light-touch with interpretation.

Dogma and doctrine are not our friend. :) Life is to be enjoyed, tis' a fascinating adventure.

Ok, where are you on the 'me' is made up front? :)

Can we look to wrap this up, or do you have any questions, comments to share?

¨Me¨ is a story created by ¨I¨ thoughts that come after the experience. These ¨I¨ thoughts connect the experiences to an entity called ¨Me¨ (¨I¨ did this, ¨I¨ felt this, ¨I¨ thinks this). The act of believing in the story is what creates the illusion of an entity. When the story is not believed to be true, there is no illusion. The ¨I¨ thoughts are then seen to be what they are, just thoughts.
Sometimes there will still be identification with the experiences, in that moment the ¨I¨ thoughts are believed to be true. Then you can do the inquiry, to see if it is really true. It is important to not see identification as a ¨failure¨ but as a opportunity to deepen the insight. Also don´t set a ideal or goal to be totally free from identification because setting such a goal brings tension and judgement which is unnecessary. Being with experience is enough.

To find a self that is not a story is weird, because the self is a story. The search for a self that is not a story would be another story of the self. Because if there would not be a story of ¨Me¨ then there would not be any need to search for a ¨Me¨ because ¨Me¨ would not exist. The search for a self that is not a story is actually a story of self that is searching for a self that is not a story :)

I am really grateful for your guidance and support. Many thanks to you for taking the time to guide me and help me see clearer.

So what happens now? Is there further support for people who have crashed the gate?

Much gratitude,
John

Hey John,

Could you do me a favour and respond to the following from your experience.

- Was ‘me’/‘myself’ ever a living being that moves, speaks or thinks?

- Explain in detail what the illusion of ‘me’/‘myself’ is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.

- How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before you started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.

- What was key in seeing this?

- Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. Does ‘me’/‘myself’ make things happen? Is ‘me’/‘myself’ in control of anything? How does it work? What is ‘me’/‘myself’ responsible for? Give examples from experience.

- Anything to add?

Have a lovely day! :)
John

Could you do me a favour and respond to the following from your experience.

- Was ‘me’/‘myself’ ever a living being that moves, speaks or thinks?

No, ¨Me¨ is a story, a mental construct created by ¨I¨ thoughts. A story can´t move, speak or think.

- Explain in detail what the illusion of ‘me’/‘myself’ is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.

There is an experience, then there is a thought who connect that experience to an entity called ¨Me¨. Then another experience, then another ¨I¨ thought. This keeps going and because of all the experiences and the connections to the entity ¨Me¨, this ¨Me¨ becomes a whole story of someone who has a past and a future. The illusion is the act of believing in this story of ¨Me¨.

- 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 freeing. There is a more relaxed and joyful state. There is more peace because there is no one to defend. Of course, there still has to be care for the body and things have to be done to function in the world, but there is no self to defend.
Before I started when I was critiziced or verbally attacked, there was the believe that I had to defend myself. That I had to protect my self image. Now, when the story plays, I look at the story and I know that it is a story. There is more space. Life is more of an adventure :)

- What was key in seeing this?

Honest looking with the help of a guide. Also really wanting to know and keep investigating. Keep asking yourself quesions and stay with the experience, don´t entertain ideas, Look!

- Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. Does ‘me’/‘myself’ make things happen? Is ‘me’/‘myself’ in control of anything? How does it work? What is ‘me’/‘myself’ responsible for? Give examples from experience.

¨Me¨ is a story. A story can´t make decisions, have intentions, have free will, choice or control. A story can´t control anything. The story isn´t responsible for anything.
When I walked in nature and there was a decision to make, go left or right? There were thoughts and then there was the walking to the right. There was no ¨Me¨ who choose to go right, the choice was made, it just happened. Another example is when you let me do the exercise with the hand resting on the table. The hand rested on the table, there were thoughts about raising the hand, but the hand didn´t move. The hand raised on his own accord.

- Anything to add?

Not really.


Best wishes,
John

Thank you very much John. Be back to you shortly.

Best wishes,
John