The Gate

Hi Paul

Here are the final questions for you :elaborate on each of them.

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

2) Give in your own words what the illusion of separate self is and how it shows up in experience. Also, through your inquiry, what is different 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) a) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen? How does it work?
Give examples from your own recent experiences to how things happen and how things work.

b) What are you responsible for? Give examples from your own recent experiences to how this works.

6) Anything to add?


Warissem

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

No there is not. The separate self is an illusion created by thought.

Give in your own words what the illusion of separate self is and how it shows up in experience. Also, through your inquiry, what is different now?

The separate self shows up in experience as the I thought, an almost constant commentary which appears to claim ownership of experience. “I’m out doing this”, “I don’t enjoy that” etc. Through enquiry it can be seen as an illusion. It does not exist. The thoughts arise by themselves, they are just happening. Looking at the view from a window the thought arises “I see” but the truth is there is no see-er only seeing. Now, “I” is recognised as a thought.

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 great. Like liberation. Before this dialogue there was a sense of this truth but it could not be seen clearly. Now there is certainly. There is no I and every time that is realised there is a feeling of relief.

What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look?

During our conversation “I” was trying to compose an answer to one of your questions but was struggling to put it into words. There was a feeling of frustration and the question just arose, “who is frustrated?” Which made it worse. “I” tried again to describe what was happening but was not able to and the frustration grew. The thought arose again “who is frustrated?” And that’s what did it.

a) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control

Given that the separate self does not exist none of these things can be attributed to it and must also be false.

Give examples from your own recent experiences to how things happen and how things work.

Habit appears to be the primary cause of certain outcomes. This morning “I” had tea, there are many different alternatives to that obviously but “I” had tea because “I” always have tea. No other option arose in awareness and as such it cannot be said to truly be a choice that was made.
This week “I” booked a covid vaccination. The day, place, time were all apparently free choices. A number of considerations arose as thoughts. Distance, traffic, parking, will I need time after for recovery. All these things create the illusion of a choice being made but they come via a thought process which is not authored by a me. The decision makes itself. Sorry Warissem but beyond that there is no understanding of how things work.

b) What are you responsible for? Give examples from your own recent experiences to how this works.

“I” am not responsible for anything. The I does not exist, therefore it has no control over anything so cannot responsible. Not sure what example can be given to illustrate that.

Anything to add?

Thank you!

Hi Paul

Thank you for your answers. I want you to be clearer about the seeing that there is no separate self.

Yes, there is no you, no separate self, was it ever ? Will it be ?

The thought arose again “who is frustrated?” And that’s what did it.

What was the answer to the question “who is frustrated?”

Given that the separate self does not exist none of these things can be attributed to it and must also be false.

It is a logical inference. Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control : I have given exercises about these topics, give what you have SEEN here about what you think about.

The same thing with this :

What are you responsible for? Give examples from your own recent experiences to how this works.

Warissem

Yes, there is no you, no separate self, was it ever ? Will it be ?

No, there wasn’t and nor will there ever be. It will only ever be a thought that arises like all the others. That is clearly seen.

What was the answer to the question “who is frustrated?”

The answer was nobody. Frustration was felt but there was no “feeler” At that moment it was recognised that there was identification with the separate self as if “I” was needing to find an answer. Once that was seen the frustration evaporated.

Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control : I have given exercises about these topics, give what you have SEEN here about what you think about.

Apologies there was a misunderstanding as to the examples you wanted to see. They are all thoughts. Thoughts which imply control/free will. They arise spontaneously whilst a decision is apparently being made, appearing like an evaluatory process. The belief that “I” made that choice is an illusion. It is another thought which claims the decision as it’s own when in fact the thoughts arose by themselves. The decision makes itself.

What are you responsible for? Give examples from your own recent experiences to how this works.

They are another illusion. It is the same answer as above. Thoughts arise, they inspire action, the action occurs, further thoughts claim “I” was responsible for it. The process implies that I am the doer and am in control of creating certain outcomes but it is false “I’m working really hard” Is a common thought for “me” There is a sense of satisfaction which arises around it. “I” claims responsibility for being industrious but there’s no choice or control, working hard is happening. I is responsible for nothing

Hi Paul

I send your answers to other guides for further questions or confirmation.

Best wishes

Warissem

Hi Paul

You are welcome to LU groups in facebook.

Best wishes

Warissem

I’m not on Facebook but thanks anyway Warissem. For everything.