It was very threatening when I first heard about it, but that was a LONG time ago. My recent experiences have taught me to welcome the idea of the disappearance of the self (although I do get some fearful 'me' thoughts).
Can the experience of the disappearance of the self happen in reality?
Or only the experience of thinking (and believing for a while) that the self disappeared?
If there is no self -
how is the search going on? Any self in sight :) - what can disappear?
Right now, there isn't any fear here.
Wonderful. And if fear appears remember to look at it, don't be afraid of the fear (like all experiences, fear will pass). Look and see if a self is causing the fear; if fear is happening to a you or if fear is just one more experience (a mix of thoughts and sensations) that is happening in the moment, to no one.
When I was walking the dog today, I felt like I was a traveller in my body - the body was walking, I had nothing to do with the movement. It occurred to me in a deep kind of way that I could just sit down and not move and life would carry on (of course, no part of me / life wanted to just sit down and not move at that point).
I know what you mean, it's a great shift in perception, I felt it too. In fact this can lead to an exercise:
Be this self, that is suposed to exist, for a while. See if this you (that is suposed to exist) can use its free will (that is suposed to exist), to stop everything and leave the flow of life. Don't move. Don't even blink or scratch the itch! Can this you stop life from happening? What can the all powerful self do?
