Re: Second time here - guidance needed :)
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:20 pm
Hi Tanya :)
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No. There is just the experience.
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 is a belief that there is an entity who is responsible for feeling, seeing, controlling. That there is an entity outside of experience experiencing. Thoughts and speech introduce the "I" to life. Seems like it is the thoughts who try to rationalize everything, who claim "I made this decision", when in fact the decision was just made.
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's a rollercoaster, general feeling is momentarily the same but at the same time there is feeling of some kind of "space" and thought-stories are noticed to be just stories frequently.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
Maybe the moment where it was realized that there is no "I" outside experience and what that there is no "I" and experience but just the experience.
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen? How does it work? What are you responsible for?
Decision: No matter how much thoughts revolve around it, decision just happens without decider, there is no possibility to predict what the decision is before it "happens". Intention: Happens automatically, there might be eg. thought "Today I will do this!" and later it might happen or might not happen. Free will: There is no way to predict which thought or action will happen next, thus no free will. Choice: Same as decision, just happens. Control: There is no "I" who does any controlling. In general things happen without any doer.
6) Anything to add?
Feels like this is just the beginning :)
Thank you,
James
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
No. There is just the experience.
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 is a belief that there is an entity who is responsible for feeling, seeing, controlling. That there is an entity outside of experience experiencing. Thoughts and speech introduce the "I" to life. Seems like it is the thoughts who try to rationalize everything, who claim "I made this decision", when in fact the decision was just made.
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's a rollercoaster, general feeling is momentarily the same but at the same time there is feeling of some kind of "space" and thought-stories are noticed to be just stories frequently.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
Maybe the moment where it was realized that there is no "I" outside experience and what that there is no "I" and experience but just the experience.
5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. What makes things happen? How does it work? What are you responsible for?
Decision: No matter how much thoughts revolve around it, decision just happens without decider, there is no possibility to predict what the decision is before it "happens". Intention: Happens automatically, there might be eg. thought "Today I will do this!" and later it might happen or might not happen. Free will: There is no way to predict which thought or action will happen next, thus no free will. Choice: Same as decision, just happens. Control: There is no "I" who does any controlling. In general things happen without any doer.
6) Anything to add?
Feels like this is just the beginning :)
Thank you,
James