The Gate

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
Thoughts are automatic and there is no one thinking. Thoughts are also all centered around "me'..."me" is the center of the universe in thought and emotion form. The key is to see past the illusion of thought and the suffering it can create. To see reality as it is rather through the filter of "me" that is a delusion.

What are you looking for at LU?
Clarity and more shifting away from selfing over time...it looks like LU has a structure that points to blindspots and will help me see what is actually true in the moment. I've had deeper awakenings, but there is always more things to notice. To be here now more and more. And for community as I continue growing, walking through the fetters, etc.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
Honest and direct pointing that challenges me to see my expectations, assumptions or other blindspots. I'm hoping for a guide who will point out where I'm getting stuck, patterns, etc. and remind me to. stay in the moment with sensation and feeling and awareness, the raw experience of now. I expect this to be a challenging process...but also very clarifying and opening.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I was a student of Adya for years and have been on the path for most of my life, studying various spiritual practices, listening to many different teachers. Utilizing inquiry, meditation, IFS, somatic and many modalities over the years. I find openings and awakenings in every day life and have had many including an NDE.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self?
11

Hi Nicole. My name is Ashton and I'll be your guide.
I think we'll have a fun time.
You can call me Ash or Ashton. Whatever works. Lmk what you want me to call you.

Anyways, the way this is going to work is I am going to put things that you say in quotes by copying a sentence or paragraph of yours that strikes me by placing that copied text inside of the quote function up above this textbox. It'll appear as [ quote ] (copied text here) [ /quote ] except there won't be spaces. You'll do the same when answering my questions. Simple enough, right?!

When I ask you these questions, I do not want you to tell me your answer from thought. Never! You can tell me your answer a) as your experience is currently happening and you notice what is currently happening as your experience unfolds or b) via memory.

To clarify, you CAN tell me "Ash, thought is/was coming up and it was saying xyz thing". But that is drastically different than forming your answer FROM thought. See how that example is different? That statement would have been formed through experience being seen directly and/or memory.

What you said here hit me and this will be the first thing we examine:

To see reality as it is rather through the filter of "me" that is a delusion.

To see reality as it is...
To see reality as it is...

And if sense of self arises...
Are you seeing that as the reality that currently is?

And if as a chain of events:
1. sense of self arises
2. Thought occurs of "ugh, I'm not seeing reality as it is"
3. Bad feelings arise

Isn't that reality as it is?

Or if
1. Sense of self arises
2. It feels 'so you' or 'soooo real'

If that's what happens...
Isn't that, still, reality as it is?

Don't answer either from thought.
Look.
Observe.
Let it marinate a little.
Report me back your findings.

Ash.