The Gate

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this? Seeing this has been completely astonishing, yet direct experience confirms this over and over. The insights and clearing never end which is the greatest gift. The world is completely changed and completely the same. The relief is tremendous.

What are you looking for at LU? I’m looking for the company of others that celebrate and support the ever deepening clarity. I’m excited to learn from others as life happens. It is intriguing to read the forums and watch the looking deepen.

What do you expect from a guided conversation? I’m excited to have a partner in looking, someone who can see the sticky spots and point them out to me. Perhaps we can watch those pieces of the overlay fall off together. There is such joy as they fall.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry? I was raised Lutheran and left the church as a teenager. I didn’t trust God, but continued beseeching him and blaming him. There was seeking during this time, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that it suddenly became urgent to figure out what was going on with life. I began reading as many nonduality books as I could find, and with my new confinement, had many hours to do it in. 6 months later, “the event happened” and my world was changed. My sleep schedule changed, I found 6 to 7 hours a day to devour books, and I became a continuing student with Fred Davis.

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

Good morning! (in Boulder, Colorado)

It sounds as if you may have already crossed the gate and maybe seeing. As such, I will post my usual introduction letter, but I would next like to offer you our final questions to see what might be missing in your experience so far.

My name is Stacy and I can be your guide, if you would like.

One thing I want to make very clear up front is that with me, you must post every day. If you know yourself and your schedule are such that you cannot do this, tell me, "no," and someone else can guide you, please.

Yes, if once in a while you must post later, please post a note telling me when you will return.

If you haven't already read the disclaimer, please read it now and just confirm to me that you have read it. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Also please read “Liberation Unleashed is not …” in the FAQ’s of LU. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/about/faq/#faq-1041

Some housekeeping guidelines:

1. Post at least once a day, or every second day. If you need more time, or are unable to post for several days, just write a quick post on your thread to let me know please.

2. There is no one judging answers given, so please be 100% honest in your answers and inquiry.

3. This exploration is based on actual experience (AE) - smell, taste, sound, sensation, color and observed thoughts. Long-winded analytical and philosophical answers are best avoided and may even hinder progress. This is not a self-improvement process. There is no ‘self’ to improve.

4. Put aside all other teachings, philosophies, rituals, practices, books/reading and so on for the remainder of this investigation. Really put all your effort and attention in to seeing this reality, as it is. If you have a daily meditation practice, it is fine to continue that but is not necessary for this exploration.

Technology is not perfect and sometimes there is a glitch which can wipe out your responses. It is advisable that you copy and paste questions asked into Word, answer them there and then copy and paste them to your thread. Always save a copy of what you have done, it will save time in the long run!

To begin with, so that we both become aware of what your expectations are about this exploration. In your own words (not from actual experience, but just honest answers), could you please answer the 4 following questions:

How will life change?
How will you change?
What will be different?
What is missing?

Throughout this exploration I would like you to answer all questions that I have written in blue text. Please answer all questions even if I miss using the blue text.

Please answer questions individually, remembering to use the quote function to highlight the question being answered.

Below is a link to the video with instructions on using the Quote Function. Please watch it. Use the PREVIEW button to make sure your text looks right before you hit "SUBMIT."

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660

What would you like for me to call you? What time zone are you in, please?

Loving,

Hi Stacy! I see you have been doing a lot of guiding recently, and I am happy to look together! I am Barb, in Oregon, so Pacific time. I have read the disclaimer and the What LU is Not, and watched the quote function video. I am happy to post daily.

How will life change?

Surprisingly, life doesn't change. It is the same life available to be experienced in all its forms.

How will you change?

Life is felt, tasted, sensed, heard, seen more deeply. There is no change to the image of me.

What will be different?

Nothing is different, Everything is different. There is so much more depth to sensing than was experienced before. Now the body contractions that are experienced are seen to be a wakeup call that thoughts are being believed, and reidentification is happening.

What is missing?

Absolutely nothing!

Thank you for your help. I have been realizing how much the fear of looking deeply at the emptiness has been in charge, has become the overlay that life is being experienced through. There is also a noticing of the resistance to life that is available to be seen in the smallest moments, stunning!

Best to you,

Barb

Hi Barb,

You sound pretty clear. Please reply to these "final" questions and let's see where I can help. Also, remember, this is the honeymoon period. At some point you'll probably bump into an unquestioned, untrue belief & feel you may have "lost it." You have not. You just need to apply LOOKING to some new area.

Quote one at a time & place your reply under the quote box, please?


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

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.

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) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

6) Anything to add?

Loving,

Good morning, Stacy!
Oh yes, I have been in that "lost it" space. It's very frustrating and painful. I got some good advice, to return to the senses. Clarity came in more strongly after. Here's another place I resist, the slide into identification. Past that experience, there is greater clarity.

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

There has never been a self. There is habitual thought and belief masquerading as me.

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 of separate self is nurtured by our parents, culture, community until we see nothing else. It begins at birth and is like poison we lovingly feed our babies. The ME is built into everything we experience.

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 is mind blowing to see it at work, myself and others seem quite insane in the illusion. Since I've read the books by Ilona and Elena, clarity is happening. Answering these questions has been a great way to define it, which deepens it.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

Overall, the question "do you exist" seems to be the blunt pointer that I needed. These dialogues have also made me look, to write it down has solidified it.

5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Oh decision. Here I was, a good decision maker, overlooking all the bad decisions, and gaining identity from it. How refreshing to have that weight roll off. There is no Me, there is no doer, there's no one making decisions.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

And Intention. Of course, my intention was running the show, affecting my world, except for the times it didn't appear to work. How can a mirage affect reality?

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

What a burden free will is in the illusion! There's not only the illusion of throwing oneself against the immovable mountain, but sometimes the mountain appears to move! Perfect setup for the resistance to life. Everything becomes a battle, it is a strong habit to break.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Choice is another belief, tied to judgement. If I can make the right choices, why can't others? I'm struck by how very convenient the illusion is. Perfectly set up to allow apparent choice. How can I choose? A thought appears, the overlay judges it to be right, the choice is made. But where did the thought come from? Does someone own that thought? Do I have any effect on reality? There is no choice.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

Control is a sticky spot, hard to give up the totally habituated thought that I control things. This pulls me into identification, especially when the "shoulds" arise. I see the suffering of my loved ones directly due to the thoughts that are running. There's a feeling that I can and should fix this, although I have no words or way to actually help. Stuck in identification again. Here is where your help is wonderful.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

Nothing and no one! Life itself is happening, to no one. It is a closed circle, unable to be affected.

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

Nothing! What a relief! The responsibilities for the past, the responsibility for now, and the responsibility for the future don't exist, AND the responsibilities for making the world a better place are NOT MINE! How can I have responsibility when I do not affect the closed circle? Everything is just happening, and not to me!

6) Anything to add?

Thank you. I notice that I was still battling the reidentification, although I could see that clarity resulted.
That is the I "should" be clearer than this, I "should" be able to keep myself from reidentifying. But again, it is not a battle, it is total acceptance. There's an infinity of things being 180 degrees different than I thought.
Best to you!
Barb

Barb, thank you!

This is one of the best written set of answers to these questions that I have seen. They will now be shared with other guides, who may have questions.

It begins at birth and is like poison we lovingly feed our babies

Especially this. Poison with good intentions, so true!

There's a feeling that I can and should fix this, although I have no words or way to actually help. Stuck in identification

Is it true that you can or should fix any "this" you see?

That one question can take you past mistakes in identification.

Followed up with, "Can you absolutely know it's true?" and

"How do you react when you believe that thought?"

Then, "Who would you be without that thought?"

aka The Work of Byron Katie, gets this one past any lies that may be believed & back to the truth.

Then turn around to see if the opposite is as true or truer. By this time, lies & identification just have no place to stick! Your mind becomes like Teflon & lies slide right off.

Watch these notifications and your Private Messages top right here.

Loving,

Thank you! So beautiful to bring it back to Byron Katie, where new thoughts began many years ago!

Those are excellent pointers, thank you. Another sticky bit is falling!

Best,

Barb

Is it true that you can or should fix any "this" you see

Sorry about the quote function. I’m using a different pad.

Whew! Talk about an unquestioned belief! There is responsibility again, a huge part of Barb that had been a big driver of the character. I’m amazed at how widespread and foundational that web is. Geez. And relief that feels like freedom.

Than you, Stacy! hugs and hugs!

Barb

Barb, you're so welcome!

We're just waiting for other guides to confirm or ask questions.

Loving,

Good morning, Barb,

You have crossed the Gateless Gate. Welcome!

Check your PMs top right for information on Facebook groups, etc. Also, if you might be interested in meeting by Zoom video with others who have recently seen, please let me know & you'll be invited.

Are you interested in guiding here with us? We can always use more guides.

Thank you for the privilege.

Loving,

Good morning Stacy!

Wonderful! I have requested to join the Facebook groups, and would really like to be part of the Zoom community.
It’s a huge honor to be invited into the guide group. Thank you. Absolutely, I would love to.

Thank you for taking this journey with me! I am intrigued by how your group just cuts through all the language in nonduality, goes straight to the point of whether we actually exist. With that question answered, all is possible. It creates a platform on the razor’s edge that feels safe. Truly wonderful.

Best to you!

Barb

Hi Barb!

In order to become a guide, you will "choose" ;) someone to be your mentor. Read through some threads and see whose style you like. Then contact that guide to ask if they are available, via Facebook or PM above.

I guide with a lot of exercises. Some guide with a more conversational style.

You'll be a great guide!

Loving,

Thank you, Stacy. I will PM you. Thanks for your great guiding!