LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
I understand intellectually that there is no self however I haven't gotten to the point of knowing that. When people talk about it or I read it in books, I can follow and I'm observing but something is missing. I want to know the missing piece.
What are you looking for at LU?
At LU I'm looking for guidance to help point me in the direction of awakening and let go of my story. I want to realize the illusion of the separate self and be free. I want to be able to ask unlimited questions so that I can have someone respond and direct me the right way.
What do you expect from a guided conversation?
From a guided conversation I expect steady communication and feedback and different methods of relying information. I expect to be questioned on my present experience and beliefs, and dive deep in my ego. I want to see the whole picture.
What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I started in 2019. My experience is in astrology, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity. I've read many books, I've done yoga teacher trainings in India, and a 10 day silent Vipassana. I've been reading and practising the Sedona Method with Hale Dwoskin and Lester Levenson. I currently belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I thought I found truth in the church (joined in 2020) however I'm still searching so obviously something is still missing. I'm seeking to understand something that I don't know yet. I don't feel settled, I'm yearning to be settled in the truth.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self? 10
What am I?
Re: What am I?
Hi Sonderine,
You said:
It seems like you may be very serious about this, but I'll be up front with you about something. Many people come here saying they want to wake up, to "realize the illusion of the separate self and be free.", etc. But what they most want is to keep on sleeping, but with a cooler dream, a more spiritual dream.
Be honest, are you truly interested in serious spiritual work, diving deep into this sense of "you" to see the truth? Do you really want to see the "whole picture"? Are you committed to this? If you can trust me and the process, don't quit, and stay engaged, I'll get you there. Think about it and get back to me if that is what you want. ; )
You said:
What are you looking for at LU?
At LU I'm looking for guidance to help point me in the direction of awakening and let go of my story. I want to realize the illusion of the separate self and be free. I want to be able to ask unlimited questions so that I can have someone respond and direct me the right way.
What do you expect from a guided conversation?
From a guided conversation I expect steady communication and feedback and different methods of relying information. I expect to be questioned on my present experience and beliefs, and dive deep in my ego. I want to see the whole picture.
It seems like you may be very serious about this, but I'll be up front with you about something. Many people come here saying they want to wake up, to "realize the illusion of the separate self and be free.", etc. But what they most want is to keep on sleeping, but with a cooler dream, a more spiritual dream.
Be honest, are you truly interested in serious spiritual work, diving deep into this sense of "you" to see the truth? Do you really want to see the "whole picture"? Are you committed to this? If you can trust me and the process, don't quit, and stay engaged, I'll get you there. Think about it and get back to me if that is what you want. ; )
Re: What am I?
Hi Dkelso,
Yes this is what I want.
I think I awakened a little bit by reading Gateless Gate crashers but maybe need a little more push or clarification. But I'm ready for your process.
Yes this is what I want.
I think I awakened a little bit by reading Gateless Gate crashers but maybe need a little more push or clarification. But I'm ready for your process.
Re: What am I?
Great, glad to hear that! Now we can dive in.
Let's get a few things out of the way. Do you want me to call you Sondrine, or do you have a first name? Mine is Dan. Where do you live in the world? I'm on the east coast in the US, North Carolina.
A little homework. I have a lot of helpful information regarding this process on my website: deepselfinvestigation.com. It's free and you can use it as a reference page for the specifics of self investigation. It will save us a lot of time so we can hit the ground running. I'd recommend at least getting familiar with the sections on recognizing the difference between perception and thought, how to use good questions and direct perception to deeply investigate the sense of "I" as it arises throughout the day - the basics of deep self investigation. Try to keep in mind, good self investigation is 95% perception and about 5% thought. Also, if the LU website crashes, which it does periodically, you can find my email address there to get ahold of me.
As you begin looking into this sense of "you", it will begin with the body, sensations, emotions and thoughts as you. Begin perceiving directly, looking to see, if you are identical to these "I" appearances. Alternatively, If it seems you "have them", look closely at the sense of you as the owner. What is this sense of you as the owner exactly? Do you find yourself there, now as the owner? Is this true about what you are?
So really begin questioning any assumptions about how you seem to be showing up. Where and in what form?
Make sense?
Let's reconnect at least once or twice a day, and feel free to ask any questions that come up. Talk to you soon!
Let's get a few things out of the way. Do you want me to call you Sondrine, or do you have a first name? Mine is Dan. Where do you live in the world? I'm on the east coast in the US, North Carolina.
A little homework. I have a lot of helpful information regarding this process on my website: deepselfinvestigation.com. It's free and you can use it as a reference page for the specifics of self investigation. It will save us a lot of time so we can hit the ground running. I'd recommend at least getting familiar with the sections on recognizing the difference between perception and thought, how to use good questions and direct perception to deeply investigate the sense of "I" as it arises throughout the day - the basics of deep self investigation. Try to keep in mind, good self investigation is 95% perception and about 5% thought. Also, if the LU website crashes, which it does periodically, you can find my email address there to get ahold of me.
As you begin looking into this sense of "you", it will begin with the body, sensations, emotions and thoughts as you. Begin perceiving directly, looking to see, if you are identical to these "I" appearances. Alternatively, If it seems you "have them", look closely at the sense of you as the owner. What is this sense of you as the owner exactly? Do you find yourself there, now as the owner? Is this true about what you are?
So really begin questioning any assumptions about how you seem to be showing up. Where and in what form?
Make sense?
Let's reconnect at least once or twice a day, and feel free to ask any questions that come up. Talk to you soon!
Re: What am I?
Hi Dan,
Nice to meet you. Thanks for your website info. I’ve skimmed a lot of it, will have to read more in depth this week and as time goes on. This language is new to me so it will take some time to process.
Yes, Sondrine is my first name, you can call me that. I’m on the West coast, in Victoria British Colombia, Canada.
Yes, I find myself identical to the “I” appearances but I know intellectually I’m not the I. I just don’t believe myself, if that makes sense. There’s no proof to “I’. I’m skeptical I guess you could say but willing to look and investigate, just need guidance.
When I’m alone I can really ponder on this, question the self, and it makes sense, however when I’m around anyone I’m back to “I”.
Nice to meet you. Thanks for your website info. I’ve skimmed a lot of it, will have to read more in depth this week and as time goes on. This language is new to me so it will take some time to process.
Yes, Sondrine is my first name, you can call me that. I’m on the West coast, in Victoria British Colombia, Canada.
Yes, I find myself identical to the “I” appearances but I know intellectually I’m not the I. I just don’t believe myself, if that makes sense. There’s no proof to “I’. I’m skeptical I guess you could say but willing to look and investigate, just need guidance.
When I’m alone I can really ponder on this, question the self, and it makes sense, however when I’m around anyone I’m back to “I”.
Re: What am I?
Nice to meet you too Sondrine!
Here is the thing, what you are is absolutely NOT identical to the "I appearance". You're conditioned to only look so far and then stop and form a conclusion. We are going to retrain attention to be much more effective, and restrain thought from clouding up understanding. This is like becoming a very good scientist. Leave your beliefs and assumptions at the door. When you run your research, it's critical to observe and report objectively. Only the facts.
Develop the skill of penetrating attention, going right into the center of this appearance of "you". In a very real sense it doesn't help that you "know" it can't be you, or can reason that there is no self.That's just ideas, limited and not helpful at forming the understanding you need here. You have to see it for yourself, directly, learn the truth of it through direct (perceptual) experience. So really set aside what you think about all this and focus on looking, investigating, observing, penetrating, scanning, driving attention into this sense of you to experience what's true.
Try this: As you appear to be sitting there now, reading this, look very closely, right into the center of where you seem to be. What is perceived to be there? Don't think about it, just LOOK! Look, look, look. What is there? Look deeply, look around in there. What is there?
It's not you! It may be some feeling or energy or such, but it's not a clearer view of what you are.
Notice that at the center of YOU, it's vacant!
No one in the history of humanity has ever actually found themselves in there. All see the same vacant center, but it can take a while to accept what is seen, to get past all the ideas about "you".
Keep at it my friend, and we'll talk soon.
Here is the thing, what you are is absolutely NOT identical to the "I appearance". You're conditioned to only look so far and then stop and form a conclusion. We are going to retrain attention to be much more effective, and restrain thought from clouding up understanding. This is like becoming a very good scientist. Leave your beliefs and assumptions at the door. When you run your research, it's critical to observe and report objectively. Only the facts.
Develop the skill of penetrating attention, going right into the center of this appearance of "you". In a very real sense it doesn't help that you "know" it can't be you, or can reason that there is no self.That's just ideas, limited and not helpful at forming the understanding you need here. You have to see it for yourself, directly, learn the truth of it through direct (perceptual) experience. So really set aside what you think about all this and focus on looking, investigating, observing, penetrating, scanning, driving attention into this sense of you to experience what's true.
Try this: As you appear to be sitting there now, reading this, look very closely, right into the center of where you seem to be. What is perceived to be there? Don't think about it, just LOOK! Look, look, look. What is there? Look deeply, look around in there. What is there?
It's not you! It may be some feeling or energy or such, but it's not a clearer view of what you are.
Notice that at the center of YOU, it's vacant!
No one in the history of humanity has ever actually found themselves in there. All see the same vacant center, but it can take a while to accept what is seen, to get past all the ideas about "you".
Keep at it my friend, and we'll talk soon.
Re: What am I?
Hi,
Ok, so I noticed that I was doing this: I looked but then it was a feeling or thought of “ok I looked nothing there, now what”. I guess that’s what you mean when you say “You're conditioned to only look so far and then stop and form a conclusion” there was a point of only going so far before I was directed elsewhere. But that’s my mind? Or? How do you retrain your attention? I don’t know what I’m looking for… nothing?
When I looked I found stillness, and thoughts seem to subside. It’s a feeling. Presence. It’s the feeling I had playing hockey and volleyball growing up-when I was in the flow of the game I wasn’t thinking and I was really good at just playing the game.
No one is there, but then I still appear to be separate from everyone else.
To get past ideas about “me”…. Does that mean get past what I perceive my identity to be? When I get past the ideas about me, is that awakening?
Talk soon.
Ok, so I noticed that I was doing this: I looked but then it was a feeling or thought of “ok I looked nothing there, now what”. I guess that’s what you mean when you say “You're conditioned to only look so far and then stop and form a conclusion” there was a point of only going so far before I was directed elsewhere. But that’s my mind? Or? How do you retrain your attention? I don’t know what I’m looking for… nothing?
When I looked I found stillness, and thoughts seem to subside. It’s a feeling. Presence. It’s the feeling I had playing hockey and volleyball growing up-when I was in the flow of the game I wasn’t thinking and I was really good at just playing the game.
No one is there, but then I still appear to be separate from everyone else.
To get past ideas about “me”…. Does that mean get past what I perceive my identity to be? When I get past the ideas about me, is that awakening?
Talk soon.
Re: What am I?
These are good questions, we're getting deeper. Something right now that may be very helpful is to do a video meeting. If you are ok with that? There is no fee for that. I usually don't do that here on LU but you seem very serious about waking up so it's easier to take you through the subtleties of self investigation that way.
If you are up for that, do you have an iPhone for FaceTime, or Skype? Also, look in the contact info on my website and my email address is there. let's shift over to that for a quicker turnaround on conversation, ok?
If you are up for that, do you have an iPhone for FaceTime, or Skype? Also, look in the contact info on my website and my email address is there. let's shift over to that for a quicker turnaround on conversation, ok?
Re: What am I?
Sounds good. I sent a note through your contact page. I do have an iphone so facetime works.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: whoknows and 38 guests