The Gate

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
The persona is a construct of conditioning and True Nature is ultimately unnameable

What are you looking for at LU?
Guidance in releasing all remaining concepts. I feel it is also useful to join wit like-minded "others" in a mutually supportive context - whether that's online or offline. I feel that there is no real "arriving" as such.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
Unconditional but one-pointed guidance in clearly seeing where I am tripping myself up with remaining beliefs and concepts about who I am, conducted in a focused and ideally open-hearted manner if possible.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
"Ramana style" self-inquiry and The Sedona Method releasing.

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

Good morning (here near Boulder, Colorado),

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

One thing that is helpful is to come to this forum
& post every day. Sometimes the site goes down. It will be back. Just come back later.

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,

Great to reconnect with you again! I can't believe a year has passed since we last spoke.

My answers to the questions in blue:

1) Well, my life content is changing all the time.
2) I'll avoid giving a "clever" NonDual-speak answer if possible. In a nutshell, I expect to become less and less reactive and more open to the flow of all the comings and goings of life. That's been my experience thus far anyhow.
2) Again, the form may change.
3) Nothing is missing.

I apologise if the above responses sound a little terse.

Sure, calling me would be great - I'm in the GMT Timezone.

Hi.

Some people go by their forum name and some by their given name.


Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.



Okay, so next we go through about 3 pointers to distinguish Direct Experience of our senses from content of thought. First, this:

This is how to LOOK for no self in the exercises - we call them "pointers' - that we will be doing here:

Colored Socks

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.

Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment..

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.


Loving,

Meant to mention not to worry about terse answers. Just whatever comes up is fine.

Loving,

Hi,

Yes sure, you can call me Tim. ;)

I really like the "Coloured Socks" pointer - great example.


And yes, as you know, I'm familiar with direct experiencing /\

Okay, Tim. With an actual newbie, I'd go through a few other pointers, which I'd be happy to share with you, but let's do 2 things. Much like the IAM meditations, Sedona, The Work, etc. any of our LU pointers can be revisited when you find yourself believing untruths. Believing lies is the only thing that can knock us off center. Fears and expectations are the two main types. Pretty sure you know this. So. . .

One, what questions or challenges are you actually having? Or do you mainly want to go through this and become a guide?

Two, would you like to cut to the chase and answer our checkpoint questions? Or see the pointers one at a time?

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

After due consideration, I've realised that the various styles of inquiry available via The Sedona Method are actually a better "fit" for me. Maybe it's best if I stop with this forum.

I really appreciate your time and attention.


Warmly,
Tim

Hi Tim,

When clients come in already seeing clearly there is no separate "self," sometimes we skip to these checkpoint questions & don't go through the whole guiding process, unless it seems necessary.

If you'd like to do that, please use the Quote function & answer each of these separately & concisely. Other guides will read them and may have questions.


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. Yes.

I'll post to the guide forum for others to read. Stay tuned for any questions

Loving,

Good. Yes.

I'll post to the guide forum for others to read. Stay tuned for any questions

Loving,

Cool. :)

Hi Tim,

No one had any further questions. You will get an email from the admins giving you a little bit more information and access to the groups.

If you want to guide, find someone whose style you like and ask them to be your mentor. You will send your posts to them for the first client or 2 and then we'll turn you loose.

Much love,

That's great.

Thanks, Stacy!