Greetings!

[Iconoclast]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
By this I understand that the self is only a by-product of Thinking and is not real. The 'me' is only a thought and is neither real nor permanent. LU is helping people see this fact and liberate them from the dream of the illusory self.

What are you looking for at LU?
The truth. I am fed up with the illusory self. I suffered too much and it was all unnecessary. The suffering self, I believe is mentally constructed, and questioning what is it that suffers will de-construct the 'nightmare'.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
I expect a laser-like investigation into the truth through dialogues and introspective Looking. I believe that Socratic questioning or Koan-like investigations can dismantle mental illusions. So I am looking forward to such guided conversations!

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
Well, I did meditation, took Shaktipat transmissions, watched thousands of spiritual videos and read hundreds of spiritual books but with little experiential results. I actually have a fairly good understanding of spirituality from a theoretical point of view but I need Direct Experience! I am highly motivated to put aside everything, question everything I believe about 'myself', Look and directly experience Freedom.

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

[Anastacia42]

Hi,

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 know yourself to be a skeptical person, prone to doubt, I may not be the best guide for you. I never had any doubt. I can connect you with one of our other guides who did & who can guide you better than I.

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?

Much love
Stacy

[Iconoclast]

Hi Stacy!

Thank you very much for your kind interest to guide me.
I am definitely an analytical person as an “academic” by profession and consider every possible option in a given situation. In this regard one can possibly consider me skeptical since I am open to questioning everything, but this doesn’t mean that I don’t have trust in people or situations. I do have trust.

Well, if I didn’t have any doubts, I would have already been awakened and not be here:) so in my view, I am here to dispel the doubts through questioning, if that’s ok with you? Well, I thought doing so was the case here? If not so in your opinion, I wouldn't mind if you refer me to other guides. Please you decide what is best for me.

I definitely will do my best to post every day, I am committed in that regard. Yet there could be periods when I may not be able to post for several days, but in this case I will definitely inform you with a post about that.

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

By this exploration, I believe that life will be liberated, free and flowing.
“I” will change in a positive way in the sense that “I” (Life) won’t be burdened by unnnecesasry concerns created by the I-Virus.
I think the events or external conditions will be more or less similar but the inner experience will be qualitatively different, it will probably be much lighter, carefree, enthusiastic, and joyful.
At the moment, the feeling of freedom, joy and satisfaction are missing.

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

You could call me Iconoclast for the time being, we could think of something else later. I live in Turkey (GMT+3). Thank you very much, love

[Anastacia42]

Okay. Hi, Iconoclast.

First, sure there are doubts. I didn't have any, so if we run into a lot here, and are investigating for pages and pages after you've already SEEN, I'll probable step aside for a guide who did have doubts & can be of more help with that.

If you can't post for several days, yes, please let me know. You are likely to lose some momentum , we can work through that.

Yes, life can feel easier & freer. Bur it won't be a nonstop state of bliss & joy. Any time you encounter unquestioned untrue beliefs, you'll want to confront those. We have a lot built on this false sense of self. Seeing no self is only the beginning.

Turkey - you're my first client in Turkey. Welcome & you're welcome.

By the way, I do this on my cell phone most of the time & may miss some typos. If you can't tell what was meant, just ask.

Now...

What comes up when is read that there is no self, never has been & never will be? That it is all made up stories?

I'm in US Mountain Time near Boulder, Colorado.

Loving

Stacy

[Iconoclast]

First, sure there are doubts. I didn't have any, so if we run into a lot here, and are investigating for pages and pages after you've already SEEN, I'll probable step aside for a guide who did have doubts & can be of more help with that.

Hi again Stacy,

Thank you very much for your reply.
From your sentences above, I concluded that you don't normally prefer to work with people having (many) doubts or questions. Then let me be honest: that might cause some problems while working with me.
If you don't feel completely comfortable with working with such a person throughout the WHOLE PROCESS (from the beginning to the very end), then it might be better that you refer me to a guide who DID have doubts and who works more comfortably with such people.

I highly appreciate your willingness to help me, I pay my utmost respect to you from the depth of my heart. Well, I believe it's best to be straightforward from the very beginning. I take this work quite seriously, so I want to work with someone who feels completely at ease while working with people having questions, doubts, etc. Btw I am completely aware that this is not a philosophical forum, however it's a fact that I am by nature extremely analytical, so taking that into account while refering me to a guide might help a lot and save us much time. I am sure you will refer me to the best possible option. Blessings and lots of love!

[Iconoclast]

What comes up when is read that there is no self, never has been & never will be? That it is all made up stories?

I have lots of spiritual "ideas" about that. But to be honest the above message in quotation is against my "actual feelings and attitudes", I mean I observe that I live my life believing the truth of a personal self for the time being, but my "intuitive hypothesis" is that the self is compeletely "made up" and has no substantial basis.

I am eager to clear away assumptions on personal self and see that my intuitive hypthosis is true. I look forward to experiencing that. After such an experience, the hypothesis will be a FACT for me.

[Anastacia42]

Hi,

Btw I am completely aware that this is not a philosophical forum, however it's a fact that I am by nature extremely analytical, so taking that into account while refering me to a guide might help a lot and save us much time. I am sure you will refer me to the best possible option

I can't predict how it would go - it might be fine, but I would stop & refer you if what I was offering was not successful for you. So, let's just start with that & I'll step aside now to help you have a better experience here.

Loving,
Stacy

[Iconoclast]

I can't predict how it would go - it might be fine, but I would stop & refer you if what I was offering was not successful for you.

This sentence sounds like you suggest we start working now, until we see how it goes (maybe it will be fine you say). Right?

So, let's just start with that & I'll step aside now to help you have a better experience here.

However this second sentence ("steping aside NOW"), as far as I could understand, means that you will "now" step aside (as a guide?) and refer me to someone else.

I'd be glad if you clarify what you mean exactly.
....
So as a result: will you be my guide in the upcoming days, or will someone else be my guide?

Btw do people change guides often? I normally don't want to do that very much, unless completely neceessary. Therefore I'm looking for a guide for the 'long run' if possible (at least a couple months).

I am fine with any guide who would be committed to work with me and be patient with my questions etc. Love

[Iconoclast]

Anyway I'll express my current feeling, My intuitive feeling is that it might be better if I start with another guide who is more open to doubts, questions, etc. if POSSIBLE. Tyvm.

[Anastacia42]

I've asked the admins to pin your post to the top to alert other guides that you're still looking. That post is in our Facebook forum where other guided will see it. I also tagged 2 guides known to be good with this situation.

The first paragraph was somewhat of a preamble indicating as clearly as I could that I'm not up for pages & pages, as I already mentioned.

Best of Seeing to you,

Stacy

[Iconoclast]

Thank you soo much Stacy!

I'm grateful to you. I look forward to my Guide.
Take care, blessings:)

[vinceschubert]

Hi Ico.., vince here. i will travel with you while you investigate this.
i read your responses to the initial questions and find in memory of my experiences much to relate to.
..anyway, let's get to it.

What are you looking for at LU?
The truth.

Ok, I will tell you things. Don't accept any of it without checking your own experiencing (that is current experience - not memory or past experiences). i will ask you questions (?) which I want your answers to and how you arrived at them.
Now, first thing I will tell you is that there is no such thing as Truth. Why? (rhetorical question)
I'll answer it this way. Everything you experience come from your perspective. There is only one thing that is actual (real) and that it your experiencing. Everything else is conceptual. That is mind stuff. Story.
What is the response to this? (from current experiencing - that is no philosophizing.)

with love

vince

[Iconoclast]

Hi Vince!

I am so glad that you will travel with me while investigating. Great!
Yeah everything is an experience.
Sensations, feelings, thoughts, etc.
Thoughts (perspectives) too are experiences.
Truth, if any such thing exists, is what I experience .
It is only the truth (reality) of the moment. This moment.

Blessings:)

[vinceschubert]

'evening Ico..

everything is an experience.
Sensations, feelings, thoughts,

Ok, thoughts are interesting. Yes, we experience having a thought. ..but thought is a concept that points to a carrier of a story. Do we experience the content of a thought?
The content of a thought might be a unicorn (for example). We respond to the imagining (the unicorn) So are we experiencing a unicorn?

Truth, if any such thing exists, is what I experience

I don't understand. Would you describe this truth that you experience?

It is only the truth (reality) of the moment. This moment.

Take the moment that you start to respond to this request and describe what you are calling the truth. (this is not an exam. There is no right or wrong answer. just a move to synchronise our use of language.)

vince

[Iconoclast]

Hi Vince,
Let me try to answer your question.
Today was a bit tiring day.
So I feel tired and this is my truth now.
It is my reality. It is what I "experience".
My experience is basically my truth.
....
Well has it been too simplistic?..
This is how I understand truth from a pragmatic point of view.