???

[Anrol]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That it is a process putting the ball in the court of the receiver to make observations as to the workings of the mind rather than teaching from a specific teaching etc . The ‘self ‘ is understood as constructs which have been gathered and implemented since childhood.

What are you looking for at LU?
To deconstruct the constructs having seen them with clarity . To then continue life seeing these constructs and questioning them . I feel the need for a disciplined and consistent way in which to inquire more deeply in to my habitual tendencies.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
Continuity and clarity. Some ordered way in which to be kept to task and to look more deeply than has been the case until now.To be led by someone who understands this process rather than people who don’t.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
From the age of 12 I was introduced to and organisation through my father and then began participating in it at the age of 17 . This was primarily Advita . I have also attended a 10 day silent retreat with Adyashanti. I spent time also acting as a “sounding board” for a friend who had awakened . I have also participated in Satsangs and a couple of 1-1 sessions with Jon Bernie.

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

[Elad]

Hello, my name is Elad and I would be happy to do this exploration with you, if we see that it makes sense. Please read and respond to the following points.

1. During this process we will attend only to your own direct experience. We will not be discussing theories or beliefs or other methods, including from non-duality and etc. I will ask you questions and give exercises and you will look and answer me from your direct experience.

2. The two most important ingredients in this process are your wish to see what is true and your willingness to look deeply at questions, give wholehearted engagement to experiments/exercises presented to you, and report your experience here with 100% honesty.

3. Please read the following documents from LU *carefully* and let me know or ask questions if you have any reservations or doubts regarding them:


http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2

And:

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


4. For the process to be focused and fruitful, I like to make an agreement that both guide and client (i.e you and me if we do this together) respond on this thread every day, and in the case of special circumstances where we cannot, still touch space here on the thread to say so, the day before or on the day. In the same spirit, I work with people who have the motivation and availability to make this process a primary priority in their life for the duration of the cooperation. If any of this does not fit your life rhythm, style or preferences, please let me know and another guide will work with you.

5. This process is not about uncovering or resolving/getting help with shadow material. It is also not an open-ended place to discuss different perspectives on life and look for answers to big questions. That might happen indirectly, but the process is focused only on recognizing that there is no separate self in control of things. Knowing that, are you still motivated for this process?

[Anrol]

Hello Elad ,

Thank you for your message and for your willingness to work with me . I am very grateful for your time .

I have read the two documents and am very happy to proceed with you in this process. I can confirm that I will certainly be available on a daily basis to reply to your communications and to give full commitment to this process.

With love ,

Anrol

[Elad]

Lovely Anrol, let's start:

Looking only to direct experience, not going to imagination, do you find a self? If yes, what is it? If no, what reactions come up to not finding?

[Anrol]

There is something which responds with words internally. This has always been seen as a self. Intellectually I have learned that it is not so there is confusion as to the conversations with seemingly more than one voice in the mind .

[Anrol]

Hello Elad , I just wanted to check that you received my response? Sorry it wasn’t immediate, I was expecting an email notification but I realise now I just have to keep checking the thread ? Is that correct?

Thanks ,

Anrol

[Elad]

There is something which responds with words internally. This has always been seen as a self. Intellectually I have learned that it is not so there is confusion as to the conversations with seemingly more than one voice in the mind .

Hi Anrol, you should be getting notification when there is replay, but if more then a day passes double check and email me if in doubt 🙏

What controls these word responses that come internally? Can you find anything? Intellectual knowledge is not so important here, it's all about looking in direct experience.

[Anrol]

Thank you , I got a notification this time so all good .

The words/thoughts do not have an apparent controller but the response to them seems to be generated by a self . The response though can either be one of getting hooked and carried away into an imaginary world or it can be seen and disregarded as just a thought with a potentially habitual movement attached. When this clarity is available all seems very simple and priorities are clear. When it is not seen and the thoughts hook , then things seem very complicated.

[Elad]

[

"The words/thoughts do not have an apparent controller"

Right, let that be seen as often and clear as possible.




"but the response to them seems to be generated by a self"


What does that mean? Can you find that in direct experience? Or is it just a belief?

[Anrol]

It means that where there is a hooked thought sometimes it it can turn into a conversation about “spiritual inquiry “ as is happening now due to you question. There has been so much information input over the years from spiritual teachings, many insights etc so when these conversations happen I don’t know whether they are regurgitating beliefs, insights etc or whether they are just more thought leading me astray into confusion.

[Elad]

It means that where there is a hooked thought sometimes it it can turn into a conversation about “spiritual inquiry “ as is happening now due to you question. There has been so much information input over the years from spiritual teachings, many insights etc so when these conversations happen I don’t know whether they are regurgitating beliefs, insights etc or whether they are just more thought leading me astray into confusion.

Okay. The main thing here is to look if you find a self doing any of this, thinking these thoughts, having these doubts. As long as you feel not sure or in the head, it means keep looking. This is all about your direct experience.

Here is an exercise for you for the next day:

Direct Experience - Labelling Daily Activities

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply colour/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:-

Seeing a cup, simply= image/colour
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct experience) and report back what is experienced tomorrow.

[Anrol]

Thanks Elad , I will . It’s so helpful to have a simple instruction like this to direct the mind.

Much appreciation, I will report back tomorrow.


Love Anrol

[Elad]

💚

[Anrol]

Hi Elad ,

Shortly after beginning the exercise yesterday things became very blissful. There was a flow to everything. There was no doubt arrising at all about priorities . There was a recognition of everything around not being separate, a visual merging of things and a huge feeling of love experienced which was expressed with tears . No apparent self , thoughts seen as thoughts and not indulged in .
This morning I woke in physical pain as I usually do. There was a strong identification with this and whilst I continued to practice the labelling it was difficult to see the thoughts in isolation. The tendency back into imagination has been strong and a sense of disorientation after yesterday’s experience which felt transformative .

Love Anrol

[Elad]

Hi Elad ,

Shortly after beginning the exercise yesterday things became very blissful. There was a flow to everything. There was no doubt arrising at all about priorities . There was a recognition of everything around not being separate, a visual merging of things and a huge feeling of love experienced which was expressed with tears . No apparent self , thoughts seen as thoughts and not indulged in .
This morning I woke in physical pain as I usually do. There was a strong identification with this and whilst I continued to practice the labelling it was difficult to see the thoughts in isolation. The tendency back into imagination has been strong and a sense of disorientation after yesterday’s experience which felt transformative .

Love Anrol

Hi Anrol, happy for you about the experience yesterday, that's beautiful!

So when you look RIGHT now, do you find a self anywhere?

Also next time you experience pain, or frustration or disorientation, please look if you can find a self in any of that or doing any of that.