There is no separate entity ‘self’, in any shape or form, nor has there ever been.1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
The illusion of a separate self begins with labeling, a type of thought. Thoughts like “I did…”, “I am…”, “i have”, etc. reinforce the idea that a separate self is a real thing that is ultimately in control of all thoughts and actions. In direct experience, there is nothing that lies behind all sensation, thought, sight, hearing, and smell.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.
It has felt good to see this. Over the past week or so, as I drew closer and closer to seeing no self, I’ve been overcome by a profound sense of balance, peace and clarity. Seeing that there is no self has been quite a liberating and joyful 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 was the experience of the apple pointer that really helped me to put the pieces together and look. The palm flipping exercise was the final push I needed to truly see it, as it applied the labeling exercise to choice and free will.4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
A decision is a thought label for action which we attach to ‘yourself’ or ‘myself’ or many ‘selves’. It is ultimately an illusion, because within direct experience we cannot find a decision maker. During the palm flipping exercise, I couldn’t find who or what decided when the palm was going to be flipped. It just happened. The thought and feeling that I was the one behind the decision was simply that, a thought and a feeling.5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.
Intention is another illusion. It implies that there is something that can intend. I would describe that illusion as a series of thoughts and sensations. Thoughts that say to do something or sensations, such as a nervous feeling, which appear to spur actions. There might be the thoughts that describe a plan to do something, what to cook for dinner, as an example, that we might call colloquially an intention, but it is merely thought.Describe intention & give examples from experience.
There is ultimately no such thing as free will, nor a will in general. An invisible underlying force behind all action cannot be found in direct experience. Such a thing is also not free, meaning that it is controlled, because once again, no controller can be found in direct experience.Describe free will & give examples from experience.
Choice is yet another illusion. In order for there to be choice there must also be something to choose, which in direct experience, we cannot find.Describe choice & give examples from experience.
Control is something we ascribe to self, as a thought, which further reinforces the illusion of self. When our arm moves or our hand flips, we might assume that it was ‘us’ that did that. But when using direct experience, we find that no such control exists, and there is not one thing we can find that causes whatever we assume we have control over, like a steering wheel controls the direction of a car.Describe control & give examples from experience.
Things do happen, or at least, there is the experience of things happening, a combination of direct experience and thought labels. But as to what makes them happen, or why experience is happening in the first place? I don’t know. I only know now that it is not the result of a separate self that exerts control over anything.What makes things happen? How does it work?
“I” am not responsible for anything, but that does not mean there is no responsibility. It just means that there is no “I” which holds this responsibility, nor was there ever. The benefits of these things being done was apparent before breaking through the illusion of a separate self, and remains true after. Cleaning up your space, for example, begets the sensation experience of peace and focus. Looking after others wards off the sensation experience of guilt and creates the experience of togetherness and security. Responsibility is something that is carried out, or not carried out, but not by a separate self. The benefits and drawbacks are also not felt by a separate self. They just are and continue to be. If anything, the belief in self obscures what truly needs to be done, and responsibility becomes more clear in the absence of this unnecessary baggage.What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
Finding the right language to answer these questions was difficult. I tried to make them as clear as possible, but if anything seems confused, I’m happy to provide further clarification.6) Anything to add?
