Hi Allen
Very good to hear from you and how you have been investigating things!
. I don't notice a separate self in sensations, but the idea of it being somewhere is still strong.
Now, this is something that can go on for as long as it is believed, and it's probably been going on as an unquestioned idea for a very long time.
It's generally better for, a guide not to use analogies as much as pointing to what's, already happening that needs to be noticed, but here's one that has merits:
A river flowing has no 'self' exactly. Humans might give the river a name as if it were an entity of some sort. But in the direct experience of river there is just (what is called) water, water, flowing. Look into the water of a river. Is there a self to be found? There's water flowing.
But what's this? A small area where the clear flowing water has somehow started flowing in a little circle. This persists for some time. Its the same river, same river water as before but for a while, there's a tiny whirlpool spinning.
It's a human habit to name events, things that happen, as if they were somehow independent and separate 'things' or entities, or objects. And once named, such an occurance as this spinning circle of water is spoken of as if it had its own nature, that is readily imagined to be independent from the remainder of the flowing water. It can seem to have its own identity or thing-Ness. But does it? Or is the 'self' of this little energy circle an illusion?
. I think I see sight and sensations a bit differently now, as things that are just there.
Very good.
. However, there's still the idea that there's something outside of experience that's aware of it or someone doing the inquiry or looking. I know we've been over this before, but it's still kind of there
Sometimes this takes some investigation. But in its time this be noticed as illusion.
Who, or better still, what, is 'doing the investigation'? Find that one.
Who or, what is experiencing the experience of inquiry?... Of being somehow 'separate' from experience?
Very best wishes
Jon