Good morning Stacy.
Thank you so much for sending the latest questions over.
1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?
There is no separate entity, ‘self’, ‘me’ or ‘I’ here in any way, shape or form. There never was.
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.
The illusion of the separate self is a thought created construct. A story made of thought. It’s a narrative that seems to overlay direct experience. I say it ‘seems’ to because it never actually does overlay, it only appears to. There’s just Life happening. An inexplicable, vibrant, indefinable happening.
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 feels so natural, so obvious, so clear that this is how it’s always been. (I must point out that that’s not clarity of thought). It’s deeper and richer than thought could ever touch.
The difference from before I started this dialogue, you could say, is one of disbelief that I could have ever have got caught up in the narrative.
At the start of the dialogue, there was the assumption that there was someone who needed to see through something called a separate self. And to see if the previous so-called Awakening experiences were valid or just more egoic fantasises. It is so clear now that this was just more thoughts, concepts and ideas with absolutely no inherent solidity at all. It was all a fantasy, thought constructed illusion. These are just words, they don’t really do this any justice.
4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment, or bit. There wasn’t an ah ha moment. It’s not about understanding. I didn’t see that there was no-self. It’s what’s always been the case. A self didn’t drop away and there was seeing. There was no self there to begin with. Even the idea that there was/is a self, there, seems really absurd now. The exercises were very potent, but, it was the looking itself that was key.
5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.
What we usually describe as decisions usually relates to someone who makes decisions. There is no one, so decisions are made without a decider.
Describe intention & give examples from experience.
There is no one who can have something called an intention. Intentions arise, are acted upon, or not. It just happens with no one doing it.
Describe free will & give examples from experience.
There is no free will. Free will is a concept, rooted in the assumption that there’s an independent ‘I’, me, ‘Self’ that is running the show. It’s clear that the idea of free will just doesn’t hold up. Life is happening by itself with no ‘I’, me, ‘Self’ doing it.
Describe choice & give examples from experience.
There is no one that’s choosing. If choice happens, it happens by itself.
Describe control & give examples from experience.
There is no one who has something called control. There is no experience of controlling anything. Again, it would imply that there was someone there to be in control, and some-thing to control. There is no one. There are no things.
What makes things happen? How does it work?
There is nothing that makes apparent ‘things’ happen. There are no ‘things’. There is only ‘Life’ happening. One seamless flow of existence. No cause and effect. Just movement. The ocean waving, the wind wind-ing…
What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.
I am not responsible for anything. There is no ‘I’, therefore there is no responsibility.
6) Anything to add?
I’d like to thank you, Stacy, for your clear pointing. I deeply appreciate your help with this enquiry. You did an amazing job! And, thank you to the LU team for the work you do! If there’s anything I can do to help the cause, it would be my honour.
Much love,
