Personality, Free Will and the No Self

[Anastacia42]

Good, Lu.

I still prefer to see one question at a time with the reply underneath. That's required for "final" questions.

But, yes.

And again, how does it FEEL to see this?


Memory Exercise

Almost everybody believes that a memory thought is referring to something that has happened. That a memory thought is a different thought than a non-memory thought.

Please don’t go to thought explanations, but just let a memory be there, and look at it.

Look at what is actually going on and not what thoughts say - but what actually is.

What is memory exactly?

What is the memory ‘made of’?

WHEN does the memory appear?

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

Then, look at a thought about the future.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?

WHEN does the future thought appear?

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

Then let’s compare a thought about past and a thought about the future.

What is the EXACT difference between the thoughts about past and future?

If there is difference and how is that difference is known exactly?



Loving,

[LisaFellowes]

Hi Stacy,

My error, sorry - I thought I would be repeating myself, which is why I out all the questions together, but I will make sure I continue to answer all questions individually.

And again, how does it FEEL to see this?

It feels light and expansive. It feels a relief and takes away any stress or worries. It feels 'right'.

[LisaFellowes]

Hi Stacy,

I hope you're having a great day.

This was an interesting exercise!

What is memory exactly?

It is an experience in the present moment, the now, that appears as a thought.

What is the memory ‘made of’?

It is made up of an experience of thought, like any other thought. I’m not sure how to answer what thought is ‘made of’, but I would say an experience that might include images, sound, smell, taste, sensation.

WHEN does the memory appear?

In the present moment. The experience of the memory is happening in the present moment.

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

I’m not sure there is a difference. A general thought and memory thought are both experiences that occur in the present moment.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

A memory is a present moment experience that appears as a thought. Because of our general belief about time, our thought tells us that a memory is a past experience, but actually it is a present moment experience.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?

A future thought is like a past thought – it is a present moment experience.

WHEN does the future thought appear?

In the present moment. In the now.

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?

Again, I don’t think there is a difference. A general thought and future thought are both experiences that occur in the present moment.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

It isn’t known, as a future thought is a present moment experience that appears as a thought. Our thought tells us that a future thought is a future experience, but actually it is a present moment experience.

What is the EXACT difference between the thoughts about past and future?

There is no difference, they are both a thought, an experience in the present moment.

If there is difference and how is that difference is known exactly?

The thoughts might try to infer a difference, but both types of thought – memory or future thought – are experienced in the present moment.

All thoughts are experiences happening in the present moment.

[Anastacia42]

Hi Lu,

Correct. Everything is happening right now and now, and now. If it isn't now, it is only a thought.

So, are you ready to try the "final" questions? These will be shared with other guides, who may have questions.


1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

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.

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.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

6) Anything to add?


Loving,

[LisaFellowes]

Hi Stacy,

Thank you and thank you for the final questions. I'm away for the weekend now, so if it's ok, I will answer the final questions on Monday.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

[Anastacia42]

You're welcome. Have fun & get to these whenever you're ready.

Loving!,

[LisaFellowes]

Hi Stacy,

I hope you had a lovely, restful weekend and are enjoying the new week.

I apologise for not posting sooner, but I've had issues getting onto the website. But I'm here and I'm excited to post answers to the final questions :)

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

There isn’t a separate entity ‘self’, ’me’ or ‘I’ in any way, shape or form and there never has been. It’s always been one; life.

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.

We have been conditioned to believe that there is a separate self, which was a construct or illusion taught to us in childhood and this illusion has been layered over what was always there and has always been there. We have been taught by society that we are individual from the moment we are born – we are taught that we are separate and have control, decision making, free will and that we are a strong separate identity. But who is beating the heart, breathing the lungs, circulating the blood, healing the wounds? We are not doing that as an individual, it’s just happening. Thought tells us that we are separate; that we are doing all these things. Thought keeps us in a loop of suffering; believing that thought is real and fact. Thought is not fact. The only certainty we have is this moment, the now. Everything we experience is in this moment. And we can only experience directly through the senses, in this moment. Everything else is thought.

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 very liberating and freeing to see this. Stress, tension and worry drops away. The questions I would always counter-argue with seem unimportant – I no longer need to ask these questions as they are no longer pushing forward. There is a feeling of openness and expansiveness. Life is a beautiful mystery and something that is happening, without a ‘self’ being involved.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

The exercises about direct experience, thought and labelling and time really made me look. I spent last week marvelling at everything, it really was a time of deep insight. Noticing that experience happens and then thought labels it, this is what really pushed me over. I now really ‘see’ it. Everything is here as an experience, whether it is labelled or not. I’m still marvelling at this and how I haven’t noticed this before, but it's been there all along - the naked and free - it's been hidden by layers.

5) Describe decision & give examples from experience.

Decision is a thought being labelled as decision. There is no ‘self’ so no decision by self can be made. There is no decision in direct experience.

Describe intention & give examples from experience.

Intention is something that pushes forward and it’s only after it has pushed forward that we then label it with thought as ‘intention’. There is no ‘self’, so no intention by self can be made. There is no intention in direct experience.

Describe free will & give examples from experience.

Free Will is the illusion that we are controlling life, making decisions, having intentions but as there is no ‘self’ doing this, then free will is a concept that doesn’t exist in direct experience.

Describe choice & give examples from experience.

Choice is something labelled by thought. There is no ‘self’ to be making a choice and there is no choice in direct experience.

Describe control & give examples from experience.

As with choice, intention, decision and free will, control is a label created by thought. There is no ‘self’ to create control and there is no control in direct experience.

What makes things happen? How does it work?

Now this is an amazing and beautiful mystery! Life happens! There is no separate ‘self‘ making things happen, it’s just happening. Everything is a happening of Life.

What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

There is no ‘self’, so we cannot be responsible. Urges push forward but there is no ‘self’ creating these urges, therefore there is no responsibility. There is only Life happening.

6) Anything to add?

Going through this process has been an interesting, exciting, and expansive experience. The exercises about direct experience and looking / pointing are very simple but incredibly powerful. It’s so simple and something that has been here all along! Unlayering or unlearning has been a very freeing experience. It’s all so obvious now. At times I became frustrated at the endless questions, but after going through the exercises I totally got why this is part of the process. It is necessary to really ‘see’ and experience. I'm not sure I would have been able to 'see and feel' without these exercises. Thank you so much for your expert guidance and your patience and for knowing what I needed to be able to see and experience that there is no separate self and the wonderful mystery of life.

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,

You are completely welcome. I call it creating world peace, one mind at a time.

Your replies will be shared with other guides, who may have questions. Stay tuned here!

Yes, we are having some trouble with the site. Just keep trying.

Loving,

[LisaFellowes]

Thank you :)

[Anastacia42]

Finally got in.

No one had questions. Our work here is done, but as you have noticed, it's really just the beginning of re-evaluating everything.

We're here. Feel free to attend our groups. Did I send that?

There are 3 meetings.

Vince Shubert runs one on the weekends. Write to vinceschubert@gmail.com for the link & schedule.

Luchana & Lubo run one on Thursdays. Write to Luchana at luchanauzunova@gmail.com

Ilona holds a monthly meeting. Write admin@ilonaciunaite.com for that link & schedule

Loving