Liberating Our Thoughts From the Tyranny of the Illusory Self

[@xLUNAPODx]

Ramana Maharshi said this: As each thought arises, one should enquire with diligence, "To whom has this thought arisen?". The answer that would emerge would be, "To me". Thereupon one enquires, "Who am I?", the mind will go back to it's source and the thought that arose will become quiescent. With repeated practice in this manner, the mind will develop the skill to stay in its source.

[@theglowjob.]

This clarified so much for me 🤍thank you!

[@Mugunza01]

❤

[@emilymay3660]

❤

[@Spirituallove2000AD]

All day I've been onto it in this way and so much space has opened up.

[@cattailer1077]

thank you🌹

[@Bassywassy20]

Ive watched Rupert many times and I still have never seen such a laserfocussed listener.

[@robertsonkelvin]

This has been understood as the clearest explanation of self inquiry. Thank you Rupert.

[@POPPYPO67]

Absolutely brilliant, listened so many times Ty Xx

[@bradstephan7886]

Probably the most important video clip from Rupert - how to retrain the mind.

[@jigme800]

What a joy it is to listen to your teachings. Thanks!

[@Nitephall]

It's unbelievable how strong the feeling of a separate self is. It's not just in our mind and our feelings--I think it goes right down into our genes. During just the little bit of spiritual progress I've made, this old self has told me many times, "Oh no you don't. You think you can just leave me by the roadside and move on? It ain't happening. I am you, and you know it. Wake up and face the fact."

[@Bassywassy20]

Yeah it sucks we have a subconscious doesnt it. Subconscious meaning stuff we're not aware of with the surface mind. The ego runs so incredibly deep and the most amazing thing is that we werent born with it, we created all that (or most of that) subconscious garbage during our life!

[@DamianSzajnowski]

It helps us just live the life and survive, sometimes. The notion sometimes called ego is useful, but in moderation and when seen by us as a separate concept.

[@Manofvalue525]

@@DamianSzajnowski when we have fpund the self we dont need them anymore

[@mat.se57]

It is only in the mind! As you stated : “I think…”

[@mat.se57]

I just realized I replied to a 5 year old comment, but what does time even mean? 🤣

[@BYRONNER]

Reconditioning my mind seems to me like a battle of a lifetime. The separate self, over decades, have grown in strength and it's foundation is now very strong. My true essence is probably no match for it. It's an endless struggle. One that I'm willing to undertake.

[@DamianSzajnowski]

The struggle is an illusion. Once you manage to stop this struggle (but it might help you find the path!) you get it.

[@nettienoodle20]

Your true essence IS absolutely a match for it but you will need to acknowledge that to be able to fight the good fight and overcome. When we let go of ego the battle subsides.

[@BWE-100]

Your separate self is no match for ur true essence!! It’s not endless. Meditate. You will get it and never look back.

[@DamianSzajnowski]

@@nettienoodle20 Exactly, there is no battle once you find out everything is fundamentally okay and nothing can change that state of "mind".

[@DamianSzajnowski]

Sidenote: I really feel the language struggles while speaking about spiritual. To an outsider not having experienced any of this we must sound (read) like a bunch of wackos. Mr Watts touched om this subject a lot!

[@plumeria66]

I’ve come up with, “Have I stepped out of my own being of peace, love, and happiness?” Yes, if I’m not peaceful, happy, or filled with love. That is the separate self operating. No, if I am. Yes means I need to step back into my being.

[@PaulMcDonagh-rv6vc]

That's a really powerful diagnostic tool. I use a similar one. I say....."anything that manifests as "non constructive, wholly negative, hateful, or judgemental is NOT the self, and I know instantly I have drifted away from my true self.

[@plumeria66]

@@PaulMcDonagh-rv6vc Exactly! Or keep it even simpler by noticing when there is discomfort of any kind, including physical discomfort because that sometimes is manifested due to mental/emotional discomfort.

[@seanreyes_official1133]

Amazing stuff! I came across your book a couple years ago in a gem shop I went to with my mom and sis. I wasn't even shopping but your book, Presence: Volume 1, it was sitting in a glass case. Surrounded by a whole bunch of shiny gems, etc. It was a tattered, used book and I was absolutely drawn to it. I asked them to open the case so I could look at it, and I bought the book. Never heard of you, but it was the best decision I ever made. This book has made me and continues to make me look at everything differently anew.I still read it and will be reading Volume 2 soon. Thank you for your amazing teachings.

[@DamianSzajnowski]

Happy for you! May I invite you also to the great minds, the like of Alan Watts and Terrence Mckenna are? :)

[@seanreyes_official1133]

@@DamianSzajnowski thank you for the recommendation. I will check them out 🙏🏼😊

[@brianlittrell797]

@@seanreyes_official1133 In addition to continuing to follow Rupert's videos and work I recommend checking out Michael Beckwith's channel.

[@manouchehrahmadpour3371]

"Absorbed In This World, You‘ve Made It Your Burden ,Rise Above This World , There Is Another Vision"(Rumi) “Don’t you know yet? It is your light that lights the worlds.” Rumi Cheers

[@AuthenticSelfGrowth]

Important teaching for those who suffer OCD and intrusive thoughts.

[@clarkkent3730]

OCD intrusive thoughts are demonic.....only through fasting and prayer can these be purged out

[@zain4019]

Clark Kent I had severe OCD and medication, anafranil, helped my thoughts settle enough to find these teachings and follow them, something that would have been much harder to do before. These sorts of teachings based on awareness, along with psychedelics (though this is person and context dependent), and of course, meditation (I can’t stress this one enough) healed me and continue to heal me. Diet also plays a big role as well. Taking care of ourselves can be hard during a mental illness, and we may even feel unworthy, but these basic needs, like diet, movement and simple breathing can be revolutionary in their own way. My heart goes out to anyone who has had or has OCD or any other distressing mental hurdle. I know from experience that OCD can be cured, and the moment it is cured is when one stops chasing that cure and comes into the present moment, the “I am”.

[@spcsh1936]

@@zain4019 serious mental illness is like the deepest possible separation from the true self... sometimes I wonder if there is ever a possibility of getting back or is it permanent in time and space... on the other hand, even a shattered consciousness is what is perceived, the only release in this/my situation... take care

[@Doriesep6622]

Shut up stupid

[@Doriesep6622]

If you were healed you wouldn't be crowing about it. demonic? LOL wake up

[@RickWilleyOMC]

I wrote a poem explaining exactly what RUPERT is saying. Enjoy! If we inspect what we expect we see that what we expect is suspect! Then suspicion becomes superstition At least that is what I can find! The workings of insanity that comes from a finite mind! And while looking for bliss What's obvious we miss! But through careful observations We let go of expectations and behold the inner kiss! Through revelation comes salvation the return from darkness to light! But I suspect it, yes I expect it! It will come like a thief in the night! And on that day I'm sure we'll say I've discovered Love's infinity! We'll try to reach out To those who doubt They ARE the Holy Trinity! The light we bring And the song we'll sing To those who live in the night It wasn't belief but rather a thief that brought us from darkness to light! All that He stole Was a golden goal That I could wake MYSELF from the dream! With intuition you'll see the suspicion as they walk away and scream! Then suspicion becomes superstition At least that is what I can find! The workings of insanity that comes from a finite mind! ~Rick Willey 9 December 2016

[@AoibheannDoyle-SoulTherapist]

Rick Willey Rick, Brilliant bright poem!

[@Rita-sp7hh]

beautiful! thank you!!

[@JJBerthume]

Hey Rick, i love your gorgeous poem and would love to set it to music if you'll allow it. Would be delighted to hear from you by email, [e-mail] - but in any case have a lovely day and thank you for enriching my morning with that delicious read. 💖

[@goldenjaguar7690]

BEAUTIFUL!

[@TheScaryGermanGuy]

Also be careful that when you notice thoughts that come from the separate self, that you don't begin to judge yourself and feel guilty about them. That way you are actually enhancing the separate self by a mislead self-enquiry.

[@QED_]

Maybe helpful to also consider that there are multiple separate selves . . . and not just one.

[@malabuha]

TheScaryGermanGuy it is the ego that judges itself... watch those thoughts too... lets just say at this level that *you* can NOT create a thought

[@hdjrnekro]

I battle with this. As i notice self criticizing thoughts i pay attention to the feeling and try to stay with my breath. But it is hard to allow those thoughts without immediately resisting what has always been seen as a bad habit. Then i criticize my criticizing thoughts as i try to ignore and not give them power i can feel my resistance to my Habits which is sending me in circles as im trying to slow down

[@ceeIoc]

@@hdjrnekro learn to let go by doing do nothing meditation

[@wuska5203]

@@hdjrnekro I have the same problem and I just realized 10 mins ago via another video of Rupert Spira that whenever anxiety and anxiety ridden thoughts appear I impulsively try to engage myself on KZbin- reading Eckhart Tolle's book, watching Netflix... Something anything that's pushes the feeling down and in a day or two it springs up again. Every time I think, I had beaten it.. The feeling appears with a new thought and I began to resist it, by engaging in activities.... The feeling is the constant but the thought varies. Any suggestions?

[@jackp.shaark2739]

I had the experience tonight of the sudden revealing of the lack of an actual “I” that I was talking to in my own head. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t yet become aware of the fact that the “I” is illusory. I had the sudden understanding that it is almost like the metaphorical “play of light” that is the cause of a mirage that he mentions sometimes. I have been non-doing the aware of being aware non-practice. And also once I even experienced the spontaneous melding of the objective world and my self i.e. the meaning of non-duality. That melding happened as I was walking up a hill and felt like i wasn’t actually going anywhere because it was all a part of me... or just me. But I was surprised to discover that I have not yet truly understood that the personal I really is an illusion. And the funny thing is that I was literally turning a corner when I was babbling to myself saying “I think that I should...” and the realization of that “Am I two people?” that Echart Tolle says he asked himself when he first disassociated from himself (but associated instead with everything in general I assume) and came to realize the illusory self that thought has created. I figuratively turned a corner in my understanding of what’s real while literally turning a corner! I ,the finite, illusory “I”, hope that I can keep having that understanding. Or maybe it’s the true I of awareness that hopes so. Or can the true I hope? Whatever the case, how to keep this understanding? I want to define the understanding precisely and wrap it up in a neat little package for future use... if not now.

[@ataabbas9357]

@J.Pumpkin, be careful about defining this realisation and keeping it in a nice little package for future use. A realisation is most potent when it occurs, don’t let it rest, it’ll lose potency. The postponement to use it in future is actually a trick of the illusory self to save itself from the immediate danger of realisation. You had this realisation 1 year earlier and you would’ve already felt the result of postponement.

[@jimcrich]

This reminds me of the slogan or cliche= In it but not OF it. I'm glad Rupert shows us how to stay in and with the world/life but not be consumed by it.

[@RogerDrayton]

WoW...How wonderful to have the fine-tuning of old beliefs exposed and dissolved...Abiding as Awareness simply 're-aligns and re-wires' any and all seemingly appearing issues...Thanks for posting !!!

[@saidas108]

Rupert has said that "abiding as Awareness" isn't actually correct as it implies something that can or cannot "abide"-something conditional in other words and Awareness isn't conditional-Awareness is eternally Awareness. :)

[@RogerDrayton]

saidas108 In using our limited language, concessions are made and understood when discerned. Actually, 'no- thing' is absolutely correct when language or the spoken/written word is used, but that's a given !!!

[@saidas108]

Roger Drayton I didn't say anything about "nothing" or "no-thing"; I did about "abiding". I was just making the same point about the word that Rupert has, but as you please. :)

[@fuldagermany]

saidas108 When we talk, I have lots of questions on this video. Please be prepared because I feel that there is important steps to be learned and questions as to what happens when the body/mind gets it (knowing past the deepest roots keeping us planted in place).

[@saidas108]

Minahh I'm ready for 'ya lass! :)

[@louisahadley7082]

This was so helpful. Thank you ❤

[@atanubardhan8116]

The clarity is simply amazing. Thank you.

[@NickRyanBayon]

I've been having this issue, trying to be purely aware to have no thoughts. This makes sense.

[@zamoraobed]

He makes complicated subjects simple.

[@brahmasatyamjaganmithya6708]

Thank you for Uploading!

[@rmcgowan33]

I want the woman asking questions to keep asking. Her voice is so calming. And Rupert's answers are so assuring.

[@msmacmac1000]

What animates the separate self? I’m getting there! It’s beyond awesome. Thank you, Rupert. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@GoldenHawk441]

you are a brilliant communicator Rupert Spira, thank you.

[@sonjasonnenschein9279]

... thanks Rupert for your loving and patient pointing to the moon 🌙 ... I feel soo grateful for those gems you gift us here 🙏🏼

[@Reina_1980]

Watched 3 times in a row-thank you for this one🙏

[@AhmadHassan-op7ou]

One of his best videos. It does not get any clearer than that. Thanks, Rupert!

[@MUSICOBLISS]

Infinite respect 🌻

[@SuperAndersonsa]

Finite mind can't give infinite respect

[@DamianSzajnowski]

@@SuperAndersonsa but the infinite godly part of us might be able to :)

[@zaks57]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@georgemcwilliams4466]

I heard that just when I needed to hear it.

[@AlexHop1]

Thank you!

[@jeara69]

Namaste, Great guidance and thank you!

[@utonetruth]

Thanks for your gentleness and the straight forwardness at the same time. Sucht a gift to all of us! Love you ...

[@jimcrich]

I still like the old term "ego" even if the new teachers don't use it but seeing that the ego "hides" in the body as FEELINGS is a powerful insight! LOL, I FEEL hungry, horny, thirsty, tired, excited, bored, on edge FRIGHTENED .....most of those are coming from my ego more the the Real me! "Who is: hungry, horny, frightened, bored, on edge, tired, nervous......????" ....... 'me'.... the EGO! Thanks, Rupert.

[@gaborerdokvasudev7504]

Thank You Rupert

[@she-wonders]

As a new subscriber, "I" was thinking "Oh, no point of watching Rupert's older videos from six years ago, it's probably not as accurate or up to date as his most recent ones". But my gosh, his wisdom is infinite... as we all are. Much love.

[@bertkeurentjes]

Thanks, I needed this!

[@sam71119]

The feeeling aspect of the separate self is something that few seem to recognise.... after the conscious self has recognised the situation ie,... well done Rupert...

[@Mindywright27]

Beautiful. Thank you so much. 🙏

[@WonderingAboutThat]

Thank you for this, deeply speaks to me

[@katemorrison5358]

Wonderfully clear explanation. Brilliant! Thank you

[@tabacodepipa7344]

The real máster class!! Thank you !!

[@koanforty]

An inspiration to look closer, and closer yet. How wonderful to see you/Rupert, step into the tough job of helping us all move along. I'm sure there are sacrifices. Very generous of you.

[@nsbd90now]

I so like how Mr. Rupert is clear how we move from intellectual understanding of these topics to embodied and existentially authentic and experienced reality via some kind of Practice.

[@QED_]

I think it's okay to recognize that there's a separate body/mind/self that we are associated with and interact with. It's not "illusory" in the sense that it doesn't exist. It's "illusory" only in the sense that we are not FUNDAMENTALLY or ONLY it . . .

[@QED_]

And the rest is . . . "skillful means" to live with that body/mind/self.

[@catiarodrigues8492]

I think i never felt this amount of love from Rupert... i am overwhelmed.

[@nsbd90now]

Yeah. lol!

[@CactusLand]

Another fantastic explanation. Thank you very much for these videos.

[@cherryblossom8282]

thoughts are more difficult for me to handle than feelings. thank you

[@janfrankl3781]

wonderfull clear, inspiring and helpfull💕

[@SailingLovelove]

Thank you.

[@pantherenebuleuse]

i, have experienced a powerful ego backlash, and I do each time a get a deeper understanding.

[@frederickalschuler4693]

Superb! Recognition of the true self as awareness; the need for mind training and body purification of the thoughts and feelings arising out of the sense of the seperate self.

[@abbasesultan]

So clear when YOU explain it to me, Rupert. Thank you!

[@devendrapurohit7300]

Nice piece of advice , just backtrack the origination of rising thought , and come to the point from where it rose . Glad I watched this video , I got validation of a silent yet unlabelled ways I was doing it , sometimes , just sometimes. Now I know.

[@Misslotusification]

5:55: knowing is not enough.

[@billhartman8217]

I just came upon this video. This is simple yet powerfully liberating. Is that simple question all you need as an inquiry, or is there more to the process of recognizing finite self ramblings?

[@beliefpatrol]

thank you! 1:30 cleared up some questions i was having about the experiencer and the experience.

[@sumanaghosal5072]

Excellent advice 👌👍

[@kwixotic]

It can be a pretty tall order to reach the point of successfully diminishing the influence of the limited self's thought generation as I can attest to even after years of Self Inquiry. They can readily have a disproportionate influence since they have been associated with our habitual conditioning for so long.

[@pantherenebuleuse]

That is exactly my experience

[@nsbd90now]

Jeez! Just so wild how Rupert Spira seems to have totally hit upon a clear, simple, contemporary way of talking about the human experience of reality. It is astoundingly validating and helpful and encouraging and motivating. Ha ha! Thank you! The thing really then sticking out is the "realignment"... "be relentless about that... eventually you will erode that..." I totally get how it "takes 20 minutes" to think things through to reality... it'll be great when I'm actually myself again! lol!

[@dudeabideth4428]

What’s an example of a thought that is not from a separate self ? Like a math problem ? What about survival and body needs?

[@ericnicholson870]

It would be useful if Rupert could discuss spiritual by- passing!

[@isabelmorais9430]

Precisely! It’s not enough to know. The target is to live second by second with this knowing. And this should be natural and easy, but ... Meditation helps. I don’t know why.

[@yvettetorres7829]

It can take a lifetime to live as pure Consciousness/God in the world. It's an ongoing, re programming of beliefs that we are more than just our separate selves...eroding these thoughts and feelings thru Meditation takes time

[@goldenjaguar7690]

What a Gem. The illusory self (ego) vs the authentic self (spirit) .ON WHOSE BEHALF IS A THOUGHT ARISING? WOW!!!

[@devendrapurohit7300]

A great Master , doing what's best for humanity. Namaste.

[@fulmoun]

Bravo Rupert

[@Noct343]

I don't know anything, but I do at the same time, that's the irony of it all, seperation and union. Perfect imperfections. I love oneness.

[@zain4019]

I would say it is even simpler than that, in my experience. When a thought arises that we immediately feel we should reject, or that raises an uncomfortable sensation or emotion within us, whenever a thought arises that there is any resistance to in the body or the mind, whenever there is a perception in the world we see ourselves resisting, whether it be a person or a happening, notice this space in which the experience arises, this thought, that sensation, that perception. Notice the space in which this resistance arises. What is this experience made of? What is this thought we resist, this sensation we run from, the perception we reject made of? What is this experience made of? It is pure experiencing, pure knowing, pure awareness that this experience is intimately made of. It is the thread and yarn of which all experience - including the sensation or thought that rejects this experience - is made. Simply see the pure experiencing of which all experience is made. All perceptions, all thought, all sensations take on the qualities of knowing, of awareness, of God: peace, joy and love, *no matter what they may be*.

[@kidsmoked]

Sounds like 'Internal Family Systems' - a whole family of roles inside us that are illusory. Nice.

[@nsbd90now]

Oh yeah... good analogy. I constantly find myself experiencing imaginary scenarios.

[@stephenanguiano8027]

holy shit... it's so simple

[@loraly3271]

Lol Stephen!! Once you get it, you realize how simple it is. Then we just live in the light of this awareness more and more.

[@sheilakirwan6900]

Gary Bentlage yes I can relate to what you say here ....my background is buddhist meditation but am open .....Byron Katie's work done properly is brilliant ...have spent time in Burma and currently there ...these amazing people find that the very difficult full lotus meditation is the quick way ...the teachers may believe that westerners ...conditioned to looking outwards can't do it ....the attitude is the results are so good but there is a price to pay .....intense bodily pain .....I'm combining these ways ...but have realised that being in a monastery ...a good one, where indulgence in sense pleasures isn't available, is of massive benefit in cultivating mindfulness .....

[@jamesthomas1244]

"What is living in the light of this awareness look like?" It's certainly not focusing on a litany of thoughts. Gary, when asked the question: "Are you aware?" -- have you noticed a very subtle yet distinct shift in perspective? A gentle yet vivid awareness that you are consciously aware? A sense of closer than close non-objective alive openness, as opposed to a narrow and constricted awareness of only phenomena or other? Notice that everything lives, moves and has its being in this Awareness. Abide here, and your question will be answered (it often takes some time to see more clearly and dissolve deeper into it -- but that's not a problem unless we think ourselves into one;-)

[@PB-mp7qt]

@Gary Bentlage I think he goes on to say as allow teachers of non duality do to say you integrate the feelings you don,t push them away you bring them closer and dissolve them over time have you ever seen some of emerald on the diamond net she is young but very good at explaining ideas such as these.

[@leif5614]

@@loraly3271 - so true and beautifully said. Stephen, once you get it surrender yourself completely to your true self (AKA- awareness, consciousness, god, truth, reality, what is). This "self" is everything and it is you. Once you wake up to this realization you will understand the poignant reality that you are everything and nothing....If someone would have said this to me even a year ago I would only understand it intellectually, but once it becomes your experience even though it is a simple realization it changes everything. Love and blessings!

[@bornuponawave]

Is this like “integrating the shadow”?

[@kennytkh7578]

This is the most clear answer for people in the midst of spiritual awakening

[@brianbocht7996]

I presume the enquiry/questioning relates to meditation and not in hectic day to day life. Pretty hard to question thoughts in a busy work day and can we retrain our thoughts by meditation alone ? I presume not

[@jamesvhawk]

So the question still remains. How can one be certain of the origin of the thought. How can one really tell or be sure of the origin of the thought? Every time hear someone try to explain the origin, the answer is always presented as a question.

[@ernestweber5207]

+jamesvhawk Well, isn't the laboratory to find out the origin is readily available to you right now. Given that you are experiencing "having" a mind and that you seem to be experiencing thoughts "in" that very mind, where do they come from as you observe them? Where do they stay? Where do they go? If you follow them around, you get lost in the forest chasing the butterfly. If you repress them, you are grabbing and crushing the butterflies of thought. Either way, indulging or suppressing them is an involved activity that will distract your attention and thus, occlude the nature of thought. So, it is a matter of relaxing in your lab. Pay attention. Are thoughts solid? Can you hold them? Are they transparent? An energy? Do you own them or make them arise all the time sometimes? Are you comfortable with exploring it and able to accept a direct recognition of their origin? Why does that matter? Well, you may think about the thoughts you are thinking and not notice that you are generating more thoughts about thoughts. If someone attempts to tell you about the origin and nature of thoughts, they can describe processes and kinds of thoughts, but you only get more thoughts about thoughts and that will not be totally accurate or satisfying. Hence, you get questions that often are meant to inspire you to look for yourself...look right into it without expectations.

[@ivogody]

You don't experience a mind, and you don't have a mind either. You dont even experience thoughs. If you take a thoughs in slowmo you will see that it's a series of letters.

[@loraly3271]

If it is the thought of the false/separate self, then it creates some type of suffering. That is how you know on whose behalf the thought appears.

[@elaineguardo4203]

jamesvhawk l

[@No-oneInParticular]

Ya know, I feel like I get this, but when people like Rupert say: "You are awareness", it trips me up. Who or what is this 'I' that is aware beyond the illusory self? I do not see it, I cannot feel it, I cannot touch it or imagine it. So what is awareness? This perception from this body, which is a manifestation of consciousness...is what then? How can I be the infinitely formless, and yet be limited by form? Because infinite can only know itself through the finite? If 'I' were to disappear, what disappears? If consciousness is formless, and I am consciousness, then I disappear once I become one with consciousness right? Appearance or if you prefer, manifestation, is object; so if the illusory self disappears, then nothing is left. Nothing is the basis of everything (obviously) because nothingness cannot by definition ever exist. So...How, given that, can consciousness exist or be experienced independent of object? This used to make so much sense to me and now recently it just feels like I never really understood it, I just thought I did. So, was that all an ego trip? I felt like I was just awareness, many times, it was all so clear. I don't really know what's happened.

[@janesmith7443]

Fantastic advice. Thank you!

[@regulardude7961]

I really like these videos, but with the amount of times a "separate self" is mentioned, it would be nice to have a definition of what the separate self is along with any other related info. Otherwise I find it hard to access the information, which is really frustrating.

[@jessemehravar4461]

Very understandable - on Rupert’s youtube channel, there are introductory videos that better clarifying his terms like “separate self”

[@regulardude7961]

@@jessemehravar4461 ok thanks!

[@shaktiveda7041]

[@jinlancera]

I think, thoughts are information stored on energy fields. 😊

[@xDevoneyx]

What I find strange is that lot of spiritual talks talk about ego/the separate/false self like it is an entity in its own right. E.g. "It feels threatened" in this video. And next we are going to talk about it how it is an illusion. How can an illusion feel for itself? An illusion only exists when an observer is misconceiving what is real. Is there still an illusion when you know and see how David Copperfield pulls it of? Because you misconceive, you create the illusion. The illusion doesn't exist in its own right. So don't talk about the ego feeling threatened like an entity in its own right. Yes, the self exists as an illusion, created by the mind. Because your are not seeing the self for what it really is.The false self illusion doesn't feel threatened because it is not there for real. You feel threatened when you believe you are something, and just learned that that something isn't absolutely real. The self is a projection of the mind with a past and possible future. Yet you are awareness which only exists right now. As awareness you can view the self, the self is not false persé. What is false is that you believe that you are that self. View the self for what it is, a projection of the mind. What or who is aware of this projection?

[@loraly3271]

Awareness does not misconceive anything or create an illusion. It simply is not present for most body/minds and until it becomes aware of itself, the false self is the one with the identity of the body/mind. I think Rupert knows exactly what he is talking about and he has to use words to try to explain it and it can be tricky because the separate self keeps jumping back in for most of us.

[@xDevoneyx]

That is what I mean. For me there is no separate self that keeps jumping in. It is me, and always have been me, and will always be me. I jump back or forth or whatever I do. It is me, me and no one else or anything else but me. Not a separate self or ego, that is not part of me or outside me, or something that I have to fight or make it shut up. It is just me. I identify myself with whatever I identify myself with. It is not like there is an ego that is identifying for me or whatever. I identify. It is me. Seeking holism for me is not looking at things as separate. It is finding those things within myself, that I first thought to be outside of me.

[@xDevoneyx]

Lori Stark To me it seems you feel threatened by what I wrote. I know Rupert knows what he is talking about. That is not what I doubt. I think the words he has chosen can be confusing with respect to discussing the self as an entity in its own right. At least to me it was. Until I saw through the illusion of self. The existence of the illusion dependends on the observer observing it. The self cant feel by its own as it does not exist on its own. You feel.

[@loraly3271]

Hi Mike, I am so sorry. I really thought I had deleted that comment. After I posted it, I decided it did not come across well. This is all very deep stuff and certainly not a science (yet). lol. It sounds like what you are saying is that there is only one entity. So if the mind is a part of that entity and it creates thoughts that upset us, then who we are is upset. What if the mind is something separate from who we are and we can use it to express who we are and just observe it when it causes havoc. What if the emotions are just things that we can watch and let pass through our human form? I am hoping that who I Am is a peaceful, loving, and joyful being who can experience those things in human form as I use awareness? What are your thoughts about that?

[@xDevoneyx]

To me, emotions are not something that I simply want to pass by when they arise. To me they are indicators, like pain inside my body telling me that something has to change. Something has to change, that can be me, the situation of what someone else is doing. So te me, emotions are like tools. You can use them. The analytical mind (as a tool) I can use to listen carefully and analyze what the origin of that emotion is and what can or should be done in order to relax it. My intention here will yield a result which I get fed back through life. If my intentions are good, then the result will be as well. If the source of my acts are fear based, then I probably cause more harm than I do good. I have no bridge to the "what am I" question. What I am changes every moment. When I learn to trust and see that I have no beginning nor end, I feel more free to act according to what I really want to be. I really want to be happy and love vs frustration, anger and what not. Sometimes I use the emotion anger or frustration to express how I feel towards my spouse. It always works out well to express that. If that is what I feel, than that is what I have to act upon. No need to change that. I do however want to be cautious that I keep looking out with good intentions and not intentions which contain destruction. But expressing anger or frustration does not include per definition that I want to destruct. Keeping in mind a greater picture that the little me, I am looking out for construction. Dropping illusions certainly help a great deal with all of the above :)

[@eudaimoniacat5668]

excellent! clear & simple! thanks

[@moorkeith]

Wow! Ask the thought, on whose behalf are you appearing? If it is a self limiting thought it appears on behalf of the separate self.

[@DLBurggraf]

I couldn't have said it better! My building 7 was the clay and things made of clay.

[@DLBurggraf]

I didn't write this ! ??

[@FACEgod_]

The direct path is so direct I see why the masses need religion and science.

[@DamianSzajnowski]

Too direct. Too simple. Thus too difficult. Not understandable. But palpable and knowable. My opinions of course.

[@wesleymorton7878]

got it, thx Rupert. No distance, just this

[@discokev100]

The Master.

[@jerry-mind-sky]

next step, liberating ourselves from tyranny of our own thoughts

[@elizabethecarlisle1045]

Are you implying the ego/separate self is sentient ? It registers/ experiences its inevitable end and retaliates (ie back with a vengeance) ?

[@MariekeStolp]

Sounds pretty horrible

[@kabeloignatiusmosala9769]

🙏🏼

[@eliort404]

Thank you

[@sjohn4134]

currently walking myself back about four or five times a day rofl

[@MsNkanyezi]

yep!!! LOL!

[@joy860]

Thank you....

[@treasurechest2951]

The lily is in the shape of the Merkaba. How apt, as we wrestle being in these bodies as we connect to the Source.

[@MassiveLib]

So how do you all feel about God as merely a thought which we perceive as having more value

[@DamianSzajnowski]

? But we are God

[@wafabusafi5712]

♥️

[@dommccaffry3802]

The problem is, the screen is really boring after a while

[@deepakpatkar7598]

Don’t all thoughts arise on behalf of the illusory self.....to the illusory self? If the true I is just the screen why would it need to think?

[@Bassywassy20]

Its a late answer, and even though I cant tell you what it is that produces thought, I can tell you why thoughts are important. Think what has happened because we have thought. Believing we are our thoughts has given us the opportunity to experience reality with the illusion we are seperate entities. The fact that we can experience life on earth as 7 billion humans doing their own thing is solely possible by thought. Without thought everyone would know beyond a doubt that theres never been such a thing as 7 billion personalities. Just 7 billion bodies being lived through by one consciousness. The illusion is so that the universe can play this game and it requires thought to do so. Hope that helps!

[@babbabu2716]

@@Bassywassy20 very intresting observation .. may i ask how did you come to these conclusions ?

[@Jol3x]

@@Bassywassy20 Do you mean by saying "7 billion bodies" that we can only experience as human beings and not as animals? I wonder how it would be to be something else than this bizzare and terrifying, all the time thinking and feeling human bodymind.... I get deja vu really often and get a horrible feeling that ive always been just this body living over and over :(

[@mikewelton7478]

A sense of humour is indispensable to realisation.