I’d like to know how you were finally able to see through the illusion of the finite self and see the physical world for what it truly is? I’m having a bit of trouble with still feeling very much like this finite mind/body and the physical world still feels extremely real and personal.
Basically, how did you reach the point of no longer feeling like the character anymore?
hi! thank u so much, this is a very good question.
i would say it is just knowledge, and letting that REALLY sink in. that's how it worked for me, i really spent a lot of time thinking about it and finally understanding that this infact all an illusion. it wasn't a single event that did it for me, honestly. everything in your life is a manifestation of the i am, the i am is the one behind all of this, behind the thoughts, the feelings, everything. the i am cannot be described with words, because it is the one behind all of the words and the meanings.
if you want to give it a name, call it God, the universe, whatever you want. but since the i am is the source of everything, words are just another illusion.
you are not this body, these thoughts, these feelings, these circumstances, these things that seem so personal (you never were these things, and never will be), they seem like an unchangeable part of you, like they describe you, but no one can describe God.
really let that sink in: when you are thinking a thought, who is the one observing the thought? who is the one who is aware? when you are sleeping and you don't dream, are you not aware? are you not existing in that moment? when you sleep for 8 hours and feel like 30 minutes had passed, do you feel like time is real? did you really feel those 8 hours, or did you just look at the clock and assumed you slept 8 hours?
when you talk about yourself, you are not really talking about yourself. you are not this character, you are the one behind all of this. and all of this? is one. awareness. no separation in awareness. you are aware of your body and thoughts being one thing and you are aware of an outside being a separated thing, but isn't it all just awareness? does it really make a difference, if all of this is just an illusion? the illusion of the character, the meat suit you live in and the separation from the outside world.
you happen to be an infinite being living in a meat suit, having thoughts. and feelings. and problems. living what we call a life, breathing what we call air, eating what we call food. doesn't it make you question something that all of this seems so limited, while in your imagination you can do whatever you want? is it really random? i mean, does imagination just exist for no reason?
what i can say is that i really don't have an answer to why we are living this life. and let me tell you something, nobody can. i don't think our limited mind could ever comprehend. maybe there is just no reason at all? what is reason anyways?
reason, logic, questions, answers, they don't exist to God, they only make sense because your human brain is making it make sense.
but you know, if you are living in this body, there is no way you can totally disconnect from it. you only do so when you die, basically. you are still going to have feelings and form thoughts, so do i and so does everyone.
it's a matter of practice, the more you trust yourself, the more you assume "no matter what i see, i am what i say i am, period" the more it's going to feel natural, and you will find yourself always thinking like that.
if all of your life you thought in a logical way, your mind can find it a little complicated (happened to me and still happens sometimes), but it's the intention that carries everything.
is this too long for an answer? maybe but i love yapping... have a very good day and happy new years! 🩷