good question! maybe i should reword that other pole:
the self is illusory;
Atman alone is real;
Atman is self.
i'm trying to connect with genpo's notion of the unique self, which is self + Big Mind, i.e. it transcends and includes Big Mind/Big Heart.
i, too, spend alot of time in subtle states, but at the shallower end i'm afraid
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robb smith continues to do what is needed. it's really heartening to see his reply to the latest criticisms of i-i.