The Tao of Dark Sages - Chapter 3, Part 6

The Tao of Dark Sages
by Scott Bradley

Have you realized in experience that Thou art That?

I was afraid you’d ask.

(Laughter)

I abide in non-dual awareness. I cannot say more. Some do. Some would have it that you discover the eternal ‘you’ in such a realization. Yet, even were that true, I would be doing you an immense disservice in telling you so. Such a declaration would give you some content to believe when, in fact, it is only when empty of content that such a realization can occur.

But I can tell you what I discover when I ask the question. I discover that I don’t know who I am. The reason I ask the question is: I don’t know who I am. And the answer to the question is: I don’t know who I am. Isn’t that wonderful news!?

I thought the whole point in awakening is to discover who we really are — even if it is that we really aren’t.

(Laughter)

Maybe it is, Scott-Tzu. I don’t know. But it’s not my experience. I know nothing. Who I am is not excepted. How can I know nothing and yet know who I am? How could ‘I’ be any thing to be known? The very idea that I could know the answer to such an incredible mystery is beyond my understanding. I have pierced no envelopes. I have not acquired knowledge of the Unknown. I have solved no Mysteries. If you seek ‘The Answer’, look elsewhere.

Why not rather luxuriate in the emptiness that not knowing who you are provides? All the more room for fullness. Why not rather allow this frightening reality to bring you to the very brink of despair — and beyond?

Everything you read about awakening suggests that not knowing who you are is a negative thing — the cause of all our suffering.

Is it not rather clinging to the need to know that brings the suffering? But I have nothing to teach you. I have no knowledge to impart. Perhaps it is with others, more experienced than I, that techniques leading to the discovery of the knowledge of the Mysteries can be had.

But I’d like to remind you of the story of Bodhidharma, the traditional founder of Zen in China, when he came before Emperor Wu of Liang. The Emperor expected to be praised for his efforts on behalf of Buddhism but Bodhidharma told him he had earned no merit it all. “What, then, is the sacred doctrine’s first principle,” asked the Emperor. “It’s just empty; there’s nothing sacred,” replied Bodhidharma. “Who are you, then, to stand before us,” asked the Emperor. “I don’t know,” replied Bodhidharma.i ‘I don’t know who I am’ is good enough for me.

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here.