The Tao of Dark Sages - Chapter 5, Part 1

The Tao of Dark Sages
by Scott Bradley

Sue-tzu, I have been reading a lot lately that we are now undergoing an evolutionary leap — that more and more people are awakening and humanity is on the verge of a general quantum leap in consciousness. Could you comment on this? What do you think?

Ah yes. “The Dawning of the Age of Asparagus.”

(Chuckles)

What I think is that your question gives us an excellent opportunity to explore more fully what we want our thinking to be. So, let me ask you: Why do you ask me my opinion?

Well, because you have so much more understanding than I do about awakening.

That may or may not be the case, but I suggest to you that if it is the case, the only way you will arrive at my level of understanding is to think for yourself. Your path to understanding is through the exercise of your own honest analysis of ideas and experience. So, let me ask you: What do you think of these statements?

Obviously, it’d be great. I’d like it to be true. But, I guess it’s just...a belief. I can’t know it’s true.

I agree. It’s an idea, a concept. It is content. Something to believe in. And what do you think the origin of this belief is?

Hope for humanity?

Yes, probably that. And yet the Tao Te Ching tells us that the Tao considers humanity as a ‘straw dog’ and the sage should do likewise. A ‘straw dog’ was made for certain ritual sacrifices then cast into the garbage dump. The point is, we should not get caught up in purpose and so-called compassion and hope for humanity. Things will be as they are and develop as they do.

Our concern is with ‘staying in the circle’ and following the ‘middle way’—which is to say, stepping off the ladder or merry-go-round of right and wrong, hope and despair, love and hate. A much-maligned sage who taught long before Chuang’s time, named Yang said: “The ancient sages would not have given one hair from their heads to save the world.” Though perhaps extreme, we might do well to consider how this applies to the reality of non-attachment—which we understand to be both the process and state of awakening.

But I suspect that there are other reasons for the development of this belief. Is it not always the inclination of the mind to speculate and ‘go too far’? How can I not again quote Chuang-tzu: “Our life has a boundary, but knowledge does not. To use what has a boundary to pursue what is limitless is dangerous.”

Finally, isn’t such a belief in the general triumph of one’s own thinking a way of seeking support for that which should be free of all logical or moral underpinnings? If you require ‘moral support’ you are not living empty and free. As part of the psychedelic generation, I was encouraged to see the artistic paraphernalia of the hippie culture becoming part of mainstream culture, primarily in advertising. Little did I realize that this was not the success of the movement, but rather, the co-opting of it. There was a great flowering of spiritual inquiry in China in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC — so much so, it was called the Age of the Hundred Philosophies. But where did it end in terms of the world in general? In the bondage of Confucianism and religious Taoism.

I’m rambling. But let’s continue to consider this concept of a general quantum leap in consciousness and see what we can learn from it. So, I have another question for you: How, if true, would this idea effect your own growth process?

It wouldn’t. This is where your ‘so what?’ principle comes into effect. I see that. But it could actually be a hindrance — if I believed it. I’d want to join the movement. Identify with a group. And I know my path has to be a solitary one.

Yes, it does. Still, our friendships along the way are a great source of enjoyment and, dare I say, support? Yes, I’ll say support because it is not the support of logic or membership or belief, but of camaraderie.

And I’m finding my friendships really helpful in directing my thoughts. You know, in bouncing ideas off of each other?

Yes. Surely, Chuang-tzu learned much from sparring with his dear friend Hui-tzu even though they were on very different paths.

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