The Tao of Dark Sages - Chapter 13, Part 2

The Tao of Dark Sages
by Scott Bradley

Scott-tzu: So, this brings us to the next question—the question that always comes up and seems to be the hardest one of all—namely, how do we transcend this? How do we rise above or beyond enslavement to identity and its story?

Nellie: By being identity-free? I mean, how do we be anything, other than be just being it? Isn’t this what Sue-tzu always tells us: Let the means and the end be the same?

So, Nellie — sorry, but how?

By choosing to be identity-free moment by moment. In your meditations, choose to be identity-free. If it doesn’t arise, ‘try it on’.

Buz: I think I’ve experienced a moment or two of egolessness, but it’s only momentary, I can assure you. How can I make it last?

Sue-tzu: What is this, ‘make it last’? Do you mean for the next minute? Or hour? Or the rest of your lifetime? In every case, ‘make it last’ is a reference to the future, and the future doesn’t exist. Only your present moment exists. And in a very real sense, we can say that the present doesn’t exist either. What exists is your experience without reference to time.

When you are aware without reference to time, you are everything about which we have been discussing. You are identity-free. The ego and its identity exist only within reference to time. How to dwell outside of time? You needn’t ask me, Buz — you’ve already done it if you’ve experience moments of being identity-free. How to make these moments ‘last’? Live the cliché: Be here now. Grow in your ability to be present. Dwell in awareness.

Buz: That sounds great, but I get confused. As soon as I start to try and apply one technique — like not-knowing or letting go or affirming — there’s another one to add to the list!

Would it help you to realize that they are all really just another aspect of the same reality? As Sue-tzu’s told us, the awaken-ing experience is one reality, but we can approach and experience it through any of the aspects where it touches our experience. If you experience any aspect of the awakening experience you cannot help but experience them all — all you need to do is focus your attention on them. Like Sue-tzu just said, if you have experienced being identity-free, then were you to focus on your experience of time, you would see that your awareness was without reference to time. Sorry, I don’t know that I’m saying this very clearly.

Mark-tzu: Clear enough. Buz, it sounds to me like something is working for you, so just relax in that. And I know it’s difficult to tiptoe around words, but I think maybe when you say ‘technique’, you mean it. Rather than applying techniques, may I suggest you let arise what will. You’ll find that what ‘works for you’ is what arises from you.

So, now that we see how easy it is to live identity free . . .

(Laughter)

Can we now consider what it feels like?

Mark-tzu: Why?

‘Cause it’s fun? Because it might be helpful to some?

Mark-tzu: I can see how it might be fun, but how could it be helpful?

Well, if we are having difficulty experiencing it, can we not ‘try it on’ — and we can’t do that unless we have some idea of what it feels like.

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