The Discussion

We are gathered around a table, you and I. Me, you and a whole lot of others. We exchange notes about what we read, how we processed the readings. And we went home again afterwards. It was a complete circle…or was it complete? Anywhere in the circle will be the center of the circle. Is there any point that is the absolute center?

We talk about interdependence, and the meaning of focus. We describe the determination to practice in the midst of suffering, physical and mental.  We talk about how we will take this into our workplaces, into our homes, and into our hearts. And hope that we can transfer merit to those around us.

No matter what tool from this conversation I take with me, will any of these tools, these concepts, or these experiences have an applicable value in every situation? No, but they are certainly good reminders. Reminders of what? Don’t I sometimes get hooked on words and abstractions/? To where should these tools point?

No matter what is exchanged, something inside of me keeps pointing to what is nothingness. It draws the words downwards into a space where words take on multiple meanings and layers. And they sliver off  into these context-based snippets of meaning. If words are only conditioned units of meaning, can I take any of them with me? Their meaning continuously changes. What is there to take on? A self? A detachment from self? What self? Where is no-self? If there is no self, why am I talking about there being no self?  I get caught in a word play here. Or did I? Who is this I? The thoughts swirl, coalesce, then disappear. Even the notion of ‘me’ is conditioned arising.

The value of these discussions is to where they point. Again and again, they circle, then take a dive. But what do they come up with as they emerge from the dive? A small fish is a small hope. A great fish is great determination. Keep fishing and there will be no fish, no ocean, and nothing but a pool with no water. It is dangerous to dive there.

So, try again. Why talk about these things?

Isn’t the self an empty phenomena?

Who said that?