There is Only the River

Q: How can there ever be a now moment that doesn’t contain everything? Including a Me?

A: What is “a Me”? Are you certain there is “a Me”?

Q: I can see that there is a space, a timeless void, and I can imagine it as imagining and all that arises in it.

However, what is the point in saying that’s the true self? Why contain it as that? It’s allowing a Me to be here, to interact in this world of form, whether I see or recognize it or not.

A: You're drawing the right conclusion: there is no point in containing the true self with any labels. But can you pinpoint or define the “Me” you refer to? What is here that you call “a Me”? Is it substantial, or in thought?

Q: My reference point is like the empty space that fills all to be functional: look at a cup, without space it’s not whole nor functional. So I can recognize this, yet it makes no difference at all. The story rolls on, and to me it’s important, special, whether I see it as good or bad.

A: Who is this “me” that it is important to? It is important to….to what? To some thoughts?

Q: I get entrapped, and take the story as serious. Why not?

A: Indeed: why not?

Q: I can find “me” now. It is a thought that arises in this space of now. That happens now, too.

A: So, you are a thought?

Q: The space is there to be filled, ever changing, ever fresh, always there to allow whatever to be. When this body/mind is out of view, that space still is, and will be filled with more or not, I know that’s not my job to even want to know why.

Space is the giver of life to all, all in this space. I can see “me” as this person is a form in this space; I either take it seriously or not, doesn’t matter. The space will be filled – it’s glorious, perfect even, whether I want to recognize it as so or not.

I find all in this space of now, but it’s like a spot on the bank of a river, the river flows by the spot.

A: Yes. The spot sees a tiny drop of the river as it flows by, and freezes it in time, and then calls that tiny, frozen, isolated drop “reality.”

The river sees nothing but itself. It flows right through the idea of “you,” frozen there on the bank. To the river, “you” are not there. There is only the river.

Q: Now is more like a space, all passes by in it, of it, with it. This now space contains all, a movie runs by endlessly, forms of wonder, I know they’re not everlasting, just like the cup, but the space for the cup will be there ready always to be used by any form. It’s an endless procession of change and forms, and it’s amazing how things seem designed so intricately, so perfectly, and this space is like the valley that allows the forest to play with the animals and rivers and mountains...

A: Good.

Q: But mind will create obstacles.

A: Will it? What is this “mind” that you think will create obstacles? If the river sees no mind and no obstacles, then are there actually any obstacles?

Q: Suffering is not recognizing this form is not forever.

A: Suffering is taking that form to be yourself.

Q: Thoughts are only a part of it...it’s taking this form as the real...

A: Isn't "taking this form as the real" another thought?

Q: ...and hanging on to it is suffering

A: Right.

Q: To be like the space, allowing all to be to take shape...wow, now that energizes!!

A: Yep!

Q: Now is filled with all, now is this space that contains it all. Dropping the mind off and letting it be its own thing? Is that necessary?

A: No.

Q: Can peace not be found in just seeing this, let mind be, no altering, no deep penetration to prove it’s an illusion, to see that all will be in this space means I can acknowledge its existence and let it be pure allowing?

A: Yes. Very good. You see how the words fail at this point, but I think you’ve got the idea.