On the car ride home from work, I began a conversation. I don’t know who I was talking to. I think the story of “me” was speaking to reality. My argument with “what is” wanted to emerge victorious. But truth had its own idea.

Can a part experience the whole?

         Why not?

I don't mean “A” whole. I mean “THE” whole. The absolute whole.

         I don't know.

Exactly.

         Uh.

As long as there's a part, the whole isn't the whole. If the whole wants to see itself, and breaks off a part to look at the rest, then it's not looking at the whole any more. It’s looking at the whole minus that one part.

         The whole need to look at the whole.

And how would it do that?

         It can't.

Not physically. Not conceptually.

         Not at all.

Are you sure.

         Well, no.

We spend our entire lives experiencing life through the mind, which is "I" am here and everything I experience is "out there". We don't know how to experience any other way.

         That's a problem?

Only if you make it one. Depends on your perspective.

         What other perspective can I take?

No perspective.

         How is that possible?

I suppose the first question is "is it possible"?

         Is it?

You have to answer that for yourself. And once you do, then you ask, "Do I want to do what is necessary to make it possible? Do I want to go there?"

         How do I even know that there is a "there" there?

You don't know it. You can never know it. Only the mind knows anything. But the mind isn't the ALL. We've already covered that.

         Then where do I go?

You don't know?

         No.

Perfect.

         Oh come on. At least give me a pointer.

Let the parts fall away. What is left is the One.

         Which parts?

All parts.

         All?

All.

         I get the all by giving up the all?

I didn't say give up. I said let them fall away.

         What the difference?

Let the divisions fall away. What is left will always remain. It’s all still there. It’s just not …

         Separate.

It’s all One.

         That doesn't completely make sense to me.

There is no "me".

         "I" don't exist?

No. The "me" doesn't exist.

         Sure as hell feels like it!

Just a feeling. And the thought about the feeling, which gives the sensation that its real. But if its real, where is it?

         I don't know.

Exactly.

         I don't get it.

You won't.

         What's the answer!!

No answers. Just questioning the assumptions.

         You're just talking in riddles. I'm getting tired of this.

Wonderful! Let the mind get tired out. Then what is there?

         Is there anything?

Is there? Try it out for yourself. Let yourself rest. Let everything just be...still. Now what is there?

         I'm thinking...

Beyond that.

         I feel...

Beyond that.

         I'm sensing...

Beyond that.

         Beyond?! There isn't anything! There's nothing.

Really?

         Yes.

You sure? Keep looking.

         Really. There's nothing there.

You mean, you're just empty?

         I know I'm not empty!

But you just said...

         Hey!

If you don't think about it, what's there?

         Nothing.

And what’s that like? Take a deep breath. Relax. What is the nothing like?

         Big. Quiet.

Empty, vast, open freedom.

         It’s nice.

Yes.

         How do I hold onto this?

You can't.

         But I want to. I want to hold on and not let go.

Who wants to hold on?

         I do.

The little “me”? It can hold onto an experience maybe. If the mind turns it into an object.

         It’s not an object. It seems ... empty of objects.

So the little “me” can't possess it. The “mego” doesn't own it.

         If it’s not the little me's emptiness, then who's is it?

- The Buddha smiles -

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"An Open Invitation" is a multi-part journey from the known into the unknown.

So, this is who you think you are?
Bam!!!
Oh look, who you thought you were is now shattered into a million tiny pieces.
Now what?