On Waking Up By Solala Towler
Part of us is awake and another part, fast asleep. What we do with cultivation practices is awaken that part of ourselves that is asleep. How can we awaken the sleeping part of ourselves? How can we truly experience that part of ourselves that lies dormant, like a caterpillar in our cocoon (a self created one at that)? How can we really truly experience ourselves as Immortals or Transcendents? How can we slough off our cocoon and emerge as the dazzling butterflies we truly are? Zhuangzi tells us that we are all dreaming and in that dream we even try to interpret our dreams! That is what we do when we try to figure out with our mind what it is that is happening within and The Empty Vessel — Page 12
without us. What is the reason? What is the destiny (ming) or karma that is leading us on through the hurry-scurry of our day-to-day lives? And how can we connect and call forth the immortal nature of our true and real selves? Zhuangzi says, Those who dream of a great feast may wake up and weep the next morning. Those who dream of weeping may actually enjoy a great hunt the next day. While they are dreaming they do not know they are dreaming. In the middle of a dream they may even try to interpret the dream! It is only after they awaken that they know they have been dreaming. At the time of the Great Awakening we will all wake up and see that it has all been just a dream. — Chapter 2 Often when we dream we think that is happening or what we are seeing is real. Then we “wake up” and realize it was actually “just a dream” and that what is happing “now” is real.
