The Show
Consciousness in the form of a body-mind calling itself “Joe Seeker” suffers desperately with all forms of psychological pain and anguish, ever-hoping that ‘one day’ his life might be complete. He meditates, prays, sacrifices and works diligently that one day he might achieve the elusively slippery goal called happiness. One day, only by virtue of grace, Joe Seeker’s ‘karma’ leads him to a”Teacher”. And with great hope, fear, and anticipation Joe Seeker arrives at his first meeting with him. His palms sweat and he can feel his heart pound in his chest. And after what seems like an eternity the Teacher reveals himself.
He’s a fat, balding, white man with a scraggly beard, dressed in plaid pajama pants and a v-neck t-shirt with what appear to be barbecue sauce stains on it. He is smoking a pipe and wearing slippers and appears to have a mono-brow. Surely he must know that people like Joe Seeker have come from all over the country to listen to him this weekend. Surely, this can’t be him. Surely, this is a mistake. But it is not. No meditation poses. No asanas. Not even any incense burning. Just a cup of very strong, nutty Columbian coffee and a worn recliner in a den that reminds him of his late uncle Willard. Joe Seeker wonders if this guy even showered today.
A bell rings and the Teacher speaks to the group of more than 25 body-minds.
“Everybody get coffee?” The seekers nod and sip. The teacher smiles.
“You could have saved your$450 dollars.” He says abruptly as he takes a sip of his coffee. “But who gives a shit?” He laughs ferociously and fumbles for a big black ashtray. “Let me tell you a little story. It’s the story of your life…. For the past 10, 20, 30, maybe even 40 years you’ve been searching for the purpose of life. You’ve been tortured by your seeking, traveling to all ends of the earth. How many gurus have you followed? How many offerings have you made? Have you grown tired yet? Have you had enough?
Or are you the hamster on the wheel who never gets off the habitrail? I want to tell you the truth but I know you won’t believe me. I have a diamond in my pocket? You say.” He takes a puff of his pipe and folds on leg unerneath him. “I’m a bubble buster. Alot of people don’t like me.” He says and falls over laughing again.
“You don’t say.” Thinks Joe Seeker.
“Yep. It’s true. I’m a dream trasher. It’s what I do. Look, I’ll show ya.
Who you think you are paid money that you think you earned to meet who you thought I’d be, only to find out that I’m not who you hoped I’d be. BUT, what you’ve missed is that you’ve taken vacation from work, gotten babysitters, bought plane tickets, hotel rooms, etc to come look in a mirror and what you see is that you’re a fat bald guy in a dirty t-shirt drinking coffee on a Saturday morning.” Again he falls over laughing; spilling coffee all the while. When he finally gathers himself his smile fades and he looks distant.
“My job here this weekend is to get you to just look closely at what you actually know. Not what you believe to be true, but what you know to be. Many of you won’t be able to escape the deluge of thoughts that flood in whenever the Truth draws near. That’s okay. I just want you to look.
I want, YOU, to look.”
Then he stands up from his chair and pulls the pipe from his lips, “From a show of hands how many of you think you know who you are?” Participants look around at each other as if assaulted by this ‘trick’ question. A few hands go up. But not Joe Seeker’s.
“Good. Let’s begin.” Says the Teacher. He points at a young woman who had her hand raised and says,
“So who are you?”
