Zhuangzi: Well, this seems like a good time to leave Scott to his new project.
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Shen Dao: Surely, we have time for another glass of wine!? I only wish I’d joined these discussions earlier!
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Zz: You’re going to make Scott think we’re only here for the libations.
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Shen Dao: Well, if we have no positive teachings to share with him, why else would we be here?
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Zz: We have our own emptiness to share—but that’s no reason for an empty glass—as mine appears to be.
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Scott: Here you go—half a glass each. I’ll open another bottle.
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Zz: No. No need. This shall suffice.
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Scott: I’d just as soon open another bottle—and another after that. I’m so very reluctant to let you go.
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Zz: That’s probably why it’s best that we do. You might want to explore the reasons for this reluctance—it smells of dependence to me. Religious dependence!
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Shen Dao: Ha, ha! Now you’ve made him squirm!
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Zz: There’s nothing so helpful as to be hoist on your own petard.
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Scott: It’s also your hoisting that I will miss. Indeed, all my agreement with what I find in your writing is also a continual hoisting.
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Zz: That’s as it should be—for you, just as it was for me.
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Shen Dao: So now, who will pull the plug? Who will say the last goodbye and be no more? Shall I?
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Zz: No. I think we should leave it to Scott, since it may very well be that he has only made our presence up.
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Scott: But didn’t we establish that there’s little difference between your made-up presence and my made-up “me”?
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Zz: There’s truth in that, but there’s also truth in your living—so now’s the time to live in awareness of your me-less-ness. So won’t you say goodbye?
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Scott: Thanks for all you have taught me. And thanks for teaching me nothing at all. Goodbye, dear friend!!
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Pfft!