The Dharma Bums 49-72

The Dharma Bums, Jack karouac
Pg. 50
"...Red-pristne shafts of sunligh coming in over the hill and slanting down into the cold trees like cathedral light, and the mists rising to meet the sun, and all the way around the giant secret roar of tumbling creeks probably with films of ice in the pools."

This quote really explain the essence of being in the mountain in early dawn. It really expresses the beauty of nature and how life is really interpreted in the beauty of dawn. Dawn is always an interesting concept because it represent the rejuvenation of the soul and the restart of a new day (of a new time in life). In this particular quote Ray is just waking up and although he may be a bit lethargic from a light sleep, he still is caught by suprise by the reflection of early light and pleasant sound of dawn.

The Dharma Bums, Jack Karouac
Pg. 55

"Comparisons are odious, Smith," he sent sailing back to me quoting Cervantes and making a Zen Buddhist observation to boot. "It don't make a damn frigging difference whether you're in The Place or hiking up Matterhorn, it's all the same old void, boy."

In this quote Japhy reallly explains the void and that these moments of happiness are just concepts that hide the stuggle of life momentarily. Japhy states how comparisons are odious, or harmful and bad. What Japhy means is that no matter where you are and what interpretation of happiness you might be experiencing they are all the same thing. There is no room for comparison because there is no such thing as comparison. Whether you are having fun with family or hiking the mountains, its all the same momentary happiness that continues to fill the void.