Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Dharma Bums 120-142
The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac
Pg. 137-138
" O wise and serene spirit of Awakenerhoo, everything's all right forever and forever and forever and thank you thank you thank you amen." What'd I care about the tower of ghouls, and sperm and bones and dust, I felt free and therefore I was free."
In this scene, Ray is praying and also seems to be trying to convince himself of his happiness in life. Previously before this scene, Ray was thinking negative thoughts of emptiness, lonliness, and actually claiming that he wants to die. It seems as though his dream like vision of a content Zen life is not provided him the positive outcome that he is expecting. As reality of the world kicks in, he seems to realize that his dream is not perfect, and that provides him with anguish. Ray gets to the point where he begins to question whats reality and not. He tries to reassure himself that since he feels free he was free, and that this temporary anguish is just an obstacle that he can go around.
The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac
Pg. 132
"And I though of Japhy as I stood there in the cold yard looking at her: "Why is he so mad about white tiled sinks and 'kitchen machinery' he calls it? People have good hearts whether or not they live like Dharma bums. Compassion is the heart of Buddhism."
This is one of the very rare transition points in the story. Ray seems to be looking at all sides of the coins, and noticing people for their hearts, not for their lifestyles. Ray in this particular quote, seems to go against the contradiction of Dharma Bum philosophy. He sets aside the lifestyles and looks towards the personality. He actually lives the Buddhist way of life, and shows the true characteristics of the buddhist philosophy. This way of thinking actually seperates Ray from the other Dharma Bums, because he actually lives by the true philosophy (without contradiction).
Pg. 137-138
" O wise and serene spirit of Awakenerhoo, everything's all right forever and forever and forever and thank you thank you thank you amen." What'd I care about the tower of ghouls, and sperm and bones and dust, I felt free and therefore I was free."
In this scene, Ray is praying and also seems to be trying to convince himself of his happiness in life. Previously before this scene, Ray was thinking negative thoughts of emptiness, lonliness, and actually claiming that he wants to die. It seems as though his dream like vision of a content Zen life is not provided him the positive outcome that he is expecting. As reality of the world kicks in, he seems to realize that his dream is not perfect, and that provides him with anguish. Ray gets to the point where he begins to question whats reality and not. He tries to reassure himself that since he feels free he was free, and that this temporary anguish is just an obstacle that he can go around.
The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac
Pg. 132
"And I though of Japhy as I stood there in the cold yard looking at her: "Why is he so mad about white tiled sinks and 'kitchen machinery' he calls it? People have good hearts whether or not they live like Dharma bums. Compassion is the heart of Buddhism."
This is one of the very rare transition points in the story. Ray seems to be looking at all sides of the coins, and noticing people for their hearts, not for their lifestyles. Ray in this particular quote, seems to go against the contradiction of Dharma Bum philosophy. He sets aside the lifestyles and looks towards the personality. He actually lives the Buddhist way of life, and shows the true characteristics of the buddhist philosophy. This way of thinking actually seperates Ray from the other Dharma Bums, because he actually lives by the true philosophy (without contradiction).
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