Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
Submitted by westcott on May 15, 2007 - 9:57pm.
Realism | Romanticism | Values | Book Club: Religion
Just felt like adding this today for some reason.
From Wiki:
In this book, Pirsig explores the meaning of the concept "quality" (a term which he capitalizes). In the sequel (Lila: An Inquiry into Morals), Pirsig expands his exploration of Quality into a complete metaphysic which he calls The Metaphysics of Quality. The Metaphysics of Quality is a philosophy, a theory about reality; it asks questions such as what is real, what is good and what is moral. As the title suggests, much of the Metaphysics of Quality has to do with a non-intellectualizing, non-conceptualizing, Zen-like direct viewing of the universe. Yet Pirsig departs from Eastern thinking by arguing that reason and logic are just as important in seeking understanding. He explains that, despite its title, "it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either."
That book will twist the face of anybody (like me) who is super-logical, rational, and analytical...or at least people who try to be. (I didn't read the sequel.)
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
General Clark's description of his decision at Kosovo after being turned down by the Army at the Bosnia tragety is the essense of zen as Pirsig talks about it. It is inate life force in zen man and woman and is awakened first by an outside event - like seeing death and dying for the first time by Siddhartha. Stan: Maybe start with the Tao te Ching. Zen is distilled from that. (When I worked at Wake Forest and pitched the Tao te Ching a professor said when he read the Tao te Ching it helped him understand the bible better. Same with motorcycles.)
It's been on my shelf for quite a while.
My son got me interested in eastern philosophy; "The Tao of Pooh" is actually a great primer; I realized that my own spirituality had already been evolving in that direction over the many years, which might help explain his leanings.
But, I'm also big on reason and logic. And part of me really wants to "do something" to alter events when they aren't happening the way I want them to, or not happening as FAST as I want them to.
Which usually leads to a time out to reflect and calculate how much of an effect specific actions will have on specific goals, as opposed to what is an exercise in futility. And then I heave a big sigh and proceed accordingly.
Which is, I think, how I hang onto a few shreds of sanity. :)
I actually had this book lent to me from a friend.
He had read part of it but left it and it still had the book mark in it.
There is a part of the book that goes on for pages and pages in detail about the parts of a motorcycle, just after this part, was my friends bookmark. Two pages later, there is a description of the "Romantic" and an explanation that Romantics will have stopped reading the book a few pages previous. :)
Couple of good one liners.
"I was alone in a room searching for truth, and truth knocked on the door. And I said 'Go away, I'm looking for truth'"
"People who don't ask for help, tend to resent it."
I've heard rumors that Pirsig was schizophrenic but I don't know for sure. Either way, definitely a great book for looking at how people place value.. or not.
Go grab it off the shelf! :)
Quality
This poem is written
With *Pirsig in mind,
To back up his claim
That it can’t be defined
Because it’s not absolute,
So it can’t be conclusive,
Because when something’s abstract,
It’s forever elusive.
But if we use common sense,
It will always persist.
Though, in a formalized fashion,
It should not exist.
Yet, rhetorically speaking,
It’s inherently square:
If you need to define it,
Then you’re just not aware, man,
That this poem has proven,
That you can’t draw a line,
Between feeling and meaning,
So long as words can combine.
Better go to a reflecting pond ASAP! Make a confessional and thou shalt be saved! ;)