Comments on: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:15:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: am http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-9090 am Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:03:09 +0000 http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/#comment-9090 In the past week or so, I came across a quote attributed to Robert Pirsig. It went something like, "The motorcycle you're working on is yourself." In the past week or so, I came across a quote attributed to Robert Pirsig. It went something like, “The motorcycle you’re working on is yourself.”

]]> By: mike http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-9087 mike Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:55:59 +0000 http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/#comment-9087 Geez, Loren, if you keep paring down your life, getting rid of the detritus America offers, you will either become the Bodhisattva or the guy on the corner with a cup. I liked Pirsig when I read him for 2 things: his pure commitment to taking care of things, a kind of engineer's devotion to the charm of a clean machine; and his persistent questioning. I am wondering, as I read this note, if everybody is as unhappy as you suggest. I believe the indicators (divorce,child abuse, drug abuse,GWB's war) may be more symptomatic of something other than materialism, in fact. The three trends (lately) that intrigue me most are the story (this morning) that most American youth consider "video snacking" more interesting than the evening news or the morning paper, a sign that they don't find conventional news compelling; the growing disenchantment with the leadership of GWB & Cheney even in their own party; and the rapid evolution of materialism in China. The latter may mean they will soon be as unhappy as we are. Tongue out of cheek, I'd say that "happiness has twoness" has two metrics, one philosophical (yours) and the other material. Using the latter, as people acquire materiaL comforts like washing machines and a steady food supply and some protection from the elements, they generally feel happier/better. Misery is usually measured in economic terms first (hunger, shelter, epidemic), and since America still uses about 75% of the natural resources of the world to sustain about 12% of its population, we've had a long run of comfort. The rest of the world (88% of it) has only begun to gain speed and (relative) prosperity in the past 30 years. In that sense, I believe more people are "happy" than were happy in 1975. And in America, our unhappiness is on the brink of getting worse, not so much because we have sacrificed our sanity on the altars of comfort (though I agree it's an issue), but because our security, our position in the world economy, and our status as a credible republic are all in doubt. I believe we do better as individuals when we feel our country is a haven, when we act (nationally) to offer a warm hand rather than a heavy one, and when we make our communities safer for kids and women. The rest (fast food, PDAs, a new car and a new suit) is gravy. But I'd hate to give up my earbud. It helps me sleep. Geez, Loren, if you keep paring down your life, getting rid of the detritus America offers, you will either become the Bodhisattva or the guy on the corner with a cup. I liked Pirsig when I read him for 2 things: his pure commitment to taking care of things, a kind of engineer’s devotion to the charm of a clean machine; and his persistent questioning. I am wondering, as I read this note, if everybody is as unhappy as you suggest. I believe the indicators (divorce,child abuse, drug abuse,GWB’s war) may be more symptomatic of something other than materialism, in fact. The three trends (lately) that intrigue me most are the story (this morning) that most American youth consider “video snacking” more interesting than the evening news or the morning paper, a sign that they don’t find conventional news compelling; the growing disenchantment with the leadership of GWB & Cheney even in their own party; and the rapid evolution of materialism in China. The latter may mean they will soon be as unhappy as we are. Tongue out of cheek, I’d say that “happiness has twoness” has two metrics, one philosophical (yours) and the other material. Using the latter, as people acquire materiaL comforts like washing machines and a steady food supply and some protection from the elements, they generally feel happier/better. Misery is usually measured in economic terms first (hunger, shelter, epidemic), and since America still uses about 75% of the natural resources of the world to sustain about 12% of its population, we’ve had a long run of comfort. The rest of the world (88% of it) has only begun to gain speed and (relative) prosperity in the past 30 years. In that sense, I believe more people are “happy” than were happy in 1975. And in America, our unhappiness is on the brink of getting worse, not so much because we have sacrificed our sanity on the altars of comfort (though I agree it’s an issue), but because our security, our position in the world economy, and our status as a credible republic are all in doubt. I believe we do better as individuals when we feel our country is a haven, when we act (nationally) to offer a warm hand rather than a heavy one, and when we make our communities safer for kids and women. The rest (fast food, PDAs, a new car and a new suit) is gravy. But I’d hate to give up my earbud. It helps me sleep.

]]> By: Brian Salchert http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-9086 Brian Salchert Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:11:20 +0000 http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/#comment-9086 I haven't driven for several years, but there was a time in my life when I drove 25,000 miles a year and purchased a new car every two years. It was a way to keep myself perpetually in debt. One car I sold became a delivery vehicle for a pizza biz. - As to Emerson's statement, things had so often given me fits I modified his truth to: "Things are in the saddle and ride Brian." I haven’t driven for several years, but there was a
time in my life when I drove 25,000 miles a year
and purchased a new car every two years. It was a
way to keep myself perpetually in debt. One car I
sold became a delivery vehicle for a pizza biz.
-
As to Emerson’s statement, things had so often
given me fits I modified his truth to:
“Things are in the saddle and ride Brian.”

]]> By: loren http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-9085 loren Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:52:04 +0000 http://www.lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/2007/07/25/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/#comment-9085 In one sense, I wouldn't teach it for the same reason I never thought of offering Moby Dick to my high school classes. First, it's just plain too long and too complex. It would end up eating up almost a half year of a high school literature class to teach it adequately. Second, it's too hard. Most of the students in a high school class would only get it on a superficial level, if they got it at all. Perhaps more importantly, I'm, still not sure I "got" it. There are whole sections. like on the pre-Socratic philosophers that's just plai over my head. Then I begin to wonder if that's even relevant? Does it matter if Phaedrus' view is confirmed by a group of dead Greeks? Or, are we only concerned with whether his ideas are valid or not? Ultimately, I wanted some sort of "expertise" in anything I taught. Without taking an entire class devoted to Pirsig, I doubt I would feel like an expert when it comes to his work. In one sense, I wouldn’t teach it for the same reason I never thought of offering Moby Dick to my high school classes.

First, it’s just plain too long and too complex. It would end up eating up almost a half year of a high school literature class to teach it adequately.

Second, it’s too hard. Most of the students in a high school class would only get it on a superficial level, if they got it at all.

Perhaps more importantly, I’m, still not sure I “got” it. There are whole sections. like on the pre-Socratic philosophers that’s just plai over my head. Then I begin to wonder if that’s even relevant? Does it matter if Phaedrus’ view is confirmed by a group of dead Greeks? Or, are we only concerned with whether his ideas are valid or not? Ultimately, I wanted some sort of “expertise” in anything I taught.

Without taking an entire class devoted to Pirsig, I doubt I would feel like an expert when it comes to his work.

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