ROGER STAYS UP TOO LATE AND RESPONDS TO MARY TOO
Mary writes:
>I found another Pirsig quote that
>has me stranded on a rock between empiricism and solipsism.
>On pg 439 teal is written,
>"'Dharma' is Quality itself, the principle of
>'rightness' which gives structure and purpose to the evolution of all life
>and to the evolving understanding of the universe WHICH LIFE HAS CREATED
>within modern Buddhist thought dharma becomes the phenomenal world - the
>object of perception, thought, or understanding."
>I still don't believe you can apply solipsism to the MOQ though, unless you
>are willing to say that even you yourself exist only in your own head.
>Ideas? Thoughts?
I think Walter's post points to answers to this dilemma, but without
repeating them let me add:
Glove and I are in complete agreement that Pirsig repeatedly states that the
perceived universe is an intellectual construct. Where I disagree with some
of Glove and Platt's recent comments is where they show that this implies it
is all in your head. The Pirsig quote that only life can perceive or respond
to DQ supports their position and undermines mine. My disagreement is
therefore with Glove, Platt and this quote of Pirsig. I believe it
undermines and is inconsistent with the overall MOQ.
My escape clause to solipsism is that our selves and our heads and life
itself are just intellectual constructs too. We are all DQ.
Rich was saying something similar IMHO with his Maya Creation. The perceived
world and self is the eternal illusory dance of Lila.
Roger
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