David X 3, Struan, and John;
WOW. I must say my mind is reeling after reading the recent
discussion. That's good though, hopefully it will lead to some DQ.
What's interesting in this discussion is that the various responses of
the participants illustrate the very principles of the MoQ.
My first post to this discussion group was an admonition to remember the
Dynamic, and if I recall it wasn't sugar-coated. I must confess I was a
little intoxicated at the time, both on the MoQ (I had been reading
Lila) and a couple glasses of wine. Don't get me wrong, I understand
that static quality is indispensible. In fact, my own nature probably
tends more toward the static than to the dynamic. I think that is why
I'm attracted to mysticism; I feel more trapped than most by my static
filters.
But the whole purpose of mysticism, whether it be in the guise of Zen
Buddhism, Sufi whirling dervishes, ecstatic Christians, or Native
Americans on vision quests or visiting with Mescalito is to directly
experience Dynamic Quality. There certainly are vast differences
between various methods of experiencing DQ. Some seek to experience It
as manifested in daily routines. Others seek to experience It directly
through temporary disruption of static patterns and then to return to
normal routines enriched by their experiences. I don't believe that any
one school is objectively right or wrong. A particular school may be
wrong for a particular individual. Each one is merely a different path
to the top of the same mountain (to borrow the familiar metaphor).
Balance between static quality and Dynamic Quality seems to be the key.
Too much holding onto static patterns leads to stagnation and
degeneracy. Too much seeking of Dynamic Quality leads to madness.
Pirsig had his own bout with madness from which the entire MoQ seemed to
originate. Personally, I don't know if I want to go quite that far.
However, I do believe that anyone who pursues a mystic vision must
understand that the risk of going too far (i.e. insane) is very real.
That is one reason that I think avoiding drugs is probably wise for most
people seeking enlightenment. That doesn't mean that I don't think they
can't work. I just think it's taking a bigger risk.
But I am glad that there are certain people willing to take such risks.
I'm better because of the risk that Pirsig took. I'm better for the
risk Siddhartha Gautama took. For both of these, the risk worked out,
they were enlightened (although Pirsig seems to indicate he believes he
was on the brink of enlightenment but had it ripped away from him by the
intervention of society via ECT). Both returned to attempt to teach
what they had learned. Buddha was deified and is still worshipped, but
more importantly he devised static patterns to capture the DQ he
experienced (the eightfold path). Pirsig obviously stimulated each of
us involved in this discussion group and millions of others to re-think
the way we view the world. The experiences of Buddha and Pirsig
demonstrate the balance between static quality and Dynamic Quality.
Each individual is faced with the hard facts of life and either suffers
until it ends, gives in to despair, anesthetizes him/herself with any
number of addictions (including food, booze, drugs, sex, sports, social
distraction, religion,...), or finds a way to balance the chaotic,
potentially destructive, but imminently beautiful Dynamic Quality with
the orderly, potentially stagnating, but reassuringly useful static
quality.
Well I've spent far too long reading, thinking, and writing tonight, but
I'm glad I did it. Now I must be off to submit my biological patterns
to a good thrashing so that I can increase my social quality and also
because my intellect tells me it will help me to live a longer,
healthier life (in other words, I have to go run a few miles).
Later,
T.R. Ellis
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