From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Sat Jan 04 2003 - 04:49:09 GMT
Mari and all:
Thanks for the kind words. I'll respond to your questions below....
Mari said:
You also talk a lot about "The mystical reality" and the "Mystical
Experience" would it hurt to tell us in detail about yours David and how it
changed your life? What are the prerequisites for having one? Once you've
had one does it delivery you to a state of which there is no return? Can
others "see" that another has had one? Does it take one to know one? Are you
interested in what the living are doing or are the ancients the only real
heros? What do you think about Pirsig's choice to be absent from this group?
Do you think he shows up in his own Mask? Who are you?
DMB says:
Whew! I can't anwer all of these questions. Some of them are just too
difficult. Who am I? That's the one that really has me stumped. Just
kidding. I'm nobody. Just a hack wannabe.
The books about mysticism usually describe the experience better than I ever
could. The descriptions of his descent into madness (in ZAMM) and the peyote
ceremony (in Lila) are good examples. They've varied quite a bit in my own
experience, but usually its alot like Pirsig's in Lila, which is to say my
mind is drawn toward the comtemplation of the big picture. Once I even had a
"vision" where I "saw" creation unfold from the beginning of time of to that
moment. The quote marks seem right because it wasn't seen with the eyes.
Once, while camping, I felt particularly close to the primitives.
What are the pre-requisites? I don't know. I think there are none. There are
practices and paths, and spiritual enlightenment can take a lifetime. On the
other hand, if Platt is to be believed, one can have a mystical experience
while playing football. There's achievement and then there's grace.
I don't know if I can say how it changed my life. The first time was over
half a lifetime ago. It changed the way I see everything. Absolutely
everything.
A state from which there is no return? I think you're pulling my leg a
little, but actually that's one of the dangers. Remember Timothy Leary's
"turn on, tune in and drop out."? That "drop out" echoes an age old problem
of chasing the experience at the expense of all else. Personally, I think
that dropping out is immoral, even if it is to seek "God" or whatever.
Although, I have to confess living a quasi-bohemian lifestyle. I can't say
exactly why, but my mystical experiences have led me to "see" that fame and
fortune are ridiculous at best. All that kind of stuff is made to seem
childish and phony. That's why people drop out, I guess. The guidebook talks
about getting real again and living in the normal world after such an
experience. "Returning to the marketplace" is the metaphor there.
Does it take one to know one? I think I can spot a fake. But that's probably
just the most obvious fakes. But that's nothing special. Any kind of posuer
can get busted.
Am I interesting in the living or just the ancient heros? I don't think its
reasonable to assume that the two posts I sent you represent the scope of my
interests. That thread is about the Sophists and so I was just staying on
the topic. AND I have to say that I think it is very much about the living,
about you and me and everybody else here.
Pirsig's choice to stay away? I imagine a small part of him would love to
join in, but he's smart enough to know what a disaster it could be if he
did. I wish he drop in just once, like in a Woody Allen movie, to scold and
correct my enemies. Just kidding.
Thanks for asking,
DMB
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