From: SQUONKSTAIL@aol.com
Date: Sun Jul 13 2003 - 21:07:22 BST
Hi Scott, Pi, Squonk and Sam & all,
Thanks for the welcome and your comments.
For starters, I remember the blinding illumination in my mind when I
finished reading ZAMM in 1979; reaffirming insights from when I was
introduced to buddhism and clarifying the position of western intellect in
that context. Even then and as now I think it is important to see past the
words to the insights beneath. For a discussion group such as the MOQ, and
for that matter the entire SOM, the rigidities imposed by language and
specific terminologies may hinder the sharing of our respective insights;
provoke our sensitives and biases.
Having said that I must state at the onset that when I finished reading
Lila, I had problems with Pirsig's use of an "undefined" Dynamic Quality,
even though I appreciated the sequel for its explanation of morality and and
the intellectual level: the primacy of the individual intellect versus the
biological needs of society as the determinant of change and evolution. But
for all the
benefits that Western intellect has brought to this world, it takes away,
leaving it in need not unlike what is described in this passage from James N
Powell"s The Tao of Symbols ISBN 0-688-01354-6 pp 170:
" The ancient poets speak in the name-form continuum. Thus in the act of
speaking or calling, sensible objects are created, are named and are divine.
The poetic universe of unity of name and form holds the subject, the name,
the deity and the object together - they are all one unified experience. But
when the illuminative Word falls, it fragments - subject, object and diety
are divided from one another. The name is only a word . The subject, if not
endowed with poetic vision, needs the priest to join all together again. And
thus all the Gods are seen in churches and temples rather than in the human
breast where the human heart pulses"
As for "more" or " better" intellect, I would say that we would be better
off being less attached to it. Our intellect can generate endless concepts
and constructions independent of reality. Yes we can fall in love with, be
infatuated with and dally with intellect as we would any other object of
desire. Of course we have the potential to do more with intellect. But we
could all take intellect to
absurd heights, wear it as a status symbol and manifest monstrosities that
is not only limited to the Western form: such as of what Pol Pot did to
Cambodia in the name of communism.
What Pirsig rails so much against is the institutionalised subject object
metaphysics of the western world, now as we speak working its way towards
total global domination with the same potential for disaster as any other
previous product of western intellect. The same institutionalisation of
intellect could have taken place in any other culture; with the same
consequences; but that is not the problem we are confronted with presently.
Just as I need to breathe, I need to think. But just as I need to be
aware/mindful/conscious of my breathing as my biological activity; I need to
be aware when I think, of my thinking as an intellectual activity. I do not
stop breathing when I think and I should not stop thinking when I meditate.
Just be aware that's all. But there's this thing about thinking getting in
the way of meditative insight, and if I try to think, the insight eludes me.
I am not advocating that we drop all or any thinking or intellectual
activity. It is as necessary for our mental health as breathing is for
living. But beyond thinking and beyond intellect is where we need to go.
Regards
Khoo Hock Aun
ps I really recommend the above reference : James N Powell"s The Tao of
Symbols 1982 ISBN 0-688-01354-6 as a cross cultural study on how to
transcend the limits of our symbolism.
Hello Khoo Hock Aun,
I will find the book you mention and read it.
squonk
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Jul 13 2003 - 21:08:02 BST