Zen Motorcycles and Old Calamano's Dog

Two of my favorite books are The Stranger by Albert Camus (pdf) and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (pdf).

Albert Camus: Old Salamano and his Dog

Albert Camus was a French philosopher. He focused most of his philosophy around existential questions. The absurdity of life, the inevitable ending (death) is highlighted in his acts, his belief that the absurd – life being void of meaning, or man's inability to know that meaning if it were to exist – was something that man should embrace. 

Scott Morrison: Awareness

Thinking about awareness is not awareness.

Conformity

Ideally, what should be said to every child repeatedly,

throughout his or her school life is something like this: 

Zen Story: In His Time of Dying

A Zen teacher was on his deathbed. 

His student asked if he had any last words.

The master replied, “I am afraid of dying.” 

i sing of Olaf glad and big

 i sing of Olaf glad and big

E. E. Cummings - 1894-1962

e. e.cummings

i sing of Olaf glad and big
whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

Politics: Tiny Trinkets

One cannot impose a dynamic, expansive, metaphysical

vision of existence on timid minds who crave the miniature, 

like porcelain bibelots of frogs and sparrows. 

Camille Paglia: Free Women, Free Men page 257-8 (pdf).

Who is 'Not Us'?:

Compassion hurts.

When you feel connected to everything,

you also feel responsible for everything.

And you cannot turn away. 

Richard Brautigan: Trout Fishing in America

I am trying to remember who introduced me 

to Richard Brautigan. I should know. 

Someone who reads him must be intriguing. 

Trout Fishing in America 
pdf here

Finding Yourself: In Books

It's much easier to not know things sometimes. Things change, and friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody. I wanted to laugh. Or maybe get mad. Or maybe shrug at how strange everybody was, especially me.