The Parabola of the Sacred Bull

[Cuddlefish]

Seeking-Answers approached his teacher Asking-Questions, seemingly distraught.

"What appears to be the problem?" Asking-Questions inquired of his student. "I can see your distress, it carries faster than your image."

"I have become troubled, teacher." replied Seeking-Answers. "I have been your dedicated student for many years, and mind carefully everything you teach. Yet, with all this knowledge and wisdom, I still feel that I do not grasp the Way."

"Have you, indeed, listened carefully to all that I've said?" asked Asking-Questions.

"Yes, teacher."

"Have you meditated to find personal meanings in these teachings?"

"Yes, I devote many hours in contemplation."

"Do you understand what I've said with the clarity needed to impart that information to others?"

"Yes, I can recall your exact words, down to the spaces and pauses in between."

"Well." Said Asking-Questions. "It seems you have grasped the Way."

"But, why, then," continued Seeking-Answers, "is it that I feel such discontent?"

"Because," said Asking-Questions, "merely grasping the Way, you flail about at it's mercy, like a rodeo clown hooked on the horn of a bull. When you let go of the Way, only then you are free to float with its momentum towards the Heavens."

[Dimocritus]

Shut up, asshole.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Dimo are you talking to yourself?

[iarmit]

Dimo are you talking to yourself?

Whatever do you mean Twid? It is quite obvious that Dimocritus is just a
schmuck jealous of Cudgelfish's insightful writings. But then again, do we
expect anything more from a muppet?

[The Wizard Joseph]

 

[Cramulus]

I read this yesterday, been chewing on it for a while

I like the story, I like the message

(you can feel free, by the way, to use my characters Bung Fu the Fool and the monk Nopants)

something about it is a little off though... and this is something that's also wrong with some of my little discordian zen stories. And that's mostly just format... basically that you shouldn't explain the enlightenment, it should just be an event. The master should give an answer, and that answer is a little confusing, and IN that confusion lies the REAL answer.

Like the way I would have written this would be to have the master say, "Yeah, you've been on this path a while and you still don't get it. I don't think you ever will."

And then seeker says Fuck It and quits the Work.

and only when he's off the path does he realize that he was on it the whole time

that leaving the path is part of the path

and, as the Taoists say, once you've set foot on the path, you will never truly leave it

Tao Te Ching ch9
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

it sounds like the seeker is waiting for the master's approval.

and the true master does not need any approval.

[Cramulus]

something about it is a little off though... and this is something that's also wrong with some of my little discordian zen stories. And that's mostly just format... basically that you shouldn't explain the enlightenment, it should just be an event. The master should give an answer, and that answer is a little confusing, and IN that confusion lies the REAL answer.

just to expand on this...


you're telling a zen story

you're the Master, and the reader is the Student.

The Student is reading your story because he wants the wisdom.

The character in your story approaches the master for Wisdom.

Both in the story and in life, if the Master just tells the student what's up, if he just explains things in plain language, he will deceive the student.

The student will think that enlightenment is something you can read in a book, and once you've read that book, you are wise.

That's Seeking-Answer's problem too... he thinks that just by going through the motions, he's done the Work. he is waiting for the Master to tell him what's next. To give him a graduation party and a certificate of enlightenment.

The Master can't do that. He has to get Seeking Answers give HIMSELF the diploma.

And You can't do that either. You have to get the readers to draw that conclusion on their own.


There's no instruction manual for enlightenment - it's more like hobo code.

[LMNO]

Chao te Ching Chapter 9
Write the longest, wisest essay
and no one will have time to read it.
Temper the truth to its very sharpest,
and you will cut both friend and foe.

The Ancients do not want you to read their books.
They want you to ride their bikes.

Who wants to ride a five thousand year old bike?

You can get better advice from cats
than from parodies of ancient wisdom.

[Doktor Howl]

Chao te Ching Chapter 9
Write the longest, wisest essay
and no one will have time to read it.
Temper the truth to its very sharpest,
and you will cut both friend and foe.

The Ancients do not want you to read their books.
They want you to ride their bikes.

Who wants to ride a five thousand year old bike?

You can get better advice from cats
than from parodies of ancient wisdom.

Is there a collection of this stuff?

[LMNO]

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/cramulus/index.php?title=Sacred_Chao_Te_Ching

[Doktor Howl]

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/cramulus/index.php?title=Sacred_Chao_Te_Ching

Thanks.

[Dimocritus]

Hey, thanks for your feedback, guys.

I recently just picked up "Zhuangzi - The Essential Writings" again (been reading it episodically over the past year or so) the day I wrote this. To be honest, I only wrote this because I cannot sleep if I feel like I hadn't accomplished anything, and writing this was a way for me to process things I've read, and give myself a slight sense of accomplishment. It was around four in the morning, and i knew there was something "not-quite-right" about it (especially the ending). Not that I didn't have an idea where it was off, but at four in the morning I was beginning to not care 

Then again, someone named after an ancient Greek philosopher writing Taoist material is bound to be a little... off.

Cram, you make some really great points about this, and other Western attempts at Taoist writing. Thing is, the way I feel about it, this (and other pieces in question) isn't really a Taoist piece. Inspired by, definitely. But in the end, this (and a lot of what I write, and a lot of what others write) is, IMO, simply a piece of Discordian writing. A hodge podge of Western meets Eastern (if distinction's can even be made when looking at it from this angle) except there's not enough "silly" in this one (that's the only reason for the mention of the rodeo clown. It needed something silly).

In the end, though, I guess all I can really say is

Rutabaga Choo-choo

[Cramulus]

Thing is, the way I feel about it, this (and other pieces in question) isn't really a Taoist piece. Inspired by, definitely. But in the end, this (and a lot of what I write, and a lot of what others write) is, IMO, simply a piece of Discordian writing. A hodge podge of Western meets Eastern (if distinction's can even be made when looking at it from this angle) except there's not enough "silly" in this one (that's the only reason for the mention of the rodeo clown. It needed something silly).

to clarify - my critique isn't that it's not Taoist enough... I'm speaking more about what I think would make it better overall, regardless of genre. If you hand them the moral, they don't have to think. The epiphany is much more powerful if they arrive there on their own.

[Dimocritus]

Thing is, the way I feel about it, this (and other pieces in question) isn't really a Taoist piece. Inspired by, definitely. But in the end, this (and a lot of what I write, and a lot of what others write) is, IMO, simply a piece of Discordian writing. A hodge podge of Western meets Eastern (if distinction's can even be made when looking at it from this angle) except there's not enough "silly" in this one (that's the only reason for the mention of the rodeo clown. It needed something silly).

to clarify - my critique isn't that it's not Taoist enough... I'm speaking more about what I think would make it better overall, regardless of genre. If you hand them the moral, they don't have to think. The epiphany is much more powerful if they arrive there on their own.

I see, and agree.


Stilts on a pumpkin.

[Dimocritus]

Also, feel I must apologize for my response. Typed it immediately after I woke up. Sleepy is not the best frame of mind for reading comprehension or clarity of response.