Jun 13, 2023·edited Jun 13, 2023Liked by Jason McBride
Years ago a friend shared a quote with me, "Life is absurd. Because it's absurd, there is always hope." I think it's something a character said in a Graham Greene novel I never read. I believe this creation we are all living together in is charged through with love - but not a love for anyone in particular, which means it is simultaneously beautiful and a vicious hellscape. Something like Jack Gilbert says in A Brief for the Defense, "We must have / the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless / furnace of this world. To make injustice the only / measure of our attention is to praise the Devil." (I have to thank Chris La Tray, https://chrislatray.substack.com, and his Poetry as a Spiritual Practice course for leading me to that poem and a bunch of other wonderful poems in the book The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness and Joy.")
That is a beautiful Jack Gilbert line! I didn't realize Chris La Tray had a Substack! I just subscribed. It seems to me that hope is the only way we can ever make things better. If we lack hope, what is there to fight for?
I think so. I think it's also possible to be Absurdly Zen. At least I hope so because being a Zen Absurdist or Absurdly Zen is something that feels good to me.
We mean meaning
Sometimes we even meme meaning
Thank you! Thought provoking piece.
Thanks for reading!
God bless absurdists
This made me chuckle! Yes, god bless the absurdists!
Years ago a friend shared a quote with me, "Life is absurd. Because it's absurd, there is always hope." I think it's something a character said in a Graham Greene novel I never read. I believe this creation we are all living together in is charged through with love - but not a love for anyone in particular, which means it is simultaneously beautiful and a vicious hellscape. Something like Jack Gilbert says in A Brief for the Defense, "We must have / the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless / furnace of this world. To make injustice the only / measure of our attention is to praise the Devil." (I have to thank Chris La Tray, https://chrislatray.substack.com, and his Poetry as a Spiritual Practice course for leading me to that poem and a bunch of other wonderful poems in the book The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness and Joy.")
That is a beautiful Jack Gilbert line! I didn't realize Chris La Tray had a Substack! I just subscribed. It seems to me that hope is the only way we can ever make things better. If we lack hope, what is there to fight for?
So true. I think wake up everyday because we have hope.
Believer some days; absurdist on others; but rarely (anymore) a nihilist.
I think that's where I am too.
Is it possible to be a Zen Absurdist?
I think so. I think it's also possible to be Absurdly Zen. At least I hope so because being a Zen Absurdist or Absurdly Zen is something that feels good to me.
You and me both, Sista!
Now that I think about this, didn't Ram Dass write a book about this?
Yes!!! "Be Here Now" and I have a copy in the living room!! I love the books illustrations and the handwritten text as well as the content...
There’s at least three of us then. Zen Absurdist feels about right
💚💙🥳🥳🥳🦋🌻🖍🍪
I’m a healthy mix of believer/absurdist. Probably not too far off from where you stand, Jason!
I think I'm a believer. I don't know how not to be one. :)