After learning and learning about the beats, listening to the beats, reading about them (hearing many anecdotes and interesting factoids) it is finally nice to see the beats in action. It is fun to read about their crazy nights, come along with them on their misadventures and quest for enlightenment, and see the beat life-style that they do. After knowing so much about them, we finally get a change to hang out with our beatnik friends.
What I enjoyed in the beginning chapters of the novel is how Alvah, Ray, and Japhy each represent all spectrums of devotion. Japhy is the dedicated monk-like “master” that is profoundly spiritual, sees the wonderful splendor in all the things in this world and is serious towards his oriental relationship. Ray is the so-so guy, that is lured and inspired by Japhy but is not disciplined enough to commit himself. Ray is definitely desires to submit himself to Japhy’s influence and Zen Buddhism, but is restrained by his ties to Catholicism. A Dharma Bum is a religious and spiritual wonderer (P. 5) that practices selfless charity, claims poverty, and is always in traveling in order to free oneself. They are in search of nirvana and enlightenment, very similar to the beats and their quest of beatitude. Beats, in my opinion, are a western spin and interpretation of Zen Buddhism.
People always return to their roots and what they’ve known their entire life. Ray returns to Catholicism and Japhy to the wilderness. I enjoyed on page 47, “The woods do that to you, they always look familiar, long lost, like the face of a long-dead relative, like an old dream, like a piece of forgotten song drifting across the water…” I feel that it illustrates the point they we as humans are bound and connected to nature, but we forget this relationship. It is not until we are surrounded by nature, entrenched in her again, that we remember and realize her. Every time I go hiking or a camping trip, I begin to feel tiny, insignificant, and pathetic in the awe of nature.
Question:
Has anyone felt or attempted this Buddhist Zen sensation to return to nature?
In our society is it possible to return to nature? The wilderness that we decide not to chop down are made into National Park, season permits and camping passes are required nowadays, could a person really return to nature like Ray and Japhy do?
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I always think of returning to nature as something that has to be done on a journey, and usually only happens for a short while. Ray and Japhy, Japhy especially, seem to be intent on finding some meaning by an extended existence in nature. And while it may be pretty hard these days to find a place to truly return to nature, we can always learn to meditate on the world in a different way (there's always a way to become a Dharma Bum). I liked your analysis of Ray, especially the "so-so guy" bit. He really does seem pretty decent most of the time, but like any character, the poor guy has flaws.
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