Pirsig is great. I used his two books when I taught. He is being a bit idealistic here to make a point for the reader. After believing it is my path to be in the present and here, I frequently find I am not here and out of the present. When we notice we are one with everyone and everything, we are here. As humans, I notice I and others frequently forget we are here now. When one is partly here and partly in the now, movement toward the here and now may assist one to be in the here and now. On the other hand, trying to be in the here and now is trying and is frequently not being here and now at that moment of trying. Being aware of the trying seems to be helpful. It is difficult to realize there's nothing to know, nothing to realize and nothing to attain. As Gandhi or the Dalai llama said: "If you want others to be happy, be compassionate. If you want to be happy, be compassionate. I am most in the here and now when I am compassionate to others and myself. Perhaps you can tell from what I write, Iis'm frequently in my head. I intellectualize a lot of about being in the here and now being compassionate etc. yet I still find I am frequently impatient.. If I were more patient more often I would be more compassionate, and in the here and now more frequently. Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Warm and kind regards to everyone.
On May 2, 2013 Conrad P. Pritscher wrote :
Pirsig is great. I used his two books when I taught. He is being a bit idealistic here to make a point for the reader. After believing it is my path to be in the present and here, I frequently find I am not here and out of the present. When we notice we are one with everyone and everything, we are here. As humans, I notice I and others frequently forget we are here now. When one is partly here and partly in the now, movement toward the here and now may assist one to be in the here and now. On the other hand, trying to be in the here and now is trying and is frequently not being here and now at that moment of trying. Being aware of the trying seems to be helpful. It is difficult to realize there's nothing to know, nothing to realize and nothing to attain. As Gandhi or the Dalai llama said: "If you want others to be happy, be compassionate. If you want to be happy, be compassionate. I am most in the here and now when I am compassionate to others and myself. Perhaps you can tell from what I write, Iis'm frequently in my head. I intellectualize a lot of about being in the here and now being compassionate etc. yet I still find I am frequently impatient.. If I were more patient more often I would be more compassionate, and in the here and now more frequently. Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Warm and kind regards to everyone.