[MD] A fly in the MOQ ointment

[plattholden at gmail.com]

Well John,

You could be right, but Zen plays a rather prominent role in Pirsig's 
books including of course, the title of his first one.

In "Lila's Child," wherein he comments on some of the assertions made 
by early contributors to this site, he specifically connected Zen 
understanding to the MOQ::

"In Zen there is reference to 'big self' and 'small self.' Small self is the 
patterns. Big self is Dynamic Quality. (LC, note 29) 

To me that suggests that Zen to Pirsig is not "one among many" 
approaches to reality but the most enlightened approach among many.  
Of course, I could be wrong.

Platt   



On 17 Feb 2010 at 18:48, John Carl wrote:

> Well Platt,
> 
> I think your contradiction  issue pivots upon a very small word switch in
> your formulation:
> 
> If Zen is the key to understanding reality
> >
> 
> The switch is from "the" to "a".  I mean if Zen is THE key, then we oughta
> call it the MoZ, and focus upon that teaching heritage.
> 
> But since the MoQ is not just more Zen, but a uniquely American synthesis of
> differing approaches to understanding reality, Zen one among many, we are
> not caught in contradiction for picking and choosing is also a valid key to
> reality.  A different way, but not a  "wrong" way.
> 
> John