[MD] Definitions.

[ARLO JAMES BENSINGER JR]

[David]
Why would Pirsig, the author, put this kind of line in there? Could it just be that he was a little more aware of his biases. 

[Arlo]
Sure, the dialogue between Phaedrus and Lila is quite relevant. He established in ZMM that Phaedrus embodied "classic quality", and the character in Lila pretty much carries that through. Of course, the point is the synthesis, just as it was in ZMM. And that was my point. He's not saying intellect is an enemy or a prison or SOM or something 'bad' to be overcome (by the hero Lila). 

[David] 
Just like the "Kill the intellect...translation that  Marsha loves to quote does not mean go blow your brains out. 

[Arlo]
Well, of course not, THAT would be killing biological patterns. But the goal is to bring the Buddha INTO intellect, to make rationality ART, not to abandon reason and rationality in favor of incoherence and anti-intellectual stupidity.

Building a metaphysics is every much an artform as building a rotisserie, or repairing a motorcycle, or painting a watercolor, or dancing a ballet. You can't splash paint on a canvas and claim its art just because you abandoned 'rules'. 

By the way, I'm savoring the irony that you're arguing with DMB about the importance and significance of precise definitions and meanings ("stable" versus "static").

[David]
Sorry I overlooked your pedantry, Arlo.  You can go to the head of the class.

[Arlo]
Thanks, your attempted insult I take as a compliment. Precision matters as much in crafting a motorcycle as it does in crafting a metaphysics.