All he's doing is looking for release from samsara, though his approach is fundamentally flawed as he has yet to apprehend the Four Noble Truths. As such, I see him more as a potential Buddhist rather than an actual one.
Yes. But destroying the wheel would perhaps be an easier path to achieve the same goal? After all, release and nothingness is what it is.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
In Support of Other Fiction
- 01/12/2009 09:06:14 PM
2526 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1589 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1589 Views
Re:
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1587 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1587 Views
you shouldn't feel the need to defend a non SF/F suggestion, just don't
- 03/12/2009 03:34:28 PM
1548 Views
Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 01/12/2009 09:46:35 PM
1516 Views
I would counter that the stripping away removes a level of reality.
- 01/12/2009 10:05:28 PM
1595 Views
That's a Slippery Slope Because You Could Argue On the Same Basis That All Fiction Does That.
- 01/12/2009 11:34:34 PM
1660 Views
I don't see the slippery slope, but rather, a confirmation of my original point.
- 02/12/2009 01:41:24 AM
1574 Views
perhaps some university will do a study
- 03/12/2009 03:55:54 PM
1559 Views
I'd like to see it
- 03/12/2009 09:15:12 PM
1577 Views
I Think I'll Post a Thread on This.
- 03/12/2009 06:47:05 PM
1530 Views
I'd like to see it.
- 03/12/2009 09:23:07 PM
1622 Views
Regarding depth in Jordan
- 03/12/2009 09:31:19 PM
1568 Views
I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:05:40 PM
1547 Views
Re: I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:09:26 PM
1615 Views
Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:18:08 PM
1487 Views
Re: Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:30:15 PM
1564 Views
It would. Destroying the Wheel would likely make him a Buddhist.
- 03/12/2009 10:51:17 PM
1521 Views
I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1646 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1646 Views
Re: I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1572 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1572 Views
I Don't Believe It Cursory, But Comparative.
- 04/12/2009 11:29:36 PM
1708 Views
Re: Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 02/12/2009 12:28:30 AM
1546 Views
I find Michel Houellebecq to be one of the most intriguing writers of our time
- 01/12/2009 11:14:05 PM
1621 Views
wait! there's somebody "dirtier" than Piers Anthony or Philip Jose Farmer???
- 03/12/2009 04:00:28 PM
1615 Views
Nice post.
- 02/12/2009 12:03:09 AM
1668 Views
I guess I'll break my silence after almost a month and a half...
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1622 Views
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1622 Views
Popcorn?
- 02/12/2009 12:31:44 AM
1607 Views
I'm glad I could drive you from your Carthusian retreat, Larry
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1593 Views
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1593 Views
It won't last for long - have too many things still to deal with in my life
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1615 Views
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1615 Views
That's too bad. I'll have to learn monasterial sign language to continue a dialogue.
- 02/12/2009 03:49:01 AM
1516 Views
I concur
- 02/12/2009 12:27:13 AM
1514 Views
I like your framing of the issue (and Shannara is the Taco Bell of writing).
- 02/12/2009 02:03:51 AM
1600 Views
Am i the only one who reads books for fun?
- 02/12/2009 12:33:52 AM
1610 Views
I certainly didn't read The Lost Symbol for ANY cultural, intellectual or edifying reason.
- 02/12/2009 02:05:45 AM
1544 Views
Of course not. Personally, I don't touch anything other than mind candy when I'm in school,
- 02/12/2009 03:29:23 AM
1546 Views
one of the things that is important to me in books/shows
- 03/12/2009 05:20:29 PM
1447 Views
WoT has decent characterization, though a little overwrought. Harrington... not so much.
- 04/12/2009 04:26:43 AM
1715 Views
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a science fiction/fantasy movie.
- 02/12/2009 12:54:08 AM
1599 Views
Reading only speculative literature is limiting and monotonous.
- 02/12/2009 02:09:42 AM
1625 Views
I was going to say exactly that about "real" literature: monotonous and limiting.
- 02/12/2009 01:57:49 PM
1592 Views
I would not disagree with you if you said that.
- 02/12/2009 02:27:08 PM
1478 Views
Most non-speculative fiction is fluff as well though.
- 03/12/2009 05:38:32 PM
1466 Views
Which brings us back to my point.
- 03/12/2009 08:04:24 PM
1561 Views
I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 05:24:02 PM
1463 Views
Re: I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 10:42:33 PM
1476 Views
Actually, it is a film that does not fit neatly into one category
- 02/12/2009 11:16:20 AM
1574 Views
Science Fiction is the most PERTINANT form of fiction in the world today
- 02/12/2009 12:57:19 AM
1594 Views
"Pertinent", not "Pertinant". If it weren't in all caps I'd have ignored it this time.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:36 AM
1582 Views
SF&F and 'real literature' are not mutually exclusive
- 02/12/2009 01:19:05 AM
1554 Views
So why don't we occasionally focus on "real" books that are technically spec fiction?
- 02/12/2009 01:25:04 AM
1477 Views
Why must we limit our focus in that way?
- 02/12/2009 02:20:11 AM
1509 Views
I don't see it as limiting or forcing.
- 02/12/2009 03:16:07 AM
1492 Views
"Elite club" or "elitist clique"?
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1471 Views
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1471 Views
Elite club is how we midwestern rednecks refer to Elitist Clique. *chews on a piece of hay*
- 02/12/2009 02:52:01 PM
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I was born in the Midwest.
- 02/12/2009 03:01:36 PM
1505 Views
I know.
- 02/12/2009 03:12:05 PM
1512 Views
...!
- 02/12/2009 03:17:57 PM
1470 Views
Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:29:31 PM
1555 Views
Re: Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:31:26 PM
1470 Views
Huh! I really didn't think of you as being a masochist.
- 02/12/2009 01:51:55 AM
1500 Views
Read what you like to read.
- 02/12/2009 04:18:53 AM
1638 Views
I'll super size you. Fine. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 04:32:58 AM
755 Views
Oh noes! I'm getting word-fat!
- 02/12/2009 04:59:05 AM
1523 Views
I seem to have struck a nerve.
- 02/12/2009 05:20:27 AM
1545 Views
Apparently not the nerve you think, though.
- 02/12/2009 06:42:02 AM
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Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:10 PM
1577 Views
Re: Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 09:40:28 PM
1613 Views
I really did get under your skin
- 02/12/2009 09:58:18 PM
1434 Views
Tom as much as you raise some great points, you are being a condescending ass.
- 03/12/2009 04:26:27 AM
1504 Views
You're entitled to your opinion. I don't care.
- 03/12/2009 04:51:18 AM
1485 Views
I keep replying. It's like a sickness.
- 03/12/2009 05:15:28 AM
1494 Views
Hm.
- 02/12/2009 06:58:56 AM
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Re-read my exact point.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:20 PM
1440 Views
No. Some kind of reading is indeed essential.
- 02/12/2009 02:28:22 PM
1590 Views
There may have been an assumption about literature due to the reason for the post.
- 02/12/2009 02:37:47 PM
1537 Views
Somehow I get the feeling that this post hasn't caused quite as much controversy
- 02/12/2009 06:53:18 AM
1633 Views
As I see it...
- 02/12/2009 11:38:07 AM
1512 Views
Yep.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:22 PM
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Re: Yep.
- 02/12/2009 03:35:38 PM
1526 Views
Euripides was poorly received, initially.
- 02/12/2009 03:57:58 PM
1447 Views
I wasn't looking to generate controversy
- 02/12/2009 02:19:13 PM
1627 Views
Well... then I'm going to have to agree with Craig a bit.
- 02/12/2009 02:32:59 PM
1626 Views
Well, I was being somewhat denigrating. "Unnecessarily" or not is a matter of debate.
- 02/12/2009 02:40:29 PM
1477 Views
Well, it's only "unnecessary" if you don't want people to be turned off of your message immediately. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 09:42:46 PM
736 Views
Judging from the responses, most people weren't turned off immediately.
- 02/12/2009 09:59:35 PM
1457 Views
All reading of fiction is a diversion by the very nature of the activity.
- 02/12/2009 03:43:05 PM
1507 Views
Diversion from direct action, yes. Diversion from reality, no.
- 02/12/2009 04:15:48 PM
1478 Views
I maintain that all acts of reading fiction are a diversion from reality/ the realistic
- 02/12/2009 05:43:16 PM
1512 Views
It seems a regressive argument to me.
- 03/12/2009 01:18:02 AM
1445 Views
You're playing a game.
- 03/12/2009 03:40:14 PM
1551 Views
I fundamentally agree with much of what you're saying, but there is a distinction.
- 03/12/2009 06:44:02 PM
1589 Views
Spec fic is perhaps at it's best in autocracies?
- 02/12/2009 04:10:56 PM
1406 Views
Bulgakov
- 02/12/2009 04:25:17 PM
1537 Views
I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:36:09 PM
1500 Views
Re: I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:40:16 PM
1404 Views
Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:17:31 PM
1463 Views
Re: Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:40:16 PM
1505 Views
I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 06:26:30 PM
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Re: I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 07:25:26 PM
1500 Views
This was something I was exploring earlier.
- 02/12/2009 04:34:41 PM
1612 Views
Funny thing about the hivemind antagonist.
- 02/12/2009 05:13:30 PM
1518 Views
I didn't see the zombies reading speculative fiction
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1584 Views
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1584 Views
Oh, they prefer Clive Cussler.
- 02/12/2009 06:23:42 PM
1533 Views
There's an interesting book in Russian that might be translated somewhere.
- 02/12/2009 10:02:48 PM
1555 Views
i think it comes more down to quality than genre.
- 02/12/2009 04:55:20 PM
1521 Views
I disagree with the ultimate conclusion but agree with many of your points.
- 02/12/2009 05:43:04 PM
1519 Views
the illiad is a classic
- 02/12/2009 06:35:24 PM
1518 Views
There's only one "L" in Iliad
- 02/12/2009 08:18:38 PM
1485 Views
It took me a few minutes to agree
- 02/12/2009 07:04:59 PM
1491 Views
Well, I'm glad if you got something out of the post!
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1493 Views
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1493 Views
Many people have mentioned that there's quite a bit of good sff lit out there and you seem to agree.
- 02/12/2009 07:33:42 PM
1569 Views
The website is called "Read and Find Out". It doesn't specify what we're supposed to read.
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1564 Views
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1564 Views
Anti the idea ? I see no evidence for this.
- 02/12/2009 09:50:37 PM
1516 Views
Heh
- 02/12/2009 09:56:30 PM
1527 Views
I have a few objections.
- 03/12/2009 12:24:43 AM
1513 Views
where else should we talk about it?
- 03/12/2009 12:37:26 AM
1514 Views
There's a difference between having threads about it and focusing the official book club on it.
- 03/12/2009 12:40:53 AM
1574 Views
This is the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Board for site optimization purposes.
- 03/12/2009 01:07:39 AM
14497 Views
random thoughts stole my subject line
- 03/12/2009 01:56:07 AM
1582 Views
I think I could agree with a "comfort food" analogy
- 03/12/2009 02:12:01 AM
1546 Views
That's it
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1631 Views
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1631 Views
Question: is it really science fiction without one of the following:
- 03/12/2009 05:13:21 AM
1515 Views
technically speaking, fantasy is classed as a sub heading under science fiction. *NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:51:12 PM
663 Views
Yes, it is but actually...
- 03/12/2009 09:31:44 PM
1483 Views
But Dan Brown rocks da house!!!
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
768 Views
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
768 Views
another thing wrong with your argument
- 03/12/2009 03:30:19 PM
1553 Views
Absolutely not. And, as I said before, there's only one "L" in Iliad.
- 03/12/2009 06:53:35 PM
1328 Views
sorry about my atrocious spelling
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1605 Views
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1605 Views
is it just me, or is this now the largest post/thread yet on RAFO.com??? 168 replies so far! *NM*
- 03/12/2009 05:03:25 PM
707 Views
Congratulations on the replies count
- 03/12/2009 09:30:41 PM
1617 Views
That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 03/12/2009 10:50:29 PM
1571 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 07:44:56 PM
1602 Views
But the objective truth of a setting can be measured.
- 04/12/2009 10:37:10 PM
1487 Views
But does it make any difference in the objective value of the book?
- 06/12/2009 09:35:59 AM
1639 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:08 PM
1513 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 06/12/2009 09:36:11 AM
1508 Views
I've obviously missed the show here...
- 04/12/2009 12:14:30 AM
1457 Views
I'm not sure that's right. This thing just keeps growing.
- 04/12/2009 12:46:24 AM
1566 Views
What, your penis?
- 06/12/2009 02:40:09 AM
1510 Views
Don't you know it!
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1369 Views
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1369 Views
You talk the talk, that's for sure.
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1523 Views
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1523 Views
Metaphor versus literalism
- 04/12/2009 05:42:03 PM
1559 Views
Metaphor divorced from the reality runs risks, however.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:47 PM
1436 Views
Honestly, the moral can always be dismissed as inapplicable if you want to dismiss it.
- 05/12/2009 12:16:39 AM
1456 Views
While that's true, it's much harder to just dismiss Mockingbird.
- 05/12/2009 03:57:42 AM
1434 Views
Then why read fiction at all? It's all a diversion.
- 05/12/2009 04:16:06 PM
1472 Views
I think people should read non-fiction, and The Nine Hundred Days is an excellent book.
- 05/12/2009 04:41:50 PM
1518 Views
aha. but.
- 07/12/2009 03:56:48 PM
1697 Views
