I just joined this forum after having been a TBL fan for a couple of years, and finding out about Dudeism a couple of weeks or so ago. I decided to become more dudelike a month or so ago, and my stress levels have dropped, my confidence risen, and feelings of depression/anxiety are rare when a couple of months ago they were frequent. I look forward to learning more Dudely ways in pursuit of total Dudeness! 

Enough about me. I have some questions about the finer points of Dudeist philosophy. I understand the basics, and that Dudeliness is fairly subjective, but there are things about Dudeism which I wonder about. It seems the goal and main practice is abiding, but what is the Dudeist view on all the bad shit going on in the world such as war, greed etc? I'm sure we can agree that warmaking and greed are very unDude, and we should avoid them personally, but would you guys "abide" these things and accept them, or try and change them. It seems the logical response to injustice would be to try and make a difference and have a certain degree of anger about it, but not to let the anger cloud our judgement or take it out on others. Would this be the Dudeist perspective? Is it possible to be both abiding and also caring about big problems?

"Become the change you wish to see" -  Gandhi
 

I just joined this forum after having been a TBL fan for a couple of years, and finding out about Dudeism a couple of weeks or so ago. I decided to become more dudelike a month or so ago, and my stress levels have dropped, my confidence risen, and feelings of depression/anxiety are rare when a couple of months ago they were frequent. I look forward to learning more Dudely ways in pursuit of total Dudeness!  

Enough about me. I have some questions about the finer points of Dudeist philosophy. I understand the basics, and that Dudeliness is fairly subjective, but there are things about Dudeism which I wonder about. It seems the goal and main practice is abiding, but what is the Dudeist view on all the bad shit going on in the world such as war, greed etc? I'm sure we can agree that warmaking and greed are very unDude, and we should avoid them personally, but would you guys "abide" these things and accept them, or try and change them. It seems the logical response to injustice would be to try and make a difference and have a certain degree of anger about it, but not to let the anger cloud our judgement or take it out on others. Would this be the Dudeist perspective? Is it possible to be both abiding and also caring about big problems?

There's no point me waiting until all the injustices in the world are solved (or even those that affect me) before I can find dudely serenity. I must first concentrate on realising my dudeliness. Once I've done that, perhaps then I can start to worry about injustices.

Consider the example of The Dude. He started chasing after something, perhaps a little bit of money, or a woman. He got caught up in events and was overwhelmed by them. Tragedy was the result. I suggest you meditate upon the first dream sequence.

In spite of all this, he was so well practiced in the dudely arts that he was able to solve the mystery by keeping his mind limber. And when it was all over, he was able to return back to his normal pastimes, e.g. oat sodas and bowling. The Dude Abides.

So the lesson for me is, before I run off trying to gain compensation for rugs micturated upon, or trying to save poor women from being killed,  I must make sure I am secure enough in my dudeliness to handle the pressures that are certain to come my way. Otherwise I'm entering a world of pain.