Moving Dudeism Forwards

[forumdude]

The Council of Dudeia! That's marvelous!

I think the main thing that impelled this post is that it was so fun to work on this documentary, meet some really sharp dudeists and dudeist-friendly philosophers and writers that Rev Ed got excited about it all and just wanted to put some energy into it. And that's cool, that's cool.

Also, it seems that there are two challenges when it comes to attracting more UK interest - first of all, many people seem to take issue with calling it a "religion." maybe it has something to do with the fact that they've just come out of a century of threats by "big ideas" and are loath to trust even the slightest hint of pie in the sky mysticism. also, religion is a very private thing over there. it seems that the idea of what a religion is in europe is a lot more narrow that what it is in the states. and certainly there is a lot more control of religion there. the US, after all, was founded on the notion of freedom of religion.

the second problem is that TBL is such a distinctly american movie (not just the characters and the setting, but the deep philosophy of the movie pertains directly to the notion of modern day americanism) that i suppose it's a little more alien a vehicle for our british bretheren and sisteren, not to mention the continentals and others.

so i dig where ed is coming from. and the other brits who seem to make up the lion's share of this forum (and that's fucking interesting, isn't it?). definitely stuff to keep in mind.

[BikerDude]

I don't care if people take Dudeism as a joke.
In a world of every type of religious reactionaries pissing on our rugs I find Dudeism to be a much more comfortable bathrobe.

It's not about taking it as a joke... I mean, life's a joke.  We don't want people who only want to take it seriously coming in here.  We want the light-heared, fun-loving, laid-back folks to come in and laugh with us.

What we don't want is people thinking there's no value in it, especially when some of these people are essentially with us, but feel the whole "movie-worship" thing is a detriment, not an asset.

Once again, this isn't about removing Lebowski, it's about not playing the videotape on a loop.  The movie may never get old, but the tape its on will wear out eventually

I don't really worry much about what others think.
I guess I find the idea of Evangelizing and "spreading the word" to be inherently Un-dude.
I mean the first thing you get when hitting the Dudeism site is...

Come join the slowest-growing religion in the world ? Dudeism. An ancient philosophy that preaches non-preachiness, practices as little as possible, and above all, uh?lost my train of thought there. Anyway, if you?d like to find peace on earth and goodwill, man, we?ll help you get started. Right after a little nap.

Seems like no matter how you cut it this is driven by a desire for social acceptance.
I find that as an aim to sort of go against the Dudeist way.
I mean even if you take "the movie" out of the equation, the Dude remains the model and I just don't see the Dude sweating whether people found him without value.
Personally I'm not out to change the world or even improve it. I just want to kick back with some oat soda's and if others want to join me that's cool. If not, hey the bonfire is still burning in the yard and I'm abiding. Dudeism just fits me. If it fits others that's cool.

[Rev. Ed C]

Well, no one's talking about forcing the message out there.  Certainly there's no recruitment drives or anything like that.  I'm not the sort to get excited about things, and I've certainly not tried to convert a single person, even the most dudely of my friends, but I will answer questions if asked, to the tune of my own Dudeist band.

In fact, in Edinburgh, someone told me I should be offering out our fliers.  My response was that I was going to stand there with with in my hand, if anyone wanted one they'd come to me, and if they wanted to know anything they'd ask me.

Once again, this is not about drastic changes anyone hopes to make, nor is it about "evangelising" *shudder* this whole Dudeist thing.  It's about talking about perspective.  Dudeism is about talking and sharing without arguing.  I was hoping for a kind of mass-debate, which altough I prefer to do manually, is sometimes aided by using the inner-net.

Talk, yes.
Action, no.

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

If you are being Dude, and avaialble to the world at large, and willing to explain what being Dude is, that is about as far as Dudevangelizing goes. It is enough, and it is abiding, and it is spreading the word.

We could take something away from the Shambhala crowd, they just live as "sacred warriers", and that is enough, same with Zen. Live the Dude, and it will all find it's place. Tonight I am going to a sitting with the Zen Peacemakers, I am going as a Dudeist, not to proselytize, but to just share space. Their ideas about bearing witness are like abiding in public, not exerting and not hiding, just being there to share.

[BikerDude]

If you are being Dude, and avaialble to the world at large, and willing to explain what being Dude is, that is about as far as Dudevangelizing goes. It is enough, and it is abiding, and it is spreading the word.

We could take something away from the Shambhala crowd, they just live as "sacred warriers", and that is enough, same with Zen. Live the Dude, and it will all find it's place. Tonight I am going to a sitting with the Zen Peacemakers, I am going as a Dudeist, not to proselytize, but to just share space. There ideas about bearing witness are like abiding in public, not exerting and not hiding, just being there to share.

Yeah that's cool man.
Don't get me wrong man. I do not doubt our Dudeliness.
Tonight I'll be grilling some steaks and kicking back with some frosties to watch the Red Sox.
The fact that there is a religion that finds that to resemble a ceremony is way cool.
I was Dude before there was Dudeism. That's the appeal for most I believe.

[Rev. Ed C]

If you are being Dude, and available to the world at large, and willing to explain what being Dude is, that is about as far as Dudevangelizing goes. It is enough, and it is abiding, and it is spreading the word.

We could take something away from the Shambhala crowd, they just live as "sacred warriers", and that is enough, same with Zen. Live the Dude, and it will all find it's place. Tonight I am going to a sitting with the Zen Peacemakers, I am going as a Dudeist, not to proselytize, but to just share space. There ideas about bearing witness are like abiding in public, not exerting and not hiding, just being there to share.

Yeah that's cool man.
Don't get me wrong man. I do not doubt our Dudeliness.
Tonight I'll be grilling some steaks and kicking back with some frosties to watch the Red Sox.

Those two sentiments make me proud to be a Dudeist

I'm not into the whole meat-eating thing, but I do love to attend barbeques, a great way to kick back and see other people enjoying themselves.

Personally, I'll just take some time this evening with the other half, chilling and kicking back with some simple fare, some cool liquid and maybe a good movie (or a bad one, if the mood takes us).

Simple pleasures always give the greatest joy for the least sweat

[pirate]

well i dont preach to anyone but a friend recently had a bad episode and was close to suicide so one day he was telling me that he thought he would become a minister of the church (of scotland i pressume) now i gathered he was looking for something that was missing in his life so i informed him that i was a dudeist minister (or whatever you wish to call it) i told him that it was loosly based around taoism and that it was more of a way of life than a religion and to check it out but to look closer and to forget about the big lebowski even though it is a good movie, well a week later i spoke to him again and he told me that he had checked it out and that what he found had helped him begin to cope and to see things in a different way

[Rev. Ed C]

Wow, the power of Dudeism!

That's the sort of good we need to be sharing with people around us.  Not standing on street corners and shouting, but just living the Dude life and sharing the Dude way as people need it/want it.  Leading by example is always the best way.  People make their own choices based on what they see in you and judge for themselves.

Do as I do, not as I say, and certainly not what I preach

Endeering story, Pirate!

[CowbellNation]

Good day, Dudes. First time by the forum and coincidentally posted a blog entry today on Dudeism, correlating with the big events of Lebowski Fest NY this eve. If you'd care to see what i'm blathering about it's the latest post on my site, ineedmorecowbell.com.

It contains various references to Lebowski texts, the movie, taking it easy, abiding, this site and what have you. I'm gonna step out and go play some Creedence with the fellers. Catch ya further on down the trail!

[cckeiser]

Good day, Dudes. First time by the forum and coincidentally posted a blog entry today on Dudeism, correlating with the big events of Lebowski Fest NY this eve. If you'd care to see what i'm blathering about it's the latest post on my site, http://www.ineedmorecowbell.com/2011/08/dudeism-just-taking-it-easy-man/#more-538

It contains various references to Lebowski texts, the movie, taking it easy, abiding, this site and what have you. I'm gonna step out and go play some Creedence with the fellers. Catch ya further on down the trail!

Yo! Welcome dude...welcome to our nice quiet beach community. The good sarsaparilla is over there dude! Very nice article mang.

[CowbellNation]

Thanks for checking it out man! Nice forum you guys have here; completely unspoiled!

[cakebelly]

On our way back from Utah we were driving towards an oncoming storm for a good hour before the first raindrops hit the windscreen. Driving into one of Mama Earth Dude's wilder parties. The anticipation of the bone-dry Mojave for the rains blessing was almost palpable and gave a cutting-edge to our own excitement as Silver Bullet (our family car) sped eagerly into the oncoming chaos. The air-pressure seemed to cocoon us in a cone of silence as we rolled on towards the hills that were alive with a spectacular lightning display. The desert rolled on by and seemed to become greener with each wet mile we progressed. The sage brush was saved - for another year, perhaps - from 'tumbleweedom'; the musty smell of the landscape was suddenly enhanced with a slight spicy top note scent - I couldn't fill my senses with it: it was elusive yet persistent. One had to find it and just when you thought it would alight upon your olfactory vibe sensors for longer than a nanosecond the mustiness would come back in full force. Like a hummingbird the scent flitted around my awareness with the dizzying prospect of a high definition, 3-D, widescreen, surround sound, revelation that refused to come. In this land of Rattlers, Scorpions and dead-eyed Jehovahs Witnesses something else abided and we tried to abide along with it - for the time of our passing -but the sage Sage Brush kept its own council. I have never been inside (on the outside) of such a violent storm before in my life and I was at once humbled and excited to have played a small role (as a Dudeist Witness, if you will) to the rejuvenation of our trail. The clearing and greening of our way. We passed through safely, our weary bones refreshed to the point of a happy, content tiredness. The kind that children are more familiar with when their games have been well-played, their quests fulfilled - replete in themselves with the inexpressible quiet joy of the golden certainty of more good shit to come.

                                                    internet Dude seeds
                                            morning rains on world of shit
                                                    golden buds quiver

[cakebelly]

I don't have any objection to experimentation, evolution or any kind of 'tion' in theory. In fact, I thought that's what we were doing here at the forum; experimenting, poking and prodding - rolling slowly, yes, but rolling out a few eights, here and there. I thought we had laid out a few new lanes, raised a few chuckles and some Kiva cash. soothed a few sores, scattered seeds of inspiration  and kept the colours flying (the colours may change on a daily basis but that's a good thing and at least they are flying); mixed a few metaphors and - on the whole - been very Dudely in this grand internet roll. It is working (slowly, yes) and therefore it is a success (let us not fall into the hole of gauging our worth against the world view of what success means); I know no one is trying to undermine that but I just wanted to state that fact.  I think what we have here (at the present) is a failure to communicate  intent. I found the arrival of this (welcome) thread to be rather exciting (one of us had to do it, sooner or later) and am happy to be hello and welcoming to my response  

I think  - maybe - some Walter hackles were raised by the manner of the introduction. I know, let me stress, that such was/is not the intent but I believe that may have been the result. For my part I found it odd that a Dude 'went away to rap with some learned Dudes' and came back (after his sojourn in the three-dimensional world) to lay some 'received from on high trip' on the rest of us - a trip that we are all (mostly)  on the same page with, anyway [edit: However, I realize that it was just inspired enthusiasm to get to grips with a few niggling issues that, I for one, am eager to address, too]. Hmm, perhaps I am taking liberties, myself, there; it is my perception that we are Dudes  - Lebowski-ists do not tend to last long, here (there may be a few lurking survivors). As we all know we are a loose collection of Dudeists/cool fuckers/anarchists/quakers/pagans/zennists/hobbyists/goat worriers and what-have-yous and a little shit-kicking (sans foaming mouths) is not beyond us. Dudos to Sage CC for maintaining the Watch - but in this case, there is no cause for alarm (I believe); Dudos to Rev Ed for inserting the hot pepper up our collective asses and Dudos, again, for being who the fuck you both are.

edit: will get back to this soon

[cckeiser]

On our way back from Utah we were driving towards an oncoming storm for a good hour before the first raindrops hit the windscreen. Driving into one of Mama Earth Dude's wilder parties. The anticipation of the bone-dry Mojave for the rains blessing was almost palpable and gave a cutting-edge to our own excitement as Silver Bullet (our family car) sped eagerly into the oncoming chaos. The air-pressure seemed to cocoon us in a cone of silence as we rolled on towards the hills that were alive with a spectacular lightning display. The desert rolled on by and seemed to become greener with each wet mile we progressed. The sage brush was saved - for another year, perhaps - from 'tumbleweedom'; the musty smell of the landscape was suddenly enhanced with a slight spicy top note scent - I couldn't fill my senses with it: it was elusive yet persistent. One had to find it and just when you thought it would alight upon your olfactory vibe sensors for longer than a nanosecond the mustiness would come back in full force. Like a hummingbird the scent flitted around my awareness with the dizzying prospect of a high definition, 3-D, widescreen, surround sound, revelation that refused to come. In this land of Rattlers, Scorpions and dead-eyed Jehovahs Witnesses something else abided and we tried to abide along with it - for the time of our passing -but the sage Sage Brush kept its own council. I have never been inside (on the outside) of such a violent storm before in my life and I was at once humbled and excited to have played a small role (as a Dudeist Witness, if you will) to the rejuvenation of our trail. The clearing and greening of our way. We passed through safely, our weary bones refreshed to the point of a happy, content tiredness. The kind that children are more familiar with when their games have been well-played, their quests fulfilled - replete in themselves with the inexpressible quiet joy of the golden certainty of more good shit to come.

                                                    internet Dude seeds
                                            morning rains on world of shit
                                                    golden buds quiver

Fuckin'-A dude! Thanks for that. I dig your style rev cakebelly...I surely do.

[cakebelly]

@ CC - Thanks, your style is most diggable, too  

cont: Dudeism may have been inspired by TBL but it manifested - in the real world - through the consciousness of DL. It is not, in my opinion, 'realized' through TBL it is (as Busmum said the other day) realized through us Dudes. We are inspired, are we not, by the Sages of various ages by the high hilarity and humanity  - the sheer outrageous Dudeliness  - of great Dudes in history. We add to the list all the time; new sources of inspiration bubble up from the Dudely Spring to refresh and enlighten us sinners when the need for a draught of something more satisfying than an oat soda calls. Have we not shown, here on this forum, that we can get by without a canon? We have the wisdom/foolishness of the ages at our disposal to help us on our way. I know that we are hooked up to  taoism in an official way; but, so what? We can be hooked up to anything that we like for as long as it salves and suits; we can unhook anytime we like. The great thing about Dudeism (IMO) is that it is an experiment. It is (well, sometimes) exciting to consider where it will all lead  - if in fact it should lead anywhere, at all. The problem with 'canons' is that people want to shoot at other people with them. After awhile doctrine restrains and stifles the growth that first gave the original idea nourishment. Look around and see where all that doctrinal shit has got the world. However, I take your meaning (and I understand that language is something of a mine-field in this particular arena of endeavour) and I do personally encourage consensus of intent. We should feel that we are on the same page, as it were, about certain things.

To address Rev Ed's (and others) concerns rather more directly:

The single white male hedonist shit really does have to go; it doesn't represent most of us and perhaps never did. It was okay to start with as a means to an end and I daresay that what was meant in parody/humour has now become something of a millstone (doctrinal iconography is just as harmful, after a time, as the written word).  What we have (and I must say I am still fond of the image itself) is the Dude Vinci wossname - so, what to do? Perhaps we can abide - for the time being, anyway - with just using the Duded Tao when representing Dudeism outside the forum. If image is the key here then let us start dealing with the imagery. Retire the Dude Vinci - ain't no big thing. In time we may come to feel that the Dude Tao is in need of a holiday, too. That, of course, means that a lot of the merchandise will need updating (again, so what?), most of my videos will need deleting or editing (the former gets my vote - no big deal;  they were just made for fun and when one is image poor then one uses what ever is available).The perpetuation of the Dude as a figurehead/central theme needs to be faded back. . right back; it ain't healthy to have a human image as a focal point for any philosophy. There is nothing to be done, realistically (IMO) about the 'race divide' - we need to broaden our musical and social activities and meet and greet, I guess. Perhaps more on that later.

The issue of gender can only be addressed by going with the idea of 'Abideism'  - I have crapped on about this issue enough and as most of you know I fear that the issue is always going to raise its ugly head again and again. Stopping folk in their tracks who would otherwise have danced with us under our shady tree. We will still be Dudes, we still address each other as Dudes but  - to the 'outside world' we will be Abideists. It is what's written on the door (so to speak) that welcomes or discourages. Why the fuck are we allowing good Dudes to be turned-off by some imagery that doesn't even suit us? Doesn't even 'mean' us? Are we Catholics to get caught up in tradition, so soon? Of course not. We must say a fond farewell to the stuff that is keeping other folk from feeling Duded. We are the hosts of this here party and we don't want to insist that people wear ties to gain entry, do we? Do we bollocks.

As to the family issue, well it isn't uncool to share family shit on these here boards. Don't really know what else to say about that but celebrate the family, Dudes.

I got nothing against work-shy bums - I got nothing against working Dudes; as long as both activities are conducted as Dudely as possible I haven't got anything to say about it.  Once the outdated imagery has faded like a a favourite pair of jeans then the problem may not arise as much.

I am not sure about this Lebowski issue - it ain't my bag and I won't carry it but the statement "inclusive of Lebowski, yes. All about Lebowski, no", I don't quite understand. Isn't that what we have now, here? This problem will disappear when we take care of the imagery issue. (edit) As for Lebowski fests I would stop promoting them, myself.  If Dudes want to go that's cool but on a personal level I couldn't give a fuck if we stopped being involved with them altogether. Other Dudes may like/love 'em so I guess we'll have to wait to hear from them. It certainly doesn't mean that folk will have to burn their bathrobes. Anyway, enough for now. The shit ball has been kicked up mid-field.