Moving Dudeism Forwards

[Rev. Ed C]

Rev Ed, i fear the hassles of registering with the press association to get your press pass would tip you over the edge...

Foiled again!

who knows, perhaps this could be the answer to your employment woes?

I'll keep that in mind   Not that I'll do just any old thing for money, but my monkey's belly-growling is a terrible sound

[WabiSabi]

Wow! You dudes are into heavy duty take it all very seriously, institutional persnickety like hair splitting semantic debates ... AWESOME!

FWIW I'm not really digging the "American" versus "European" thing so much, but hey that's just my opinion ... and that of a bunch of folks from a couple of hundred years ago who seemed to prefer tea over coffee too.

Anyway ... thanks for the greetings (again) ... and the provocative considerations.

While I'm beyond offering anything other than opinions I have tons of those to share. Regarding my comments here they're largely coming from the what pulled me to want to roll a few with all'you'all in the first place.

IMO - TBL is a great satirical lens that lays out the many ways of being human. What the dude does so well is to flow with all of them ... in the words of the great, late Dr. Clare W. Graves ... he just "let people be" ... so very cool man.

The reason I think that some dudes (and probably some non-dudes too) find TBL so compelling is because it's fine satire. Referring back to my own comment about American Pragmatism ... that what is true is what is real (I didn't say that or make it up by the way ... I'm just quoting some other dudes with long hair who mostly came outta the New England (is that European?) woods who wrote about this stuff) ... and that our actions, or as the case may be our choice not to act, define us more than the words we use to describe those actions.

Another way of saying this might be in that great ancient proverb: "Your actions speak so loudly I can't hear you."

So it seems to me (just an opinion man) that dudeism is ultimately defined by being dudeish ... IMO (again) ... by abiding man, just being with the flow ... and acting in the moment of opportunity.

This last bit is something that most human paraquats can't, or won't, do ... i.e.: doing not until the moment of opportunity is upon them ... and acting without hesitation when it is ... that is reserved for master dudes only if my history serves me correctly.

Another series of great books that I would include in my dudely references are those written by the late great Carlos Castaneda ... but specifically the parts about acting like a warrior ... finding a path with heart, waiting breathlessly ... and knowing when the two centimeters of opportunity to act is upon you.

A later day disciple of Castaneda's, Felix Wolfe, wrote the "Art of Navigation" ... a very cool book that is dudely at it's core as well ... all about attuning to the signals in the system, noticing for what is present and allowing that to become your personal GPS guiding you along the way.

BUT - it's the art of finding the way through the lens of satire that appeals to me in the community of dudes. One thing I hold to be self evident is that truth is hard to come by, kinda like honesty, and getting to what is real even more so. Maybe we just not designed for it ... but if we're not, and it sure seems like we ain't, then using a fractured lens, like satire, may reveal to us glimpses of what is present beyond our own delusions and distortions.

It may not be the all and everything ... but TBL is a lens that suits me when when I find myself getting uptight about defining just about anything as being other than just what it is ... and allows me to resettle myself in abiding ... and just letting people be man ... just lettin' it be.

Okay, I'm moving on 'cause I seem to maybe have lost my train of thought there at the end a bit ...

[Caesar dude]

I'm sure I've just read this....or is it a flash back?

I personally don't feel we have a duel going on twixt us Brits and our allies across the pond...I feel there is more mutual agreement and accord than any discontent or animosity...dudes are dudes wherever we hail from...surely?

If it seems that way to anyone then I would like to discuss this on a new thread...because in my mind and long before Dudeism I was a dude (didn't know it had a name) and I met many fellow dudes around this planet who felt the same...no animosity or misunderstandings between us, despite our varying cultures...

I met a new dude the other day...I've met him before and he's a kid, sorta finding himself in this huge world...he's just getting the planet and it's wonders...you know the type...you were all there once...so with typical unpreachiness I've given him a booklist of esoteric wonders to read...a proper list of books and authors and some websites....and I've told him that once his brain has stopped imploding to come and speak to me about Dudeism...maybe I'm right...maybe I'm wrong...let the whole darned comedy begin ....

Peace Brethern

[WabiSabi]

so with typical unpreachiness I've given him a booklist of esoteric wonders to read...a proper list of books and authors and some websites....and I've told him that once his brain has stopped imploding to come and speak to me about Dudeism...

DUDE ... I love your way of ministering ...

[milnie]

Ok, on a more serious note...would Dudeist I.D. cards help move us forward?

i've seen this idea appear in numerous threads since the dudely lama flashes one on a VW advert but i understand it is not happening. unless new shit has come to light ... ?

[Hominid]

Nuthin' wrong with creating your own... just print it on card stock and laminate it. It's not like we'd be breaking any laws...

[Rev. RJ Dudemiester]

wow- this is the thread i was looking for when i first started lurking through the boards a few hours ago! sadly now, i'm so tired to read all of it.

but i do want to say this-
The risk of being marginalized as nothing more than a movie fan cult and not being taken seriously as an actual religion is the heart of our calling. this is the problem we face, and must work together to overcome!
we have all been drawn together, called by the genuine catharsis that can be found in the wisdom of the Dudeist paradigm... and finding a way to spread the idea(s), without letting it fall into the same pitfalls all other religions have fallen into... well to quote one wise dude from back in the day: "there's the rub".

will have to come back to this post and read all 18 pages...

[The Daryl]

These are exactly the kinds of threads I don't understand why they died out long ago... That's just my opinion... I'm not a necrophiliac or anything, but this seems like the kind of topic that wouldn't lose steam, but rather gain it?

I'm still new here, so if I'm missing the obvious, please enlighten.

[High Priest Allen]

Since there's not a lot of traffic on the forum, it's not unusual for a thread to go dead. Necromancy on threads is accepted, but only when you have something worthwhile to add to the discussion.

[The Daryl]

Since there's not a lot of traffic on the forum, it's not unusual for a thread to go dead. Necromancy on threads is accepted, but only when you have something worthwhile to add to the discussion.

Cool. Thanks for the clarification...

In the spirit of adding "something worthwhile" (although maybe this isn't worth much, just a few thoughts in response to a few of the issues I've glimpsed in the thread)...

One issue is with having it more open to the both sexes is the language. Although the FAQ (and pretty much everyone's voiced opinion) indicates females can be "Dudes" and to quote: "Dude is a philosophy and has nothing to do with maleness or femaleness". Except there is a feminine aspect to the vernacular when sticking with the movie; "Special Lady". And it seems to get plenty of use. Having that language/label is a distinguishing factor that might be off-putting (even while not being intentionally so).

I do know having just recently discovered Dudeism, then talking to friends and acquaintances about it, the majority of reactions from other people that have never heard of it are putting it in a parody/non-seriousness/dismissed out of turn category. I'm not sure how to alter that perception. Or if it even really needs to be altered. You can talk to individuals, and explain and such, but no idea how to address the masses/image.

I mean it took me a couple of hours of poking around the site to say "Ok this works for me". But like many here, I was already a Dude in all but name. I've actually turned a fair few folks onto Taoism throughout the years. And although I don't think of it as ministering or converting, I do think it's helped a few folks "take it easy". The biggest obstacle with that (if someone was open to it) was them wondering what the fuck I was talking about. Some folks hadn't ever heard of Taoism. But Dudeism? Almost everyone has seen the movie so it comes with a set of notions about it.

How are some of you other Dudes finding it these days? I mean some of these posts are years old (which is it's own kind of magical message in the bottle coolness). The perception thing I mean?

Got a few other things, but I think those were the ones that came to mind first.

[Masked Dude]

One issue is with having it more open to the both sexes is the language. Although the FAQ (and pretty much everyone's voiced opinion) indicates females can be "Dudes" and to quote: "Dude is a philosophy and has nothing to do with maleness or femaleness". Except there is a feminine aspect to the vernacular when sticking with the movie; "Special Lady". And it seems to get plenty of use. Having that language/label is a distinguishing factor that might be off-putting (even while not being intentionally so).

I can't speak for the female Dudes, but I can speak for someone who's not PC (neither was my favorite boss, a lady).

The female Dudes are welcome to have and call someone a Special Guy/Gentleman/Y Chromosome, should they be attracted to those with dangling bits.

I think the main reason is that the male Dudes do talk about their Special Ladies, since they have one and (generally) are very proud that one deems the Dude worthy to stick around. So far, the female Dudes just haven't had as many conversations about their Special Significant Others. Not to say they don't find them wonderful, but they haven't.

Maybe a female Dude would like to chime in and enlighten us?

[DigitalBuddha]

Nuthin' wrong with creating your own... just print it on card stock and laminate it. It's not like we'd be breaking any laws...

Sounds exhausting.

[mrpaddy]

Since there's not a lot of traffic on the forum, it's not unusual for a thread to go dead. Necromancy on threads is accepted, but only when you have something worthwhile to add to the discussion.

I do know having just recently discovered Dudeism, then talking to friends and acquaintances about it, the majority of reactions from other people that have never heard of it are putting it in a parody/non-seriousness/dismissed out of turn category. I'm not sure how to alter that perception. Or if it even really needs to be altered..



How are some of you other Dudes finding it these days? I mean some of these posts are years old (which is it's own kind of magical message in the bottle coolness). The perception thing I mean?

Yeah, on the rarified occasion I've mentioned Dudeism to someone the reaction is generally baffled /dismissive. I don't really initiate conversations about it. It's something that speaks to me and my frame of reference, but as you and many others have said, I was like this before I knew about Dudeism.

This is the key. The ideas of Dudeism are not unique to Dudeism, they are not the creation of Dudeism. Dudeism is a context, a narrative framework. So while I may struggle to explain it to someone unfamiliar with the film, I can easily explain the concept - just take it easy - and offer it as advice. I can encourage people who are looking for an answer or having troubles to embrace or at least consider the ideals of Dudeism, without having to mention Dudeism or Lebowski or the fucking Eagles, man.

I don't care if the majority of people don't get, don't understand or otherwise never partake of Dudeism. But I'd love it if they could learn to abide.

[Reverend Al]

...One issue is with having it more open to the both sexes is the language. Although the FAQ (and pretty much everyone's voiced opinion) indicates females can be "Dudes" and to quote: "Dude is a philosophy and has nothing to do with maleness or femaleness". Except there is a feminine aspect to the vernacular when sticking with the movie; "Special Lady". And it seems to get plenty of use. Having that language/label is a distinguishing factor that might be off-putting (even while not being intentionally so)...

Ah, but in this context, and in the movie, terms like "Special Lady" and "Lady Friend" are not synonymous with "Dude".  "Special Lady" and "Lady Friend" are euphemisms for "girlfriend" and/or "good friend with whom I have sex" (and by extension, I suppose, could also be a reference to one's "wife") with no indication of that person's theological, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs.  In the movie Da Fino refers to Maude as the Dude's "Special Lady" and the Dude tries to correct him by referring to her as his "Lady Friend", but Maude is most certainly not a "Dude" as we on this forum would use that term to describe a Dudeist.  So while a Dude can be a Special Lady or a Lady Friend, a Special Lady or Lady Friend isn't necessarily a Dude.

Now let's look at this from another perspective and think about the statement on the "What is Dudeism?" page:  "Incidentally, the term 'dude' is commonly agreed to refer to both genders. Most linguists contend that 'Dudette' is not in keeping with the parlance of our times."  As far as I know, no currently organized religions have gender-specific terms for their followers (I hope someone here will correct me if I'm wrong).  Christians are Christians regardless of whether they're male or female; there in no such thing as a Christianette or Christianess.  Buddhists are Buddhists regardless of whether they're male or female; there is no such thing as a Buddhistette or Buddhistess.  So it makes perfect sense that a Dudeist would be a Dude regardless of whether they're male or female.

...I do know having just recently discovered Dudeism, then talking to friends and acquaintances about it, the majority of reactions from other people that have never heard of it are putting it in a parody/non-seriousness/dismissed out of turn category. I'm not sure how to alter that perception. Or if it even really needs to be altered. You can talk to individuals, and explain and such, but no idea how to address the masses/image...I've actually turned a fair few folks onto Taoism throughout the years. And although I don't think of it as ministering or converting, I do think it's helped a few folks "take it easy". The biggest obstacle with that (if someone was open to it) was them wondering what the fuck I was talking about. Some folks hadn't ever heard of Taoism. But Dudeism? Almost everyone has seen the movie so it comes with a set of notions about it.

How are some of you other Dudes finding it these days? I mean some of these posts are years old (which is it's own kind of magical message in the bottle coolness). The perception thing I mean?

Yeah, on the rarified occasion I've mentioned Dudeism to someone the reaction is generally baffled /dismissive. I don't really initiate conversations about it. It's something that speaks to me and my frame of reference, but as you and many others have said, I was like this before I knew about Dudeism...

Most of the people I know may or may not have heard of The Big Lebowski, and the majority of those who have heard of it haven't seen it, so they have no frame of reference with regards to the term "Dudeist".  Tell them it started with a movie, and the "doors of acceptance" in their minds will close up tighter than Fort Knox.  The perception that we're just a bunch of lunatics will be extremely difficult to overcome, but I imagine it was that way with every newly-formed religion.  And there is at least one precedence--some Star Wars fans have been declaring their religion as "Jedi" on official forms and documents for years now; the difference is that they didn't have a Dudely Lama to guide them and keep them on the right path.

...This is the key. The ideas of Dudeism are not unique to Dudeism, they are not the creation of Dudeism. Dudeism is a context, a narrative framework. So while I may struggle to explain it to someone unfamiliar with the film, I can easily explain the concept - just take it easy - and offer it as advice. I can encourage people who are looking for an answer or having troubles to embrace or at least consider the ideals of Dudeism, without having to mention Dudeism or Lebowski or the fucking Eagles, man.

I don't care if the majority of people don't get, don't understand or otherwise never partake of Dudeism. But I'd love it if they could learn to abide.

This is one of the reasons that I personally would not self-apply the term "religion" to Dudeism.

First, because I believe it's more of a philosophy or way-of-life than a religion.

Second, because the word "religion" itself can be off-putting.  There are a lot of people here in the U.S. alone that are self-proclaimed atheists who hear the word "religion" and immediately want nothing to do with it.  Agnostics may do the same thing, but those who are actively seeking enlightenment or some form of faith might be more receptive.  And those who grew up following, and continue to follow in their adulthood, a currently established religion like Christianity or Judaism might have a great deal of difficulty understanding the concept of a "religion" with no deity (or deities) and no "heavenly reward" to strive for (at least here in the U.S.) even if Dudeism offers a better or simpler way to live than the one they have now.

That said, with regards to Dudeism I'll readily admit I'm like a child who has wandered into the middle of a movie with no frame of reference.  Many of the conversations on this forum have made me realize just how little I know about current religions and philosophies--I'm a fucking amateur, and you have all given me a lot to consider (and I mean that in the best possible way).  So, since wiser fellers than myself have chosen to call it a religion, I'll abide.  Mark it 8, Dudes.

[High Priest Allen]

Fucking A, man. Paddy, Daryl, the mysterious The Masked Dude! ( I assume you fight crime with a bowling ball), Al y'all are completely right on the money. I occasionally get asked what Dudeism is and what I usually tell them that are ethos is 'just take it easy'. They might say that's not a religion. I then respond with ' Well that's some rigid fucking thinking, but if you must know, our ethos has existed since ancient times down through the ages to now. Whether it was a chinese sage, a greek philosopher, or a bunch of irish monks someone has been taking it easy when it comes to going where life takes 'em. The movie is just a modern narrative that helps show people what being a dude should be like in our times '. Then they either say ' well that's interesting ' or roll their eyes and say ' yeah sure '.