The Dudeism Forum

So... I've been thinking about the word "abide" as it applies to the Dude's reaction (or non-reactionaryism) to just about everything. What does it mean to abide in general?

I think the use of "reactionary" as an epithet is telling. Maybe "react" implies the sudden, unpremeditated, automatic response to stimulus, as a reflex. One of the most difficult practices is to eschew unpremeditated action; to never react, and not necessarily always to act, but to act only when thought best after due meditation. One way to achieve this would be to receive all actions from others with an imperturbable placidity very similar to what the Stoics practiced.

Stoicism does not describe Dudeism. Far from it. Stoicism was an outward discipline. But much can be learned about Dudeism by the study, and even the practice, of Stoicism.

One who seeks enlightenment from dictionaries (wherefrom there shines much light upon many subjects) finds there many senses of the verb "to abide" and can apply most of them to the way of the Dude. Not only does the Dude abide; so apt is the word "abide" as to abide itself!

It is interesting that the Dude uses the word reactionary to describe an adversary and that abide is his preferred modus operendi. To "abide" is the opposite of to "react." But I always thought that "reactionary" had nothing to do with "reaction" - that it only was meant to describe political conservatives. But in fact it is based on "reaction" - that is, reaction to progress or political evolution.

The Dude's action is the Taoist type of "actionless action" - that is, going with the flow. Whereas the conservative "reaction" is an attempt to dam up the flow of life and progress and build walls keeping "flow" from happening. In many ways it is the opposite of movement, of life, and of Tao.

When you think about the words and what they mean it really illuminates some of the essence of the film. To abide is not to stand still; rather it is to ride the current of life calmly.

Fuck it, Dude..

Quote from: forumdude on August 23, 2009, 01:56:32 AM


The Dude's action is the Taoist type of "actionless action" - that is, going with the flow. Whereas the conservative "reaction" is an attempt to dam up the flow of life and progress and build walls keeping "flow" from happening. In many ways it is the opposite of movement, of life, and of Tao.

I agree here totally.  We ride the wave.  We make it every day.  It can be that simple.  Life offers MANY distractions.  Don't get hung up on it.  What is really important to you?

Abiding to The Flow and having a job at the same time can be a tricky, tricky marmot.
I think in modern day society, we all face challenges in our personal FLOWing. Society has everything so fucked up, that we aren't permitted to follow even the most OBVIOUS and basic instictual FLOW drives...such as hibernating in winter.
Our jobs don't often permit us to stroll in a couple hours late or a couple days less a week, because we were listening to , and abiding to, our primitive need to curl up and sleep a little more...in the pounding rain or blizzarding snow.
Do we take a stand against this unchecked aggression toward our natural cycles and Flow-abiding Dudeist natures? Or do we pay to play?

Quote from: TheDudeInMe on August 24, 2009, 04:31:30 PM
Fuck it, Dude..

as above but add the shades ---> 

Dudeist employers are hard to find, as much as it's hard to find those who care for their employees. Enlightened people. We could have a thread on Great Dudes in business, and give them a prize, every year. There are some out there. Maybe it could give directions to other employers.

The Business Dude of the Year.

I'm all for going with the flow as long as there isn't a waterfall at the other end. 

Shit happens, you can spend your time worrying about waterfalls or you can enjoy the caucasian in your hand now Dude.

If the Dude ever got his hands on a real million dollars I'd bet that he would build a Caucasian waterfall.

I'd buy a bowling alley. In a warm place, sun, beaches, beautiful ladies.... 

I'd buy a buttload of good dope, and, err, thats about it

Oh and id commission a company to produce bracelets that say WWTDD (what would the dude do?)

Quote from: forumdude on August 23, 2009, 01:56:32 AM
It is interesting that the Dude uses the word reactionary to describe an adversary and that abide is his preferred modus operendi. To "abide" is the opposite of to "react." But I always thought that "reactionary" had nothing to do with "reaction" - that it only was meant to describe political conservatives. But in fact it is based on "reaction" - that is, reaction to progress or political evolution.

The Dude's action is the Taoist type of "actionless action" - that is, going with the flow. Whereas the conservative "reaction" is an attempt to dam up the flow of life and progress and build walls keeping "flow" from happening. In many ways it is the opposite of movement, of life, and of Tao.

When you think about the words and what they mean it really illuminates some of the essence of the film. To abide is not to stand still; rather it is to ride the current of life calmly.

Yes, but did the Dude really even know what "abide" means?  Obviously it's well documented he incorporates phrases and words he's heard into his vocabulary, sometimes incorrectly, so I think it's possible it's the same with this world.  "By God sir, I will not ABIDE another toe".

Well said.
Or should I say way to go Donny!
Just because the Dude reused terms, that does not mean that he knew what the terms meant.

Thats what I try to do. People think--- ah am expert. Thas why they senn me.

Quote from: Tedsville on September 29, 2009, 09:15:10 AM
I'd buy a buttload of good dope, and, err, thats about it

Oh and id commission a company to produce bracelets that say WWTDD (what would the dude do?)

I gotta say that "WWTDD" idea should be in the store!