In a response to one of Carmen's postings, I believe it was Ken who stated,
>...That is why I am so wary of any sort of mysticism.
>There is no way rationally [to] understand what the position of a mystic is.
>I find no mystery in either Quality or Dynamic Quality.
>It is not mysterious in its functioning.
>I think the emphasis on DQ as being unknowable is not justified.
>My understanding of the MoQ is it is at bottom an empirical means of
ordering our lives.
>To me this does not justify admitting mysticism in the MoQ.
I respect the right of anyone to have opinions concerning philosophical
theories,
but since this is a discussion group about Robert Pirsig's Metaphyisics of
Quality, I think it's important to distinguish one's personal opinions from
those proposed by the MoQ and to be accurate with what the MoQ states.
In Zen and the Art of Maintenance Pirsig writes,
"His Quality was a metaphysical entity, not a mystical one. Or was it? What
was the difference? He answered himself that the difference was one of
definition. Metaphysical entities are defined. Mystical ones are not. That
made Quality mystical, no it was really both.
... Romantic quality and classic quality together may be called the "the
mystic."
Reaching from mystery into deeper mystery it is the gate to the secret of all
life.
What he had been talking about all the time as Quality was here, the Tao..."
In Lila Pirsig writes,
"The Metaphysics of quality identifies religious mysticism with Dynamic
Quality."
Later he states,
"Phaedrus hoped this Quality metaphysics was something that would get past
the immune system and show that American Indian mysticism is not something
alien from American culture. It's a deep submerged hidden root of it."
That is what the MoQ states about mysticism. You may disagree with it if you
like, but then you are supporting another system of beliefs, not the MoQ.
Perhaps you could start up another discussion group and call it "Empiricism -
Come to your Senses!"
Sorry, punism is one of my faults.
I just feel strongly that ultimate wisdom cannot be achieved through
rational means alone. Dynamic quality and the Mystical one are the same, and
when a person can fully understand this concept both intellectually and
spiritually, the road to enlightenment and peace of mind is paved. I know
from personal experience, that the mystic is part of reality, it creates
reality.
Mystically yours, Fred
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