"It will be objected that the book deals too much with mere appearances, with the surface of things, and so fails to engage and reveal the patterns of unifying relationships which form the true underlying reality of existence. Here I must confess that I know nothing whatever about true underlying reality, having never met any. There are many people who say they have, I know, but they've been luckier than I.
For my own part I am pleased enough with surfaces--in fact they alone seem to me to be of much importance. Such things for example as the grasp of a child's hand in your own, the flavor of an apple, the embrace of a friend or lover, the silk of a girl's thigh, the sunlight on a rock and leaves, the feel of music, the bark of a tree, the abrasion of granite and sand, the plunge of water into a pool, the face of the wind--what else is there? What else do we need?"
--Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
(And just a reminder in case you were wondering....)
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Hmm. This is one time I will disagree with EA. Surfaces are indeed important, but I've often found that what lies just beneath the surface is even MORE important.
ReplyDeleteFor example, underneath the seemingly healthy bark of a tree may be disease and decay or the embrace of a friend/lover may be performed for an ulterior reason. Consequently, what we see (or feel) often is only superficial and doesn't truly tell us what we need to know.
Who but Abbey…?
ReplyDeleteA contrary, wonderful man, gifted writer, with a voice never afraid to cry out or cuss out, as the occasion demanded—and the Perpetual Commander-in-Chief, Head Druid, and Unquenchable Guiding Light of the estimable Monkey Wrench Gang.
Who but Abbey…?
Tortured, self-destructive, prickly and warm, the desert and hoodoo rocks of the Southwest never had a better voice…or friend.
Who but Abbey…?
In all his life and wanderings never saw a grizzly bear.
Who but Abbey…?
RT,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you; Abbey's assessment/portrait here is an incomplete one, and does not apply in all cases. BUT, I think that in part what Abbey is doing in the quotation is taking a sort of backhand swipe at the idea that there is anything "spiritual" (the "underlying reality") beyond this life and the sensory perception of physical reality. With that I think I can largely agree, and unless I am quite mistaken about you, I would think you would too....
We may (and often do) give a meaning to all the various things that Abbey so eloquently lists here...a meaning from what we've been taught or from our desires, etc....a meaning beyond just "it is what it is." But it still just is what it is...no more...and Abbey's point is that that is enough.
I know it isn't apparently enough for most people actually. And so we have religious systems that try to tells what the meaning and the "truth" is.
But these days, I'm more with Abbey's take than not.
It reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw once: The meaning of life is to live it.
It's enough for me.
Grizzled,
ReplyDeleteWow, once again sir you are eloquent. A better portrait of Abbey could not have been painted as the one you've succinctly painted here with your words. The publishers of Abbey's book should contact you to do the back cover blurbs. Seriously.
Thank you.
Exquisite.
ReplyDeleteNow, I haven't read Desert Solitaire in, oh, about 35 years. But this passage triggered faint memories of a book that spoke honestly about the truly important things in life.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we can all learn from Abbey's humble approach to a complex world.
If we pay attention, really close attention, the small surfaces of experience reveal themselves as essential parts of a unified whole.
The small things add up.
Val,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. :)
Barry,
Well said, as usual. Thank you.
"The meaning of life is to live it."
ReplyDeleteI need that bumper sticker!
Looking at the surfaces is a good antidote for the over-analysis and intellectualizing that our minds seem to experience...Kundera describes "the heaviness of living versus the lightness of living" and I think this is similar to the surface versus depth experiences, so living life on the surface is unbearably light! and the opposite is unbearably heavy!..not sure where I'm going with this but I think both are important for a full-lived life. hmmm, I tend to go for complexity and depth though.
Bella
Bella,
ReplyDeleteI think you, and Kundera, make a point worth some pondering. Thank you.
Have a wonderful day full of lived life. :)
I absolutely (if I ever could ever say I'm absolute about anything... that's probably another comment for another post...) agree with Bella in that "both are important for a full-lived life".
ReplyDeleteTo be continued...
Val,
ReplyDeleteWell then, I'll certainly look forward to the continuation. :)