Re: Dharma Bums

 I consider myself one of the Dharma Bums, still and all.
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Erica Schlecht wrote:
A True Dharma Bum One of the most powerful quotes in the entire book
that I feel sums up what it is to be a dharma bum, “ I felt free and
therefore I was free”.  This quote from Ray Smith shows that a dharma
bum must always believe in oneself and take the journey to becoming a
Dharma bum from within.  Although one can learn from fellow dharma bums
such as the Saint Teresa bum, Han Shan, and Japhy the ultimate truth of
being Dharma bum comes from within. Saint Teresa Bum is the “first
genuine dharma bum” that Ray Smith, the main character is Dharma Bums
has ever met.  The book starts off with Smith jumping into a box car
where he runs into the Saint Teresa bum
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In chapter 24 the same idea is brought up, "Maybe I'll be rich and work
and make a lot of money and live in a big house." But a minute later:
"And who wants to enslave himself to a lot of all that, though?”
(Chapter 24).  Jack Kerouac’s writing about this shows that dharma bums
do not need to fit into the mold of working society to be happy.  At the
same time a dharma bum is not one that sits around doing nothing, but
one who constantly searches for oneself in nature and the things around
him.  This is shown in another quote from the book, “by God, you're
right, all those sedentary bums sitting around on pillows hearing the
cry of a triumphant mountain smasher, they don't deserve it” (Chapter
12).  Smith discusses what he has learned from Japhy here, “I realized I
had indeed learned from Japhy how to cast off the evils for the world
and the city and find my true pure soul, just as long as I had a decent
pack on my back. I got back to my camp and spread the sleeping bag and
thanked the Lord for all He was giving me” (156). Japhy has taught Smith
that the Lord gives us all that we need and to look within the find true
Dharma Bum peace. Being a Dharma Bum is not something that can be
defined as one particular thing.  Following certain procedures such as
disposing of worldly possessions to look within and find oneself is a
good step, but cannot truly define one’s journey.
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