Ryan
My explanation of MU was a joke - MU is the essence of Zen. Western
philosophy starts from the position that everything can be divided into
categories, Subject-Object, Right-Wrong, Yes-No, Red-Green-Blue. Zen
philosophy refutes this and offers the word MU.
MU can be defined as "the word that contradicts its own definition".
Hofstadler (in Godel, Escher and Bach) defined it as the answer which
"un-asks" the question, it short-circuits the imposition of logic upon
the topic of the question (going further - it short-circuits the
assumption that logica can even be applied).
It originated in a Zen koan where the question was proposed "does a dog
have Buddha nature?". The Zen master Joshi replied "MU". By answering
the question in any way he would be wrong, no matter what he answered,
for Buddha nature (and Quality) cannot be captured within a "Yes-No"
framework. By answering MU, he un-asked the question and preserved the
truth. It is outside of what western philosophy can assimilate or define
(hence any definition must, by definition, fail). Hence RP in ZAMM asked
the question - "Is 'quality' a subject or object?", and rightly replied
"MU".
Warmest regards
Manning
Sydney Australia
Ryan Terry wrote:
> Thank you for the info Manning.
> I have clarified SOM and SODV below.
> Also could somebody explain Mu to me a little better?
> I have been on this list for about a month now and I
> have heard this strange word come up time and time
> again. Does it have any thing to do with DQ? Or is it
> more like inner nature? Tell me if I am getting
> closer.
> Ryan Terry
> rlterry1981@yahoo.com
>
> > In the hope that someone will attempt to do a better
> > job than me, here is
> > a preliminary attempt at explaining the acronyms
> > that turn up at MOQ.
> >
> > (In no particular order)
> >
> > MOQ - metaphysics of quality
> > ZAMM - Pirsig's book, 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
> > Maintenance'
> > ZATAOMM - see above
> > ZMM - see above above
> > LILA - Pirsig's book, "Lila - an inquiry into
> > values"
> > DQ - dynamic quality
> > SQ - static quality
> > C/R - classic/romantic (as in "a C/R conflict" from
> > ZAMM)
> > IMHO - "in my humble opinion"
> > IMO - see above, but not so humble
> > IPOV - "initial point of view" (as in "my IPOV
> > is...")
> > RP - Robert Pirsig (author)
> > RMP - Robert M Pirsig (apparently the same person)
> > WADR - "with all due respect" (don't see this one
> > often)
> > MU - not actually an acronym, although it actually
> > is.
> > YAAMIWSSOOTMOQAGJTBZN - "You are a mindless idiot
> > who should stay out of
> > the Metaphysics of Quality and go join the Boy-Zone
> > newsgroup". (Struan
> > uses this one on occasion)
> >
> > Too hard list (see Rog's post Sat 15 Apr)
> >
> > SOM - Subject Object Metaphysics
> > SODV -Subject Object Division
> >
> > Manning
> > Sydney Australia
>
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-- ***************** Manning Bartlett Senior Business Intelligence Consultant EMC Global Pty Ltd Sydney Australia Mob: 0413-878-186 manning@bartlett.netMOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/ MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
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