Fred,
Thanks for sharing with us the wonderful news about your letter from Mr. Pirsig.
I was almost as excited as you were by your description of the event. Enjoy it,
frame it, kissed and don't let little things, like worrying about the
confidentiality of the letter, overshadow such a wonderful moment.
Mr. Pirsig has one of the most brilliant minds (I also mean brilliant in the
'brilliant' sense) that ever existed. Those of us lucky enough to 'half way'
understand his philosophy are forever grateful to his contribution to our lives.
His teachings make this life more 'bearable' and that is a true Gift from the
heavens.
May all the positive energy of the universe bless you and Mr. Pirsig.
P.S: (Make sure you frame that, envelope and all!!)
Carmen.
DaPhred@aol.com wrote:
> To Horse, Bob Wallace, Jeff & Joyce Phillips, Carmen, and anyone else,
>
> I'm probably breaking the rules by not commenting upon the latest
> subject on the table, but I was so excited that I had to share with you some
> news I recently received.
> A while ago, I had written the group about a "mystical" event which I
> experienced when I first read ZMM, some twenty years ago, and a few of you
> were nice enough to respond.
> Well, I had also sent a more personal letter, thanks to Horse, to Robert
> Pirsig about that event, in much more detail. Today, I was stunned to find in
> my mail, along with my allotment of bills and junk mail, a personal letter
> back from Mr. Pirsig, responding to my letter! I couldn't believe it.
> I don't think he would mind (at least I hope he wouldn't) me sharing a
> bit of what he had to say about my experience with you.
>
> Mr. Pirsig writes,
>
> "Making people laugh sympathetically about other people's disabilities
> is an enormous accomplishment.
> The fact that you are doing so well at it indicates that the phenomena
> that you experienced back in your 'insane' days may have been a kind of an
> enlightenment as well as an insanity. The two tend to overlap.
> ...Prior to enlightenment there is often a huge opening of the mind to
> the 'mythos' which in this case means more than just legends. It means the
> main stream, the whole body of every idea that ever existed or can exist
> which each culture selects from, calling its own selection 'reality.' At
> this time there is an abandonment of normal chanels of cultural selectivity
> over thought. The selection goes sort of crazy and you can think of any damn
> thing and think it is real and in a sense it is. When you start wandering in
> this mythos all rules are off and so you can pick up on strange things. I
> think your mind wanderings about me and the ideas in ZMM and Lila probably
> had less to do with me personally than with this phenomenom.
> ...Just before entering the University of Chicago... I experienced a
> similar pickup on the film 'Orpheus' by Jean Cocteau. I lived inside that
> film and it had the same sort of effect on me that my book seems to have had
> on you.
> ...I'm certainly proud that ZMM has had a similar fuction for you and
> that you are a part of the crowd of people working to diminish the misery of
> the world rather than add to it or just ignore it. As I'm sure you know,
> it's not as easy as it may look."
>
> I didn't print the entire letter, but I just couldn't beleive that he
> would actually take the time to read my letter, not to mention answer it! I
> surely thought that he gets so much fan mail that he would consider my
> letter, if he even were to ever read it, as coming from some crack pot or
> nut, and totally disregard it. But the care with which he showed in
> responding (and promptly too!) demonstrated to me the kind of warm and
> understanding soul this man is. I sort of already knew that from his
> writings, but on a personal level, this just served to convince me even more.
> I pray that I am not breaking any confidences by sharing his letter to
> me with you, but I felt that if he knew you the way I've gotten to know you,
> through your correspondences, and how much the Metaphysics of Quality meant
> to you, he wouldn't mind. Also the fact that we're probably his biggest fans
> and supporters, I think he would have given his approval whole heartedly. I
> hope so! I couldn't think of anyone more appropriate to share this with than
> you people.
> Anyway, I can't tell you what a thrill it was to personally receive a
> letter from a man whom I've revered, and even idolized, for most of my life.
> I think I'll frame it. I have never been one to be "star struck" in my entire
> life. In my career, I've met so many celebrities like Sam Kinison, Jim Carey,
> Rossanne, Dice, Soupy, Martin Lawrence, etc., etc., and was never really
> excited or in awe of any of them. But this time I am, and from just a letter!
> To me, it's like getting a postcard from Einstein.
> I thought you guys might enjoy it too.
>
> Fred
> (I'd still be interested in any of your input or opinions about my "mystical"
> experience. It's something that's important to me. Feel free, also if you
> prefer, to e-mail me directly at DaPhred @ AOL)
>
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