Dharma Bums 10

"named all the magic rocks and clefts, names Japhy had song to me so often"
page 235

This quote comes when Ray first gets to his post on Desolation. He thinks of the names of the peaks that he had learned from all his experiences with Japhy. This quote was kind of odd because it made like Japhy was Ray's teacher. Ray was using all of Japhy's wisdom in naming the rocks around him as well as taking Japhy's old job.

"And suddenly it seemed I saw that unimaginable little Chinese bum standing there, in the fog"
page 243

This quote comes as Ray is preparing for the end of his shift on the mountain watch. In these pages he is truck by the nature and discusses the qualities of the surrounding mountains compared to himself. He then relates it to Han Shan and Japhy. He finds it hard to imagine Han Shan because having the mountains as a constant for everyone who has ever lived is difficult to think about. This leads him to finding himself missing Japhy's wisdom.

Dharma Bums 9

"It was going to be a great day, we were back in our element:trails"
page 200

This quote comes as Rau and Japhy leave the party to go hiking by themselves. They views this as their last experience together and Japhy's last chance to see California. This quote shows the growth Ray has made in regaurds to hiking from the time when he could not climb to the top of Matterhorn. Now, he considers trails his "element" which is much different from his feelings towards them earlier in the book.

"I wished the whole world was dead serious about food instead of silly rockets and machines and explosives using everybody's food money to blow their heads off anyway."
page 217

Ray speaks this as he beings to hitchhike to his mountain which is around Seattle. He thinks of how careful Japhy was with food and how Japhy gave Ray his raisins and peanuts before he left for Japan. Ray turns this into his rare pieces of common place philosophy. This view about making food not weapons seems a little mainstream compared to Ray's other views.

Intro Paragraph

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac is a story focused mainly upon the beliefs and practices of religious wanderers. The main character in the story Ray, as well as his friend Japhy practice the Dharma lifestyle in which they are Buddhist wanderers who hitchhike the country reading and expounding upon poetry and philosophy. Although Ray and Japhy observe roughly the same fundamental existence, their views on people with opinions varying from their own differ completely. Japhy is frightened and upset by the average working family because he does not understand their normalcy. Ray on the other hand is indifferent to people who do not practice Buddhism or a minimalist lifestyle. The difference in the character’s opinions may stem from their upbringing or the length of time they have been practicing Dharma. Ray and Japhy’s views on people who do not share their way of life differ completely and are directly linked to the commitment they make towards their lifestyle.

Dharma Bums 8

“Japhy was mad as hell and really jealous.”
Page 185

This quote comes when Japhy’s sister comes to the cabin with her new fiancé. Japhy seems to attempt to make him feel uncomfortable but at first Ray thinks it is just how he talks with his sister. However, as Japhy presses on in the conversation, Ray thinks that Japhy is jealous of his sisters engagement. This is obvious because in the previous chapter he explained to Ray how he too one day would like to get married. Even though Japhy seems to be the most devoted to the Dharma lifestyle, he is slipping in this aspect of his life.

“All of them had rucksacks and sleeping bags and some of them were going hiking that next day on the Marin County trails.”
Page 178

The narrator speaks this about the different characters who visit he and Japhy at their cabin. Some of these characters are people Ray has not seen for some time such as Princess and Alvah. In describing their activities he says that they all have rucksacks and are intent on hiking and experiencing nature. They might not all practice the Dharma Ray and Japhy do but they share a love for nature.

PAPERTOPIC

How Japhy is anti-people and Ray is more sympathetic towards the masses.

Dharma Bums 7

"If the Dharma Bums ever get lay brothers in America who live normal lives with wives and children and homes, they will be like Sean Monahan"
page 161

This quote comes at the beginning of chapter 24. It is said as Ray introduces Sean to the reader. It is ironic that he would say anyone who is a Dharma Bum would be a normal person with wives and children. This is because the whole idea of being a Dharma Bum is wandering for a religious cause by yourself, not being at home with wives and children.

"I don't wanta hear all your word descriptions of words words words you mae up all winter, man I wanta be enlightened by actions"
page 169

This is said by Japhy as Ray is trying to explain to him what he thought about over the spring. Japhy is not receptive to this because he says he had reached a higher level of enlightenment than Japhy. This level is pushing Japhy farther from Ray and changing him. It is almost changing him away from a Dharma Bum as demonstrated by his desire for a wife. Ray is upset by this.

Dharma Bums 6

I make more money than you ever had in your whole life as a hobo, but you're the one who enjoys life and not only that but you do it without workin"
page 129

This quote is spoken by a truck driver who is giving Ray a lift from Mexico most of the way to North Carolina. They stop off on the side of the road for Ray to make the driver a steak. Ray's cooking ability impresses the truck driver and they become friends. The trucker is baffled by how Ray can live on an small income and be happier than him. Living happy with little means seems to be a large theme in the story. This is a rare instance when it is acknowledged by someone not living like Ray and Japhy.

"People have good hearts where or not they live like Dharma Bums."
page 132

Ray speaks this quote when he first gets to his mother's house. He sees her doing the dishes and thinks back to Japhy's rant on how every American is obsessed with their indentical nice white toilets. At this point Ray questions this philosophy and says that people can be good people without practicing their lifestyle. This is the first time in the book any characters had sympathized with the normal person.

alternative medicine more links

Complementary and Alternative medicine is used for people who for some reason do not beleive in traditional medicine.
Alternative medicine involves any form of treatment not offered in a hospital.
Some of which is even covered by insurance but must be regulated by the Food and Drug administration.

Dharma Bums 5

"therefore have to work for the priviledge of consuming, all that crap they didn't really want anyway such as refrigerators, TV sets, cars, at least new fancy cars, certain hair oils and deodorants and general junk you finally always see a week later in the garbage anyway, all of them imprisoned in a system of work."
page 97

Japhy speaks this quote in Ray's recounting of the drunken conversation between the friends. Japhy discusses his view that Americans work for material things they feel influenced by society to purchase. This is similair to what we discussed in class on cookie-cutter America. Japhy's philosophy causes him to be confused as to why people who choose to imprison themselves in the cycle of senseless work for material.

"find perfect solitude and look into the perfect emptiness of my mind and be completely neutral from any and all ideas."
page 105

Ray says that his search for solitude and emptiness from ideas are what influence him to live a wandering life. He plans to do this with his new rucksack that Japhy recently helped him purchase. However, in searching to be free from ideas, he is really taking Japhy's teachings and putting them to use. Ray is greatly influenced by Japhy's word, even if that word is to not be influenced by ideas.

Dharma Bums 4

"he made sure his sleeping bag was farther away from the fire than mine so I would sure to be warm. He was always practicing charity."
page 76

This quote comes when Japhy and Ray are alone at their first campsite while climbing Matterhorn. It is a cold night and Japhy sacrfices his own comfort to ensure that Ray is warm. This demonstrates that Japhy is commited to practicing his form of Buddhismby practicing kindness on a regular basis. This is a rare case of the character in the book following through on a commitment and shows how much Ray respects Japhy.

"'Ready. What would I say to the boys in The Place if I came all this way only to give up at the last minute."
page 81

Ray says this to Japhy and Morley as he is deciding whether or not to continue to the top of Matterhorn. One reason he should go is so he can share this story with this friends. This is ironic because earlier he says that the whole point of mountain climbing isnt to show off, its just getting outside. Rays thoughts change on a whim as Japhy presses him to climb.

Dharma Bums 3

"'Let's go in there, by God we need a man's breakfast if we're gonna climb all day.'"
page 50

Ray says this as the hiking trio is approaching a lodge. This occurs before the group starts to hike. I found this comment and action odd because earlier Japhy discussed their plan to save money. Stopping to eat at a diner does not seem economical or mountainman like.

"Ray when you're up here you're not sittin in a Berkeley tea room. This is the beginning and the end of the wold right here."
page 68

Japhy conveys this idea to Ray as they are reaching the high points of that days ascent. The other member of their party had turned back at this point and the conversation was more open for input from Japhy. Japhy is telling Ray how important traveling into nature is because nature exsisted before humans and will excist after humans. He says that this is a vital component of a whole Buddhist life and cannot be achieved in some Berkeley Tea Room.

Dharma bums 2

"Japhy Ryder is a great new hero of American culture"
page 32

This is declared by Alvah after he and Jay are discussing Japhy's accomplishments and lifestyle. They recount his knowledge of poetry, oriental languages and women to determine he is heroic. This is odd because I would consider Japhy Ryder to be a counterculturalist. However, Alvah says he is a hero of American culture. This does not make sense because Japhy does not mainstream in that he is a religious wanderer who lives a life which is almost "back to nature".

"colleges being nothing but grooming schools for the middleclass non-identity which usually finds its perfect expression on the outskirts of the campus in rows of well-to-do houses."
page 39

The quote comes when Ray points out that he and Japhy look misplaced on a college campus. This is because of their old clothes and the life they lead that is so opposite from middle class men with desk jobs. It is interesting that Ray makes the point that colleges are a "breeding ground" for people to go out and live in cookie cutter houses because that is what we have been talking about in class. Ray takes it a step before the people settling down and how people's education leads them into a life of normalcy.

Dharma Bums 1

"he had me on pins and needles all the time and did eventually stick something in my crystal head that made me change my plans in life"
page 13

This quote comes when the main character is talking about his and Japhy's conversations. This occurs shortly after the main character meats Japhy and they are at the poetry reading. Japhy's simple come backs to Rays word strike Ray in a manor he describes as life changing. This is important because it hints that Japhy may be an important character in the rest of the book.

"which would be a number of sand grains uncomputable by IBM"
page 8

Ray thinks this statement while lying on the beach in California. He is by himself sipping wine and wading in the water. During this time he beings to wonder about things which seem to be endless, like the number of sand grains on the beach. He says that an IBM computer which at that time must have been on the edge of technology at that time could not unlock the mystery of nature. It seems Ray uses this as a justification of his nomadic natural lifestyle. It conveys that nature is better than technology.

alternative medicine links

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html

http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/altm.html

Are These Actual Miles?

"But banksuptcy is a company collapsing utterly, executives cutting their wrists and throwing themselves from windows, thousands of men on the street."
page 585

This quote comes when the main character, Leo, is recalling his childhood. He remembers his father pointing out a nice house and telling him the people who lives there are bankrupt. However, Leo thinks that bankruptcy is when a company colapses and workers begin to commit suicide. Leo likes to beleive this because he is currently having financial issues and it comforts him to think that he is not as bankrupt as those people who commit suicide. However, in reality he is just as bankrupt as them.

"I said we're just finishing. I told you, it's part of the deal"
page 588

This quote comes when Toni calls Leo for the second time of the night. This time, she informs him that she and the perspective buyer are out to dinner at New Jimmy's. Toni says that the man sympathizes with their financial situation and thinks it is the worst thing to be considered as. At this point, Leo has had enough of the shady dinner date and wants to bring his wife home. However, she hangs up despite his pleas. In the end, she does not arrive home until early the next morning.