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.