Originally Posted by
badger1
It is our tragedy as post-Modern 'unracers' that we can never actually be Fred. Being Fred is a state of being that is not conscious of itself; one can no more 'aspire to be Fred' or measure the state of one's Fredliness than one can 'plan spontaneity'. We are in a state of permanent alienation from our true identity -- living on the far side of a gap in our consciousness that forever condemns us to subject Fred to our gaze -- thus making Fred the object of our cycling desire.
We long to unite with, to be at one with, that-which-we-are-not. In this respect we are more alike Poseur than we would care to admit -- we are as it were the obverse of the Poseur counterfeit coin, condemned to a false existence. Indeed, one might argue that NüFred shares this essential quality with Fred: he/she is blithely unconscious of his/her ontological status.
I prefer flowing with the Way:
Five students of a Zen master was back from the market on their bicycles. As they dismounted, their master asked : Why are you riding your bicycles ?”
Each of them came up with different answers to their master’s query.
The first student said “It is the bicycle that is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that my back has escaped the pain of bearing the weight”
The master was glad and said : ” You are a smart boy. When you become old you will be saved of a hunch back unlike me”
The second student had a different answer. ” I love to have my eyes over the trees and the sprawling fields as I go riding”
The teacher commended : “You have your eyes open and you see the world”
The third disciple came up with yet a different answer : ” When I ride I am content to chant ‘nam myoho renge kyo'”
The master spoke words of appreciation ” Your mind will roll with ease like a newly trued wheel”
The fourth disciple said : “Riding my bicycle in live in perfect harmony of things”
The pleased master said ” You are actually riding the golden path of non-harming or non violence”
The fifth student said ” I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle”
The master walked up to him and sat at his feet and said “I am your disciple!”