My affinity for mountains began when I read the Dharma Bums. I can’t remember how old I was, but I think fifteen. I remember Jaffy, the outdoorsy logger and eastern language scholar, would climb mountains toting his rucksack full of necessities. He emanated peace and calm as he roamed the cliffs.
I was not a student of Buddhism at the time and knew very little about it, but the foreign terms, and the tranquility of the philosophy drew me in. Religion has never interested me. I have always thought human kind would be better off without it. I still harbor that opinion, but I wanted calm. I wanted the peace that is attainable only through ignorance or enlightenment. As I aged a couple of years, I realized I didn’t need someone else’s philosophy to guide me.
I would be like the mountains, stoic, gentle, and patient. Life would erode my exterior, would leave scars and abrasions. And like the weathered mountains, I would persevere.
Mountains have a lot to teach us. They communicate tremendous messages of tolerance, and reason. They say it’s all right to be still, it’s all right to be old, and it’s all right to be weathered. They say nothing is consistent despite appearances, and that rain and mist are just as beautiful as a sunrise.
When I am old I will scale cliffs with a rucksack, and sip water from streams. I’ll sit and look at the rain, mist, and sunshine. When I am old I will die on a mountain.

Make sure you grow a huge beard before you die: a beard that could pass for a toilet seat cover. Otherwise, you won't be able to call yourself a true mountain man.
» Bartholomew on 2007-03-16 03:24:30

By the way...
Be sure to check out The Michael Showalter Showalter. Three episodes so far. The one with Michael Ian Black as the guest is hilarious. http://www.collegehumor.com/tag:michaelshowalter
» Bartholomew on 2007-03-22 03:42:30

Buddhism as a religion has to be forgotten once a person reached enlightenment. Just like a vessel needs to be abandoned once the river is crossed for a person to go on.

In the beginning, buddhism has no deities and buddha refer to those who've reached that understanding stage.
» Causalien on 2007-04-02 06:48:47

Sorry, you do not have permission to comment.

If you are a member, try logging in again or accessing this page here.