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17th out of 19 books
—
51 voters
Some of the Dharma
by
Jack Kerouac
Written during a critical period of his life, Some of the Dharma is a key volume in Jack Kerouac's vast autobiographical canon. He began writing it in 1953 as reading notes on Buddhism intended for his friend, poet Allen Ginsberg. As Kerouac's Buddhist study and meditation practice intensified, what had begun as notes evolved into a vast and all-encompassing work of nonfic...more
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published
September 1st 1997
by Viking Adult
(first published 1997)
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When a (fairly) straight guy uses religion to conflate sex and death--"pretty girls make graves"--you just end up with (the most boring kind of) misogyny. You'd think throwing some gay handjobs in there would help, but it's just depressing. They may be from people he allows more than a sexual humanity, but he still isn't able to come (figuratively). The result then is just some infarcted, grandiose, Buddho-babble in a really nice binding.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Moksha is for p...more
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Moksha is for p...more
i guess this book is pretty much for people who have made an intense study of Kerouac's work. it isn't really a text. it is a struggle, a long chaotic voyage through Kerouac's mind, over a lengthy period of time.
I treat it aphoristically. I treat it like a field of free association and do not read it methodically--i think that would be counter-productive.
I treat it aphoristically. I treat it like a field of free association and do not read it methodically--i think that would be counter-productive.
This book is always around and I’m always thumbing through it . For it’s little meditative Pearls . If you’re down with Jack. This book is for you. Jack’s’ Paradox between Catholicism and Buddhism, is what I really dig about it. But its got everything from fragmented letters to his sketches.
This book is "my bible". I have reread it several times, always finding a new and startling truth in it. Anyone that has read Kerouac would really enjoy this; it is a book to own and read over and over, to cherish and to return to as ones' life situations change and mature.
This one is not a cover to cover read, but its fun to pick up here and there and read a few passages. Its a bunch of Kerouac's musing about Buddhism.
Mar 18, 2009
Clark
is currently reading it
just started this, it's rather intereseting. i'll write more when i've read more
Mar 15, 2009
Adam Bessie
added it
Good for Kerouac junkies. Strange for everyone else (and maybe Kerouac junkies too).
a few good insights, a lot of random insanity.
Will I ever finish this tome?
As much as I love Jack Kerouac, this book was kind of like pulling teeth. Mostly poems and notes on Buddhist practices, the book follows kerouac as he delves deeper and deeper into his study of Buddhism. It's definitely an intriguing book from a human behavior study viewpoint but i found it hard to read more than 20 pages at a time.
tell lax bird died laughing at a juggler... i really liked this, it's an incoherent diary about the search for enlightenment which concludes with kerouac deciding it's not worth it. you can't really read this start to finish. it's a coffee table book about being a drunk and intelligent. i'd probably want to make out with kerouWACK if i met him.
I took another look at this the other night. I get the feeling I'm reading something I'm not supposed to read. It's a slippery slope. What do I consider acceptable reading? Why not this?
Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it can't reel me back in once in a blue moon, yellow moon. No moon too.
Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it can't reel me back in once in a blue moon, yellow moon. No moon too.
Far and away the most amazing Kerouac published. Facsimile pages of his journals over 10+ years. This was during his Dharma Bums period when he was studying and practicing buddhism.
Pure gifts and beatific poetry and appreciations to the higher spirit. Amazing book.
Pure gifts and beatific poetry and appreciations to the higher spirit. Amazing book.
Mar 08, 2007
Erica
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
potential buddhists and budding philosophers
the text in this book is a little hard to read because we are all conditioned (in america anyway) to read left to right. my advice is to read the first words you see on the page no matter where they are
Kerouac tries to work his way through Buddhism, can't stop drinking, quits Buddhism instead of drinking - takes 420 pages to figure it out. Worth it for the haikus alone.
You have to really, really, REALLY dig Kerouac and buddhism to like this book. I love Kerouac, I'm glad I own it. But I can't get through it.
100 pages from the end and I gave up.
If one is interested in Buddhism there are more comprehensible books out there.
If one is interested in Buddhism there are more comprehensible books out there.
i've been reading this off and on for years. its a valid type of inspiration, both spiritually and creativly.
This is really creepy. It is too much like reading someones personal diary and letters. Great work though.
This is a more intense look at the religion and philosophy Kerouac explores in the rest of his fiction.
reading this was like looking into the mind of jacky boy... enjoyed it more than his novels.
A boy bought me this book. I will never read it.
if you like karouac you'll love it.
May 05, 2008
Kelly
added it
still absorbing
May 22, 2013
Nerdkor
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Jeremy Brokaw
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Christopher Beale
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Natalie
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Nerdpunk
marked it as to-read
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Jack Kerouac was an American novelist, writer, poet, and artist. He is perhaps the best known of a group of writers and friends who came to be known as the Beat Generation, a term he himself created.
Kerouac's work was popular, but received little critical acclaim during his lifetime. Today, he is considered an important and influential writer who inspired others, including Tom Robbins, Lester Bang...more
More about Jack Kerouac...
Kerouac's work was popular, but received little critical acclaim during his lifetime. Today, he is considered an important and influential writer who inspired others, including Tom Robbins, Lester Bang...more
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“I am an appearance
The world is an appearance
The bread I eat is an appearance
All wish't forth from Mind Essence
Due to Ignorance--
I don't have to exist
I don't exist, I do exist--
Who cares?
For the purposes of this world
Do nothing
Or do everything anyhow.”
—
2 people liked it
The world is an appearance
The bread I eat is an appearance
All wish't forth from Mind Essence
Due to Ignorance--
I don't have to exist
I don't exist, I do exist--
Who cares?
For the purposes of this world
Do nothing
Or do everything anyhow.”
“I wanta go to Tangiers, I want girls, I
wanta write the biggest book in the world,
I want spring to come, I want, I want--
Wanting, I get; getting, I lose; losing, I
suffer; suffering, I die--
NOT WANTING, I DON'T GET
NOT GETTING, I DON'T LOSE
NOT LOSING, I DON'T SUFFER
NOT SUFFERING, I DON'T DIE SUFFERING.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
wanta write the biggest book in the world,
I want spring to come, I want, I want--
Wanting, I get; getting, I lose; losing, I
suffer; suffering, I die--
NOT WANTING, I DON'T GET
NOT GETTING, I DON'T LOSE
NOT LOSING, I DON'T SUFFER
NOT SUFFERING, I DON'T DIE SUFFERING.”
