How to See the Dharma in Western Literary Classics with Dean Sluyter

Sep 27, 2022

Dean Sluyter, an award-winning author and meditation teacher, explores the intersection of Eastern philosophy and Western literature. He delves into how classics like 'The Cat in the Hat' illustrate dualism and non-dualism. Sluyter shares insights on meditation as an embrace of life's chaos rather than an escape from it. He discusses the balance between effort and effortlessness in spiritual practice, emphasizing mindfulness and inner reflection as pathways to happiness. Literature becomes a canvas for deeper spiritual insights, bridging cultures and philosophies.

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ADVICE

Effortless Meditation

Open up your awareness to everything in meditation, don't block anything out.
Avoid trying to create a non-agitated state, as effort itself is agitation.

INSIGHT

Direct to Effortless

Effortlessness in meditation can be achieved directly with proper guidance, not necessarily through prolonged effort.
Those used to direct, somatic experience may grasp meditation faster than those prone to overthinking.

ANECDOTE

Prison Meditation

Dean Sluyter taught meditation in a maximum-security prison, finding that inmates grasped the practice readily.
He contrasted this with his experience teaching privileged prep school students, noting the inmates' seriousness.

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The Dharma Bum's Guide to Western Literature

Finding Nirvana in the Classics

Dean Sluyter

In 'The Dharma Bum's Guide to Western Literature', Dean Sluyter explores how classic Western literature can offer valuable spiritual lessons. He guides readers through works by authors like Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, and Dr. Seuss, revealing how these texts contain hints of enlightenment. The book encourages readers to see literature as a path to awakening and spiritual growth.

Cinema nirvana

Dean Sluyter

In 'Cinema Nirvana', Dean Sluyter explores the spiritual teachings embedded in movies like 'Casablanca', 'Jaws', 'The Graduate', and 'The Godfather'. This book offers a humorous yet insightful look at how films can reveal profound truths about human nature and spirituality. By analyzing these films, Sluyter shows how they can serve as a path to enlightenment.

The Cat in the Hat

Dr.Suess

The story follows the Cat in the Hat, a tall anthropomorphic cat in a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie, who visits two children, Sally and her brother, on a rainy day when their mother is away. Despite the objections of their pet fish, the Cat shows the children various tricks and introduces his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, causing chaos in the house. However, just before the mother returns, the Cat cleans up the mess using a machine. The book is known for its simple vocabulary, basic rhyme, and colorful illustrations, making it a favorite among children and parents alike.

The great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.

Essays

None

Michel de Montaigne

Montaigne's *Essays* are a seminal work that introduced the essay as a literary form. The book is a personal and introspective exploration of various subjects, including the human condition, skepticism, and the importance of concrete experience over abstract learning. Montaigne's skepticism is reflected in the title *Essais*, meaning 'Attempts' or 'Tests', indicating a project of trial and error and tentative exploration. The essays cover topics such as the education of children, the role of the body, illness, aging, and death. Montaigne's writing style is characterized by multiple digressions, anecdotes from ancient and contemporary sources, and quotations that reinforce his critical analysis of reality[2][5][4].

Walden

Henry David Thoreau

Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance[2][4][5].

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain

Published in 1884 in the UK and 1885 in the US, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' is a sequel to Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. The novel follows Huck Finn, a young boy who escapes his abusive father by faking his own death, and Jim, a runaway slave. Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. Along the way, they encounter various characters, including con artists and feuding families, and Huck grapples with moral dilemmas, particularly regarding his support for Jim despite the societal norms against helping a runaway slave. The novel is a critique of pre-Civil War American society, especially its treatment of slavery and racial issues, and it has been praised for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and its exploration of complex moral themes[1][3][5].

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who has been expelled from Pencey Prep, as he spends three days wandering around New York City. The novel explores Holden's disillusionment with the world around him, his feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and his struggle to find genuine relationships. Despite his cynicism and criticism of others as 'phonies,' Holden reveals a deep emotional sensitivity, particularly in his interactions with his younger sister Phoebe. The book delves into themes of adolescent angst, the loss of innocence, and the search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly superficial world[2][4][5].

The Dharma Bums

Jack Kerouac

The Dharma Bums follows Ray Smith, a beat writer, and his friend Japhy Ryder, a poet and Zen Buddhist, as they embark on various adventures, including mountain climbing, hitchhiking, and attending poetry readings. The novel is a reflection of Kerouac's own experiences during the San Francisco Renaissance and his fascination with Buddhism and the natural world. It explores themes of spirituality, the search for meaning, and the allure of nature, all set against the backdrop of the Beat Generation's rejection of mainstream American culture.

Dean Sluyter is an award-winning author who has taught meditation since 1970, from maximum security prisons to the Guatemalan rainforest. He’s a student of Eastern and Western sages from multiple traditions and has completed numerous pilgrimages and retreats in India, Tebet, Nepal, and the West.

In this episode, Eric and Dean discuss his latest book, The Dharma Bums Guide to Western Literature: Finding Nirvana in the Classics, which reflects his lifelong exploration of the awakening process as well as his years as a prep school English teacher.

Registration for The Well Trained Mind Program is now open! Learn the foundations of mindfulness and create a more fulfilling spiritual practice in Ginny’s live virtual program that starts on October 9. Visit oneyoufeed.net/mindfulness to learn more!

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Dean Sluyter and I Discuss How to See the Dharma in Western Literary Classics and …

His book, The Dharma Bums Guide to Western Literature: Finding Nirvana in the Classics
The role (or lack thereof) of efforting in meditation
The difference between awareness and mind
What it means to “relax your grip” or “let it be” during meditation
The Dharma and the Infinite in The Cat and the Hat
That dualism is the way the world appears to us when viewed through the thinking mind
How to find the fragrant emptiness at the core of our minds, beyond all thoughts
That only the infinite can give us infinite joy, in the finite world – having can’t match our yearning.
The nature of desire is that it replicates itself
Kindness in Huckleberry Finn
That the kingdom of heaven is spread upon the earth, within and all around us

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Dean Sluyter, check out these other episodes:

Dean Sluyter Interview (2019)

Inventions in Literature with Angus Fletcher

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