Friday 9 April 2010

Some Gumption for you to muse over; Shit Happens!

It 's that great philosopher, and fictional character, Forrest Gump who seems to be most famous for saying that "Shit happens", although Shit happens is a common slang phrase. It is used as a simple existential observation that life is full of imperfections, or "C'est la vie". The phrase is an acknowledgment that bad things happen to people for no particular reason, or so it seems to them, ahemmm! There are also minced oath forms, such as "stuff happens" or "it happens" . . . even "shift happens", apparently :-)

Anyway, shit definitely does happen, which is why so many people have a ready made excuse for their unhappy whining and whinging ways, ha, ha . . yes, it is all about that word perspective, but for now, well, who gives a shit? Don't answer that, because I obviously don't ;-) Look, if you're interested in discovering a new understanding of perspective and awareness I recommend visiting this link to C. Om's blog; he brings great clarity to the subject.

What is this leading to? It's leading to a philosophical look at the phrase shit happens, and it's going to be an ongoing, day to day perusal that will keep being added to, one blog post at a time, a day at a time . . .

. . . until it comes to its climax, which will definitely hit the spot! So, make sure you come here everyday to get a fix of shit happens . . . it is definitely the best shit in town!

Here is your first fix . . .

Taoism: "Shit happens."

Confucianism: "Confucius say: Shit happens."

Buddhism: "If shit happens, it isn't really shit"

Zen: "What is the sound of shit happening?"


OK, you're bright, you've got the idea by now, right? It's meant to be a light hearted look at different philosophical approaches. If the four philosophies above did not make you at least smile out loud then maybe you're in the wrong place . . but that's alright, it's not all wrong, you either get this shit or you don't ;-)

1No-Longer-Constipated-Yogi2Few

PS. You may have seen this shit elsewhere before now, that's ok, it's not brand new shit, but it's still worth a smile a day :-)

9 comments:

  1. Boy...you triggered a lot of thought for me and I was going to write a lot...but I don't give a shit!

    Thanks Doug...I really needed this post this am. It fits a situation I am going through at work right now. Shit happens...aahhhh

    ReplyDelete
  2. A thoughtful koan:

    "What is the sound of shit happening?"

    I'll sit and contemplate... on the toilet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shinzen,

    Give me another couple of Buddhist and a Zen 'shit happens' so that I can add them to the collection...go on, you know you want to! And good luck handling all that shit at work buddy . . .
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rizal, that's a good one :-)

    Isn't the toilet a useful place? It appears to be multi-functional...'one' can contemplate and even meditate on it if one so chooses....

    I suspect many a man must have had reason to meditate on the 'Head of the Otter' whilst contemplating that "This must be what giving birth is like, no?"

    ...she whom must be obeyed may well disagree with me on that one, no doubt I'll find out soon enough...... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Okay Doug...you've brought out in my inner adolescent.

    What's the sound of one shit happening?

    "Biloit...aaaahhh!"

    ReplyDelete
  6. You can do it with light bulbs too.

    How many Taoists does it take to change a light bulb?

    None. They wait for the light bulb to change itself, and eventually, resign themselves to darkness.

    How many Confucianists does it take to change a light bulb?

    Well, the number it takes isn't important, as long as the process is a model of social order.

    How many Buddhists does it take to change a light bulb?

    It never gets changed. But the Buddhist may well attain enlightenment upon contemplation of the dilemma of changing or not changing the light bulb.

    How many Zen Buddhists does it take to change a light bulb?

    None: the unchanged light bulb is perfect as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Suzanne, thank you very much, I love the light bulbers, they're great!

    I've added your comment to the next post, and added a link to your blog as well. great new photo :-)

    By the way, I enjoyed my chat with Tony Parsons. I just love the guys sense of humour, along with that rare ability he has to express oneness with the effortlessness of being so!

    ReplyDelete
  8. @ Suzanne: Agreed with Doug, nice light bulbs :D

    After contemplating the sound of shit happening (which answer is spoiled by Shinzen :p), I should contemplate on changing the light bulb... when it's on.

    ReplyDelete
  9. If you can see that the shit don't stink, you're good! :-)

    ReplyDelete