Buddhism and Ayn Rand: huh?
As the late teen, or early twenty something, you found myself diving in to the couple of of the novels of Ayn Rand. Most notably, you fell in adore with The Fountainhead, the story of an designer who chooses to live out his dreams in obscurity, rsther than than concede with various forms of the standing quo. In part, you believe this story resonated with my interest in buildings, as well as the childhood thoughts you had about being an designer myself. But you additionally consider the rebellious as well as daring determination to move your dreams to hold up strike deeply for me then, as well as still does today.
Following which novel, you picked up the duplicate of Atlas Shrugged, which initially drew my interest since it's tract included the concentration upon railroads. On my father's side of the family, you have several generations of "train people," so railroads as well as trains have been partial of my blood.
Anyway, somewhere around page 250 (of the 1300 page novel), you unexpected satisfied what Ms. Rand's ubiquitous truth upon hold up was, as well as had the earthy greeting so strong you threw the book opposite my bedroom. you tried to read it again sometime later, though found myself ceaselessly disgusted by her insistence upon the virtue of the partnership of rapacity as well as reason as the apex of human existence.
A couple of days ago, you stumbled upon this essay upon one of the websites you write for. In the article, Rick Bateman points out which reading Rand's essay offers us Buddhists the estimable challenge:
If you have been the Buddhist, no alternative books you know of will plea your beliefs similar to Rands Atlas Shrugged as well as The Fountainhead. They will do so since they puncture in to the really same issues, and, with really persuasive proof as well as story, argue the opposite of The Buddhas teachings. Rand chose to convey her truth around her novels! rsther than than non-fiction functions since of her views upon art as well as romanticism. The worlds as well as characters of the novels have been purposely stylistic as they have been not intended to simulate realistic individuals though rsther than to designate concepts.
I'm not assured which Rand is operative from the "opposite" finish of Buddhist teachings, nor am you assured which most of her essay was even really good, though you do consider Rand's work has been influential enough that's it worth considering in conditions of bargain some of the suspicion processes during the back of today's global mercantile system. Amongst those who have claimed her as the vital influence have been U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former U.S. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, rising star Republican Congressman Paul Ryan,and media celebrity Glenn Beck. Countless others have been desirous in partial by her views, as well as the consider tank desirous by her writings has been running for over twenty five years.
Beyond this, though, it's tough not to see how uber individualism as well as the concentration upon self good has turn the pretty popular approach of living. Probably more so than in the past, in partial due to the reduced need to rely upon any alternative for basic survival.
It's easy to boot someone similar to Rand as an outdated penetrate of writer. But maybe it might be exegetic to collect up the duplicate of the Fountainhead, for example, as well as take the look during the universe portrayed in it. Why? Because even as it is fiction, it offers the perspective inside the heads of those who embody the truth of hold up driven by self-focus. And isn't which one of the main reasons because people adore the great story? That it gives us the possibility to see things about amiability you differently wouldn't wish to look at.
Oddly, I'm feeling the little grateful to Ayn Rand - not the lot. But the little bit.
