"'Nevertheless, it moves.'"
-Poul Anderson, The Shield Of Time (New York, 1991), p.27.
Everard adds:
"'It's a myth.'" (p. 28)
- and reflects:
"The kind of myth humans live by, more than they do by facts." (ibid.)
For Stalin on the Pope, see here.
Morpheus tells Auberon and Titania:
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot."
-Neil Gaiman, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" IN Gaiman, The Sandman: Dream Country (New York, 1995), pp. 62-86 AT p. 83, panel 5.
The two main kinds of Buddhism are Theravada and Mahayana. Zen is Mahayana. A Sri Lankan Theravadin graduate student, attending our Zen group, enquired about the differences between traditions. For one difference, Theravada refers to the historical Buddha whereas Mahayana also refers to mythological Buddhas.
There you have the wisdom of Manse Everard, Morpheus and the Buddha Dharma.
3 comments:
Most humans find mystical legends more attractive. I don't, but I acknowledge that I'm in a small minority and always will be.
I am fascinated both by the legends and by the historical/biographical data about a figure like Davy Crockett.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
There are also mystical beliefs which I believe are also actual facts, such as the Incarnation of God the Son as Man and the divine foundation of the Catholic Church.
Ad astra! Sean
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