![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/ganlen.jpg\")
Those who embark on the Way discover very early that
\n there are two distinct ways to approach the goal. There is the Path of
\n Contemplation, delving deeply into disassociation, aestheticism, abolition of ego and transcendance
\n of desire. And there is the path of involvement, throwing oneself
\n full force into the flow of worldly events, striving through action to
\n bring enlightenment and liberation to others.<\/p>\n
The first path tries to wend its way through life leaving no visible footprints,
\n disturbing as little as possible, and so becoming increasingly aware .
\n The second embraces subjectivity, action, human emotion and divine inspiration
\n to try to make a positive difference during the time each individual has
\n been given .<\/p>\n
Both paths lead to the same place; nirvana, satori, call it what you will,
\n and in the final stages of the approach the paths are almost indistinguishable
\n because that close to enlightenment time and space are distorted, just
\n as they are when one approaches the speed of light, and the distinctions
\n between action and inaction, cause and effect, start to break down.<\/p>\n
A lucky life is one that grants sufficient time and personal freedom to
\n spend significant stretches on each of these paths. Most of our lives,
\n however, are lived on the swampy wasteland that stretches between the paths,
\n wandering onto one or the other occasionally but without real direction
\n or appreciation.<\/p>\n
What has inspired this intense spell of navel-gazing in the initial phases
\n of a life-and-death adventure of the first order, and after a day spent
\n dealing with cat people and the surly hellions of U-Haul? <\/p>\n
Well, it seemed a natural seque to a change some of you may have already
\n noticed. The nature of the Dowbrigade News is going to change for a while,
\n and instead of being basically contemplative, collecting and commenting
\n on events in other parts and involving other people, searching out connections
\n others may not have noticed, we are going to be writing about our experiences
\n on the road, first at a conference in California and then, hopefully, if
\n we find someone to care for our cats, for three months on the Pacific coast
\n and in the mountains of South America.<\/p>\n
Partly this will be because we will not have our now-customary access to
\n the news and views of the blogosphere. But equally a factor, such interesting<\/i>
\n things seem to happen to use when we are on the road. We meet famous people
\n by chance, get involved in revolutions and captured by guerillas, discover
\n things about fascinating places, and about ourself and our home country.
\n We talk less, listen more, watch everything, and hopefully write about
\n it well. Never before have we had an outlet for our roadwork, other than friends, lovers and family.<\/p>\n
Finally, we are thoroughly convinced that if this vestigial virtual vision
\n of using technology to make Democracy relevant again is to have any hope
\n of success, the movement MUST be global. No single nation, even one as
\n powerful and pervasive as the United States, can pull this off alone. Everyone
\n should visit a few different parts of the world and stay long enough to
\n really wrap your mind around another world view.<\/p>\n
We promise to try to keep up with the news and post a funny photo from
\n time to time. And we are committed to coming back in the summer and teaching
\n at the law school. We are mad-anxious to blog the Democratic Convention
\n in July, and the Republicans in August. Meanwhile, expect more personal
\n stuff, weird stories, action photos, bemused beach briefings, impromptu
\n reviews of the digitalia we are schlepping around in our iBook, and assorted
\n notes from the road. Good to have you along for the ride.!<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Those who embark on the Way discover very early that there are two distinct ways to approach the goal. There is the Path of Contemplation, delving deeply into disassociation, aestheticism, abolition of ego and transcendance of desire. And there is … Continue reading