In Jack Kerouac's novels and poetry, he is always looking for something to believe in, whether it be in himself, in God, or in something else. Surprisingly, he simultaneously manages to constantly run away. The fear of responsibility and conformism is present in the majority of his works; this is the reason for his elusiveness, and the constant desire and search for a path far removed from traditional family life leads him to Buddhism, which was then a new concept in America. Kerouac's new beliefs lead him to zealously oppose lust, because it leads to the formation of karma: lust leads to birth, which leads to suffering, which leads to death, which leads to death. continuation of the cycle. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In Dharma Bums, Ray Smith (Kerouac's pseudonym for himself) had "went through an entire year of celibacy based on [his] feeling that desire was the direct cause of suffering and death." He even claimed to have “arrived at a point where [he] considered lust offensive and even cruel.” Due to the “absence of active desire,” Smith had “a peaceful new life which [he] greatly enjoyed” (Kerouac Dharma Bums, 29). Robert A. Hipkiss addresses this topic when he states Kerouac's belief that "women serve an ungodly and very earthly function." Women continue the cycle of karma” (Hipkiss 271). Smith ends up giving in to his sexual desire, however, and “all the peaceful celibacy of [his] Buddhism [goes] down the drain” (Kerouac Dharma Bums, 30). Alvah (Allen Ginsberg) and Japhy (Gary Snyder) had convinced him to join their game of "yabyum", which is essentially a "Zen Free Love Lunacy [orgy]", where a young girl named Princess was the attraction. main (Kerouac Dharma Bums, 30). Before Smith retires that night, however, he meditates and finally "was not taken by any princess or any princess's desire and anyone's disapproval and [he] felt happy and well slept” (Kerouac Dharma Bums, 35). Kingsley Widmer attributes this indecision and paradoxical living to Kerouac's "sinful sexual fears" (Widmer 305), as he is "grossly masculine sexual and can't help it and [has] lustful propensities, etc." » (Kerouac Les Souterrains, 3). In The Underground, Kerouac temporarily gives in to the “sweet return to the protective sanctuary and succor of the womb” (Tytell 272); however, he treats Mardou, a shy little black girl whom he loves temporarily, badly, due to lack of confidence, and he also "wanted another drink with a rowdy demon...". (Kerouac Les Souterrains, 105), which finally puts her at the edge. However, she stayed with Kerouac for a good while, despite the recurring theme of "poor Mardou coming home alone, once again, and the drunken maniac [Kerouac]" who runs away (Kerouac 101, The Underground), which shows why Kerouac was attracted to her; “the women least likely to make demands of him are the most desirable” (Hipkiss 271). Finally, Mardou gets rid of his "drunken maniac", which leaves him "to mourn [his] lost Mardou and so stupidly because [he] had decided to throw her away [himself]" (Kerouac 103, The Underground) . Kerouac concludes that "there's a lover on every corner - they're all the same, boy, don't hold on to just one" (Kerouac The Underground, 110), which is a preliminary to Buddhism as an excuse to avoid attachment. Mardou becomes one of “hundreds of girl lovers that each of them has betrayed or screwed in one way or another by [him]” (Kerouac Desolation Angels, 124). Part of the Dharma contains many ramblings aboutfemale sexuality and its dangers. Kerouac's fears regarding the lust of women are summed up when he states his belief that: "Men have been 'fooled' by women, since time without beginning,---thus birth and ignorance continue --- Men don't realize that women are their own Rib of Lust, Self-Lust, and are really nothing but (like men) skin and bones with shit on them. interior---Observe women closely and see if I'm wrong----The Real Man avoids women, has no children and seeks no return to the dreary wheel of life and death---He is constantly on guard against lust, concupiscence, and greed---" (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 170). Kerouac clearly illustrates here his belief that there is nothing constant about humans, and he knows that “all [he] had ever known” and I would never know that she was One” (Kerouac On the Road, 147), Kerouac asks his readers “instead of to seduce.” women, control yourselves / and treat them like sisters; instead of / seducing men, control yourself / and treat them like brothers. / For life is pitiful” (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 175). He wants humanity to “end human rebirth, by abstaining from sexual intercourse” (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 338). Kerouac also says “. .. give up... all sexual lust..." because there are "two things to do: eat and teach" (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 77). He goes from sad to calm with conversations like: " ...then suddenly he sees chickens in crates in the dark Chinese store, 'look, look, they're all going to die!' He stops in the street. “How can God create a world like this?” "I don't want a world like that from God." "I don't blame you." with statements such as "Pretty girls make graves, fuck you" (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 151) and his assertion that “if jazz were deep, women couldn't play it” (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 139). and the fear of women, as well as the sexual desire they arouse in him, mixes with Buddhism and beliefs in non-duality, meaning that all things are One, a central theme of Buddhism, and is expressed from concise way in his ABC of truth: a creamy one. thighs of a beautiful young girl 3DB Baby crying because he does not want to be born 3DC Decaying corpse in the grave (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 159). The internal struggle he expresses in many of his writings is because his “last obstacle is unripened sexual karma” (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 162). He develops and justifies his imperfection in this area by asserting that “sexuality [is] the most powerful force in / all nature because of its sometimes / fabulous pleasure, is the very in- / eyelet of Ignorance. . (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 198). Kerouac's belief in Buddhism includes the belief in "loving everyone equally / Everyone equally empty / Everyone is a Buddha to come" (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 198). Some of the Dharma, 239). devouring worm” (Kerouac Some of the Dharma, 198) When Tristessa offers herself to Kerouac, he refuses her and later thinks: “But what I missed when I didn't have this push from the body of the l 'lover, coming straight for me, all mine, but it was a slaughterhouse for meat' (Kerouac Tristessa, 55). of death” (Kerouac Desolation Angels, 316), so it has the same end result as murder., 1980. 305-306.