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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Inner Life of Pi

People who know me well have heard me say, in answer to the question, "What do you do?" or "What are you doing these days?": "I have a rich inner life." I do! And I read a lot.

Today I am going back to Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, to pages 70-71, where I stuck a pink mini-post-it note so I wouldn't forget to share these two paragraphs with you on some Slattern Day in the blog during Advent. Pi, an interfaith guy, has been patient in the face of mockery and ostracism for his ability to study and practice religions that usually don't get along with each other.

"There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless. These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, "Business as usual." But if they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story. Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words. The degree of their indignation is astonishing. Their resolve is frightening.

"These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart. Meanwhile, the lot of widows and homeless children is very hard, and it is to their defence, not God's, that the self-righteous should rush."

So there.

And now I can say goodbye to that pink mini-post-it note.  And now, thanks to Rei at Wikipedia, here is some inner life of blackberry pie with ice cream.

11 comments:

  1. I have not read the Pi book...but I always find the tossing back and forth about how people believe and have faith so...enriching. Thanks!

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  2. Adding "Life of Pi" to my wanna read list for 2013.

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  3. Doesn't Pi sound remarkably like Jesus? Even a little like Brian? ("For godsakes, people, think for yourselves!")

    I want you to give me that pie. Now.

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  4. Yum to both the exerpt you shared with us and the blackberry pie.

    Can't wait to pick up this book, life of pie by Yan Martel, and begin my book collection again.

    Thanks for sharing this wonderful insight, mi amiga.

    Feliz Navidades

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  5. Dear hearts, thanks for commenting! Nene, my plan is to get some books off to you TODAY, as the P.O. will be open on Sunday during the Christmas season! Wooee. Sorry, though--we are keeping Pi for re-reading!

    We are sharing any pie, though, Cathy, so you are welcome to inner life with ice cream!

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  6. thank you my friend but please don't over exert yourself vs 'excerpt'(missed the 'c' on my first entry Holiday sticky pie fingers.;-))

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  7. Those pieces of pie don't look gluten-free to me. How can I concentrate on the deep meaning of your message when my mouth is watering? Thanks for my copy of Comstock Review. "T-Intersection" works.

    Mom

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  8. Thanks, Mom!!

    So this proves it, eh? That OTHER Mom wasn't really you!

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  9. Nice quote from Martel. I hadn't remembered it.

    The pie would have been unfair if I hadn't had a tamale in the microwave.

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  10. Karen the (former) neighborDecember 9, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    Ohhh, was going to skip reading this. Not now! I have found my Christmas book. His thoughts sound Christ-like. :)

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  11. Yes. But brace yourself! There are 3 distinct parts to this book, and each somehow changes everything.

    Also, he is a Hindu. Plus a Christian. Plus a Muslim.

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