By Rev. Steebs
Many people associate Dudeism with bathrobes and White Russians. Now don’t get me wrong, I too enjoy a refreshing Caucasian while lounging in my favorite housecoat. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, man. But to me abiding in Dudeness is about much more than those tasty drinks and terrycloth garb.
Sometimes I prefer to dress up all fancy like, with a tie and slacks and what-have-you, solely to express that a Dude can appear in any form. A Dude may be the business man you sit next to on the train, the scruffy barista behind the counter at your favorite coffee joint, or even the all-black-clad clergy member of some other denomination. Fuck, I have met Dudes who have never even seen The Big Lebowski!
The point here, Dudes, if I have one, is that we need not worry about outer appearances, for they will know we are Dudeists by our abiding. Being who you truly are is the Dudest thing you can do. So if you prefer the robe and the classic beverage, I digs. And if you prefer spandex and leather jackets and Chardonnay, I digs. The Dude would not want you to emulate him, but rather be the Dude for your time and place. That is, be yourself, man.
Ever since I fully embraced Dudeism and became an ordained priest almost two years ago, I have noticed Dudes of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds. Dudeism has not only helped me find and connect with my inner Dude, but also has aided me in recognizing that Dudeness is everywhere. And fuckin’ a, man, it’s an intense revelation!
You see, my fellow urban achievers, Dudes may be found wherever you are, hidden in plain sight. But they are easy to spot if you are paying attention. You may see someone simply smile and shrug after being splashed by water from a passing car on a rainy day. Or someone singing and playing a rad drum solo on their steering wheel in the middle of shitty traffic.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you grew up, or what you look like. Dudeism is about helping you to go with the flow, to embrace the present moment, and to be kind to your fellow humans. It gives you a frame of reference so you are not like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know what’s going on.
I encourage those of you reading this, proclaimed Dudeist or otherwise, to try and practice at least one Dudeist deed a day. It doesn’t have to be anything big, just a little something to help you focus on letting go of everything but the present moment.
So the next time you feel like shaking your fist and cursing the guy who just cut you off in traffic, instead smile and say, “Fuck it.” Because after all, what good will come of getting pissed off anyway? The only thing it will bring is a wave of unDude energy.
And while Dudeism helps us understand and recognize that Dudes have existed for ages, from Buddha to Jesus to El Duderino himself, you don’t need to achieve some state of mystical Dudevana. All you have to do is avoid the unDude, accept yourself and your current situation. Then you will be abiding in all that is Dude.
It’s like Lennon said…"I am the walrus." That’s fuckin’ cool, man. He knew he was a walrus and he totally embraced it, along with some eggmen. I wish I knew a walrus.
Uh, lost my train of thought there…
Anywho, the thing I admire most about this movement folks are calling Dudeism is that you don’t have to conform to a certain standard or set of beliefs. To be you is to be Dude. To abide is to be Dude. Truth is, if you are a member or ordained clergy of the Church of the Latter-Day Dude, you have probably been abiding since long before the religion’s founding. Am I wrong? Am I wrong?
For me, Dudeism is a place where authentic people can meet, share a drink or a lane, and encourage one another to be the best version of themselves possible. Is that some sort of Eastern thing? Far from it, Dude. It’s our role. And our roll. That’s just like, my opinion, man.
Interesting comments. As the Dudeist Shakespeare said ” A Dude by another name is still a Dude”, or something like that. Loses something in the translation.