By Lone Dude
As mentioned in an earlier article, our mood — our inner dude — if you will, affects everyone around us. This is probably old news to some but lets all brush up on how we can help the world in taking ‘er easy.
First let’s recognize that attitudes, moods, smiles or what-have-yous are as contagious as the clap and everyone — even fascists — are susceptible to involuntary changes in their mood or behavior. We ourselves can change our mood at will — we just have to recognize 1) that we are being very undude and, 2) that nothing is fucked here, so forgedaboutit. Once you realize you can change your mood voluntarily, you’ll develop the necessary means for a, necessary means for a higher exultation.
Attitude is just a vibration. In the old days we used to call them vibes and the Beach Boys sang a song about them but that’s not what I’m blathering about. The point is, you can adjust your vibration at will, and your vibration can influence someone else’s — like strings on a guitar, if you pluck one, the others will vibrate in sympathy, not to mention the whole underlying guitar itself.
We are all like strings on a huge guitar, but we’re each playing our own note. Some of the great dudes in history seem to be playing especially clear tones, perhaps vibrating on a higher level, or maybe just more harmonious and open; others seem to be playing more sour notes, a bit flat, muffled, or depressed. This emotional ambient "music" can affect your mood in the same way real music can.
Now go spread your good vibrations. Take ‘er easy and go out there and achieve the modest task which is your charge. Recognize when other people are feeling undude. Symptoms include: Frowning, crying, depression, frustration, anger, threatening castration, throwing a ringer of undies, or coffee cup, or maybe even listening to the Eagles. Examples of nice notes to play with the strum of your soul: Cheer up a bored cashier (if you’re not too busy writing a check); when things get too stressed out at work, (if you are employed, 
sir) take ‘er easy, and don’t drag that negative energy into the tournament; or when someone is a dick to you, give them a second chance. But maybe not a third one — you can’t waste all your good notes on the Big Lebowskis of the world when there are Smokeys and Donnys who really need them.
When things get to out of hand for me I always ask myself "What Would Dude Do?" I often even imagine The Dude sitting there next to me so I can play off what he is doing. I know it sounds a little weird but hey, it works for me. Try it out. It really lightens up a stressful situation.
Now understand that your newfound energy (vibration) can have far-reaching effects. If you affect someone’s vibration, they will probably change someone else’s probably whether they realize it or not. Remember — this indudenza is very contagious. So make yourself a bright beacon of Dudeness and help make the world more shiny, like a great big bowling ball.
I must say one thing before I go. Most of these thoughts and ideas are those of Thaddeus Golas, the author of "The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment." Although I have had these strands running through my head for a long time, his words helped bring them to the surface.
Be the Change You Want to See in the World.
— Mohandas "Dude" Gandhi
Fuckin’ A LD.
You hit the nail on the head. Nice article, and good thoughts on keeping it Dude.
Far out
Wow man, I really like your style lone dude. Lots ins and outs to consider there, but I think you’ve got a good start on The Dude’s Guide to Enlightenment.
Well done, the movie tie-ins were far-out man.
Have yourself a nice cup of Instant Karma, Dude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4
Yeah, we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun…
Nice article!
Thanks for all the positive feed back. Could not have done it all by myself though. Dudley really tied the article together. You guys, this site, the Dude, Dudeism thats the kind of positive energy this world needs right now. Thank you so much!
Music is positive energy for me and part of my being (especially since I am a musician.) I can understand why the Dude would be upset about his collection of C.C.R. tapes being yanked from his car. Music can make a bad day tolerable.
Hey, excellent call…I suggested somewhere ’round here that Thaddeus Golas should be one of the Great Dudes in History…seems from the above we have another vote!
If you write it, Druidia, it is no dream
Gotta check out that Lazy Mans Guide to Enlightenment.
Sounds cool.
I tried checking it out, Pete, but I guess it takes a wiser feller than myself to decipher what in god’s holy name Mr Golas was blathering about.
I was expecting to love it and hoping to write a review on it, but I guess I’m more of a dunce than I previously suspected.
I mean I’ve read my share of esoteric, quanto-mystical, metaphysical crap over the years, and done way more than my share of acid back in the day, but I still couldn’t get on board with our man Thaddeus.
I hope you have better luck with him, dude.
Golas is a bit flakey, I have to admit. And methinks he had quite a few acid flashbacks in his day.
Still, I do like his basic message of not needing strict religious regimens for enlightenment. When I’m in the right mood he actually makes sense to me…when I’m not, well, he seems a bit spacey.
I guess that’s why I find him s’durned inneresting. Parts anyway.
I’ve had the occasional Acid flashback myself and from what I’ve read so far, I like him. Even if he is a bit flakey.
Who need’s religious regimens? Can’t be worrying about that shit.
Me too. I bought a CD version of his book and his voice and the music is what sometimes comes across as flakey to me.
There is a lot of wisdom in what he says, which he says he based on physics and really hated being associated with the New Age movement (e.g., his emphasis on vibrations).
“We are equal beings and the universe is our relations with each other.” Makes sense to me…most of the time.
Hey, nice piece, man. Being conscious of when you inner dude is slipping is the best way to keep your dudeness in tact and live in the moment – no doubt.
I read the “Lazy Man’s Guide” many years ago. He wrote it while penniless in San Fran way back before there was much of a “New Age” movement. As time passed and it became a popular reference w/i that movement, he really distanced himself from it.
In true Dudely fashion, it was the only book he wrote. I think it was an amazing, very original work, although one never works in a vacuum; I’d be interested to see who his influences were. I’d compare it to the first “spiritual” book I ever read, “The Tao of Physics” by Capra.
That is, he distanced himself from the New Age movement, not his book. How lazy of me concerning the prepositional references.
Druidia, I think you’re right about Golas. I’ve been fluctating lately between thinking he was onto something rather than just on something. I do have a bit of the cynic/skeptic in me.
But the more I’ve been reflecting on his basic message in “Lazy Man’s Guide” and the more I’ve tested applying it to my own situation, the more validity I see in what he wrote.
I see his message as being rather simple: Continually cultivate your consciousness and continually act out of love (for yourself, others, the situation you’re in, etc.)
I’m currently reading The Tao of Physics. Very interesting (and sometimes hard to grasp…the physics stuff, I mean). Capra definitely seems to stand apart from some of the New Agers who misinterpret quantum physics.