Paradox Point

Ask “Bob” As channeled to Nathaniel Hellerstein     During my many years of giving advice, I have noticed that troubled souls show a strange blindness to the shortcomings of the gurus, sages, preachers, messiahs, etc., to whom they attach themselves. It is as if they think they deserve guidance only from people even more messed up than they are. However comic this may be for the guided, it has tragic implications for the guides; for who, indeed, shall counsel the counselors? If a Teacher can teach all those, and only those, who cannot teach themselves, then the Teacher can teach himself just as much as he cannot. Who, then, saves the savior?           That is why I, J. R. “Bob” Dobbs, have started this Advice Column for Advice Columnists - and their long-suffering families. I inaugurate it with letters I recently received from the parents of two prominent religionists. Taken separately these letters are moving; taken t...

          The Way of the Farce   There is grand cosmic Jest that unites all life forms in a common disunity. It is a field of contradiction that energizes and misguides all existence. I call it the Farce. The Farce has a Delight side, and a Dork side. The Delight side is peaceful; it is just and wise and happy, but alas, it is sad, so sad. The Delight side of the Farce is the Blues. Sing it! But beware the Dork side of the Farce! It is quicker, easier, more seductive than the Delight side, but not stronger.   Sneer is a path to the Dork side. Sneer leads to clangor; clangor leads to prate; and prate leads to puffery. Once you start down the Dork path, forever will it dominate your comedy, until you find the courage to unite Dork with Delight. In truth the two are one; for that is the way of the Farce.