Today's lesson from Ndbag is a surprising one. As we examine his words carefully, we realise that the hidden meaning is, on this occasion, that there is no hidden meaning.
He is telling us that the early boogyman gets the lint.
And therein lies the paradox.
In giving us this simple message, he is reminding us of the many occasions when there were layers within layers to his meaning. So used to such subtlety have we become that seeking a secondary message has become habit; we accept, certainly, that early boogeymen are indeed replete with lint, but we look further. Surely there are other messages to be gleaned? The dryer must represent something, must it not? And what of ZK? Should we infer that his presence is meaningless?
The answer to that lies in the nature of ZK's utterances. 'Zzzzzzzzzzzz', he tells us. What can this be? Simple snores? Well yes. And no. In mathematical parlance, Z is used to represent the set of integers; those numbers that are without decimal places. In other words, with no point. This seems to reinforce the theory, but then we remember whose snores we're listening to. Are we to believe ZK? Experience would suggest that there's no point in this. But that would suggest that there is a point, and that point is that there isn't a point.
Even when asleep, ZK attempts to confuse us all. But in doing so, he helps to emphasise the boogeyman's point.
Against the somnolent dissembling of ZK, we have the straightforward nature of Ndbag's point. Here we have what seems like a contradiction; in giving us a simple message with no subtext, we're given to infer as a subtext that direct communication is occasionally essential. As we ponder this, we realise that Ndbag himself has on many occasions misdirected our thoughts. Is he, then, saying that he's as guilty as ZK?
No.
The boogeyman has been consistent all along; the thread that runs through each of his lessons is that we have a duty to think for ourselves. Whatever the lesson, we must find it for ourselves. By just accepting his words at face value, we're denying ourselves the opportunity to work through the logical processes that allow use to achieve true enlightenment. When we figure out for ourselves what point it is he's making, we gain a clearer understanding of that point.
But we should also beware; multiple meanings aren't always present. And when they are, we have no reason to accept something as truth just because it's been somewhat occluded.
If something is simply stated, it may be because that's all that's required. But it is up to us to figure out whether that's the case. Truth comes to us in many forms; only critical thinking on our parts can help us recognise it.
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