Comments on: The Train http://www.monakhos.com/2006/11/23/the-train/ Reflections on Mysticism and the East Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:46:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Zach Young http://www.monakhos.com/2006/11/23/the-train/#comment-876 Zach Young Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:05:10 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/11/23/the-train/#comment-876 Hmmm... In the story James can't help the beggar. He doesn't know how to cope with his own emptiness and the meaninglessness of life. His 'train' is suicide, hence the reason he boarded the train as it got closer and not when it arrived. It is a morbid little story I suppose, but I thought it's interesting for me to reread every once in a while. Sort of a look at someone who doesn't understand emptiness in the mystical sort of way, but does realize that he is empty. Similar to me a little while back (without the suicidal part - and no train stations, they don't have those in Norfolk - at least not any I've been to.) Hmmm…

In the story James can’t help the beggar. He doesn’t know how to cope with his own emptiness and the meaninglessness of life. His ‘train’ is suicide, hence the reason he boarded the train as it got closer and not when it arrived.

It is a morbid little story I suppose, but I thought it’s interesting for me to reread every once in a while. Sort of a look at someone who doesn’t understand emptiness in the mystical sort of way, but does realize that he is empty. Similar to me a little while back (without the suicidal part - and no train stations, they don’t have those in Norfolk - at least not any I’ve been to.)

]]> By: Jon http://www.monakhos.com/2006/11/23/the-train/#comment-873 Jon Sun, 26 Nov 2006 16:02:31 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/11/23/the-train/#comment-873 Great little story. There is a lot in its emptiness (pun intended). I have a few questions, though: How can James help the beggar? Would he try to get him to understand emptiness or address a more immediate need? Since James has no meaning, how does he know what is "his" train, and what motivates him to board it? Great little story. There is a lot in its emptiness (pun intended). I have a few questions, though:
How can James help the beggar? Would he try to get him to understand emptiness or address a more immediate need?

Since James has no meaning, how does he know what is “his” train, and what motivates him to board it?

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