I have been reading another
series recently, written by a man named R. Scott Bakker. He spends his time
writing philosophy and fiction, and admits that he sometimes finds it difficult
to differentiate between the two. For me, this is what drove me to read his
work – after all, my admiration for philosophy and the different interpretations
that incorporates, drove me to explore the Gorean side of things, but Gor is
such a narrow (and personal) interpretation of philosophy.
Scott Bakkers writing is more ‘wizards
and sorcery’ than ‘natural order’. But there are some interesting parts that I
find profound. I won’t be going into them here, as I don’t believe they are relevant
to every person who claims Gorean influences and because I don’t believe in ‘telling’
people how philosophy should affect them. That is for the individual to read
and discover in their own way, in their own preferred forms. The series has,
however, brought to mind one important question that I would like to address,
more for myself than for anyone else.
How should an individual live?
The answer, I found, referred
me back to my Gorean ‘roots.’
"Do
not ask the stones or the trees how to live; they cannot tell you; they do not
have tongues; do not ask the wise man how to live, for, if he knows, he will
know he cannot tell you; if you would learn how to live do not ask the
question; its answer is not in the question but in the answer, which is not in
words; do not ask how to live, but, instead, proceed to do so." – Marauders.
The
books are full of people who teach (and discover) small parts of themselves and
their likes, dislikes and lives in general much like we are taught from birth –
not all at once. I suppose the issue, for us, is that we try to unlearn so much
and relearn it “The Gorean Way” in such a short space of time. We look for
shortcuts, for simple answers to complex questions. We prefer to ask online for
an answer rather than look for it ourselves.
Many
people will say ‘but slaves, at least, just do what their owners tell them’.
This is one of the saddest things I have heard. Slaves are far more than
robots, they do more than just follow commands. While they must (obviously)
have exquisite beauty and be absolutely obedient - they are people, and as such
they must understand, and develop independently to their owners. Otherwise they
just become a clone of the one they are with, and if that relationship is
severed, what would they be? Nothing of their own making. They would have no
self, no opinions of their own.
Our
lives, especially our Gorean-led lives, are more a journey of self-discovery
than they are a ‘revision’ for a test, in which there is a right answer and a
wrong answer. Which is where I, and many others, have fallen.
There
is so much emphasis on following others, we forget that Goreans follow
themselves, and their own discoveries. We are all different, all with our own
natures, formed from our past and our upbringing.
How
to train me, to teach me, in the understanding of the order of nature, and the
day-to-day attitude of Gorean slavery? How to train me, to teach me, how to
function as a successful kajira in a society of non-Gorean people that I come
into contact with on a daily basis?
I,
personally, have no Gorean family to teach me from birth. I only have myself,
my master, and our friends. Each bringing something different to the table that
shapes my understanding of the world around me, and myself. There are no maps
to follow, no footprints in the sand that guide my way.
I
feel much like Tarl as he explores Gor, in that my Gorean life is forever
changing, adapting and re-evaluating as I meet others. I learn from them, as I
hope they learn from me. Even if those lessons are sometimes simply how NOT to
conduct myself.
How
should I live?
Humbly,
as best I can, with an open but strong mind. Journeying with the understanding
that my opinions will change, that my outlook will change, as I encounter others
with more information and opinions.
Kindly,
knowing that there will be many ahead of me, and many behind me. That I am not
the first, and not the last, to rethink my views.
Openly,
life has many branches – only a fool would not explore as many as possible.
And
above all else, I should live as close to MY idea of natural order as I can, as
close to my values and views, regardless of others scorn or disagreement.
I should, and thankfully do,
evolve emotionally and mentally, in Asmodeus’ collar.
I wish you well,
Kamira.