Future Nothingness Already - Paperback

by James Michael White (Author)

Future Nothingness Already is a travel adventure story in the life of the mind. The action of the novel develops thematically rather than dramatically in an expository poetic narrative that includes interconnected short stories, poems and stream of consciousness essays. The context is an exploration of esoteric knowledge from several traditions. It also deals with the literary and poetic scene around Naropa Institute during the 1980's. It is set in the hills of Tennessee but ranges far and wide. It is a book of search and discovery. It is a quest to expand awareness and find freedom beyond the bounds of conventionality. It is a continual pursuit of the muse. It is an alchemical text that attempts to distill beauty from everyday life. It reaches into the Buddhist tradition in all its major schools, the Fourth Way school of Gurdjieff, the Native American traditions especially the Sioux and Cherokee, and into modern poetry as a vehicle of liberation. The characters in this free wheeling narrative include Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Harry Smith, Herbert Huncke, Gary Snyder, Ken Kesey, and Philip Whalen.. The Sioux shaman Fools Crow is also a character along with Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, the Buddhist saint Asanga, the well known Sioux holy man Black Elk, Pierre Eliot, Sogyal Rinpoche, Zen Master Seung Sahn, G. I. Gurdjieff, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, Trungpa Rinpoche, Cherokee Herbal Medicine Man Aminita Sequoia, and Dhyani Ywahoo