The Dharma Bums Terms

In Buddhism, a Buddha is anyone who has reached nirvana (enlightenment, or liberation from the cycle of reincarnation). There are several Buddhas, but the best-known is the Gautama Buddha (often just called “the Buddha”), who… read analysis of Buddha

Sūtras are the ancient canonical Buddhist scriptures. Throughout the book, Ray frequently reads the Diamond Sūtra, one of the oldest and most influential sutras. Dating to 868 C.E., the Diamond Sūtra is also the… read analysis of Sūtra

A bhikku is a Buddhist monk. The term literally means “beggar” and refers to the way the Gautama Buddha’s original students gave up all material pursuits to wander from place to place, study full-time… read analysis of Bhikku

Depending on the context, a bodhisattva is either anyone who has committed themselves to the path of enlightenment, or someone who has perfected their spirit and is ready for enlightenment but has chosen to stay… read analysis of Bodhisattva

Zen Buddhism is a school of East Asian Buddhism that emphasizes personal meditation practices (often under the oversight of a teacher) over study and knowledge of scripture. Japhy specifically reveres and follows Zen Buddhism, while… read analysis of Zen Buddhism

A fire lookout is a forest worker stationed in remote areas at high elevation who looks for smoke in the surrounding forest, in order to proactively identify and help stop wildfires. In the novel’s closing… read analysis of Fire Lookout

Skid row is a term for a rundown neighborhood where homeless and socially marginalized people live and congregate. The most well-known of these areas is the Skid Row neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. Whenever Ray… read analysis of Skid Row

The Cascades are a chain of rugged mountains that run through Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. In the novel’s closing chapters, Ray goes to work as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak in… read analysis of The Cascade Range