It would be no exaggeration to use it as a reference. big lebowski As the definitive cult film. After all, while there are many movies beloved among avid moviegoers, few have evoked such deep-seated collective love. big lebowski. It’s not just a movie, and like movies, the line between fiction and reality is blurred. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc. It served as the basis for its own annual film festival and even gave rise to its own religious sect.
Officially known as Dudeism, this religion preaches many of the most important life lessons espoused by the film’s protagonist, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges). But what exactly is Dudaism?
Is it actually a religion or a set of principles inspired by other religions and philosophies that came before it? Most importantly, how can you incorporate this man into your own personal life? Can we learn to adopt our carefree ways and live each moment with maximum happiness and joy, without worry or anxiety?
How was Dudaism born?
To understand how Dudeism came about, it’s important to understand how it works. big lebowski Shortly after its release in 1998, it became a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.
Written and directed by the highly influential Coen brothers, big lebowski The film tells the story of Jeffrey Lebowski, an unemployed slacker from Los Angeles who affectionately calls himself “The Dude.” On a fateful day, a man returns home from the supermarket and is attacked by debt collectors looking for Bunny Lebowski (Tara Reid), the trophy wife of wealthy businessman Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddlestone). From there, a man and his two best friends (a hot-tempered John Goodman and a meek Steve Buscemi) discover a conspiracy involving eccentric artists, mysterious cowboys, a nihilistic German electro band, a hapless private detective, and more. You will get caught up in the net.
The film gained a cult following.
In many ways, big lebowski This could be described as a postmodern riff on Hollywood detective stories of the 40s and 50s (especially big sleep). The film initially received moderately positive reviews among critics, but it was repeatedly praised for its unique characters, complex storyline, and inherently light humor, and eventually gained a massive cult following. .
In the years since its release, the film’s avid fans (who humorously refer to themselves as “achievers” for the youth charity run by Huddlestone’s character) have expressed their admiration for the film’s content. The film continues to make a profit, and the film is rapidly gaining profits. A revered place in pop culture history. Evidence of this fact can be seen most clearly in some of the film’s most cherished lines. For example, “That rug really brought the room together,” or “I can’t stand this aggression,” or “Yeah, yeah, it’s just, what do you think, dude?”
Fandom expanded into religion
Other elements of the film also help cement it as a beloved classic among the entertainment community, including the Dude’s penchant for bowling, White Russian cocktails, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Even the Dude’s unique style of dress (messy hair, decorative cardigan, pajama bottoms, jelly shoes, aviator sunglasses) makes the costume easy to replicate among cosplayers and people looking for a fancy dress costume for Halloween. became.
As evidence of the film’s meteoric rise to popularity, the film has inspired its own festival. The festival is his two-day event featuring live music, trivia, a bowling party, a cosplay contest, and the annual film screening. big lebowski. The festival, known as Lebowski Fest, has been held annually since 2002 and has been sporadically attended by cast members from the original film, including Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi. .
ultimate illustration big lebowskiHowever, it was in 2005, when journalist Oliver Benjamin officially founded the Latter-day Church (more commonly known as Dudeism), that it gained unparalleled popularity among modern audiences.
But what exactly is Dudaism?
The principles and sacred rules that make up Dudeism are simple. To take a page from his Dude handbook, he simply advocates enjoying life for the simple pleasures and living in the moment instead of constantly worrying about the future.
as Dewism.com “Life is short and complicated and no one knows what to do about it. So don’t do anything about it. Calm down, dude. Stop worrying so much about whether you’ll make it to the finals.” Let’s kick back with some oat soda with friends and do our best to be true to ourselves and others, whether it’s a walkout or a gutter, which means being patient.”
focus on the positive
Clearly, this approach to life is taken by a man who, far from worrying about the constant problems he faces, chooses to ignore his struggles and focus on the more positive aspects of life. Best exemplified. Huddlestone’s Lebowski chews out Dude for demanding he correct a mistake about accidentally urinating on the carpet.
The man uses trickery to get the rug for free. The man is threatened with having his toes cut off, hinting that the ransom delivery he is in charge of may fail. He escapes his troubles with a gentle bath, enjoying some kind of calming herb. One of his closest friends dies of an ill-timed heart attack during a confrontation with a group of pseudo-nihilists. The man knocked back a few beers and headed to the bowling alley with his friend Walter by his side. As Dude himself says when a stranger played by Sam Elliott tells him to slow down, “Dude stays.”
the man complies
The simple phrase “The Dude Abides” is the entire foundation of Dude-ism, and perhaps the key philosophical lesson from this movie. Whenever I’m faced with a problem, instead of wallowing in self-pity and worrying forever, I immediately bounce back by doing something I enjoy, whether it’s bowling, White Russians, CCR, or entertainment. Even if his life is temporarily derailed by some tragedy, the man allows himself to react emotionally to it, such as grieving Teddy’s death with Walter, before returning to activities he enjoys. .
In the Dudist’s mind, the pace of life is uneven and filled with perhaps more negative events than positive ones. That being said, it’s up to you to make the most of these positive moments, maximize the good (bowling, hanging out with friends) and minimize the bad (death, theft, unemployment, etc.) It’s up to the Dudeists.
Life’s simple moments are the most important
Essentially, Dudeism is a religion unique in its concept, but it draws much inspiration from Chinese Taoism. Taoism similarly advocates enjoying life’s small moments and living in the good times rather than the bad. Like other religions, Dudaism has important figures that it cites as supporting the core beliefs of the church, even if they are not strictly part of Dudaism. For example, the Church has given coveted “history books” to writers of the past such as Walt Whitman and Kurt Vonnegut, fictional characters such as Snoopy and Jeff Spicoli, and modern celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence and Jerry Garcia. He has been awarded the title of “Greatest Person of all Time”.
In addition, Dudeism has its own rules, a certificate of ordination (which actually allows members to officiate weddings), and a concise vacation on the annual schedule.
How can I endure like that person?
Given all this, you may be wondering whether it is possible to practice Dudaism in your life. The answer is, of course you can. In fact, implementing Dudaism’s core principles into your daily life is incredibly easy and brings you one step closer to living a life free of worry, fear, and anxiety.
Officially, Dudaism has only one rule. “The only thing we ask of you is to treat others with as much kindness and respect as possible.” In addition to this incredibly easy to follow edict, look at yourself, You can also work on examining all the fundamental questions of what makes you happy. At the end of the day, what do you think makes your life worth living?
It may be a little uncomfortable to force such introspective consideration of one’s inner life, but in Dudaism there are no wrong answers. It could be spending time with friends, reading a good book, binge-watching a reality show, or acquiring some kind of valuable collectible. It may be solitary, such as playing a single-person video game, or it may involve a large group, such as playing a baseball or football game. It can also be romantic in nature, such as having an idyllic date night with your partner or going on a strictly platonic date. You can also splurge and get a massage or pedicure, or spend a more affordable evening at home playing your favorite board game with your best friends.
The path to a richer existence
Unfortunately, many of us have certain responsibilities in life that we can’t necessarily ignore. Similarly, problems can and do arise from time to time in our personal and professional lives. Dudaist principles tell us not to ignore these responsibilities and problems or run away from emotional responses by getting too busy distracting ourselves. The idea is to be present in each moment, prioritizing the simple moments that give you personal pleasure (as long as they don’t come at the expense of the well-being of others).
If you love your job, that’s great! Take pride in your work and career. But when it comes time to finish work for the day, make yourself a priority. Do what you love with people you love. And when problems surface somewhere in the future (as they always do), remember that life is full of joyful moments too, that it’s not something to constantly fear or mourn, but that it’s worth living. Remember, this is the moment to make it happen.
It may not always be easy, but implementing this perspective into your life will put you on the right path to a richer, more fulfilling life. And just like this man himself, he will eventually be able to withstand everything that life throws at him.
