Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

As the central symbol of the novel, motorcycle maintenance is used by the narrator as a practical approach for facilitating an individual’s awareness of Quality. The Chautauquas given by the narrator throughout the novel detail how individuals can use motorcycle maintenance to cultivate a peaceful mindset and a focus on being present, all of which point to a way of life that is observant of Quality. Motorcycle maintenance, then, is a vital approach at maintaining balance in everyday life.

“Mu” is a Japanese word that the narrator translates as “no thing.” The term is used when a questions cannot be answered with a simple yes/no response. The term is significant in highlighting a refusal to concretize issues in terms of dualistic logic. As such, it offers insight into the practice of Quality as the narrator describes it. The narrator also mentions that “mu” responses can often be more useful that yes/no responses because they allow individuals to take a step back from the situation and reevaluate, broaden preconceived systems, and accommodate different interpretations of reality.