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The Abide Guide: Living Like Lebowski by Oliver Benjamin & Dwayne Eutsey

The main text of Dudeism, a religion inspired by Taoism (and possibly Stoicism) based off of The Big Lebowski. The basics involve taking it easy and finding some inner tranquility. Since the book is steeped in Dude-based metaphor, I'll try and translate it a bit for these notes. I'll also provide my own knowledge from being a practicing Dudeist for several years.

You may as well give TBL a watch or three before reading this, so you don't say "what's all your blabbering about?!"

tl;dr:

Take it easy.
Go with the flow of life's strikes and gutters instead of fighting it.
Learn when to say "fuck it".

In reference to Taoism:

Consider the line: "The Dude was the man for his time and place."
Therefore, Dudeism is a form of Taoism for our time and place.

Essential wisdom from The Big Lebowski:

Friendliness costs nothing, and it makes you richer the more you give it away.
Despite all the lines drawn in the sand, we all have a lot more in common with our fellow man than we realize.
Like TBL, life doesn't make much sense and not all loose ends are wrapped up nicely. It's a complicated situation, but one we can still enjoy if we keep our minds limber.
Being an example of self-contentment and non-aggression can be a huge calming influence on the people around us.
Your negative vibe is also contagious, so remember that it affects everyone else.
When the world kicks you, don't kick it back. Instead, kick-back and relax and let things flow as they will.
Make peace with and be content with the choices you've made in life.
Nihilism is exhausting.
Your home should be a sacred space that provides a relaxing retreat from everyday life.
Friendship should take precedence over social standing and wealth - be there for the people in your lives.
Don't be beholden to/obsess over traditional ideas of masculinity, men of all types are "real men".
Question authority and be skeptical: when you come across a complicated case, consider who benefits from it.
When a plan gets too complex, everything can go wrong. The simplest solution is usually the best one.
Honesty, humility, and honor are the foundation of all successful human relations.
Don't feel bad about losing your cool - the Dude does too - but know when to just say "fuck it" and fuggedaboudit.
Don't take umbrage with others - you can't be worried about that shit. Life goes on, man.
At least once a day (ideally more), set aside some time to do fuck all. Value rest above activity.
Sometimes, it really is just the stress talking.
You win some, you lose some. That's just how life is - better to embrace it than fight it.
Be kind to strangers and don't give into the knee-jerk tendency to judge folks before you get to know them.
It takes a big man to admit he’s wrong. But it takes a far bigger man to admit he doesn’t have any fucking clue in the first place.
There is so much to appreciate even in the most miserable life, so don't be afraid to be happy for no reason.
There's more to life than money and status.
Be willing to actually listen to people. But if someone isn't prepared to listen to you, then why waste your energy?
Technology should be used to enhance and extend our lives, not replace our lives.
Don't treat objects like women - as in, don't lust after technology and gadgets. Reject consumerism!
Keep your mind limber and be willing to consider a situation from many perspectives.
Check in to see what condition you're in on occasion, so you can defend against the conditioning of others.
Be the man for your time and place. Don't blindly ride the wave of the future, but also don't keep yourself living in the past.
Be at home in the world without needing a destination or direction... just go with the flow.

When in doubt, ask yourself: What would the Dude do?

Politics of the Dude

These are primarily based on the line where the Dude says he was an author of the original, uncompromised Port Huron statement.

Do not reduce human beings to the status of things.
Power should be rooted in love, compassion, and reason. Not possession, privilege, and circumstance.
Be a pacifist.
Just be yourself - don't get egotistical, but find a meaning to life you find personally authentic.
We need not indulge in illusions.
Abide in your own, personal way instead of blindly following the dogma of others.

Dudes throughout history:

Jesus Christ & Siddhartha Gautama
Lao-Tzu
Heraclitus & Epicurus
Emily Dickinson
Mark Twain
Bob Marley
Georgia O'Keefe and Diane di Prima
Wavy Gravy
Jeff Bridges

My personal additions:

Alan Watts
Kurt Vonnegut
Ram Dass

Dudeist movements throughout history:

The Axial Age (800-200 BCE)
Sufism (7th century CE - now)
Troubadours (12th-13th centuries)
Romanticism (18th-20th centuries)
The Luddites (early 18th century)
Transcendentalism (19th century)
Utopians (19th century)
Humanism (20th century)
The Diggers (1960's)
Slow Movement (1980s - now)

General misconceptions:

Women can be Dudes (or Dudeists, if that's your preferred nomenclature.)
The Dude is not a "God" in the traditional sense.
You can also have outside beliefs alongside Dudeism - there are Hindu Dudeists and Christian Dudeists and so on.
There are no requirements to getting ordained, other than abiding by your Dudeist vows to take it easy, be dude to everyone, and keep your mind limber.

On women and transgender people:

"What makes a man?" "A pair of testicles."

Keep in mind this isn't intended as a transphobic statement - the movie came out in the 90's and Dudeism was founded before the huge boost in trans visibility in recent years. There are trans Dudes and the wider Dudeist community is welcoming to trans folks. A notable Dudeist publication, The Limber Mind, has made a post in support of Pride Month.

Use of the word "Dude"

Within the community, "Dude" is considered a gender neutral term. I am aware that most women in the community refer to themselves as Dudes. In the end though, you can always refrain from using the term yourself or go use "Dudette" if you're so inclined - as well as tell people not to call you Dude. May not be the right religion/community for you if the terminology bothers you, though, considering it's called... Dudeism...

Feminism and Dudeism

Because Dudeism rejects traditional ideas of masculinity, unlike other major religions, it does not aim to subjugate. There are no lines drawn in the sand, so women are fully welcomed to the tradition.

Maude is revered similarly to the Dude, as their union is what produces the Little Lebowski who will continue to abide for all us sinners. The Dude is not traditionally masculine and instead lives his life authentically as he can, but his "weakness" is satirized through his non-status and pacifism. Maude is not traditionally feminine and owns her sexuality and autonomy, but her prototypical feminism is satirized as well in how she dismisses the role of men and appreciation of the vaginal. Both are icons of defied gender roles who find peace in the lifestyles they have chosen.

Lessons from self-help books

The wider self-help and actualization movement (SHAM) is just a sham trying to get you to purchase piece of mind. The Big Lebowski is all the help you need, but here are lessons from self-help books (which I don't feel like naming) that apply to Dudeism.

Don't sweat being bored, just relax and enjoy the nothingness. It's one of life's greatest pleasures.
20% of your actions lead to 80% of your results, so just figure out which is which and only do the 20% for success.
Rules are supposed to help us get along but some just make life painful. Break the rules when it doesn't hurt anybody else.
Know when to listen and know when to tune out and daydream.
Stop stressing the small shit in life, because real life is not a soap opera. It'll give you peace of mind.
Engage in limberal thinking: think with your whole body and consider concepts, impressions, feelings, and emotions.
To truly abide, you should go against the grain and find refuge wherever you can from the squares who wants to make your life harder.
Creatively procrastinate, by listing the things you should do and then don't do them. When you finally stop relaxing, it's because duty calls.

The 12-step program to becoming Dude

1. Admit that the whole world has gone crazy. We may be powerless over it. But we can take care of our own private residence.

2. Believe there is a Dude Way to the universe.

3. Be determined to follow the Dude Way. And to follow it further on down the trail.

4. Be skeptical and pursue meaning rather than material, so that you can abide without attachment.

5. Say, “Fuck it.” That’s your answer for everything.

6. Take long baths and meditate on your rug (or whatever else allows you to appreciate the little things).

7. When others question your easygoing lifestyle, remember that it's just like, their opinion, man.

8. Be Dude to everyone you meet.

9. Be there, man.

10. Stop making illiteral connection and adopt a cool, rational and detached attitude about everything.

11. Adhere to a strict drug regimen to keep your mind limber - prescription or otherwise - or participate in other imaginative/psychedelic pursuits.

12. Spread the Dude word, but don't be a missionary or anything.

Practical methods for abiding

Meditation.
Dude-jitsu - using an uptight person's un-Dudeness against them to throw them off balance mentally.
Yoga, or just finding ways to move or situate your body that make you feel good and relaxed.
Belly breathing. (see below link)

Thankie

Make your home a sanctuary (see next section)

Dudeist Feng Shui

The Bathroom: The most sacred of spaces. Treat it well, and take baths often.
The Rug: Or perhaps a nice carpet, laying down on it can help ground you.
The Bar: It can be a literal bar or a shrine or altar that brings you happiness and warmth.
The Sofa: The main vehicle for lounging.
The Bed: You want a comfortable area for you to properly go to sleep in. Place it near a (slightly) cracked window, with some books nearby.

Further reference:

Official website

/r/Dudeism (actually worthwhile to browse)

Checking out Cody Doctorow's books would probably be good as far as the "not treating objects like women" goes. Many Dudeists dig Stoicism and some are into Buddhism too, so you can gain some more thoughts from there.

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