Ludwig Boltzmann, Tilopa, and Fridtjof Nansen walk into a teahouse…
In this re-working of the well-worn joke, what kinds of topics would conversation between a mathematician, an ascetic, and an adventurer canvas? What insights would make themselves known between geniuses with such disparate wisdom?
The three walked in, effortlessly dividing the noren, which depicted a scene of tuna fisherman working a tumultuous ocean. Their arrival attracted little attention from the other patrons, though Snorri Sturluson, who was manning the counter at the rear of the shop, shot them a knowing smile and a subtle nod.
Hunched in a dark corner table, Kurt Gödel and Bashō were deep in conversation—the former drawing diagrams and schematics with his fingers on the wonky table. Hafez, John von Neumann, and Xuanzang threw back their heads in laughter at something inaudible as Milarepa topped up his and the trio’s small hand-crafted tea cups from an antique cast iron teapot. Wafts of jasmine emanated from the teapot’s narrow spout and began to circulate the room. Slumped at yet another table, Ulugh Beg, Kupe, and Bodhidharma all looked to almost too exhausted to talk; surely hoping the oolong in their cups would be enough to summon the energy needed to make it to their respective homes.
The writings contained within attempt to humbly cover ideas, concepts, and perspectives conceived, more or less, from these imaginary teahouse conversations. Entropy, enlightenment, exploration—threads that string together sublime sentience…
New posts every Wednesday and Sunday (and whenever else the inspiration strikes).
