Short Answers
In my opinion, Alan Watts (n.d.) means that search of significance for an individual is not just a process but a state of mind, which leads the person further. Alan Watts (n.d.) gives an example of photos of peeling paint on old doors. By providing this example, Alan Watts (n.d.) is trying to say that photographers, who shoot this kind of photos do not follow a purpose to show the viewer the qualities of paint or the door either, what they are trying to show is that this process exists as it is. It is just there in a way it is there and for the viewer, who is in a search of a higher sense of living this photo can be meaningful, because it provides an understanding, that life itself can be meaningful as it is.
While trying to understand in what ways "non-sense" does make a meaning I have to refer to Alan Watts (n.d.), who says that "the godhead manifests the world because of lila, which is Sanskrit for "play"". By giving this example Alan Watts (n.d.) is trying to say that the Allmighty God, who have created everything around did not make this for a reason, but rather to bring himself joy. If to follow this idea, the kids who play in the yard do also follow no reason to doing so, they are just playing because this brings them joy and excitement. I think this is a very important idea, because in this sense no matter what an individual is doing, he or she, first of all, must receive joy of what he or she is doing. By doing so a meaningless life or life that has no sense will be filled with joy and love and life that has this attributes can not be meaningless after all.
My understanding of how Joseph Campbell (1988) explains the role of the Clown in religion is that he means that in order to change attitude towards some ideas an individual can change the way he looks and try on certain characteristics, that this new personality would might have. This idea fits with my experience of the clowns. I have seen clowns in circus and in everyday life, when somebody has tried to make somebody laugh by doing hilarious things or acting like a weirdo. I think that this type of personalities were helpful for me, because watching after a clown gave me an understanding that what they were doing was made for purpose. There is always a person behind the mask of a clown, with feelings and certain attitude. By doing what clowns are doing they interact with their own personalities and audience, to show that one can laugh at anything, even problems.
Parable of the Gadarene Demoniacs (n.d.), the readings from the Tao te Ching (1994), and "The White Queen Believes in Impossible Things" (1865) share in common the idea of seeing sense in things that at first seem senseless. Differences in these readings suggest me to believe in the impossible and unpredictable, running counter to my convictions as this approach can help me find the meaning and understanding that I am looking for.
This week the most important thing that I have learned is the understanding that in order to gain any sort of insight I need to try different approaches. The way I see things is not the only way they are. Every person has its own beliefs about the same things.
References
Campbell, J. (1988) The Power of Myth
Carrol, L. (1865) Through the Looking Glass.
Cherng, J., W. (1994) Tao Te Ching.
Matthew 8 28-34. The Miracle of the Gadarene Demoniacs.
Watts, A. (n.d.) Sense of Nonsense
