Understanding Jack Kerouac Through Buddhism

Jack Kerouac, “the King of the Beats”, is a legendary figure in the American literary history. As a writer he has left his inerasable footsteps in the literary world by producing creative and innovative fictions and poetry. As a hero of the counter-cultural movement he presented a brand-new possibility of life and made the public re-examine the American dreams. Among numerous researches on various topics, his association with Buddhism is a particular angle to understand him in both literary and cultural aspects. This thesis uses one of his most well-known novels, The Dharma Bums, to examine his Buddhist ideas in details. There is also much more to be discussed beyond the literary work, as how Kerouac's Buddhism influences American culture.The main conclusions are as follows:First, by looking into the relationship between Kerouac and Buddhism, this thesis holds the opinion that Kerouac's attitude towards Buddhism is quite ambiguous: he is not pious to it like a normal religious disciple but treats it more like a philosophy. He studies Buddhist theory and uses it in his works and life.Second, by close reading, the thesis points out the representative parts which reflect Kerouac's understanding towards Buddhism and analyzes whether his understanding is appropriate or not. After distinguishing Kerouac's Buddhist interpretation from their original meaning, the thesis argues there are quite a lot misunderstanding towards Buddhist knowledge and that he even uses Buddhism as an excuse for his casual and decadent lifestyle.Third, this thesis considers Kerouac's Buddhist influence on the American society. Kerouac contributes quite a lot to the development of Buddhism in America and his Buddhism helps to push forward the counter-cultural movement during the post-war era.Overall, Buddhism is a valuable topic to understand Kerouac. Its impact can be seen in many ways on Kerouac: his works, his lifestyle, his ideology. But in turn, Kerouac also helps to enrich the connotation of Buddhism by popularizing and Americanizing it in the country.