O Monks
Original: O Monks on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Robed teacher (standing on a rocky outcrop, arms raised, addressing a group of monks): What do you think of this, O monks? Is form permanent or impermanent?
Monks: Impermanent, O Lord.
Panel 2:
Teacher: Now, that which is impermanent, is it unsatisfactory or satisfactory?
Monks: Unsatisfactory, O Lord.
Panel 3:
Teacher: Now, that which is impermanent, unsatisfactory, subject to change, is it proper to regard that as: 'This is mine, this I am, this is my self'?
Panel 4:
Teacher: You didn't say any of that yesterday when I paid for lunch!
A monk (beginning to reply): I have spoken, O monks.
Panel 5:
A monk: Improper, O—
Teacher (arms thrown wide, interrupting): AW COME ON!
Fun Fact: Buddhism was invented to get out of a $24 debt.
Votey:
Text only: (Also, did you notice that Jesus was totally broke when he said to give everything you have to the poor?)
Robed teacher (standing on a rocky outcrop, arms raised, addressing a group of monks): What do you think of this, O monks? Is form permanent or impermanent?
Monks: Impermanent, O Lord.
Panel 2:
Teacher: Now, that which is impermanent, is it unsatisfactory or satisfactory?
Monks: Unsatisfactory, O Lord.
Panel 3:
Teacher: Now, that which is impermanent, unsatisfactory, subject to change, is it proper to regard that as: 'This is mine, this I am, this is my self'?
Panel 4:
Teacher: You didn't say any of that yesterday when I paid for lunch!
A monk (beginning to reply): I have spoken, O monks.
Panel 5:
A monk: Improper, O—
Teacher (arms thrown wide, interrupting): AW COME ON!
Fun Fact: Buddhism was invented to get out of a $24 debt.
Votey:
Text only: (Also, did you notice that Jesus was totally broke when he said to give everything you have to the poor?)
Alt text
A six-panel SMBC comic parodying the Buddhist discourse on non-self. A robed teacher stands on a rocky cliff, arms raised, lecturing a row of red-robed monks below. Panel 1: 'What do you think of this, O monks? Is form permanent or impermanent?' The monks answer, 'Impermanent, O Lord.' Panel 2: 'Now, that which is impermanent, is it unsatisfactory or satisfactory?' Monks: 'Unsatisfactory, O Lord.' Panel 3: 'Now, that which is impermanent, unsatisfactory, subject to change, is it proper to regard that as: This is mine, this I am, this is my self?' Panel 4: The teacher abruptly breaks the formal rhythm: 'You didn't say any of that yesterday when I paid for lunch!' A monk starts to reply formally, 'I have spoken, O monks.' Panel 5: As a monk dutifully begins 'Improper, O—', the teacher flings his arms wide and shouts 'AW COME ON!', exasperated that the monks are siding with non-attachment instead of paying him back. Caption: 'Fun Fact: Buddhism was invented to get out of a $24 debt.' Votey (text only, no image): '(Also, did you notice that Jesus was totally broke when he said to give everything you have to the poor?)'
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.