# Fragments explained — The Book of Jade

> Chapter companion for The Book of Jade by David Park Barnitz.

## What happens

The speaker recounts a journey through various states of being—from earthly pleasures and knowledge to kingship and labor—only to find all are vanity. He confronts the Absolute, revealed as a filthy idiot, and then passes through heavenly visions and Nirvana, yet finds no consolation in any realm, concluding that all is emptiness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nihilism and Spiritual Emptiness

The speaker finds no meaning in any realm—earthly, heavenly, or nothingness—and declares all is vanity.

### Vanity of Human Endeavor

All human pursuits—pleasure, knowledge, power, art—are dismissed as futile and circular.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who journeys through all states of being and questions the meaning of existence.

### the Absolute

Revealed as a filthy idiot squatting in ordure, claiming to be Brahma, yet unable to answer the speaker's questions.

### Brahma

Identified with the Absolute, but depicted as ignorant and rotting, endlessly repeating 'Brahma, great Brahma!'

## Key lines

> Then from all being did my spirit pass, Sick of all being whether low or higher.

My soul left every form of existence, disgusted with both humble and exalted states.

_The speaker's rejection of all being, a key moment in the chapter._

> I have made all the worlds, he gibbered; And I his labour with these words did greet. —Why dost thou these things? why, O why? I said.

The Absolute gibbered that he created all worlds, and I asked him why he does these things.

_The confrontation with the Absolute reveals his mindless, repetitive creation._

> Ah not in nothingness is any peace, Nor in peace any peace, nor in the whole, Nor in the vine nor in the vision, nor In being nor non-being, nor in all That man hath dream'd of and hath anguisht for.

There is no peace in nothingness, peace, the whole, wine, visions, existence, non-existence, or anything humans have dreamed and suffered for.

_The speaker's exhaustive denial of any source of solace._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters/part-ii-fragments
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters