At first glance, the name of this website, Flesh, Bones, Marrow, might evoke thoughts of food, nourishment, or even something primal. And that’s intentional. This triad is a metaphor that represents the layers of understanding and the journey toward the deepest truths.
This site is about knowledge. Not just the practical facts that help us navigate daily life, but the truths that resonate deeply within us. It is a journey—from what sustains us day to day, to what helps us understand our world, and finally to wisdom: the marrow of understanding, where the most fundamental truths lie. To uncover the philosophy of Flesh, Bones, Marrow, we begin with its origins, rooted in a timeless Zen story.
The Zen Story: Flesh, Bones, Marrow
The first Zen patriarch, Bodhidharma, brought Zen to China from India in the sixth century. According to his biography recorded in the year 1004 by the Chinese teacher Dogen, after nine years in China, Bodhidharma wished to go home and gathered his disciples about him to test their understanding.
Dofuku said: “In my opinion, truth is beyond affirmation or negation, for this is the way it moves.”
Bodhidharma replied: “You have my skin.”
The nun Soji said: “In my view, it is like Ananda’s sight of the Buddha-land—seen once and forever.”
Bodhidharma answered: “You have my flesh.”
Doiku said: “The four elements of lightness, airiness, fluidity, and solidity are empty [i.e., inclusive], and the five skandhas are no-things. In my opinion, no-thing [i.e., spirit] is reality.”
Bodhidharma commented: “You have my bones.”
Finally, Eka bowed before the master and remained silent.
Bodhidharma said: “You have my marrow.”
This story reflects the layers of understanding: surface-level beauty (flesh), structural insight (bones), and the ineffable, transformative essence (marrow). It serves as a guiding metaphor for this website’s approach to knowledge.1
A Conversation About Umami: Bourdain and Masa
The philosophy of Flesh, Bones, Marrow resonates strongly with a conversation between Anthony Bourdain and chef Masa, where they explore the essence of umami—a concept closely tied to the marrow of life and knowledge.
Bourdain: “So there’s this big argument with the Spanish – is umami a flavor or a sensation?”
Masa: “Umami is essence, strong essence.”
Bourdain: “So it’s a mysterious force?”
Masa: “Yeah, much bigger than the universe.”
Bourdain: “Bigger than flavor?”
Masa: “Of course. This vegetable is called fukinoko. Under the ground, covered with snow, cold. Then little by little, it opens up like that. This is the first sign of spring. We appreciate that.”
Bourdain: “How do you cook this?”
Masa: “Grill, fry, or braise it. I’m going to grill it—little bit of oil, little bit of salt . . . Their blood is bitterness, very bitter. You need bitters to grow.”
Bourdain: “This is Italian ‘averadolce.’ At the end of an Italian meal—sweet, fat, sweet, fat, sweet, fat—then at the end of the meal, something bitter to remind you of the sadness. This is the umami too.”
Masa: “Tony, try this. Strong flavor, right?”
Bourdain: “You’re right. Umami . . . it’s deep . . .”
This exchange reflects the marrow of understanding: the essence that is deeply satisfying, transformative, and beyond simple description. It is all-encompassing and profound, a force so vast it feels bigger than the universe. It’s not just a flavor—it’s a profound experience, a moment of awe that transcends words, much like the marrow of knowledge.
The Philosophy of Flesh, Bones, Marrow
This website draws directly from these ideas. It’s about moving through the layers of knowledge:
Flesh: For Enjoyment
The flesh is the surface layer. It’s what immediately catches your attention and draws you in. In food, it’s the succulent meat or the juicy fruit that delights your senses. In knowledge, it’s the readily accessible information, the stories, and the insights that entertain, inform, and spark curiosity. Flesh represents the pleasure of discovery—the thrill of learning something new or encountering ideas that excite and inspire.
Bones: For Nourishment
The bones are the structure. In cooking, they form the base of a rich broth, imparting depth and substance. In knowledge, they represent the frameworks and principles that give ideas their strength and coherence. Bones are what nourish the mind and help sustain deeper understanding. On this site, the bones of knowledge are the foundational concepts, the evidence, and the structured thinking that support the search for meaning.
Marrow: UMAMI, the Essence
The marrow is the innermost part, the essence. In food, marrow is the richest, most satisfying flavor, the “umami” that transcends all other tastes. In knowledge, marrow represents the fundamental truths that lie at the core of all understanding. It’s the knowledge that goes beyond intellectual grasp—it’s felt, lived, and transformative. This website is ultimately about marrow knowledge: peeling back the layers of superficial understanding and structural frameworks to uncover the deepest truths—the ones that resonate profoundly and universally.
A Call to Explore the Marrow
The wisdom represented by marrow is the kind of knowledge that transforms, connects, and endures. At fleshbonesmarrow.com, we invite you to embark on this journey—to savor the flesh, build with the bones, and seek the marrow of life and knowledge.
Welcome to the essence of it all.
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