Jiko: Surfer, wave, same thing.That's just stupid, I said. A surfer's a person. A wave is a wave. How can they be the same?Jiko looked out across the ocean to where the water met the sky. A wave is born from deep conditions of the ocean. A person is born from deep conditions of the world. A person pokes up from the world and rolls along like a wave, until it is time to sink down again. Up, down. Person, wave.
In the book "A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki, a character named Jiko makes a provocative statement that suggests a surfer and a wave are essentially the same. This claim sparks a debate about identity and existence. The narrator disagrees, arguing that a surfer is a distinct person, while a wave is merely a natural phenomenon. Jiko, however, takes a more philosophical view, contemplating the connection between people and the ocean.
She observes that both waves and people emerge from deeper circumstances—the ocean for waves and the world for humans. Jiko compares the life cycle of a person to that of a wave, emphasizing the transient nature of both. This metaphor suggests that while individuals may rise and fall like waves, they are influenced by broader conditions, indicating a profound interconnectedness between humans and the natural world.