2013-10-10
Explanation
In this comic, a Buddhist monk is marching in what appears to be a protest or demonstration, holding a picket sign. The sign uses the classic protest call-and-response format: "What do we want?" followed by "An end to the feeling of desire!" and "When do we want it?" followed by "Time is a delusion."
The humor lies in the delicious self-contradiction of a Buddhist protest. Buddhism teaches that desire (or "craving") is the root of all suffering, and that attachment to worldly things should be overcome. By putting these teachings into the format of a protest march -- which is inherently an expression of desire for change -- the comic creates a perfect paradox. The monk is passionately demanding an end to passion, and wanting to stop wanting.
The second part of the sign compounds the joke. Protest chants traditionally follow up with "When do we want it? Now!" to express urgency. But since many Buddhist and Hindu philosophical traditions hold that linear time is an illusion (maya), the monk cannot logically answer "now" and instead replies that time itself is a delusion. This makes the protest both philosophically consistent and completely impractical.
The votey (bonus panel) shows the comic''s author (labeled "Me:") holding his own protest sign that simply reads "This sign is too heavy!" -- a much more mundane and relatable complaint that humorously deflates the philosophical weight of the main comic.