“If he afflicts her, she suffers patiently, and her love for him only grows.”
I think we all need to learn to suffer patiently. The purpose of suffering is not to suffer but to open our eyes to that which we would otherwise be unable to see or comprehend. If every single day were bright and sunny and wonderful, life would become dull and meaningless. Physical and emotional suffering gives our lives meaning. It is because our hearts get broken that we appreciate love. It is because we die that we appreciate life. The emotions we experience during suffering are connected with the emotions we experience when our suffering has ended. Despair turns to hope. Hate turns to love. Sadness turns to joy. There is a purpose for everything and everything is necessary. Good could not exist without evil and evil could not exist without good. It is not the good I know that brings me joy and understanding, but the evil I have endured and survived that creates depth in my spirit.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kuei-Shan
“Clarity means straightforwardness. That is why the Master has been compared to a clam: as soon as she opens her mouth, you can see her intestines.”
I think that honesty with oneself and other people is not only important, but essential; however, sometimes it’s hard to be a clam. I agree that eliminating delusion from your life is a necessity in order to attain any sort of personal growth, but always being completely honest and straightforward can be difficult when the possibility of pain or rejection may lay waiting for you. That doesn’t mean that we should fail to act or speak out of the fear of the unknown, but I suppose that’s why we’re not all Zen Masters. It takes a lot of strength to put all the bullshit aside, look in the mirror, and face yourself, but ultimately, being the real you and saying what you really think and telling people what you really feel feels a hell of a lot better than holding back and hiding in a state of make believe.
I think that honesty with oneself and other people is not only important, but essential; however, sometimes it’s hard to be a clam. I agree that eliminating delusion from your life is a necessity in order to attain any sort of personal growth, but always being completely honest and straightforward can be difficult when the possibility of pain or rejection may lay waiting for you. That doesn’t mean that we should fail to act or speak out of the fear of the unknown, but I suppose that’s why we’re not all Zen Masters. It takes a lot of strength to put all the bullshit aside, look in the mirror, and face yourself, but ultimately, being the real you and saying what you really think and telling people what you really feel feels a hell of a lot better than holding back and hiding in a state of make believe.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Johannes
“But if we start imagining God as behind the world, or beyond, or prior, or separate in any way, we have already stirred up mud in the clear water.”
I found this reading to be really interesting because it’s sort of the opposite approach I take when looking at God and his relation to me and the world. This reading stated over and over how God is all things and he’s not separate from anything or anyone. I feel separate from God and I don’t see that separateness as muddying up clear water or in any way negative. The way I think about God’s relationship with people is kind of like from the perspective as a parent. When a child is an infant, the parent has to be with that child 24/7 to do everything for them because they don’t know how to take care of themselves. As the child grows older, a parent does less and less because the child slowly becomes capable of independence. Finally, a child is no longer a child, but an adult and can take care of themselves. At this point, the parent isn’t doing everything for their son or daughter or telling them how to solve all their problems because they now have most of the tools to fix it themselves. Mom and dad call and check in, and may offer advice if it’s really needed, but ultimately they are on their own. I feel like that’s how God works. It’s not that he doesn’t care or couldn’t help you or even that he’s not watching, but like a parent, eventually trusts in your ability to make good decisions or to rectify a situation when you make poor ones. I don’t really see God in everything and I’ve never felt like God was working through me. When I accomplish something in my life or when I screw up, I don’t attribute either to God. I don’t feel like he takes such an active role in everything. It’s not that I think he isn’t present, but if he was going to do everything for us, why the hell would we even be here? I feel like he’s more on the sidelines like a coach or guide or a parent cheering you on and believing in your ability to think for yourself. I feel like he shows up when we truly need it. The only time I’ve ever really felt the presence of God is when I visited the Dachau concentration camp and stood in the crematorium in front of these two giant ovens and listened to a former prisoner tell me how he had put his father’s body into the oven we were staring at. I needed desperately to feel God and know that he was there in that moment and became filled with this profound sense of peace I can’t put into words. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say at this point and sort of feel like I’m off topic, but there it is…
I found this reading to be really interesting because it’s sort of the opposite approach I take when looking at God and his relation to me and the world. This reading stated over and over how God is all things and he’s not separate from anything or anyone. I feel separate from God and I don’t see that separateness as muddying up clear water or in any way negative. The way I think about God’s relationship with people is kind of like from the perspective as a parent. When a child is an infant, the parent has to be with that child 24/7 to do everything for them because they don’t know how to take care of themselves. As the child grows older, a parent does less and less because the child slowly becomes capable of independence. Finally, a child is no longer a child, but an adult and can take care of themselves. At this point, the parent isn’t doing everything for their son or daughter or telling them how to solve all their problems because they now have most of the tools to fix it themselves. Mom and dad call and check in, and may offer advice if it’s really needed, but ultimately they are on their own. I feel like that’s how God works. It’s not that he doesn’t care or couldn’t help you or even that he’s not watching, but like a parent, eventually trusts in your ability to make good decisions or to rectify a situation when you make poor ones. I don’t really see God in everything and I’ve never felt like God was working through me. When I accomplish something in my life or when I screw up, I don’t attribute either to God. I don’t feel like he takes such an active role in everything. It’s not that I think he isn’t present, but if he was going to do everything for us, why the hell would we even be here? I feel like he’s more on the sidelines like a coach or guide or a parent cheering you on and believing in your ability to think for yourself. I feel like he shows up when we truly need it. The only time I’ve ever really felt the presence of God is when I visited the Dachau concentration camp and stood in the crematorium in front of these two giant ovens and listened to a former prisoner tell me how he had put his father’s body into the oven we were staring at. I needed desperately to feel God and know that he was there in that moment and became filled with this profound sense of peace I can’t put into words. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say at this point and sort of feel like I’m off topic, but there it is…
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Huang-Po
“Start to think about it and immediately you are mistaken. It is like the boundless void, which can’t be fathomed or measured.”
I’ve been thinking about the discussion we had today in class for like the last eight hours. I don’t have strong and conservative religious convictions, so it’s really interesting to hear from those who do. Belief in an afterlife is egotistical? Our morality isn’t a ticket into heaven, but affection towards God? What is heaven and hell? Where is heaven and hell? What the hell does it matter anyway? Like the quote says, I start to think about it all and I think I know what I think and how I feel and then I think about something else that makes me think about it all from a completely different angle. The interesting thing about taking this class and reading this book is that the more I know and understand, the less I know and understand. But perhaps not understanding is understanding. Why is it so hard to just admit to ourselves that we don’t know? Why do we feel the need to debate people on an argument that is impossible to win? Why are we so quick to point out who is a Christian or a Jew or an Atheist? Why are we so quick to point out everything that the other person or faith is doing wrong? When is the last time any of us looked at another human being and just saw a human being instead of seeing a sin/fault we could point out? Human beings always seem to want the world to be in black and white. Yes or no. Right or wrong. I’m beginning to think more and more that when it comes to God and religion, it isn’t black, white, or even grey. It just is or it just is not. I don’t think it is something that can or ever will be answered and I don’t think that is something we need to worry or feel guilty about. After all, if these concepts were easily measured and understood, Pharisees would have been out of a job and Jesus wouldn’t have had to speak in parables.
I’ve been thinking about the discussion we had today in class for like the last eight hours. I don’t have strong and conservative religious convictions, so it’s really interesting to hear from those who do. Belief in an afterlife is egotistical? Our morality isn’t a ticket into heaven, but affection towards God? What is heaven and hell? Where is heaven and hell? What the hell does it matter anyway? Like the quote says, I start to think about it all and I think I know what I think and how I feel and then I think about something else that makes me think about it all from a completely different angle. The interesting thing about taking this class and reading this book is that the more I know and understand, the less I know and understand. But perhaps not understanding is understanding. Why is it so hard to just admit to ourselves that we don’t know? Why do we feel the need to debate people on an argument that is impossible to win? Why are we so quick to point out who is a Christian or a Jew or an Atheist? Why are we so quick to point out everything that the other person or faith is doing wrong? When is the last time any of us looked at another human being and just saw a human being instead of seeing a sin/fault we could point out? Human beings always seem to want the world to be in black and white. Yes or no. Right or wrong. I’m beginning to think more and more that when it comes to God and religion, it isn’t black, white, or even grey. It just is or it just is not. I don’t think it is something that can or ever will be answered and I don’t think that is something we need to worry or feel guilty about. After all, if these concepts were easily measured and understood, Pharisees would have been out of a job and Jesus wouldn’t have had to speak in parables.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Franz Kafta
“The Messiah will come when he is no longer necessary.”
Jason said that to me once during his office hour and I have been thinking about it ever since. Every time it comes to mind, the very first think that pops into my head is “Oy vey. I guess he’s not coming.” The idea that the Messiah will only come when he is no longer necessary is either very exciting or very depressing. It could be exciting in the sense that perhaps humanity will wake up and get itself together and someone coming in and fixing everything won’t be necessary because we will have already done that ourselves. Or it is completely depressing because human beings so often show the worst side of humanity which isn’t really humanity at all.
Jason said that to me once during his office hour and I have been thinking about it ever since. Every time it comes to mind, the very first think that pops into my head is “Oy vey. I guess he’s not coming.” The idea that the Messiah will only come when he is no longer necessary is either very exciting or very depressing. It could be exciting in the sense that perhaps humanity will wake up and get itself together and someone coming in and fixing everything won’t be necessary because we will have already done that ourselves. Or it is completely depressing because human beings so often show the worst side of humanity which isn’t really humanity at all.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Novalis
“We are alone with everything we love.”
I thought about this quote in a few different ways. Considering Emerson referred to Novalis as a “pure romantic,” one way I interpreted this quote was how it feels to be completely and utterly head over heels in love. When you’re in that mode, you and your significant other can be in a room with a thousand people and yet it feels like the only two people in the room are just you and the one you love. Another way I interpreted this quote is how it feels to lose someone or something that you love. You really are alone with the pain or disappointment you can feel from love. Whether it is that you broke up with someone or that someone you loved has passed away, even when friends and family are trying to support you or cheer you up, you are the one who feels that love and the pain from losing that love. You can only cheer yourself up. Another way I thought about this quote was that we are the only ones who truly know how we feel. Another person can have an idea of what we’re feeling, but nobody can know your heart but you.
“There is only one temple in the world and that is the human body.”
I felt like this was saying what many of our previous readings have stated-that it is not a temple, church, or another person that creates our relationship with God. God’s grace, heaven, or enlightenment will not be given to us through outside sources, but will be discovered within ourselves. You don’t have to go somewhere else to worship. You just have to look inside yourself to see the truth and know the truth. Buddha said,”Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth..You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that is the message here. We are all capable of understanding truth and God. Simply showing up at a church every week isn’t guaranteeing anything or necessarily bringing you any closer to anything. Like my grandmother always told me,”It’s on the inside that counts.” So if the “kingdom of heaven is within you” as Jesus has said, then it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in the outside world in front of other people; it only matters what is in your own heart and what you are doing when you think that no one is watching. The outside temple isn’t going to help you anyway if the inside temple is in disarray.
“When you understand how to love one thing-then you understand how best to love everything.”
I think the one thing he’s referring to is ourselves. You can’t truly be happy with anything around you unless you are first happy with yourself. Once you figure out how to love yourself and feel content with who you are, you can love other people and allow other people to really know and love you. This quote reminded me of the quote in the Ramana Maharshi reading that said,”If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.” I think that loving yourself is like wearing shoes. If you’re trying to love other things and other people when you don’t even love yourself, it’s like walking barefoot over thorns-you’re not going to get very far.
I thought about this quote in a few different ways. Considering Emerson referred to Novalis as a “pure romantic,” one way I interpreted this quote was how it feels to be completely and utterly head over heels in love. When you’re in that mode, you and your significant other can be in a room with a thousand people and yet it feels like the only two people in the room are just you and the one you love. Another way I interpreted this quote is how it feels to lose someone or something that you love. You really are alone with the pain or disappointment you can feel from love. Whether it is that you broke up with someone or that someone you loved has passed away, even when friends and family are trying to support you or cheer you up, you are the one who feels that love and the pain from losing that love. You can only cheer yourself up. Another way I thought about this quote was that we are the only ones who truly know how we feel. Another person can have an idea of what we’re feeling, but nobody can know your heart but you.
“There is only one temple in the world and that is the human body.”
I felt like this was saying what many of our previous readings have stated-that it is not a temple, church, or another person that creates our relationship with God. God’s grace, heaven, or enlightenment will not be given to us through outside sources, but will be discovered within ourselves. You don’t have to go somewhere else to worship. You just have to look inside yourself to see the truth and know the truth. Buddha said,”Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth..You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that is the message here. We are all capable of understanding truth and God. Simply showing up at a church every week isn’t guaranteeing anything or necessarily bringing you any closer to anything. Like my grandmother always told me,”It’s on the inside that counts.” So if the “kingdom of heaven is within you” as Jesus has said, then it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in the outside world in front of other people; it only matters what is in your own heart and what you are doing when you think that no one is watching. The outside temple isn’t going to help you anyway if the inside temple is in disarray.
“When you understand how to love one thing-then you understand how best to love everything.”
I think the one thing he’s referring to is ourselves. You can’t truly be happy with anything around you unless you are first happy with yourself. Once you figure out how to love yourself and feel content with who you are, you can love other people and allow other people to really know and love you. This quote reminded me of the quote in the Ramana Maharshi reading that said,”If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.” I think that loving yourself is like wearing shoes. If you’re trying to love other things and other people when you don’t even love yourself, it’s like walking barefoot over thorns-you’re not going to get very far.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Hermetic Writings
“The person who says “I am God” may be a raving egomaniac.”
I laughed out loud when I read that and thought about various religious figures ranging from Jesus to Joseph Smith. It’s interesting how in Jesus’ lifetime many thought he was nuts and he is now arguably one of the most beloved and worshiped figures around the world. Today, you can’t really walk around saying that you’re the Son of God or a prophet of some sort; you’ll get put in a straightjacket. I find it fascinating how we respect these figures of the past, but are completely suspicious of anyone walking down a similar but modern path.
“Realize that nothing is impossible for you; recognize that you too are immortal and that you can embrace all things in your mind…”
I really like this quote. I’m supposed to graduate this semester and at times, it’s pretty overwhelming managing 17 units on top of my regular life. That quote fits perfectly and I think it can be applied to everyone. Coming to the realization that just because something is hard or even painful doesn’t make it impossible is an important part of growing up. I’m definitely partial to anything advocating believing in your own strength and abilities. If we don’t believe in ourselves, who will?
I laughed out loud when I read that and thought about various religious figures ranging from Jesus to Joseph Smith. It’s interesting how in Jesus’ lifetime many thought he was nuts and he is now arguably one of the most beloved and worshiped figures around the world. Today, you can’t really walk around saying that you’re the Son of God or a prophet of some sort; you’ll get put in a straightjacket. I find it fascinating how we respect these figures of the past, but are completely suspicious of anyone walking down a similar but modern path.
“Realize that nothing is impossible for you; recognize that you too are immortal and that you can embrace all things in your mind…”
I really like this quote. I’m supposed to graduate this semester and at times, it’s pretty overwhelming managing 17 units on top of my regular life. That quote fits perfectly and I think it can be applied to everyone. Coming to the realization that just because something is hard or even painful doesn’t make it impossible is an important part of growing up. I’m definitely partial to anything advocating believing in your own strength and abilities. If we don’t believe in ourselves, who will?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Heraclitus
“The hidden harmony is better than the obvious one.”
When you’re a kid, everything seems so obvious and simple. You think you know everything about everything. You think you know exactly what life is about and what you want out of it. You think you know exactly what is going to happen and exactly what is going to make you happy. You think you know exactly what you need. And sometimes all the things you want and need when you’re a kid are still the things you want and need when you’re an adult…but sometimes they’re not. Sometimes all the things you thought were important and necessary and crucial to your existence when you were a kid end up being the complete opposite of what you want and need as an adult. Sometimes what you thought would bring you the most joy ends up bringing you the most pain. And sometimes what you thought would bring you the most pain, brings you the most joy. It’ll be two years next month since I’ve been divorced. Growing up, I always thought that being married and having a white picket fence was the essence of happiness and harmony. I never thought in a million years that I would get divorced or that I would be raising my son on my own. To most, a marriage appears so obviously harmonious and a divorce appears so obviously painful. That is how I looked at marriage and divorce as a child. I was certain, perhaps because my own parents divorced, that getting married and having kids was the answer to the riddle. But I’ve realized that it isn’t always what is obvious or what you think you want or need that creates harmony in your life. Sometimes it’s the thing you swore you would never do or the last thing you were looking for that brings you the most peace. Sometimes it’s what you think you don’t need that makes you the most happy. As I am sitting here at the computer typing, the song “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles just came on and it’s pretty fitting. I’ve been through a lot in the last couple years and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not at where I thought I would be in my life and I am completely stressed out about school and work and taking care of my son by myself, but I’m also the most content and sure of myself that I’ve ever been. It’s pretty amazing what happens when you’re not trying to make something happen.
When you’re a kid, everything seems so obvious and simple. You think you know everything about everything. You think you know exactly what life is about and what you want out of it. You think you know exactly what is going to happen and exactly what is going to make you happy. You think you know exactly what you need. And sometimes all the things you want and need when you’re a kid are still the things you want and need when you’re an adult…but sometimes they’re not. Sometimes all the things you thought were important and necessary and crucial to your existence when you were a kid end up being the complete opposite of what you want and need as an adult. Sometimes what you thought would bring you the most joy ends up bringing you the most pain. And sometimes what you thought would bring you the most pain, brings you the most joy. It’ll be two years next month since I’ve been divorced. Growing up, I always thought that being married and having a white picket fence was the essence of happiness and harmony. I never thought in a million years that I would get divorced or that I would be raising my son on my own. To most, a marriage appears so obviously harmonious and a divorce appears so obviously painful. That is how I looked at marriage and divorce as a child. I was certain, perhaps because my own parents divorced, that getting married and having kids was the answer to the riddle. But I’ve realized that it isn’t always what is obvious or what you think you want or need that creates harmony in your life. Sometimes it’s the thing you swore you would never do or the last thing you were looking for that brings you the most peace. Sometimes it’s what you think you don’t need that makes you the most happy. As I am sitting here at the computer typing, the song “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles just came on and it’s pretty fitting. I’ve been through a lot in the last couple years and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not at where I thought I would be in my life and I am completely stressed out about school and work and taking care of my son by myself, but I’m also the most content and sure of myself that I’ve ever been. It’s pretty amazing what happens when you’re not trying to make something happen.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Rumi
“You ask the embryo why he, or she, stays cooped up in the dark with eyes closed. Listen to the answer. There is no “other world.” I only know what I have experienced. You must be hallucinating.” I like this quote a lot. It reminded me of what my mother always says,” Perception is experience.” It is so true that we only know what we experience. Our perception of the world and other people in it is so often solely based on our own experience without a thought or care that many other ways of life and ways of thinking not only exist, but could greatly and positively impact our own existence.
“Whoever is loved is beautiful, but the opposite is not true, that whoever is beautiful is loved. Real beauty is part of loved-ness, and that loved-ness is primary.” This is definitely one of my favorite quotes from Rumi. It’s that old familiar idea that it’s on the inside that counts. You can have the perfect body, the perfect clothes, the perfect car, etc, but when it comes down to it, all that “perfection” doesn’t equal love. It is the love you experience from family, friends, or a significant other that makes us feel beautiful and see the world as beautiful. That kind of beauty is real because it isn’t based on the superficial and insignificant. That beauty is based on the depths of who we are as people. It is unfortunate that we live in a society that puts so much emphasis on superficial beauty and ultimately superficial love. There is so much more to people than what they look like. Looks fade, but our character has the ability to grow stronger and stronger. I loved his explanation of beauty using the cup and the wine. That was a great analogy.
“Whoever is loved is beautiful, but the opposite is not true, that whoever is beautiful is loved. Real beauty is part of loved-ness, and that loved-ness is primary.” This is definitely one of my favorite quotes from Rumi. It’s that old familiar idea that it’s on the inside that counts. You can have the perfect body, the perfect clothes, the perfect car, etc, but when it comes down to it, all that “perfection” doesn’t equal love. It is the love you experience from family, friends, or a significant other that makes us feel beautiful and see the world as beautiful. That kind of beauty is real because it isn’t based on the superficial and insignificant. That beauty is based on the depths of who we are as people. It is unfortunate that we live in a society that puts so much emphasis on superficial beauty and ultimately superficial love. There is so much more to people than what they look like. Looks fade, but our character has the ability to grow stronger and stronger. I loved his explanation of beauty using the cup and the wine. That was a great analogy.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Muhammad
I found the Muhammad reading very insightful. What is especially neat about it is the fact that we know that Muhammad actually wrote it which is a departure from some of the other readings. Everything we have read to date is very interesting, but it is nice to hear something from the horse’s mouth versus reading documents that have been copied by hand and interpreted hundreds of times over as is the case with other figures such as Jesus. What I also enjoyed about this reading was that it was easy to relate it to our previous readings.
“Islam means ‘surrender to God.’ When we surrender ourselves fully, there is nothing but God; not even a ‘there’; not even an ‘is’; not even a ‘God.’ “
This concept reminded me of the readings we did on Buddhism. The idea of surrendering to God in Islam and not having a concept of there or is reminds me a great deal of The Diamond Sutra where it says,” Because no Bodhisattva who is a true Bodhisattva entertains such concepts as ‘self’ or ‘others.’ Thus there are no sentient beings to be liberated and no self to attain perfect wisdom…The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” The way to attain enlightenment is to rid ourselves of distractions or surrender our desires and it seems that one’s surrender to God follows the same path. One cannot surrender to God if their mind is cluttered with distractions nor can one attain enlightenment. It seems that to surrender to God and to attain enlightenment, one must let go of pointless worry and material possessions.
Muhammad said, “All that is in the heavens and in the earth magnifies God. He is the all-strong, the all-wise…It is He who created the heavens and the earth…His is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth and to Him all things return.”
This reminds me a great deal of The Gospel of Thomas where Jesus said,” I am the light that shines over everything. I am the All. From me the All came forth, and to me the All has returned.” Both the language and the meanings are similar. They are both stating that God is everything. God knows everything and created everything. God brought us into the world and we return to God when our time on earth is up.
Muhammad said, “Wherever you turn is God’s face.”
In The Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said, “Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Pick up a stone, and you will find me there.” Both Jesus and Muhammad are stating that God is everywhere, God is in everything we do, and God is in all of us. God will be there whether we turn left or turn right and he will be there when chop wood or pick something up because God is a part of all aspects of life.
Muhammad said, “Whoever knows himself knows God.”
This reminds of a quote from Jesus in The Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, “If you know yourselves, then you will be known; and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father.” Both Muhammad and Jesus seem to be stating that if we know ourselves, we also know God because God is a part of everything.
Muhammad said, “Do not despise the world, for the world too is God.”
This quote from Muhammad reminded me the reading Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the concept that because our original souls come from the essence of God and every human soul is a part of God, we must have mercy on all even if they have wronged us. In Shmelke of Nikolsburg, Rabbi Shmelke says, “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” I feel like Muhammad was conveying the same message. We must not hate the world or the people in it because God is a part of the world and all the people in it.
“Islam means ‘surrender to God.’ When we surrender ourselves fully, there is nothing but God; not even a ‘there’; not even an ‘is’; not even a ‘God.’ “
This concept reminded me of the readings we did on Buddhism. The idea of surrendering to God in Islam and not having a concept of there or is reminds me a great deal of The Diamond Sutra where it says,” Because no Bodhisattva who is a true Bodhisattva entertains such concepts as ‘self’ or ‘others.’ Thus there are no sentient beings to be liberated and no self to attain perfect wisdom…The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” The way to attain enlightenment is to rid ourselves of distractions or surrender our desires and it seems that one’s surrender to God follows the same path. One cannot surrender to God if their mind is cluttered with distractions nor can one attain enlightenment. It seems that to surrender to God and to attain enlightenment, one must let go of pointless worry and material possessions.
Muhammad said, “All that is in the heavens and in the earth magnifies God. He is the all-strong, the all-wise…It is He who created the heavens and the earth…His is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth and to Him all things return.”
This reminds me a great deal of The Gospel of Thomas where Jesus said,” I am the light that shines over everything. I am the All. From me the All came forth, and to me the All has returned.” Both the language and the meanings are similar. They are both stating that God is everything. God knows everything and created everything. God brought us into the world and we return to God when our time on earth is up.
Muhammad said, “Wherever you turn is God’s face.”
In The Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said, “Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Pick up a stone, and you will find me there.” Both Jesus and Muhammad are stating that God is everywhere, God is in everything we do, and God is in all of us. God will be there whether we turn left or turn right and he will be there when chop wood or pick something up because God is a part of all aspects of life.
Muhammad said, “Whoever knows himself knows God.”
This reminds of a quote from Jesus in The Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, “If you know yourselves, then you will be known; and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father.” Both Muhammad and Jesus seem to be stating that if we know ourselves, we also know God because God is a part of everything.
Muhammad said, “Do not despise the world, for the world too is God.”
This quote from Muhammad reminded me the reading Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the concept that because our original souls come from the essence of God and every human soul is a part of God, we must have mercy on all even if they have wronged us. In Shmelke of Nikolsburg, Rabbi Shmelke says, “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” I feel like Muhammad was conveying the same message. We must not hate the world or the people in it because God is a part of the world and all the people in it.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tzu-Ssu
“Thus, in dealing with people, we already have the perfect model of behavior inside us. Just act sincerely, in accordance with your true nature. Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you.”
There were two main points in this reading. One, be sincere. Two, follow the golden rule. Being sincere and treating others as you wish to be treated is such a basic concept and yet so profound. Imagine how much simpler things would be if people were just sincere all the time instead of acting phony. The sincerity talked about in this reading touches all areas of a person’s life. One needs to be sincere at work, in social situations, etc. I cannot think of anything more frustrating in all types of relationships than when people are insincere. If you’re not being sincere, what’s the point? It’s always been strange to me how people will devote so much time and energy into being phony when they could just simply be themselves. I think that YOU are a lot more interesting than the person you’re pretending to be. What a novel idea. Treat others as you wish to be treated. It would seem that this would just be a basic part of common sense and common decency in human nature, but sometimes it seems as though human beings enjoy treating other people like crap and then wonder why people treat them like crap. It’s not complicated folks. We reap what we sow. If we all just stopped and thought about what we were doing or saying and asked ourselves how we would feel if someone did or said that to us, the world would be a much more peaceful place.
There were two main points in this reading. One, be sincere. Two, follow the golden rule. Being sincere and treating others as you wish to be treated is such a basic concept and yet so profound. Imagine how much simpler things would be if people were just sincere all the time instead of acting phony. The sincerity talked about in this reading touches all areas of a person’s life. One needs to be sincere at work, in social situations, etc. I cannot think of anything more frustrating in all types of relationships than when people are insincere. If you’re not being sincere, what’s the point? It’s always been strange to me how people will devote so much time and energy into being phony when they could just simply be themselves. I think that YOU are a lot more interesting than the person you’re pretending to be. What a novel idea. Treat others as you wish to be treated. It would seem that this would just be a basic part of common sense and common decency in human nature, but sometimes it seems as though human beings enjoy treating other people like crap and then wonder why people treat them like crap. It’s not complicated folks. We reap what we sow. If we all just stopped and thought about what we were doing or saying and asked ourselves how we would feel if someone did or said that to us, the world would be a much more peaceful place.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Pai-Chang
Short and sweet was right. I’ve found all the readings we’ve done to be interesting, but this was right to the point and very clear.
“To behold the Buddha nature means you must wait for the right moment and the right conditions. When the time comes, you are awakened as if from a dream. You realize that what you have found is your own and doesn’t come from anywhere outside.” I think that this means exactly what it says. When it’s the right time in your life, you’ll be able to reach enlightenment. When you reach that place in your life, it will be like waking up from a dream. You will then realize that your enlightenment came from within yourself and not from an outside source.
“After enlightenment you are still the same as you were before. There is no mind and there is no truth.” I think this is saying that enlightenment isn’t going to change the person that you are, it’s just going to simplify your life. You don’t become someone else when you’re enlightened; you are simply the best version of yourself.
"The ordinary person's mind is the same as the sage's, because Original Mind is perfect and complete in itself." I think this is just the idea that we come into the world with a perfect mind that’s in the right condition for enlightenment, but as we go through life, we fill up our minds with a lot of useless information and useless worry. Once we are able to clear out our minds back to the original state, we’re able to reach enlightenment.
“To behold the Buddha nature means you must wait for the right moment and the right conditions. When the time comes, you are awakened as if from a dream. You realize that what you have found is your own and doesn’t come from anywhere outside.” I think that this means exactly what it says. When it’s the right time in your life, you’ll be able to reach enlightenment. When you reach that place in your life, it will be like waking up from a dream. You will then realize that your enlightenment came from within yourself and not from an outside source.
“After enlightenment you are still the same as you were before. There is no mind and there is no truth.” I think this is saying that enlightenment isn’t going to change the person that you are, it’s just going to simplify your life. You don’t become someone else when you’re enlightened; you are simply the best version of yourself.
"The ordinary person's mind is the same as the sage's, because Original Mind is perfect and complete in itself." I think this is just the idea that we come into the world with a perfect mind that’s in the right condition for enlightenment, but as we go through life, we fill up our minds with a lot of useless information and useless worry. Once we are able to clear out our minds back to the original state, we’re able to reach enlightenment.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Diamond Sutra
“The Buddha has no doctrine to convey. The truth is ungraspable and inexpressible. It neither is nor is not.” I thought this had to do with the fact that nobody who is enlightened claims to be enlightened. If you claim to have all the answers and are enlightened, then you are clearly not. Also, there is no one specific way to attain wisdom or the truth. Only we can know the truth. Buddha can’t tell us what we need to know.
All Bodhisattvas should develop a pure, lucid mind that doesn’t depend upon sight, sound, touch, flavor, smell, or any thoughts that arises in it. Bodhisattvas should develop a mind that slights nowhere.” I took this as the concept of desire. To reach enlightenment, we can’t depend on having special food or sex, etc. This made me think about the discussion we had in class where the student is told he has to cut off his ponytail and he initially refuses, but then comes back the next day and decides that he really wants to learn, so he agrees to then cut off his ponytail. However, once he decides he can live without his ponytail, he is allowed to have it. I think it’s the same idea here. If you have to have it, then you can’t. But if you can live without it, it’s ok to have it.
“The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” Again, I felt like this had to do with desire. If we are depending on special food or certain sights or sexual pleasure and the desire for that is what is consuming our minds, we will continue to suffer. I think it’s also about letting go of the pointless distractions in our lives and material possessions. Wasting time worrying about all the petty things doesn’t bring us any closer to enlightenment.
“When I attained Absolute Perfect Enlightenment, I attain absolutely nothing. That is why it is called Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.” I think this goes back to the idea that you can’t claim to be enlightened and the reason behind letting go of your suffering is not so that you attain something or can walk around boasting that you are an enlightened person. A person has to let go and stop looking for something to be enlightened.
All Bodhisattvas should develop a pure, lucid mind that doesn’t depend upon sight, sound, touch, flavor, smell, or any thoughts that arises in it. Bodhisattvas should develop a mind that slights nowhere.” I took this as the concept of desire. To reach enlightenment, we can’t depend on having special food or sex, etc. This made me think about the discussion we had in class where the student is told he has to cut off his ponytail and he initially refuses, but then comes back the next day and decides that he really wants to learn, so he agrees to then cut off his ponytail. However, once he decides he can live without his ponytail, he is allowed to have it. I think it’s the same idea here. If you have to have it, then you can’t. But if you can live without it, it’s ok to have it.
“The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” Again, I felt like this had to do with desire. If we are depending on special food or certain sights or sexual pleasure and the desire for that is what is consuming our minds, we will continue to suffer. I think it’s also about letting go of the pointless distractions in our lives and material possessions. Wasting time worrying about all the petty things doesn’t bring us any closer to enlightenment.
“When I attained Absolute Perfect Enlightenment, I attain absolutely nothing. That is why it is called Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.” I think this goes back to the idea that you can’t claim to be enlightened and the reason behind letting go of your suffering is not so that you attain something or can walk around boasting that you are an enlightened person. A person has to let go and stop looking for something to be enlightened.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Buddha
I enjoyed this reading. I found it to be insightful and very interesting.
“You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that what he is saying is that we don’t have to rely on someone or something else to show us what it is that we need…we need to just open our eyes and look within ourselves and we’ll figure it out. We don’t have to be The Pope, for example, to have wisdom or to know what we need or want. Anyone is capable of becoming enlightened.
“It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or inference, or by appearances, or by the authority of the religious leaders.” A lot of students seemed to take issue with this particular portion of the reading, but I feel like they just misinterpreted it. I don’t think he was literally saying absolutely do not listen to your religious leaders or holy scriptures. I think he was saying not to just blindly follow what a “leader” says or what is written in a book. An intelligent person is going to stop and think about what someone says or what they read. It would be foolish to just follow someone or something blindly, without question.
"When you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it." I feel like he is just pointing out the obvious here. When you know something is hurting you, stop doing it. If something is positively affecting you or will positively affect you, then do it. This made me think of the quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Don't expect a different outcome if you're doing the same thing.
“As a mother at the risk of her life watches her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings.” I think this is a nice concept, but probably difficult to really carry out. If we could care for all people as a mother cares for her child or treat a stranger as they were a member of our family, the world would be a far better place. Unfortunately, there are some pretty sick and twisted people out there, which is why I personally do treat strangers as strangers. This sort of concept of loving all people and having compassion for all reminded me of the previous reading “Shmelke of Nikolsburg.” It's a good idea, but a lot easier said than done.
“Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth.” This was my favorite quote in the whole reading. I like the idea of believing in ourselves and not believing that we must count on someone or something else to fulfill our hopes, dreams, or needs.
“You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that what he is saying is that we don’t have to rely on someone or something else to show us what it is that we need…we need to just open our eyes and look within ourselves and we’ll figure it out. We don’t have to be The Pope, for example, to have wisdom or to know what we need or want. Anyone is capable of becoming enlightened.
“It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or inference, or by appearances, or by the authority of the religious leaders.” A lot of students seemed to take issue with this particular portion of the reading, but I feel like they just misinterpreted it. I don’t think he was literally saying absolutely do not listen to your religious leaders or holy scriptures. I think he was saying not to just blindly follow what a “leader” says or what is written in a book. An intelligent person is going to stop and think about what someone says or what they read. It would be foolish to just follow someone or something blindly, without question.
"When you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it." I feel like he is just pointing out the obvious here. When you know something is hurting you, stop doing it. If something is positively affecting you or will positively affect you, then do it. This made me think of the quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Don't expect a different outcome if you're doing the same thing.
“As a mother at the risk of her life watches her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings.” I think this is a nice concept, but probably difficult to really carry out. If we could care for all people as a mother cares for her child or treat a stranger as they were a member of our family, the world would be a far better place. Unfortunately, there are some pretty sick and twisted people out there, which is why I personally do treat strangers as strangers. This sort of concept of loving all people and having compassion for all reminded me of the previous reading “Shmelke of Nikolsburg.” It's a good idea, but a lot easier said than done.
“Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth.” This was my favorite quote in the whole reading. I like the idea of believing in ourselves and not believing that we must count on someone or something else to fulfill our hopes, dreams, or needs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
I thought that this was a relevant passage for issues that come up today regarding crime, punishment, and forgiveness in our society. How do you treat, punish, and forgive someone who is wicked? Rav Kook said, “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” I think that we can all agree that that it far easier said than done.
While I agree that our creator is a part of all of us, I also believe that we were given free will and born with the ability to make right and wrong decisions. I do not agree that by punishing the wicked, we are punishing ourselves or punishing God. God does not allow us or force us to do anything. We choose to do everything we do and every choice has a consequence. If you choose to murder someone, the consequence of that choice may be that you receive the death penalty. It is a wonderful concept to think that love and compassion will cure an evil person, but the truth is that some people are just sick and twisted and there is nothing that anyone can say or do that will change that. We did not cause wickedness in others, we cannot control wickedness in others, and we cannot cure wickedness in others. Duty or no duty, you cannot help those who do not want to receive help.
The passage speaks about showing people mercy because even the wicked have souls that are a part of God. To me, mercy means forgiveness. I have two opinions about this. One, forgiveness is not about the other person, but about yourself. When someone chooses to wrong you, you are able to make a choice. You either choose to hold on to resentment and hate and become a bitter, miserable person or you choose to free yourself by forgiving them for their actions and moving on with your life in a positive manner. Forgiveness does not mean that their actions were acceptable or that you even have to ever see or speak to that person again. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to not allow a wicked person’s wicked behavior to destroy the goodness and hope that lives within yourself. I believe that is how you can still show honor and love to God within a wicked person even when they are punished. You can punish a person and forgive them at the same time. Maybe forgiveness is punishment. In my opinion, choosing to forgive instead of allowing yourself to become a wicked person as well is more along the lines of our creator’s desires than for wicked people to run a muck in chaos and get away with it.
While I agree that our creator is a part of all of us, I also believe that we were given free will and born with the ability to make right and wrong decisions. I do not agree that by punishing the wicked, we are punishing ourselves or punishing God. God does not allow us or force us to do anything. We choose to do everything we do and every choice has a consequence. If you choose to murder someone, the consequence of that choice may be that you receive the death penalty. It is a wonderful concept to think that love and compassion will cure an evil person, but the truth is that some people are just sick and twisted and there is nothing that anyone can say or do that will change that. We did not cause wickedness in others, we cannot control wickedness in others, and we cannot cure wickedness in others. Duty or no duty, you cannot help those who do not want to receive help.
The passage speaks about showing people mercy because even the wicked have souls that are a part of God. To me, mercy means forgiveness. I have two opinions about this. One, forgiveness is not about the other person, but about yourself. When someone chooses to wrong you, you are able to make a choice. You either choose to hold on to resentment and hate and become a bitter, miserable person or you choose to free yourself by forgiving them for their actions and moving on with your life in a positive manner. Forgiveness does not mean that their actions were acceptable or that you even have to ever see or speak to that person again. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to not allow a wicked person’s wicked behavior to destroy the goodness and hope that lives within yourself. I believe that is how you can still show honor and love to God within a wicked person even when they are punished. You can punish a person and forgive them at the same time. Maybe forgiveness is punishment. In my opinion, choosing to forgive instead of allowing yourself to become a wicked person as well is more along the lines of our creator’s desires than for wicked people to run a muck in chaos and get away with it.
Dov Baer of Mezritch
“When you gaze at an object, you bring blessing to it.” I thought that this was very interesting. I had never thought about it that way before, but it’s true. When you see something or someone, you acknowledge it’s existence and bless it with importance. When you are not aware that something or someone exists, it is of no meaning to you. It is in essence, nothing until you are aware of it and have drawn divinity towards it.
The second part of the reading was interesting as well. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I took this section as meaning that we must listen for what God is telling us and showing us within ourselves and stop talking. We can’t hear what we are supposed to hear if all we are doing is talking and not listening for the message we need to receive.
“The creation of heaven and earth is the unfolding of something out of nothing, the descent from above to below…They change the something back into the nothing.” I interpreted this as the idea that what is most important is to know God and listen to what God is saying and not to worry about the material processions in our lives because they really are nothing. We can’t take our television with us when we die, but we can take what God has taught us. Earth did not always exist and it will not always exist just as we did not always exist and will not always exist. God is then what we need to concern ourselves with because he will always exist. I liked how this ended. “Greater than the first miracle is the last.” I’m partial to anything coming from the Talmud, so I love that quote. I think it’s very thoughtful and beautiful and goes perfectly with the ideas that were being conveyed. Yes, the first miracle was great, but the last miracle will be the greatest.
The second part of the reading was interesting as well. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I took this section as meaning that we must listen for what God is telling us and showing us within ourselves and stop talking. We can’t hear what we are supposed to hear if all we are doing is talking and not listening for the message we need to receive.
“The creation of heaven and earth is the unfolding of something out of nothing, the descent from above to below…They change the something back into the nothing.” I interpreted this as the idea that what is most important is to know God and listen to what God is saying and not to worry about the material processions in our lives because they really are nothing. We can’t take our television with us when we die, but we can take what God has taught us. Earth did not always exist and it will not always exist just as we did not always exist and will not always exist. God is then what we need to concern ourselves with because he will always exist. I liked how this ended. “Greater than the first miracle is the last.” I’m partial to anything coming from the Talmud, so I love that quote. I think it’s very thoughtful and beautiful and goes perfectly with the ideas that were being conveyed. Yes, the first miracle was great, but the last miracle will be the greatest.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ramana Maharshi
I loved this reading! I really enjoyed the entire reading, but a few passages stood out to me.
"The kingdom of heaven is within you."
I love that line. I realize that many will disagree with that concept and believe that salvation and wisdom is far away and only sought through Christ, as one example, but I couldn't agree more with that idea and think it's unfortunate that so many fail to see the peace and wisdom that we process within ourselves. One doesn't have to search endlessly for answers from someone or something else. A person would be surprised what they may find if they simply stopped to look inside themselves.
“If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.”
Again, I love how this stresses the importance of knowing oneself. I don't believe that a person can successfully take on the world without first truly knowing oneself. In my opinion, going out in the world without having a clear understanding of the person you are would be like walking on stones and thorns barefoot. I love the metaphor used here. Knowing onself is like wearing shoes.
“Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. It will automatically vanish and reality will shine forth by itself. This is the direct method. There is no greater mystery than this, that we keep seeking reality though in fact we are reality. We think that there is something hiding reality and this must be destroyed before reality is gained How ridiculous!”
That is so true. It seems we often are in search for something real or some kind of truth when, in fact, we are reality. We don't need to search for what is blocking us from what is going on. We need to simply look at ourselves and we will see our reality and what is true.
"The kingdom of heaven is within you."
I love that line. I realize that many will disagree with that concept and believe that salvation and wisdom is far away and only sought through Christ, as one example, but I couldn't agree more with that idea and think it's unfortunate that so many fail to see the peace and wisdom that we process within ourselves. One doesn't have to search endlessly for answers from someone or something else. A person would be surprised what they may find if they simply stopped to look inside themselves.
“If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.”
Again, I love how this stresses the importance of knowing oneself. I don't believe that a person can successfully take on the world without first truly knowing oneself. In my opinion, going out in the world without having a clear understanding of the person you are would be like walking on stones and thorns barefoot. I love the metaphor used here. Knowing onself is like wearing shoes.
“Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. It will automatically vanish and reality will shine forth by itself. This is the direct method. There is no greater mystery than this, that we keep seeking reality though in fact we are reality. We think that there is something hiding reality and this must be destroyed before reality is gained How ridiculous!”
That is so true. It seems we often are in search for something real or some kind of truth when, in fact, we are reality. We don't need to search for what is blocking us from what is going on. We need to simply look at ourselves and we will see our reality and what is true.
Tu-Shun
I found this reading really interesting, but a bit confusing. I read it a few times and every time I became clear on one thing, it seemed like something else didn't make sense. However, I really enjoyed the following passage:
"Every jewel is intimately connected with all other jewels in the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however slight, in every other jewel. Thus, by liberating yourself, you liberate all beings in the universe."
I have always been a big believer in the idea that one's actions have negative or positive consequences for not only oneself, but for others as well. This passage reminded me of one of my favorite verses in The Talmud that says,"He who saves a single life saves the world entire." I have always partly interpreted it as the idea that one person's actions effect more than just themselves or one other individual; they have an effect on the world.
I find the idea that we are way more connected to one another than we think and have a much deeper impact upon one another very fascinating. It is always shocking to me how a lot of people truly believe that their behavior does not ever effect other people when, in fact, it usually has a huge impact on another person's life. I like the idea that liberation in oneself can lead to liberation in other people. It's like a ripple effect.
"Every jewel is intimately connected with all other jewels in the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however slight, in every other jewel. Thus, by liberating yourself, you liberate all beings in the universe."
I have always been a big believer in the idea that one's actions have negative or positive consequences for not only oneself, but for others as well. This passage reminded me of one of my favorite verses in The Talmud that says,"He who saves a single life saves the world entire." I have always partly interpreted it as the idea that one person's actions effect more than just themselves or one other individual; they have an effect on the world.
I find the idea that we are way more connected to one another than we think and have a much deeper impact upon one another very fascinating. It is always shocking to me how a lot of people truly believe that their behavior does not ever effect other people when, in fact, it usually has a huge impact on another person's life. I like the idea that liberation in oneself can lead to liberation in other people. It's like a ripple effect.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
CHIEF SEATTLE
"The dead have power too." Wow, that was a great line.
After reading a few of my fellow classmate's responses to this reading, it seems that some have interpreted Chief Seattle as a close minded and angry individual. I could not disagree more with the opinion that he was as narrow minded and judgmental as the missionary in Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha's speech. I found him to be incredibly accepting of the fate of himself and his people.
In my opinion, any anger that may have come across, did so briefly, and was merited by the absolute horrendous treatment of Native Americans by early settlers. The settlers, as a fellow blogger so eloquently pointed out, took everything from them and then offered them the table scraps. I would say that any contempt felt by Native Americans was provoked; however, I really did not get that sort of vibe from the reading.
I felt like he was speaking the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. He seemed to have an "it is what it is" sort of attitude. He seemed to have a very realistic grasp of what his people had been through and where they would have to go from here. He really only had one option: sell the land and take his people to a reservation or refuse to sell his land and have the settlers take his land anyway and most likely kill all his people. Considering what he had been through and what his options were, I found him to be a rather enlightened and forgiving individual. He was even willing to take part of the blame for the death of his people.
I can understand how he would feel that the God the settlers spoke of must hate the red man after what they had been through. The settlers would probably have felt the same had it all been the other way around. I can also understand why he felt that the red and white man were two separate races that must remain separate. Would you want to be a part of a community that murdered your family and stole your land? I think not.
I loved the way this reading ended. One fellow blogger described the idea of the "invisible dead" of Native Americans hanging out in our streets, highways, and forests as "spooky" but I got a lot more than just the idea that the dead have the power to haunt the living like a ghost. I sort of took that portion as the essence of karma. You can't do terrible things without consequence. Eventually, what goes around does come around. And that fact is why we should be just and deal kindly with all.
After reading a few of my fellow classmate's responses to this reading, it seems that some have interpreted Chief Seattle as a close minded and angry individual. I could not disagree more with the opinion that he was as narrow minded and judgmental as the missionary in Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha's speech. I found him to be incredibly accepting of the fate of himself and his people.
In my opinion, any anger that may have come across, did so briefly, and was merited by the absolute horrendous treatment of Native Americans by early settlers. The settlers, as a fellow blogger so eloquently pointed out, took everything from them and then offered them the table scraps. I would say that any contempt felt by Native Americans was provoked; however, I really did not get that sort of vibe from the reading.
I felt like he was speaking the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. He seemed to have an "it is what it is" sort of attitude. He seemed to have a very realistic grasp of what his people had been through and where they would have to go from here. He really only had one option: sell the land and take his people to a reservation or refuse to sell his land and have the settlers take his land anyway and most likely kill all his people. Considering what he had been through and what his options were, I found him to be a rather enlightened and forgiving individual. He was even willing to take part of the blame for the death of his people.
I can understand how he would feel that the God the settlers spoke of must hate the red man after what they had been through. The settlers would probably have felt the same had it all been the other way around. I can also understand why he felt that the red and white man were two separate races that must remain separate. Would you want to be a part of a community that murdered your family and stole your land? I think not.
I loved the way this reading ended. One fellow blogger described the idea of the "invisible dead" of Native Americans hanging out in our streets, highways, and forests as "spooky" but I got a lot more than just the idea that the dead have the power to haunt the living like a ghost. I sort of took that portion as the essence of karma. You can't do terrible things without consequence. Eventually, what goes around does come around. And that fact is why we should be just and deal kindly with all.
SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA
I really enjoyed reading this speech. It pointed out hypocrisy and difficult truths, but in a beautiful, eloquent, and respectful way. What is fascinating about it is the fact that although it was written a long time ago, it is still completely relevant and posed questions which many of us still ask today.
I loved the fact that he reminded the missionary of how white men "fled from wicked men in their own country and had come to enjoy their religion" and yet they would turn around and attempt to force their own religious beliefs on others. That seems to be such a typical part of human nature. We can see faults in others clear as day, but when it comes to our own behavior, we're blind.
What I found to be most interesting about this speech is the portion where he asks,"If there is only one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why don't you all agree, since you can all read the book?" That is still a relevant question and argument many use against religion today. I'm sure that many of us have had those same wonders and asked those same questions.
The part of the speech that really spoke to me and my own beliefs was his explanation of how the Great Spirit feels about worship. He stated that,"...we believe that forms of worship do not matter to the Great Spirit; what pleases him is the offering of a sincere heart, and this is how we worship him." I thought that was really beautiful and I personally related to that idea as someone who considers themselves to be more spiritual than religious and as someone who is part of a minority religion and has had many try to "save me" over the years.
It was incredibly sad to me that the missionary would behave in such a narrow minded manner and refuse to shake hands after the Native Americans had been so willing to listen to their views with such an open heart and then respond with such honesty. It is unfortunate that many of us today would react with a closed mind and heart instead of parting with mutual respect and friendship.
I loved the fact that he reminded the missionary of how white men "fled from wicked men in their own country and had come to enjoy their religion" and yet they would turn around and attempt to force their own religious beliefs on others. That seems to be such a typical part of human nature. We can see faults in others clear as day, but when it comes to our own behavior, we're blind.
What I found to be most interesting about this speech is the portion where he asks,"If there is only one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why don't you all agree, since you can all read the book?" That is still a relevant question and argument many use against religion today. I'm sure that many of us have had those same wonders and asked those same questions.
The part of the speech that really spoke to me and my own beliefs was his explanation of how the Great Spirit feels about worship. He stated that,"...we believe that forms of worship do not matter to the Great Spirit; what pleases him is the offering of a sincere heart, and this is how we worship him." I thought that was really beautiful and I personally related to that idea as someone who considers themselves to be more spiritual than religious and as someone who is part of a minority religion and has had many try to "save me" over the years.
It was incredibly sad to me that the missionary would behave in such a narrow minded manner and refuse to shake hands after the Native Americans had been so willing to listen to their views with such an open heart and then respond with such honesty. It is unfortunate that many of us today would react with a closed mind and heart instead of parting with mutual respect and friendship.
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