"The solution of the problem that you see in life is to live in a way that will make what is problematic disappear. The fact that life is problematic means that your life doesn't fit into life's shape. So you must change your life, and when it fits into the shape, what is problematic disappears."
I dont agree with this. I don't think that changing your life to make things less problematic is the correct answer. I believe that it's all about how you look at things. This concept was drilled into my mind this past week when one of my sister's very close friends passed away from the cancer he had been batteling for over three years. He was only 16 years old. From the time he was diagnosed all the way to his death, he was the most positive person i've ever met, even dispite his critical condition. He never once complained about the cards he was dealt, the pain he undoubtably was feeling, or the fact that his life would be cut short. He always said, "this cancer isn't going to beat me, im going to beat this cancer." To me, he is a prime example of how someone can't change their life to fit the mold. That life is, sadly, the mold he was given. There was no way he could control the cancer, which was what was most problematic in his life. Instead, he kept a positive attitude and that i think is how you avoid problems in life. You must look at things through positive eyes, not try to change your life.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bakhya Ibn Pakudu
"he who trusts in God is able to remove his attention from worldly anxieties and devote entirely to doing what is right." "The rich man who trusts in God will not find his wealth an obstacle to his faith; for he doesn't place his confidence in his wealth, which is for him a trust he has been assigned for a limited period so that he may apply it for the good of himself, his family, and his society."
I really liked these quotes for a few reasons. The first one i really like because it truly defines what it is like to worship. once you can honestly say that you trust in God and devote yourself to that trust, your not just devoting yourself to doing what is right, but doing what is right just seems to make sense. Its the easier thing to do.
The second quote i like because of the reasons listed above, and also because untill i read this passage i kind of felt that god didnt think that people should be wealthy. But now i understand that its not the wealth that is the issue, it is the problems that often arise from being wealthy. Some people can get greedy and selfish. But if you truely trust in god, like metioned about, doing the right thing comes easy. Thus, doing away with the greed and selfishness
I really liked these quotes for a few reasons. The first one i really like because it truly defines what it is like to worship. once you can honestly say that you trust in God and devote yourself to that trust, your not just devoting yourself to doing what is right, but doing what is right just seems to make sense. Its the easier thing to do.
The second quote i like because of the reasons listed above, and also because untill i read this passage i kind of felt that god didnt think that people should be wealthy. But now i understand that its not the wealth that is the issue, it is the problems that often arise from being wealthy. Some people can get greedy and selfish. But if you truely trust in god, like metioned about, doing the right thing comes easy. Thus, doing away with the greed and selfishness
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Franz Kafka
"But perhaps there is only one main sun: impatiance." After i read this passage I ran the book over to my mom and made her read that passage as she is the most impatient person that i know. Then I got to thinking that maybe it's not just the quality of being impatient that Kafka belives is sinful, but perhaps the context in which impatience seems to happen. Usually, from my point of view, people grow impatient because they have better stuff to do or have more things to take care of. Thus, thinking of themself as the number one priorty, and not taking a second to step back and take a look at the situation to assess what is really making them impatient. I would say that this is also called selfishness.
"The fact that our task is exactly as large as our life makes it appear infinate." I'm not sure why that makes it seem infinate but I do like the first part of the quote. The reason that our task is exactly as long as our life is because the task is life. To live is the reason that we are put here. Everyone takes their own route and completes their "task" in a different way. It's humbling to think that you aren't the only person taking this journey and completing this "task", and that you become a piece of the journey of everyone that you meet along the way. That really puts things into perspective for me. Im just one small person in a big, big world.
"The fact that our task is exactly as large as our life makes it appear infinate." I'm not sure why that makes it seem infinate but I do like the first part of the quote. The reason that our task is exactly as long as our life is because the task is life. To live is the reason that we are put here. Everyone takes their own route and completes their "task" in a different way. It's humbling to think that you aren't the only person taking this journey and completing this "task", and that you become a piece of the journey of everyone that you meet along the way. That really puts things into perspective for me. Im just one small person in a big, big world.
Novalis
"There is only one temple in the world and that is the human body." I really liked thi s quote because it raised awareness that I did not previously have. I thought, "Of course! That makes sense." Everyone had their own set of beliefs and their own ways of worship. And every individual houses everything within their own body. It doesn't matter uf they go to special designated place ti worship, everything happens WITHIN them.
I also really liked the quote, "Marriage is the highest mystery." This struck my because not only is it the highest mystery, but it is also something that almost everyone strives for. I find it interesting to want something that you don't even know how it is going to work out. Wanting marriage isn't like wanting a new car or new clothes because emotions are hardly involved. But to want something that takes so much time and effort and commitment, and to be completely unsure about the outcome seems completely insane...but we do it anyway.
I also really liked the quote, "Marriage is the highest mystery." This struck my because not only is it the highest mystery, but it is also something that almost everyone strives for. I find it interesting to want something that you don't even know how it is going to work out. Wanting marriage isn't like wanting a new car or new clothes because emotions are hardly involved. But to want something that takes so much time and effort and commitment, and to be completely unsure about the outcome seems completely insane...but we do it anyway.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Abu Yazid Al-Bistami
"Nothing is better for a man than to be without anything, hvaing no ascetism, no theory, no practice. When he is without everything, he is with everything." This story reminds me of one that professor File told us in lecture. I belive it was Buhhah who was approched by a follower and he said he had done all these things and if Buddah would accept him. Buddah asks him to give away all his money and to come follow him. The point of buddah saying this is because he believed that once you have nothing, you have everthing, same as this reading.
"For thirty years i used to say. 'Do this' and 'give that'; but when i reached the first stage of wisdom, I said, 'O God, be mine and do whatever you want.'" This part, to me, illustrates prayer for most people. Every night they pray to God asking him to "do this for me, " or to "give this to me." But when one realizes what is truely important and realize that when they have God's ears they should jsut ask for him to be theirs and that is the only thing that really matters.
"For thirty years i used to say. 'Do this' and 'give that'; but when i reached the first stage of wisdom, I said, 'O God, be mine and do whatever you want.'" This part, to me, illustrates prayer for most people. Every night they pray to God asking him to "do this for me, " or to "give this to me." But when one realizes what is truely important and realize that when they have God's ears they should jsut ask for him to be theirs and that is the only thing that really matters.
Muhammad
"We created man: We know the very whisperings within him and we are closer to him than his jugular vein." I found this to be a powerful choice of words. For some reason the choice of words alone makes this statement all the more powerful.
"My servant does not cease to come near me until I love him; and when I love him, I am the sight he sees with and the hearing he hears with and the hand he receives with and the foot he walks with." This passage reminds me of Christianity in the sense of followers seeking God's acceptance. When the followers finally believe that they have the acceptance of God, that's the only thing that really matters when it comes to their religious practice.
"My servant does not cease to come near me until I love him; and when I love him, I am the sight he sees with and the hearing he hears with and the hand he receives with and the foot he walks with." This passage reminds me of Christianity in the sense of followers seeking God's acceptance. When the followers finally believe that they have the acceptance of God, that's the only thing that really matters when it comes to their religious practice.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Gospel of Thomas
"...the kingdom is inside you and outside you." Alot of these reads really reinforce to me, why i have never really tried to follow any religion. The kingdom is inside and outside of you? Alright. So i have a kingdom inside of me that i was never aware of. I don't know, it just seems silly to me. All of the philosophy and odd explanations don't seem to make any sense to me. I want something where i can here, This means that and only that. Whereas this something else shows this specific thing.
However, the part that reads. "Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you," sort of made sense to me. To me it sort of meant, you have to figure out who you are as a person, and everything else will fall into place.
However, the part that reads. "Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you," sort of made sense to me. To me it sort of meant, you have to figure out who you are as a person, and everything else will fall into place.
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