It was in book 12 where I notice the true importance that the master has for the ¨rituals¨ when he states the following: ¨Do not look unless it is accordance with ritual; do not speak unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not move unless it is in accordance with ritual.¨(12.1). I´m guessing that this ritual is the sum of the entire Confucian teachings. It must be very hard for a common person to be aware of it at all times, during every one of his actions. I assume that this is also why the master says that a person who is truly good, will accomplish this effortlessly.
Book 13 focuses allot on proper ways of governing. One of the best answers that I found for the subject was, ¨When a ruler is correct, his will is put into effect without the need for official orders. When the ruler´s person not correct, he will not be obeyed no matter how many orders he issues.¨ This was basically a response for the Duke´s who came to the master looking for help in defining a real leader. According to him, a ruler who follows who loves ritual propriety will automatically have an almost perfect society.
Book 14 has probably been the book that I have understood the most of, making it also be the most influential book until now. I cannot share all the the lessons, so I chose my favorite ones. ¨Those who possess virtue will inevitably have something to say, whereas those who have something to say do not necessarily posses virtue. Those who are good will necessarily display courage, but those who display courage are not necessarily good.¨ (14.4). This tells us that by mastering a major value such as virtue or goodness, you will immediately obtain smaller values such as speech or courage. The next lesson is at the end of the chapter, when the gate keeper asks Zilu: ¨Isn´t Confucius the one who knows that what he does is impossible and yet persists anyway? ¨ (14.38). This reminds of the Nike logo, ¨Impossible is nothing¨ because you only need time and dedication to accomplish something that might not seem possible at first, but ends up being the opposite.
domingo, 25 de noviembre de 2007
Books 7, 8, & 11
The central message that I recieved form book 7 was that you really have to be willing to learn in order to succeed. I agree with this completely because if you have no interest for the subject being studied then obviously, you will never get anywhere with it. Everyone has a passion for something, even though he or she is not necessarilly good at it, because if you really want something, you will do anythining in you power to achieve and master it. This is the type of student that the ¨Master ¨ chooses to teach.
I can´t say much about the eighth book because it was very unclear and it skipped from one thing to another without emphasizing on a central theme. My favorite line though, was the following: ¨The common people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to understand it.¨ (8.9). Although I find this very intresting, Confucius doesn´t seem to specify what exactly he means by ¨it¨.
In the eleventh chapter, the master criticzes and tests each one of his disciples by asking them about their aspirations. One of the questions they had to answer was that if someone were to appereciate them, what would they do? While three of the students answered in terms of big aspirations, I think that the true answer was the last student´s, when he thought in smaller terms, of a minor aspiration.
I can´t say much about the eighth book because it was very unclear and it skipped from one thing to another without emphasizing on a central theme. My favorite line though, was the following: ¨The common people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to understand it.¨ (8.9). Although I find this very intresting, Confucius doesn´t seem to specify what exactly he means by ¨it¨.
In the eleventh chapter, the master criticzes and tests each one of his disciples by asking them about their aspirations. One of the questions they had to answer was that if someone were to appereciate them, what would they do? While three of the students answered in terms of big aspirations, I think that the true answer was the last student´s, when he thought in smaller terms, of a minor aspiration.
Books 4-6
I noticed that book one mostly talks about goodness and how to use without having to make an effort. It tells us stuff like to be good, you must be around good people and that you can learn something from anyone wheather he is a better or worse human than you. The lesson though, that I would most apply to my own life would probably be: ¨People in ancient times were not eager to speak, because they would be ashamed if their actions did not measure up to their words.¨ (4.22). The message is pretty clear, it´s easier to say you can than actually doing it.
In most of the fifth book, the master evaluates his students by making them realize for themselves what they have learned. There was one part in which they begun discussing their aspirations, each one shared his own, and the master´s was the following: ¨To bring comfort to the aged, to inspire trust in my friends, and be cherished by the youth.¨ (5.26). According to the book, a perfect Confucian should choose this as a way of life.
Lastly, I would like to share a quotation from book five which I had to ponder on for a long time. ¨The wise take joy in rivers, while the good take joy in mountains. The wise are active while the good are still. The wise are joyful while the good are long lived.¨ (6.23). In this passage, Confucius divides good and wise into two different ways to live. It made me wonder which one was more rewarding. I decided that being wise would be better in a way, because even though your life is shorter, you enjoy it more that a good person, who´s life is longer but a less exciting.
In most of the fifth book, the master evaluates his students by making them realize for themselves what they have learned. There was one part in which they begun discussing their aspirations, each one shared his own, and the master´s was the following: ¨To bring comfort to the aged, to inspire trust in my friends, and be cherished by the youth.¨ (5.26). According to the book, a perfect Confucian should choose this as a way of life.
Lastly, I would like to share a quotation from book five which I had to ponder on for a long time. ¨The wise take joy in rivers, while the good take joy in mountains. The wise are active while the good are still. The wise are joyful while the good are long lived.¨ (6.23). In this passage, Confucius divides good and wise into two different ways to live. It made me wonder which one was more rewarding. I decided that being wise would be better in a way, because even though your life is shorter, you enjoy it more that a good person, who´s life is longer but a less exciting.
Books 1-3
These first three books of the Essential Analects talk alot about ones public and private values. It reminds me alot about God in the new testament and parts of the Exodus.
Confucius must have been an extremely noble and respectful man, stating that being filial is the way of life. Another point that the "master" chooses to emphasize on is your relationship with your elders. "A young person should be filial when at home and respectful of his elders when in public." (1.6). This quote coincides with one of the Exodus's ten commandments to honor thy mother and father.
From the second book, may favorite line is "One who rules through he power of virtue is analogous to the pole star: it simply remains in its place and recieves the homage of the myriad lesser stars." (2.1). In other words, you will only be looked up at by the rest from good worth.
I was born in Hong Kong and lived there for five years. From personal experience, I can say that in Asia, many people use the lessons in this book as guidelines for life, making them very different from people here in the western hemisphere.
Confucius must have been an extremely noble and respectful man, stating that being filial is the way of life. Another point that the "master" chooses to emphasize on is your relationship with your elders. "A young person should be filial when at home and respectful of his elders when in public." (1.6). This quote coincides with one of the Exodus's ten commandments to honor thy mother and father.
From the second book, may favorite line is "One who rules through he power of virtue is analogous to the pole star: it simply remains in its place and recieves the homage of the myriad lesser stars." (2.1). In other words, you will only be looked up at by the rest from good worth.
I was born in Hong Kong and lived there for five years. From personal experience, I can say that in Asia, many people use the lessons in this book as guidelines for life, making them very different from people here in the western hemisphere.
martes, 6 de noviembre de 2007
Job 38-End
It´s in this last part of the book when Job finally opens his eyes. God appears to him from a whirlwind, and begins to explain to him that he has no right to be mad at the creator of the world. Humans weren't there when God made made water, light, animals, and the rest of the things that surround us. We were put in to ¨play along¨ with them.
I still remain with the question though, did Job win or not? The story ends up having a happy ending where Job gets back all his lost possessions, including his children. This must have meant that God won the bet with Satan. The thing is that, God never would have had to give Job the entire lecture of creation if the man had really understood the meaning of the situation. If it were up to me, I wouldn't agree that Job had passed the test entirely. He was confused and irritated for long time. Whenever his friends would try to help him, he would turn them down. In chapter 42, God made it seem as if it were their fault that Job was confused (I don´t think this is fair at all because friends are there to back you up and they don't deserve to be blamed for that). Anyway, if Job never would have had his face to face encounter with God, then he never would have gotten his mind straight. This is why I am saying that humans partially failed that test.
I still remain with the question though, did Job win or not? The story ends up having a happy ending where Job gets back all his lost possessions, including his children. This must have meant that God won the bet with Satan. The thing is that, God never would have had to give Job the entire lecture of creation if the man had really understood the meaning of the situation. If it were up to me, I wouldn't agree that Job had passed the test entirely. He was confused and irritated for long time. Whenever his friends would try to help him, he would turn them down. In chapter 42, God made it seem as if it were their fault that Job was confused (I don´t think this is fair at all because friends are there to back you up and they don't deserve to be blamed for that). Anyway, if Job never would have had his face to face encounter with God, then he never would have gotten his mind straight. This is why I am saying that humans partially failed that test.
Job 11-38
At this point of the story, Job is confused, irritated with his friends, and disappointed with God. He wondered why God was punishing him this way if he could simply altar his behavior. The worst part was not being able to confront this problem physically. Job´s friends tried to convince him that nothing good came from wickedness. This was the only lesson that Job needed to follow, and I think it goes out to all of us. I know that even though the man wasn´t doing anything wrong in the first place, he was punished anyway. I´m talking about the long run, when it´s all over, both God and Satan will see whether humans are good or not. If Job had lost, then the entire human race would loose.
Job 1-11
When I had just begun reading, the thought of God taking away every possession from an innocent man didn´t really make me feel to good. This was the first encounter we have read between God and Satan, and I wondered why God had to accept the offer if he was creator and had nothing to prove. Then I realized that this test was the only true way to see if deep inside, Gods creations were good or evil. They took the ¨perfect¨ human because if he failed, everyone would.
Satan sends the first four messages in one day, making Job suffer allot, but continue having faith in God. It´s the next torture (skin soars) that makes the man wish he had never been born. Three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to visit him. This is when the importance of friendship comes in. Whenever your having doubts about life, you can always turn to them for help.
Satan sends the first four messages in one day, making Job suffer allot, but continue having faith in God. It´s the next torture (skin soars) that makes the man wish he had never been born. Three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to visit him. This is when the importance of friendship comes in. Whenever your having doubts about life, you can always turn to them for help.
jueves, 1 de noviembre de 2007
Tertiary Sources
"Once More, Once More: Derrida, the Jew, the Arab" by Gil Anidjar, introduction to: Derrida, Jacques (2001). in Gil Anidjar: Acts of Religion. New York & London: Routledge, 436. ISBN 0-415-92400-6/0-415-92401-4.
Gobierno - Government (English version)
Mayor of London, London Assembly and the Greater London Authority - Official city government site
Better Business Bureau US & Canada
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business"
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, Vienna,
Gobierno - Government (English version)
Mayor of London, London Assembly and the Greater London Authority - Official city government site
Better Business Bureau US & Canada
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business"
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, Vienna,
2nd Book of Samuel 1-12
The second book of Samuel is basically the continuation of David´s story. It does thoug, concentrate more on the decisions he makes as a king instead of how he became one. The first major topics that come up are those of war, fight, and betrayal. David and his genral Joab, are in a fight against Ish-Bosheth and Abner. Abner betrays his leader and goes to David´s side but gets killed by Joab for having murdered his brother. This huge twist somehow ends up giving David victory over Ish-Bosheth, making him king of Israel.
Until now David might a like a very honorable person. He does good, he was chosen king for having a pure soul, and also goes well on the battlefield. It is in the second book of Samuel though, that David commits the terrible sin of adultry, disobeying one of God´s comandments. He sees a woman bathing and ends up sleeping with her. This is already bad enough, but it gets worse when he sends the woman´s husband to be killed at war. The bible states that David was married to a woman called Michal and I dont recall it ever mentioning a seperation between the two. As a king, you must a roll model and should not go around doing the wrong stuff. I wouldn´t be able to trust a leader who commits a sin like this. Nathan later relates that story with a parable about a wealthy man who steals a poor man’s only sheep.
Until now David might a like a very honorable person. He does good, he was chosen king for having a pure soul, and also goes well on the battlefield. It is in the second book of Samuel though, that David commits the terrible sin of adultry, disobeying one of God´s comandments. He sees a woman bathing and ends up sleeping with her. This is already bad enough, but it gets worse when he sends the woman´s husband to be killed at war. The bible states that David was married to a woman called Michal and I dont recall it ever mentioning a seperation between the two. As a king, you must a roll model and should not go around doing the wrong stuff. I wouldn´t be able to trust a leader who commits a sin like this. Nathan later relates that story with a parable about a wealthy man who steals a poor man’s only sheep.
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