Contrast For The Good

Protagonists are the leaders of any type of story. They are protagonists for being outstanding from the rest, or being different, just having characteristics that the other characters don’t have. Njal and Jesus are protagonists of a story to their life. This indicates that both of their lives were very important, because they made them this way, for the actions they took, and the opportunities they resolved. Although their differences in time relates to the culture, and creates difference in some aspects, but still the similarities are surprising to what they should be.

These two men constantly asked for advice. Therefore you deduct they are helpful and their advice is wise and comprehensive. Njal was constantly asked for help, and who reached him always appreciated in what he did for them. Olaf refers to Njal this way, “It’s worth a lot to have Njal standing by you with good advice.” (pg. 111). Jesus then is known for his miracles and his kindness towards everyone, “The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him…” (Matthew 13, 1-2). They are also in journey, their life or their search for the future can be said this way. Jesus is has knowledge of his destiny of his purpose, therefore he is on a path he has to complete to reach this purpose, his journey is to die for humanity. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1, 30-33). Njal instead is on a journey to succeeding his family and advising his close ones, in a way his purpose becomes the one of others. Another resemblance Njal and Jesus share is their relationship with what they recognized as their friends. On a conversation Gunnar and Njal were having, Njal said to Gunnar, “I’ll stand by you loyally as long as I live.” (pg. 120). They were two friends which shared a bond that formed a unique friendship. The case was similar with Jesus and his disciples, “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter…” (John 21, 7). Women also were an important aspect for men, they were given great significance by the protagonists. At the beginning of the saga, Unn was recommending Gunnar to seek him for the problem they had fallen into and he does as she says, “Go to Njal at Bergthorshvol-he’ll be able to come up with a plan, and besides, he’s a great friend of yours.” (pg. 36). For Jesus Mary and Mary Magdalene are fundamental in his life. They are not only mentioned by him but by the gospels, “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene…” (Luke 8, 2).

Jesus and Njal were as well contrasting men. Jesus believes in turning the other cheek, as mention in the bible. Njal instead follows the theory of an eye for an eye. Their advices to others reflect in this. Jesus advice is leading towards a peaceful side, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14, 27). Njal helps people many times by involving himself in warlike events, “summon your own neighbors to the scene of the fight…” (pg.110). Also Jesus prospects towards a more spiritual journey and as well his advice, “And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? “ (Luke 24, 38). Instead Njal in several cases provides his own material things to help someone, “I’ll give him some supplies.” (pg.80).

The Tao Of A Tree

When leaves have fallen, roots and bark are left, what is intangible such as Tao, is unlimited. Tao has no description. It is a path, a way, or a source of power and balance. It is the whole, the mother of all things. Tao gives the basics of live, to the known, tangible and named. It is beyond form, beyond what is hidden, further than what is present. It has no beginning and no ending. Tao is available as aid to release what is material, and to be able to reach a spiritual peak with only what life delivers. One has to take advantage of what is already there, knowing and being aware of what is important and what is logical. Then pure simplicity is reached, where wisdom and humility come into action. Humility is appreciating what is simple, and wisdom is a matter of choosing simplicity, with non-intention, non-action and non-contention. A tree is plain simplicity, it is the most basic shape in nature, a memory of necessity.

A tree is a selfless living thing. It is harmless, simple, a true example of nature’s beauty. The tree is the protector of the world. It takes our damage (CO2), and makes it beneficial for our survival (O2). This is done subconsciously, we (as humans) keep on damaging the world by creating CO2 and all trees do is what their nature was programmed to do, they by following each of nature’s laws, is valuable for the rest of the world. Trees are an example of life itself. They have a chance of eternity. The problem is that they are dependent on heaven and earth, because they have been there since the beginning, they will be there to the end. They will last until everything of earth (in general) remains. They are the providers, therefore what any other needs. Trees are the beginning of the cycle of life, the bottom of the food pyramid. Innocent and necessary to the rest. Who sees it this way, is in position to take advantage.

A tree serves as a shelter, it literally is a supplier, or maybe an organism that is overused, still it is helpful for everything. It serves as a home for living things, the shelter of life. It is the refuge of the beginning, the mother figure for the cycle to continue, without a tree where to start? It is the support, mostly for humans, which overdo its intentions. Makes life easier, by providing everything. Wood and paper mostly for decoration. It is the source of fire, what humans consider their start, the principal of our natural life. We need trees, but they don’t need humans, it is not a mutual relationship. They basically are our lungs, contribute our air, what we depend on living. A tree only gives us profit, it is the foundation to our needs. Some trees have food, others give us money, and most give air. What else do we need? What else do we want to take of nature? When will we see that trees don’t need us? They are better without us, we just keep on cutting them and damaging the rest of the world. Humans keep on complicating everything for everyone (mostly for them), but is inevitable if we keep on taking the simplicity out, we keep on damaging by innovating and misleading. It is just a matter of live being weary, and just wanting to have its final ending.

A tree is a symbol of wisdom, the ancient path. Its roots are so long that, their start isn’t clear. They prove knowledge just by standing there, by there perception of living each day undefined. Trees have always been there. They have lived and seen mostly everything. For this (and their necessity), they have never been forgotten. A tree is like an ancient master, “Who can wait quietly while the mud settles? Who can remain still until the moment of action? Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment. Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.” (pg. 17). A tree fits the description given in Tao Te Ching of the ancient masters, “The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.” (pg. 17). A tree is not seeking fulfillment, and by these it provokes no desire, which means no change comes from trees. They remain still for all those years, with profound wisdom and simplicity of nature. Trees have no desire, no evil, no selfishness. It serves to everything that surrounds it. It is exemplar of ingenuity and kindness. Trees preserve through many years. All left is their presence, felt by their spirit, or their essence. It stands firm, not following others. A tree gives peace when there is chaos, and is ignorant to good and evil. A tree contains from the rest, to surpass what is left.

In life, trees are a symbol of several things, and as well used as concepts for various things. They are represented by their branches and their roots. Their roots are knowledge, their wisdom compared with their age. Their branches are choices, they are the options we have, either to living, or forgiving. They symbolize what we have for life, that there is a way out and that choices are numerous. A tree then is left to representation, for you to judge it the way you want to. It can be a naïve piece of wood that only enriches materialism. A source of the world, the beginning of a wonderful life. The nourishing mother of what nature extends. The tree only stands there, quietly letting you acknowledge your view to him, your view to life itself. To open your eyes without fulfillment, without selfishness. A tree wants you to wonder more than what you see, to open your essence to simplicity. Remain subtle when ingenuity overtakes, and mostly prove that there is a start to any ending.

Withdraw And Follow

Go is a game of saving yourself. It is not about taking out your opponent but of compromising yourself. Usually a game is like a life. Sometimes you sacrifice, other times you need, and it is always about loosing and wining. It is really uncertain which is best, to win or to loose? In Go it is logically better to win (as in most games), still the only way is by trying to loose. It is played the same way that Tao Te Ching is read, without desire. In this particular game, it is about playing your opponent, and yourself. As in Tao Te Ching, there is a need of analysis for every move, to think how it is going to affect you in the entire situation. When you read Tao you want to understand the whole book, connect it, which is your objective in the game.

Forever Is Beneficial

Everything on earth has a beginning and an ending. Everything that already exists, subsists because it has a name. “The name that can be named is not the eternal name.” (pg.3), which means that what doesn’t exist, or doesn’t have a name, is eternal. The nameless’ energy then never gets destroyed, or misled, it never dies. For instance, heaven and earth, “Heaven and earth last forever. Why do heaven and earth last forever? They are unborn, so ever living.” (pg. 9), they actually never were born, and then are they real, or just an idea? They are named, but unborn, so do they exist? Then what really comes into importance, are not the unborn heaven and earth, but the interaction of everything with heaven and earth, the reason why they are named and eternal.

For everything to exist, there is a “universal law” to follow. Not exactly a law, but a natural order of things in general. A balance in which there is stability among the known. Every object, substance, element, bit and piece complements each other. To harmonize between each other, things become opposites. “Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil.” (pg. 4), this maxim is prove of how opposites are dependent, this means that without any of them the other wouldn’t exist. The matter of eternity, is empty within contrary. By contradicting themselves, they follow an order of being. Consequently, the primal virtue is taken, which explains that the body comes in pair with the soul, this is the spirit. They complete each other, probably by differing. In this way, benefit for usefulness comes from opposites, which are the basis of the material world in which we live. It is beneficial or useful, to complete what is not there, it is a compromise of taking ambition into simplicity, and wanting what is careless. In the following maxim, “Therefore benefit comes from what is there; usefulness from what is not there.” (pg.13), opposites are beneficial, therefore useful, in what materialism takes care and the spirit forgets.

Just Keep Swimming

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” Everyone intends to be different on their own way. Everybody wants to be irreplaceable, unique. They are in need of being an individual, literally, one person, distinctive from the rest. To be different then one has to be individual from society, be distinguished. Being different, corresponds to being yourself, you have to keep track of your actions, and the principles you have. When the Master says, “I have never been able to do anything for a person who is not himself constantly asking, ‘What should I do? What should I do?’” (15.16), it clearly explains the importance of being oneself, of identifying our own principles. Then, your actions form their own path, you are able to leave your own mark. By asking what should I do, the concept is mistake, you can’t sit and wait for your footprint to get there, it is your responsibility to create it.

Principles enlarge any person, they are able to withstand any control. For this result, you have to sharpen your tools. Use everything you have available to brighten your life. These tools are a double side weapon, if they are misused, they go against you, and they drown you into society. For example, “When the multitude hates a person, you must examine them and judge for yourself. The same holds true for someone whom the multitude love.” (15.28), when someone judges they have already found their principles, they judge because this certain person isn’t in their standards. Still, does this give the right to anyone to judge? Judgment is a matter of using your tools, either you judge to drown others, or you don’t so that others judge you. Is there any other way in society to use your tools, to just keep swimming without anyone else drowning?

What is the word?

Words That Sound Alike: Exercise 1
Question

Question	Your Answer	The Correct Answer	Your Response is:
Question 1	Where	Where	Correct
Question 2	wear	wear	Correct
Question 3	we're	we're	Correct
Question 4	to	to	Correct
Question 5	two	two	Correct
Question 6	too	too	Correct
Question 7	conscious	conscious	Correct
Question 8	conscience	conscience	Correct
Question 9	led	led	Correct
Question 10	lead	lead	Correct
Question 11	their	their	Correct
Question 12	They're	They're	Correct
Question 13	there	there	Correct
Question 14	idea	idea	Correct
Question 15	ideal	ideal	Correct
Question 16	than	than	Correct
Question 17	then	then	Correct
Question 18	It's	It's	Correct
Question 19	its	its	Correct
Question 20	You're	You're	Correct
Question 21	your	your	Correct
Question 22	advise	advise	Correct
Question 23	advice	advice	Correct

Correct
You had 23 out of 23 questions correct.
Very good!

Pursue What You Know

“I transmit rather than innovate. I trust in and love the ancient ways.” (7.1)

Confucius feels that transmitting lessons is much better than creating new ones. This means that he sticks to what he has been taught, to what gave him knowledge. Then, innovation is not always right, it is not always trusted, many times fails. Innovation is only right with, knowledge, it only works this way. Instead, with transmitting there is no need for knowledge, as the master says “I am not someone who was born with knowledge. I simply love antiquity, and diligently look there for knowledge.”(7.20). He is referring to what one transmits, lessons, which show the pursue of dreams that are worth, lessons bring up believe. They make us imagine our aspirations, through what we learn, through what we are transmitted. The master then says something about pursuing, “If wealth were something worth pursuing, then I would pursue it, even if that meant serving as an officer holding a whip at the entrance to the marketplace. Since it is not worth pursuing, however, I prefer to follow that which I love.” (7.12), he says just follow what you love, no matter what it is.

Knowledge makes life easier. It is a personal burden, life, but with knowledge you are able to move along. Knowledge is gained, with it you are able to be virtuous and to self-cultivation. “No doubt there are those who try to innovate without acquiring knowledge, but this is a fault I do not possess. I listen widely, and then pick out that which is excellent in order to follow it; I see many things, and then remember them. This constitutes a second-best sort of knowledge.” (7.28), the master intends to prove how basic it is communicating, not only transmitting but listening. Learning and teaching, knowledge the pursue of us all, besides goodness, the key to living.

Goodness...

In the Analects, Confucius describes morality, principles and virtues make his goals for the perfect gentleman. Then, virtues come in consideration rather than principles. “The Master said, “Acquiring Virtue by applying the mean-is this not best? And yet among the common people few are able to practice virtue for long.” (6.29), he is saying that virtue is not always there, that is hard, that not everybody has it. Virtues are the moral conduct, therefore, your ideology and basis to be a better person, one better according to your interpretation. This way it is beneficial to coexist not only as an individual inside of a society but as oneself. Then come principles, the basis of a society, then this are already there, and will always be, we as individuals have to fit in the ones we belong. According to these the master says that virtues are the strategy of education instead of principles. For that reason he would be saying that it is better to have and be a better person, over having laws for a better society. But, isn’t the good of an individual still good for a society? Each individual conforms a society, the good of each makes a good of all. Besides, virtues are to coexist, not to only to oneself but to others. Goodness? Why goodness? What is exactly goodness? Confucius describes what happens with and without goodness, but never what goodness itself is. “Merely set your heart sincerely upon Goodness and you will be free of bad intentions.” (4.4), this says it all, goodness is just good, the option to stay away from the bad. Goodness in The Analects is given the same importance as God in the Bible, God and Good, Good is God, God is Good…is there a connection, as if Goodness were a force, would God be a force? Goodness, is the morally positive, in any behavior, why so much important? How can someone state what is morally positive for all (such as principles), when the strategy of education are virtues (what is morally positive for each)?

Is Innocence Blind?

I’ve always said that all left in life are choices. This episode of Job finally proves my point, when it is implied how destiny depends on your decisions. Satan says that destiny is written. Evil then says that destiny is written…but what does God say? Is it self explanatory? Probably, maybe the reason why God is so logical. So evil, it is inside you, the “other” side of you, the one you choose to be, or for a moment, an action, your choice. Yes, it is unbelievable how choices influence us so much. Everyday we are exposed to many different choices which remark our life completely. Choosing between water and juice, maybe is not the best example, but when deciding, pay attention to every mislead, detail every part, because choices do determine anything. When Job “shunned evil” all God could do was forgive, one of the hardest actions towards anyone. It is proving to them that you are fine, that it is okay to you what they did, you forgive them, but what they really need to do is forgive themselves. In that case when God forgives Job, the mistake remains in Job, it was his own path, his own destiny, his life. Still he questions God, anger…disappointment, the feeling so unlikely and disapproved. Why is he the almighty? Why does he judge all? Why does he judge me? Questions maybe of jealousy, the frightened envied destiny, the one he wanted but at the same time feared. When Job says, “The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.” (Job 18:7), he is cursing, wishing the worst for that which he wants. Then Satan is right, are destiny is written, but still we chose which destiny to write.

The Contest

“He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done.”

-Leonardo Da Vinci

Satan doesn’t punish evil, he commands it. This is exactly what he does, and what we usually avoid. What it means, is that evil is wrong, and that is entirely, true, evil is evil. The same way God is God, and good is good. It was as if God and Satan were playing a game. Job’s life, a contest for his happiness, for his believes. We have always been taught that God is the “good one”, yes, he is the best the one to follow, and our hearts always guide us to him. I am not saying it is wrong, it is simply to forced, the truth, of what we have to believe. Then comes the image we have of Satan, the one taught to us, the mean guy, who frightens our insides, without notice he is there, wondering why evil wasn’t before. I find then Job to be an unpredictable person, as most humans, he is in the middle of a question, waiting to be answered, but all he needs is patience. Evil or good? It is really all up to him. God directs to humans as his servants, something Satan doesn’t agree with, “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4), Satan criticizing God, for what man is to be proved. Job is the first one to analyze the options, Satan or God? As if not determined right or wrong among them. He has this anger towards God, which somehow leads to the acceptance of evil. Job then is forced to question God, as if he weren’t enough, “Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?” (Job 6:30), pure judgment, definitely undiscovered.

What I would then suggest, is that evil is a state of mind, specially in Job, to which God doesn’t give answers to his questions (but this is the true mystery about faith, about religion itself). Wisdom is Job’s tool, used to discriminate between good and evil, his choice towards a decision. At the end it is clear, Job fears God, avoids evil and pursues wisdom. Job was a man who wanted to learn.