Once Upon A Blog

In the Gospel according to Luke we find so much more details in reference to Jesus’ childhood. The timeline and the initiation of the story is set on the beginning of Jesus. When Mary is told that she would carry in her wound a “holy” and spiritual child. Elizabeth came forward to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of the Lord. Mary then goes to Nazareth where she gives birth to the saving baby Jesus.

Even though the axiom is not crucial at the exact moment it is being said, I find it ironic that Jesus resuscitates from the dead, and this is being said at his birth. It is like the father, for an instance could see the future of his child and know that he would die and then live again. A small psychic moment.

What strikes me as odd is the amount of details used in this few chapters in comparison to Mark’s Gospel.  During Mark’s Gospel the beginning is nearly the half of this gospel. Almost as if Luke could see more, or was more involved in Jesus’ life. Perhaps Mark was not invited to the actual birth. 

As the teaching and expansion continues, we can see the change in the direction of the teachings. Instead of heavily imposing miracles and curing everyone, the information is directed towards preaching. The main preaching is directed toward the relationship one must have with his wife and her husband. The commitment one owes the individual, and the law of community itself.

The following axiom really shows the belief in God’s superiority and perfection. How God is grand and men are nothing in comparison to its magnitude. And then Jesus said:

“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:26).

What I can understand from the axiom is that men are flawed, imperfect. Therefore it makes some aspects or things in life impossible. Nevertheless, God in his almighty perfection is flawless and no matter what, everything is reachable for him. There is nothing impossible.

As Jesus continues to preach he reaches the state where he mentioned that one should love your neighbor as much as yourself. Such commandment is set as the highest in the Gospel and the one that is said the firmest.

Soon Jesus foresees that one of his disciples will betray him. Therefore at dinner he makes a symbolic “action”, in which he asks everyone to drink whine and eat as symbolism of his blood and his flesh. He then goes to pray and ask mercy upon his death, and make him avoid suffering.  Then his foreshadow becomes true and he is arrested and taken in front of the king who agrees to crucify him.

Jesus then revives next to Virgin Mary. The End

The story of Jesus reaches the King of Galilee. Jesus breaks up his apostles for them to spread the teachings of the Gospel. When they reunite they bring more news about people thrilled to find more and commit to Jesus’ teachings. Miracles and strange occurrences keep happening which leave the disciples astonished. When a loaf of bread is divided to feed a vast amount of people, or even when he walks in water.   

Jesus is again questioned and segregated by some for defying the traditional Jewish laws. Nevertheless he says that the men’s intention rather than the action define and measure their righteousness.

More and more goodness unravels upon Jesus’ path. Nevertheless, the disciples can’t quite understand the purpose of their saviors’ teachings. 

Basically the story begins, not at the beginning precisely but rather towards the middle of Jesus. Jesus is baptized and sent in some sort of a quest. Satan tests him for forty days, he passes the test. John, who baptized Jesus, makes the guess that someone more powerful than him will emerge (predicament followed by Jesus’ appearance).

Jesus, then travels to a city to the north of Israel and gathers two disciples. Simon and Andrew, two brothers who are fishermen are “hired” as disciples. Soon they are sent in a task to follow Jesus, who promised them that he will show them how to fish for people rather than for fish. Gathering each time more disciples due to the heroic and miracle works of the savior.

Haters who don’t agree with the uprising power of Jesus start plotting to murder him. Nevertheless, his ministry starts to attract followers who believe in him as a superior being. Even though many keep adding up to his believes and ministry many also start to fight due to the misunderstanding of his disciples. 

In the final set of segments of this book of knowledge and repetition we can sum it all up to what the complete book is about. The search for the state of perfection and peace is the basic idea of the complete ranting of the book. What did result surprising is the input on government that was given by the Tao teachings. Not only the idea of self “finding”, but also the guidelines to rule the perfect universe according to the Tao.

Basically what it said is that a government that is involved (action) must not be over the people (inaction). If they are over the citizens they give them the space and the purpose to rebel, make them poor, and make the idea of a peaceful living a fantasy.  The wise leader and citizen must reach the Primal Union, which consists of being sage and full of knowledge but to mask your brightness.

Quotations like these show the demand of uninvolved governments,

“When the country is ruled with a light hand

The people are simple.” (Passage 58)

Personally I don’t understand the idea of hiding good. If you are a role model, you must not brag but you must be exposed to set an example. An individual with all the right qualities must be shown, not by their own hand but by the idea and admiral of others.

As for the fact that one must give up to the “greater good” might be a good idea but what if the greater good goes against what you think, as is not good to you at all. Yes it is good sometimes to give into something but not if you are completely against what is being done. Submitting to something you are against without a fight is being plainly weak.

Finally the point of knowledge and ignorance is retaken/reintroduced.

“Knowing ignorance is strength.

Ignoring knowledge is sickness.” (Passage 71)

One must identify ignorance and be aware of knowledge, then it is plainly twisted the idea that one must live not knowing. Ignorance could be good sometimes but it is not actually ignorance if you know what you are doing. Denying a truth can be considered ignorance, but if you know, and you are submitting to the grater good of not pointing it out. It is not.  

The last segment shows truth and can be considered a conclusion:

“Truthful words are not beautiful.

Beautiful words are not truthful.” (Passage 81)

After all truth is ugly and lies are beautiful, most of the time. Truth is the reality you are blinding yourself to and the sound of lies makes it fit the way you want to. After all truth is the complete opposite, truth is knowing what you don’t want to know. Drowning yourself with those beautiful lies. 

Now that we are near the end of the Tao teachings we can see in greater depth the incredible connection to the Bhagavad Gita in which you are acting by performing no action. And no action could be greater than action itself.  Not only the connection is evident and repetitive but there is a mention to change in the world.

Basically what is being stated is that by trying to change the world you will destroy it. It is the perfect imbalance and negative to positive ratio that makes it perfect. Perfection due to contrast, the Ying and the Yang. Not only does it refer to the change in the world but it sets the ideal panorama to the life that we should all live. In Earth one must learn to loose, because by loosing one wins. You can’t have one without the other, and precisely that is what the Tao wants the reader to understand.

Salvation and the state of complete peace are only reached by understanding the main and core principles of the Tao teachings.

Wisdom and the value and quality of knowing are mentioned:

“Knowing when to stop averts trouble.” (Passage 32)

Continuing with the idea that one must stand where you are meant to be, it is a mix of all the teachings. Be comfortable with what you have and don’t seek for more. Appreciate what you have but don’t love it, for then loss is greater. Stand firm to where you belong, you have a role and a duty to your space and it is expected for you to fill. 

A passage I found personally appealing is the following,

“Without going outside, you may know the whole world….

The farther you go the less you know.” (Passage 47)

What is interpreted of this set of verses is that you can know the world from where you stand, there is no need to traveling far. The more you travel the more is left to discover, never fulfilling the “goal” of knowing the world. Stay where you are and it will come. Inaction makes action. 

Now that we are “deep” into the book of Tao Te Ching, we find that it is not as similar as the other biblical and moral texts we have been reading.  Basically what the text says is that by not doing you will be rewarded. The lack of action (as referred to in Bhagavad Gita) can lead to the reward. Basically by avoiding to do something, you receive a benefit. The idea of shining among a society is thrown into the text. And as stated before, by not displaying yourself you will receive bigger shine.

In the series of “chapters”, or poems we had assigned, there were several current dilemmas discussed. The common QUESTion was referred to as well. Why do good people suffer? Or why is life unjust?

The Tao Te Ching deals with this dilemma,

 “Accept misfortune as a human condition.” (THREE)

Basically what the quotation is referring to is that we all have bodies, and as result of this gift we must have consequences. It is not a random act. It is a natural experience that everyone and everything with a body must undergo. Misfortune happens to everybody, and the timing might not be perfect. As bodies, a misfortune is like happiness, a mandatory stage in life.

Simplicity and the importance of it is referred as well. One must embrace simplicity and stop searching for things that with patience will come. One will reach Self with patience, and be virtuous with Virtue as well. It is curious how we see that Self is capitalized. As we have seen in all texts, when a word like this is capitalized it means that it refers to something of importance.

Shifting topics, the Tao is referred to as eternal. Probably suggesting the existence of an after life. It says that when the body dies, the Tao remains. As if the body was a disposable stage and that the state of Tao would mean the point where you actually start living. The discussion of an after life has been in debate for a long time, not only from behalf of the different churches but as well from the scientific part of society. The heated debate only leaves room for personal faith and beliefs. After all there is no proof that proves the existence of an after life, but the again there is no proof that it doesn’t exist.