Star Wars Questions

1. Darth Vader is looking for R2-D2 which has the secret plans for the Death Star. These plans were stolen by the Rebels and Princess Leia had them. 

2. Luke Skywalker wants to save Princess Leia and become a Jedi. He wants to fight alongside the Rebels against the empire. His uncle and aunt are what is holding him back. They wont let him do anything because they need him on the harvest season. 

3. Ben Kenobi is really Obi-Wan Kenobi a Jedi master that fought in the clone wars and was the master of Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker). 

4. Ben Kenobi describes the force as as that energy that binds the universe together, and it is all around them and in them. 

5. He matured during the story as Joseph Campbell describes all heroes. He left dependency on his uncle and left Tatooine to become a Jedi. The event that triggered him to change was the death of his uncle and his aunt. 

6. All of these stories are related because they follow a hero's journey. Luke is the hero of Star Wars, Siddhartha and Gilgamesh are also the heroes. All of them "die and reborn" and all have failed, but they embrace it on their quest. 

7. Luke follows the hero's journey or adventure because the moment he dies and is reborn when his uncle and aunt die. He "dies" and is "reborn" as an independent man who embarks on a journey to become a Jedi and learn the force.

8.

A) According to the film, we are the ones who form the force, learn from it, and take from it.

B) In the film are constantly stuck between the Dark and Light sides of the force. For example Darth Vader took the path of the Dark side due to the constant temptations it offered.

C) We got here by the destiny. The Force never has sides and the Light side will always prevail over the Dark side.

D) We are here to achieve or goals and dreams by overcoming obstacles in our perilous journey and deciding between the Dark and Light sides of the force.

E) Our body will dissapear, but our spirit or soul will always live in the force. 

Aphorism related to Joseph Campbell

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." - Napoleon Bonaparte

I believe that this aphorism relates to Joseph Campbell's theory of the hero's journey for one specific reason. Recall that a hero encounters many challenges throughout the story, and which he eventually overcomes. Some hero's believe that these obstacles put ahead of them are impossible to surpass. An example is young Luke Skywalker. In the first part of the Episode 4 Luke feels trapped in the jurisdiction of his uncle, but after his death, with sadness in his heart, he overcomes this obstacle. In this particular case we can see how impossible belongs to the dictionary of fools because Luke proved that nothing was that hard to overcome, and that he could in fact escape that tedious life he disliked so much. I also believe that there is always a master that teaches his pupil how to surpass his/her difficulties. In the case of Skywalker, Ben Kenobi is that master. He is trying to teach Luke that there is a way out his uncle if he learns the force. 

Aphorism in my Life

After reading a few quotes from www.brainyquote.com I chose a quote from the magnificent Napoleon Bonaparte. I chose it because it related with my life and because he is one of my favourite historical characters. This is what he says "Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." These quote relates to my life because many people think that it is impossible for me to achieve my dreams and goals in life. They are constantly teasing about this, like for example in PE the other day they said this, "You are never achieving your Oscar dream; it is just impossible." "What are you going to do if acting doesn't work which is probably what is going to happen." I get very angry of course, but I ignore them. I don't believe that anything in life is impossible. I believe that if you work hard for what you want you will achieve it. I see this every day. People say that it is impossible to get a 4 in this teacher's class, but I achieved it or someone else did as well. People say that the exam is going to be impossible. If you study and work hard to achieve a good grade it will probably not be as hard as you thought. That is how this quote relates to my life. Nothing is impossible in life if you work for it. 

Reading Blog #4 Siddhartha

After reading the last section of the book I had one connection. In this last section Siddhartha talks about how after trying to find his son, he recalls his father. He remembers how his father mourned because his son was leaving him, and now he found himslef in the same situation. He mourning the fact that his son left. I connect this to my own parents. 

Though I am just in ninth grade, they are already talking about how they are going to miss me when I leave to college and possibly to start my life somwhere else.  This quote from the text shows Siddhartha's thoughts: "Had his father not also suffered the same pain that he was now suffering for his own?" Clearly shows him reflectioning about his situation and recalling his father's pain when he left. Another thing this makes me think about is my own self. Siddhartha's father was probably mourning for him as my parents will eventually do when I leave, because he knows that Siddhartha is very independent and will leave home to seek his dream and achieve his goals. I am very similar to Siddhartha in this particular apsect. I always wanted to leave home and chase my dreams and achieve my goals. I knew that my future was simply not here in Colombia. My future lied somewhere else. Siddhartha also knew that in order to achieve what he wanted he had do depart. He had to embarck his own journey in order to experience life and work hard to reach his goal. I believe that in order to achieve your personal goals you have to work independently, but of curse with some basics and teachings before you take this bold step. Siddhartha is also like this. He believed that teachings would not make him achieve his goal so he left home in search for it. 

This last section made me think of how Siddhartha was similar to me. I found that the story of this one man could be really similar to my own. I am independent and want to leave home in search of my dreams and goals just like Buddha did. I picture myself in a little while persecuting my most wild dreams and achieving them by myself. The Enlightened-One achieved it, and I believe that anyone can if they work hard and be independent. Do not let any person tell you what to do or what to be. Be yourself, seek your own goals, chase your own dreams. This way you will suceed in life and become "Buddha" just as Siddhartha. 

Siddhartha Reading Blog #3

As I read through the third section of the book, there were many vocabulary words that emerged which I didn't know, and thought was interesting to get the definition. These are the words, their definitions and pictures that represent those words. 

1. Besmirched- to soil; tarnish; discolor. 
   
   
   
   2. Om- a mantric word thought to be the complete expression of Brahman and interpreted as having three sounds representing Brahma or creation, Vishnu or preservation, and Siva or destruction. 
   
   
   
   3. Oblivion- the state of being completely forgotten or unknown. 
   
   
   
   4. Sluggish- indisposed to action or exertion; lacking of energy; lazy; indolent.
   
   
   
   5. Sojourn- to stay for a time in a place, live temporarily. 
   
   
   
   6. Sulky- noun: a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage for one person. Adjective: gloomy or dull.
   
   
   
   
   7. Assiduous- constant, unremitting.
   
   
   
   8. Expiation- the act of expiating or repair.
   
   
   
   9. Gnawing- the act of a person or a thing who gnaws of chews.
   
   
   
   10. Deviation- departure froma a standard or norm. 
   
   
   
   11. Nuisance- an obnoxious or annoying person, thing, condition, practice, etc. 
   
   
   
   12. Pious- having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations. 
   

Reading Blog #2 Siddhartha

The second section that went from page 20 to page 50 was very well described. It had so many detail that it made it possible for me to visualise the situations and connect to my life again. I also had several questions about the text. 

In the last page of the first section I made a connection when it said that Siddhartha stood alone while the rest of the world was melting. This made me recall an event that I will never forget. A very wise teacher once told me that if you wanted to be something in you life you had to be the best. For instance if you wanted to be doctor well you had to sit down and work hard to be the best doctor you could possibly be. You had to surpass others, and avoid the "bubble". The "bubble" according to her was the rest of the people that were as good as you. This phrase in the text made me remember this, "At that moment, when the world around him melted away, when he stood alone like a star in the heavens..." We can infer that he got out of the "bubble" and chose his own path. He didn't follow anyone but himself. Another interesting thing during this second section was the descriptions. This made me visualise the things the author said. I could picture them so beautiful and so full of life and colour. "The world was beautiful.... The moon and the stars were beautiful, the brook, the shore, the forest and rock, the goat and the golden beetle, the flower and butterfly were beautiful. It was beautiful and pleasant to go through the world like that, so childlike, so awakened, so concerened with the immediate, without any distrust." They made me visualise the golden beetle as a beautiful insect with shinning gold, the forest so pretty and so calm with rocks, plants, trees, animals and a river crossing through the landscape.  But questions also arose. For instance one of the main questions I had was why did Kamala seak fine clothes and shoes, and money from Siddhartha in order for him to be her friend? Another question that came up was Why did Siddhartha let her insult him? Why didn't he say anything? 

The the rich descriptions, the questions that arises, and the connections made this section a delight to read. It made me get hooked with the story and intrigued to know what happens to Siddhartha. Did he achieve the three requirements that Kamala asked from him? 

Reading Blog #1 Siddhartha

After reading the first twenty pages of Siddhartha many things passed through my mind. I had  connections and predictions. I had many connections to my personal life which really amazed me. So far I thought the book was interesting due to similarities that this iconic man has with many of young men and women who look for their own path in life. I believe this book can teach people to seek their own path and their own independence. 

Some of the predictions came up right after the first page of the book. We can infer that Siddhartha will experience many obstacles during his life because it talks about the shadows that pass through his eyes. We can infer the shadows symbolize the obstacles as this part of the text states: "Shadows passed across his eyes in the mango grove during the play..." Another prediction that arises was the importance of Siddhartha's best friend Govinda. This character appeared in the first page of the book. We can infer that he will play a key role during Gautama's life. 

After reading page six, I saw that Siddhartha was a determined man which knew the path he wanted to take. He wanted to become a Samana. Though of course, his parents obviously came across this decision. Their opinion was very important and could change the path he wanted to take. But is really impressive how he insisted and didn't let anyone change his mind. This part of the text shows insistent he was: "As an hour passed by and he could not sleep, the Brahmin rose.... He looked through the  small window of the room and saw Siddhartha standing there with his arms crossed..." This connects so much with my personal experience. I want to be an actor when I grow up, but my parents and others try to break my dream apart with their comments and opinions. But I have learned to ignore them. I really want to do this as a profession and I will keep on insisting no matter what it takes. Another connection I had was with the situation of many of my friends. They want to do something in their life, but their parents won't let them. I believe that we as individuals should follow the example of Siddhartha. He fought for what he wanted and he insisted until he got it. His parents allowed him to become a Samana, and I believe parents should NOT interfere with their child's decision on what to do with their life. I think it is good for them to give advice, but not to deny, discourage, or to prohibit any career their son or daughter wants. I have many friends that have parents that prohibited the career they wanted which just makes me angry and sad for them. They had to choose something "worth doing" according to their parents. 

This first twenty pages definitely made me think about my life and of my friends. I hope the book continues to be as exciting and so related to things in my life. I am looking forward to read the next section of the book to continue the exciting journey of Siddhartha's life. 

The Tao of Movies and the Tao of Quotes

Here are three examples of movies that symbolize the Tao.

1. The King's Speech 
2. The Muppets
3. Quote found in google images

The King's Speech has this connection to the Tao:

- Non-action (Geroge VIII practices excerises to improve his speaking skills and inconsiously he gives an amazing pre-war speech to his empire with very few signs that he studders when he speaks. 

The Muppets has these connections to the Tao:

-Non-action (The Muppets are trying to regain their theater where they used to perfom when they were together. They can't regain it because of one dollar, but they incounciously gain their fame back and most importantly their gain unity again, and become one big company once more.)

-Teaching of Nature (Though the teaching of nature in this film isn't directly shown, we can still deduce it. We can compare the Muppets to water, the bad guys trying to keep them from regaining their theater back as the rock, and their loss but their gaining of fame and unity as the way around the rock or another path the water can take.) 

The Quote has this connection to the Tao:

-The mysteries of the universe (The quote talks about how a boy is taught that happiness is the key to life and in school he is asked what he wants to be when he grow up and says that he wants to be happy. The teacher or that someone, tells him that he didn't understand the assignment, but the boy then answers that  he/she doesn't understand life. Happiness is a mysterious part of the universe that can't be taught nor learned from as an academic class would be. You can aquire happiness by doing what you love.) 

Oxymoron and Paradox Images

This image represents oxymoron because it means its a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. This image clearly shows a smoking "container" that is used to dispose your cigarrette after you finish it. But this one has a badge or stamp that says not to dispose your cigarrettes there. A clear example of oxymoron because the usage of the obejct contradicts what the symbol of the stamp says.

This image is of an elephant. It is a clear example of paradox because if you look at the legs of the elephant it seems it has more than four legs and some are not in a logical position which makes this impossible in real life. Why is this paradox? Well paradox means an argument that produces an incosistently, typically within logic or common sense. This image shows how this creates an optical ilusion or that incosistency.

The third image shows paradox in its purest form because two hands are growing out of a paper and they are drawing each other out. Again this creates the inconsistency. This is definietly not possible in real life or logic because no human hands will grow out of a piece of paper and they will not draw each other out and then suddenly pop out of the paper.

Analect 5.12 Book 5

After reading the book 4 and a little of the book 5 of the analects, I chose this one.  5.12- Zigong said, "What I do not wish to do unto me, I also wish no to do unto others." The master said, "Ah, Zigong! That is something quite beyond you. This means that what I don't want others to do to me I shall not do to them. I thought this analect was very interesting because it made think of many people I knew. 

God I know so many people that do wrong to others and when other people in a sense "take revenge," the wrongdoers tell them to treat others the way you want to be treated. When I see this happen I really laugh because of the irony,  but I also look at those people with disgust. They don't realise that what they are saying doesn't apply to the problem do to the fact that they also have done something offensive to other people. When you try to tell them this, they either tell you that it is true and they will try to be a bit nicer which eventually is a lie, or they will simply insult and tell you that you are lying. People are very naive and really silly. Instead of trying to solve their problems they make them worse. Right now I am thinking about so many people that are this way. This is something that really gets on my nerves. For me this is a sign of inmaturity. Not only some of my friends do this but my cousins sometimes do this. I can remember a time when a friend of mine really treated someone poorly by insulting the other person and about a week after the kid insulted him back. Of course my friend went and told the teacher. The kid got in trouble at first. But after the teacher asked him why he had done this, he in a very calm manner told the teacher that eventually my friend has insulted him before. Both ended in trouble but the teacher made clear to both of them to treat other like you want to be treated. 

I wish those people could realise the damage they are doing to the other person. People all over the world have actually killed themselves due to an offensive joke they make about them. Most of those people that offend others have serious problems at their house or just problems. I understand that problably that is what they learn from their parents or because they are so destroyed inside, they act this way. But they shouldn't act this way. This isn't an excuse for their behaivour. If they are feeling sad or angry go talk to a counselor, a different family member or any of your friends! They don't have to discharge all their anger and insatisfaction against us. I have to confess that sometimes this was a problem I had. But there is  very good quote that many of this people can apply. Think before you act! Always do this. Before you are going to say something think about how you are going say it. Is this going to offend someone? Will this get me in trouble? Will it hurt someones feelings? Be very careful with what you say and choose your words carefully. There is two lessons that I learned from this analect which are the actual meaning of the analect and that I have to think befor I act.