2-1 Dreams of Return

“And in that hour the leopard and kid rose up and lifted up their forefeet and said:” We glorify and bless thee that hast visited and remembered us in this desert and changed our beastlike and wild nature into tameness, and granted us the divine word, and put in us a tongue and sense to speak and praise thy name, for great is thy glory” (68). 

“A few bands of scattered clouds strung up and down the valley, catching on a shoulder of the hills, or rising up and dying out when they were level with the head of the pass. And “Here shall I find peace,” said Purun Bhagat” (87).

“I would say in the same way the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit relate: mysteriously”(103).

“But one thing is clear: atman seeks to realize Brahman, to be united with the Absolute, and it travels in this life on a pilgrimage where it is born and dies, and is born again and dies again, and again, a again, until it manages to shed the sheaths that imprison it here below” (103)

Tom Robbins says, “Not a mystery, mind you, the Mystery” (83)

“In India, people traditionally have not been divorced from the earth: to think of themselves as separate from the ongoing and all-pervasive cycle of life and death would be inconceivable” (64).

Nonviolence to Animals, Earth and Self in Asian Traditions

“In these guises, death takes on a familiarity unknown in the Western world other than his depiction as the grim reaper” (107).

Reading this week’s material, I noticed myself making comparisons to the Christian tales and what I know from Hindu literature. Similar to Christianity, Hinduism is filled with stories praising God through man and nature. Specifically, Acts of Philip shows that even the wild will become submissive to a higher power. It says, ““And in that hour the leopard and kid rose up and lifted up their forefeet and said:” We glorify and bless thee that hast visited and remembered us in this desert and changed our beastlike and wild nature into tameness, and granted us the divine word, and put in us a tongue and sense to speak and praise thy name, for great is thy glory” (68).  This type of coexistence is heavily emphasized in Hinduism. As the oldest religion, Hinduism establishes a strong relationship with man, spirit, and the universe. With that said, Hindu followers view themselves as a microcosm of something greater than themselves.  In Kipling’s excerpt, Purun finds solidarity while immersing himself in the vast natural world. The aesthetic of nature is calming and peaceful as, “A few bands of scattered clouds strung up and down the valley, catching on a shoulder of the hills, or rising up and dying out when they were level with the head of the pass. And “Here shall I find peace,” said Purun Bhagat” (87). In the book, Nonviolence to Animals, Earth and Self in Asian Traditions, the author explains that “In India, people traditionally have not been divorced from the earth: to think of themselves as separate from the ongoing and all-pervasive cycle of life and death would be inconceivable” (64).  This significant difference probably explains the disparity between Christianity and Hinduism concerning other issues such as how, “In these guises, death takes on a familiarity unknown in the Western world other than his depiction as the grim reaper” (107).  With things like life and death, Hinduism explains that the world continues despite our passing. However this doesn’t mean we are separated from the earth, but instead we continue the cycle of life. Some Hindus even believe in reincarnation, which is the rebirthing of a soul or body.  Purun explains as a part of Hinduism, all spirits may leave the body, but never the material world: “But one thing is clear: atman seeks to realize Brahman, to be united with the Absolute, and it travels in this life on a pilgrimage where it is born and dies, and is born again and dies again, and again, a again, until it manages to shed the sheaths that imprison it here below” (103)

Finding peace in nature
http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/images/bodhi-tree-500.jpg

            Although Western philosophy may be different than traditional Hinduism, Martel argues that they may have some similarities. As explained before, Hindus have established that humans, the earth, and the greater universe are all connected. Martel says this compares as, “I would say in the same way the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit relate: mysteriously”(103). It is difficult to understand such vast concepts like creationism. Answers to these questions may never be answered, Tom Robbins calls this Not a mystery, mind you, the Mystery” (83). As humans we are always looking for reason, and in the process we may construct stories, myths, and tales to create our own answers.

Reincarnation: Humans, animals, the world is all connected
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaws5hed5O7qGYDagYXRZblF1qmEWCH8TWHojiUhvu5DeI2XVACm8ia2PoAwkW2W9NSKb2XK81VVkRe5v50Ys4wxmP50ik9Krd1fSn6xNYMDUlZL_2aekAiC8-pNcvwzhjMOng8ndhu8Nk/s1600/reincarnation.jpg

Book: Nonviolence to Animals, Earth and Self in Asian Traditions;  Chapple, Christopher
SUNY Press, 1993

Gawain and the Green Knight

quotes were taken from this text: http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/sggk_neilson.pdf

“If any warrior be wight enough to try what I propose, let him leap light to me and take this weapon- I quit-claim it forever, let him keep it as his own- and I shall stand him a stroke firmly on this floor”(7).

“I beseech now with all courtesy that this affair might be mine” (15).

“Gawain was glad to begin those games in the hall; but it would not be surprising if the end were heavy for though men be merry in mind when they have much drink, yet a year runs full swiftly, and yields never the same; the beginning full seldom matches the end” (12).

      Before reading this tale, I couldn’t make the connection to middle age knights to modern day college students. However after actually reading the story, Gawain’s journey, as a young hero is similar to that of the journey we take from childhood to independence in modern day. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, characters explore temptation, fleeting time, and overcoming obstacles just like we have as freshman entering higher education.

         As the story begins, Gawain is portrayed as a young, budding knight- especially one who has had little experience being independent. In fact, King Arthur calls him a “beardless child” when Gawain first wishes to accept the Green Knight’s challenge (7). During a lavish feast, the Green Knight appears and offers a challenge saying, “If any warrior be wight enough to try what I propose, let him leap light to me and take this weapon- I quit-claim it forever, let him keep it as his own- and I shall stand him a stroke firmly on this floor”(7). In order to save King Arthur from the challenge, Gawain makes a noble decision and accepts the Knight’s game. Gawain says, “I beseech now with all courtesy that this affair might be mine” (15). This exchange between master and student is similar to our experiences as college students. Living in the comfort of our safe homes and communities, we have more or less accepted the voyage of college with the “support” of our past teachers, parents and friends. As students, we have accepted our fate and have taken the steps into a long and often strenuous journey.

We must all take a journey to independence 

         Speaking of journey, Gawain’s endeavor is uniquely parallel to this crossing we are currently taking, specifically in Plan II. We are faced with temptation, challenges (sometimes in the form of seduction), and lastly the test of time. The Gawain poet emphasizes the passage of time as he says, “Gawain was glad to begin those games in the hall; but it would not be surprising if the end were heavy for though men be merry in mind when they have much drink, yet a year runs full swiftly, and yields never the same; the beginning full seldom matches the end” (12). This quote explains that time is something beyond our grasp and that we must learn to deal with fate’s inevitabilities. Gawain is forced to endure time’s omnipresence during his brutal journey while traveling to the Green Chapel. Seasons will change, time will pass and it is completely in the hands of a higher being. Just as Gawain must understand this, we must also accept things may not go as we please. Our lives our ever changing and this is something students must embrace.

"I can resist anything except temptation"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/munduate/4078468678/

         Finally Gawain’s abilities are tested when he must abide by the knightly code and avoid distractions and temptation. This arrives when Bertilak’s wife persistently attempts to seduce him. Although Gawain struggles, he eventually succeeds. Again, this parallels to the distractions we experience as college students. Like Gawain, each of us has our vices but sometimes these may deter us from the ultimate goal.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight portrays a vivid journey of a knight becoming a man through experiential learning. From encounters to obstacles Gawain ultimately fulfills his duty as a noble knight to his community. 

Jan 27. Genesis Milton Kipling

“Let us make now Man in our image, Man/In our similitude, and let them rule/Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,/ Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,/ And every creeping thing that creeps the ground” (32).

“God made, and every Herb, before it grew On the green stemm; God saw that it was good. So eev’n and Morn recorded the Third Day” (29).

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed ,which is upon the face of all th earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat”(14).

“In those days there was no corn or melons or pepper or sugar-cane, not were there any little huts such as ye have all seen; and the Jungle People knew nothing of Man, but lived in the Jungle together, making one people. But presently they began to dispute over their food, though there was grazing enough for all”

Reading Genesis for the first time was a unique experience, needless to say. I had heard of some of these stories before like the story of Adam and Eve, and God’s creation of earth, but it was interesting to see how they really were depicted in the “original” text. From my understanding, there was an overarching theme that one must remain obedient and faithful to the omnipresent God. With this, Genesis establishes a sort of hierarchal structure. God is represented as the all-powerful being, then humans are his followers, and finally animals of the earth were created so that humans could exist. Of course there are thousands of other interpretations but when it says, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all th earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat”, it is clear that God gives man this “duty” of tending and occupying this earth. Additionally it says everything from the plants to animal life was intended for Man’s survival.  Several anthropology journals similarly agree that religion tends to assert dominance over animals and nature as a whole. In the 1999 Journal of Religion, an article from Subduing the Earth: Genesis, Early Modern Science and the Exploitation of Nature concludes, “In Christianity we already encounter evidence of attempts at the technological master of nature, and of those incipient exploitative tendencies that come to full flower in scientific and technological revolution of later eras. Christianity bears a huge burden of guilt for environmental deterioration”. Although the exploitation of animals is not unique to the Western doctrine, biblical scholars have conceded that there are some passages that support anthropocentrism.

God says to have DOMINION over the animals of the world
http://jensenspot.wikispaces.com/file/view/adam-eve-garden-of-eden.jpg/135470481/adam-eve-garden-of-eden.jpg

As powerful of a text Genesis is, there’s no surprise many writers incorporated the stories into their work. In Paradise Lost, the same man/beast dichotomy is highlighted when it says, “Let us make now Man in our image, Man/In our similitude, and let them rule/Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,/ Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,/ And every creeping thing that creeps the ground” (32). Words like “rule” and “dominion” are emphasized to suggest man’s superiority over earth’s other inhabitants. Genesis suggests that man is superior to animals because that’s how God intended it to be. Furthermore, because God created the earth this way, we must abide. Now, I can’t say I agree with this methodology for a few reasons. I understand that humans have garnered massive utility from other animals in the form of labor, agriculture, food, clothing etc etc. However, their exploitation has been a result of Speciesism. Animals were created just as humans were. Additionally, the excerpts suggest these animal populations are an infinite resource. Nothing suggests that humans must actually sustain animal life on earth in order to bear the gifts of the fish, fowle, and creeping things. 

Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book also engages in this debate as they discuss the interactions between humans and animals of the jungle. Kipling explains, “In those days there was no corn or melons or pepper or sugar-cane, not were there any little huts such as ye have all seen; and the Jungle People knew nothing of Man, but lived in the Jungle together, making one people. But presently they began to dispute over their food, though there was grazing enough for all”. As society intervenes on the natural order, or what Kipling calls the “Law”, more and more wildlife begins to suffer.

Young Mowgli learns about the dark relationship between humans and the wild.
http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=jungle+book+novel&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=965&bih=664

Harrison, Peter. “Subdueing the Earth: Genesis, Early Modern Science and the Exploitation of Nature” http://www.jstor.org/stable/1207043

Jan. 24 ISHAMEL PARTS 10-14 pp. 185-262

“When the people of your culture encountered the hunter-gatherers of Africa and America, it was thought that these were people who had degenerated from the natural, agricultural state, people who had lost the arts they’d been born with. 201

“The Leaver life-style isn’t about hunting and gathering, it’s about letting the rest of the community live- and agriculturalists can do that as well as hunter-gathers.” 250

Finishing up Ishmael, I noticed the theme of enacting was heavily emphasized. This ties into issues of sustainability and ethics of human civility. As a philosophical text, Quinn offers a path we should take as humans. Towards the end of the book it was Ishmael’s death was quite surprising. But I think his passing, gives the narrator a final deciding factor. Without his mentor, it really is his responsibility to take Ishmael’s teachings and change the status quo’s mindset. Our story of enacting is important to know so like the narrator; we too can embrace a different, non-destructive life. Quinn contrasts these ideas to things like Christian literature. From my readings of Genesis, these Christian scholars intended for man to lead a anthropocentric existence. Animals are implied to be the man’s laborers and the land was our source of food. Quinn critiques this by saying, “The Leaver life-style isn’t about hunting and gathering, it’s about letting the rest of the community live- and agriculturalists can do that as well as hunter-gathers” (250).  Ishmael suggests we have full autonomy of our lives, not the gods. I think this is something society fails to recognize sometimes. Similar to our desire for power over “inferior” beings, we also hope for some higher being to take responsibility our actions. And when a group of people or a species acts differently than this, our society responds with condemnation. Ishmael says, “When the people of your culture encountered the hunter-gatherers of Africa and America, it was thought that these were people who had degenerated from the natural, agricultural state, people who had lost the arts they’d been born with” (201).

Forever taking and taking.
http://nyc.indymedia.org/images/2005/10/58495.jpg

In every history or anthropology class I’ve taken, the early human civilization is described as one that aimed to succeed by conquering land, people, or animals. Ishmael is an insightful novel that theorizes both our history and the future in terms of adopting new waves of thinking. 

Anthropolog, the study of anthropcentrism ?

Similar to Owl, I think this DB post required the most independent research on my part. Again like Owl, I feel that Quinn should have provided some sort of background information prior to discussing stories of Christianity.

In fact, I had to take the time to have one of my friends, who is well-endowed in biblical studies, explain the story of Genesis. From what I took from this, Quinn critiques the anthropocentric tendencies of the Bible and other Christian texts. These tales attempt to establish rule and order under god’s presence. God tests his followers in order to assert disciple. An example of this that as “I think the way most people understand it, the gods wanted to test Adam’s obedience by forbidding him something, and it didn’t much matter what is was” (180). The gods forbid the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in fear that the fruit may also nourish man and thusly, empower their disciples. In addition to abiding by god’s order, Quinn explains that we justify our “ruling” of the world. Quinn says, “I’ve told you that the Takers have it, and that makes sense doesn’t it?” (156). Comparing both Christian literature and the Taker/Leaver Theory provides us with understanding of the root cause of anthropocentricism. These “laws” justified the original exploration and further cultivation of land.

            As Quinn criticizes themes of authority and order in the world of the Taker and similarly in Genesis, I don’t think he adequately presents an ideal alternative, or in this case, the Leaver philosophy. I too agree, that religion often arbitrarily dictates the lives of its followers, but I think it’s Quinn’s responsibility to necessarily present how one should live, but how one can reject Semitic philosophy and embrace the “primitive” lifestyle. I do applaud Quinn when Ishmael offers advice to prevent further escalation. Ishmael metaphorically explains that the story of Genesis must be undone. He says that “You must absolutely and forever relinquish the idea that you know who should live and who should die”

ISHMAEL 1: PARTS 1-5; pp. 3-91

“Once you learn to discern the voice of Mother Culture humming in the background, telling her story over and over again to the people of your culture, you’ll never stop being conscious of it.”

Man has accomplished many feats, but where is he headed next?

“We were kept in cages because we were “wild” and dangerous”- terms that baffled me, because they evidently referred to qualities I epitomized in myself”

Considering the material and topics we discussed including human ethics and anthropocentricism, I think this book served as a proper segue into the new semester.   In fact, the first few sections of the book refer to things such as analogies to Nazism, anthropology, and Speciesism- all of which we’ve previously discussed. A topic most discussed was the idea of anthropocentrism. In Ishmael, Quinn explains that animals are trapped in these menageries and have become detached from The Wild. In the abstract, “The Wild” is synonymous with freedom, yet is also believed to be “uncivilized”. He says, “We were kept in cages because we were “wild” and dangerous”- terms that baffled me, because they evidently referred to qualities I epitomized in myself”(3). He explains that we are conditioned to fear The Wild for its uncertainties and darkness. Ishmael also explains, “Once you learn to discern the voice of Mother Culture humming in the background, telling her story over and over again to the people of your culture, you’ll never stop being conscious of it”.            

When the reader has this sort of epiphany, he/she is opened to a world of new expression. Our class also engages in this epiphany through experiential learning. Watching Earthlings was undoubtedly an eye-opening experience. A topic quite unfamiliar to the general public, the documentary opened the veil, revealing the gruesome acts behind animal exploitation.  However because of this awareness, he says, “In other words, if you take this educational journey with me, you’re going to find yourself alienated from the people around you- friends, family, past associates and so on” (37).  I don’t necessarily believe our lessons isolate us from others, but it did distinguish what the majority of people believe and what only few understand. Going back home over break, I became well-rehearsed in answering questions about my first freshman semester like, “What classes did you take?” “What did you learn about?” Most people were most interested in our World Lit class when I explained our unique learning style and small class size. While discussing things like animal ethics, the majority found this exploitation justified for the sake of “human advancement”. After finishing the first semester, I began to notice the rift in thinking between what I believed and what others (family, friends etc) held to believe.

Whether or not there was a right answer, this experience more so allowed me to realize how much of a independent thinker I had become as a result of my education. With that, I look with optimism for next semester. 

Cages separate the Wild from the Tamed. Whether
they are justified or not is a pressing question.