Journey to Finding Enlightenment - AP English 12

The start to any journey is by saying: NO. No is where Siddhartha learned to renounce all he had. He renounced family, comfort, and pleasure. With the Hero's journey, we see that same circle that is followed ideally for someone who is seeking enlightenment, a type of revelation.

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else … Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” 

After all, wisdom - as Siddhartha percieved it- was shown to be something that an individual must battle for. It cannot be shared.

As the rules and rituals of the Brahmin priests did not provide knowledge through experience, likewise the Samana rules and ascetic observances do not either. Instead, they are merely a kind of escapism. He found the Samanas and their structure to finding enlightenment empty. 

Siddhartha wanders through the grove and meets Gotama. They engage in a deep conversation in which Siddhartha extols Gotama's doctrine of understanding the world as a complete, unbroken, eternal chain, linked together by cause and effect. Enlightenment defies structured doctrine and transcends the teaching process. He goes solo officially.

We cannot refuse the fact that Govinda was Siddhartha's comfort. After letting Govinda concede to the Buddha, Siddhartha's true trail - including the ups and downs- begins. He gains innocence and a higher level of self. This image is a perfect perspective from a hero, who eventually come to be alone in the end, but are under the protection of their knowledge and learnings. 

“So she thoroughly taught him that one cannot take pleasure without giving pleasure, and that every gesture, every caress, every touch, every glance, every last bit of the body has its secret, which brings happiness to the person who knows how to wake it. She taught him that after a celebration of love the lovers should not part without admiring each other, without being conquered or having conquered, so that neither is bleak or glutted or has the bad feeling of being used or misused.” 

Siddhartha meets Kamala and a life that he had once renounced. He learns about the give and takes between a relationship of love. Even though this was a slip for Siddhartha, he learns more about a life that he wants to renounce. 

Vasudev (Krishna) is the final enhancement to the Buddha's journey. Alike the Samanas, Gotama, Govinda, Kamala, and the childlike people, Vasudev with the river is a mirror for Siddhartha. He feels not lessons directly being taught but learned. Untitled from the book, Vasudev is the first name for Krishna in Hinduism. Since the beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism are aligned, the Bhagavad Geeta considers the Buddha to be another form for Vishnu. 

Barbie

Barbie. Barbie serves as the unattainable standard. Barbie creates an illusion "as if we're all trapped in Barbie's world and can never escape." However, let's be honest. Barbie is not the only unachievable standard. In this world, there are hundreds of Barbies whether it be academics, arts, or anything ambitious. In school, we are expected to never forget a piece of paper, listen constantly, and reciprocate whatever is taught every second. Being the standard: having a 4.0, 1550+, 100% on each test, 36, studying 24/7, all 5s on APs. Ugh. It is exhausting to type out all of the expectations, forget actually fulfilling all of them. This is only one aspect.

I grew up playing with barbies. Popping off their heads, styling their hair, and dressing them up...it was all good fun. Looking back, I see no wish to be an actual Barbie. She is too perfect...perhaps a perfect that is just plastic and inhumane. After realizing the stereotypical image Barbie provides, people are advocating for a positive body image and acceptance of yourself. The perfect image is no longer barbie, buts it just loving yourself.

Perhaps there are millions of standards in the world, but slowly, each standard will mend into something new and something acceptable. Barbie will eventually be accepted as some delusional man's invention and accepted as a plastic toy, nothing more. It will not serve as a symbol for women. It will not serve as a standard for women. It will not be something women strive for. It will be a dumb toy.

The unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates, on his trial to die rather than head off to exile, said: "The unexamined life is not worth living." For him, death was a better option than to be separated from the philosophy-the love of wisdom. For Socrates and many scientists alike, asking questions and critically thinking about the undiscovered is the most important pursuit in life above any other alternatives. For some, logical thinking and an individual "examination" of life is the beginning and end of their day. Knowing we all will die one day, a life without adventure and discovery is one without a purpose. While Marie Curie may have died to discover radium, her wish to find something out of the world and bring an element to her life unknown to mankind before was successful. Radium is now the base of radon which is used to treat many cancers. This is not an argument to justify the lives lost or the horrifying effects of radium. However, the element of discovery in life is something that is used to date. What if man chose to sit still with not wish to discover? What is all scientific research was stopped? What if every element to understand more stopped? The earth would become its own grave. What we have to plainly understand is that discovery leads to bad and good things. While radium was discovered, the fact that we started the "radium craze" is what caused deaths. So while we discover more and venture into the roots of the earth, the implementation of what is found is in our hands as well.

ARTifice

While it may seem that the standard we hold political leaders to is acceptable and achievable to the extent that the hundreds of workers in the government are classified as loyal and honest, the use of artifice employed by politicians is used to create an effective pretense of being ordinary and regular. Artifice not only masks political candidates and workers but also reduces the effects of scandals and day-to-day obstacles. For example, Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton's use of artifice to hide scandals resulted in the outcome. Despite the daily accusations against Donald Trump, his use of artifice created a stronger intimacy with citizens. Although Clinton did attempt to cover up the deletion of emails, she was unable to master the art of artifice, hence her loss. Alike Hilary, her husband, Bill Clinton was another victim of failed artifice. His inability to bury the story of his affair and prove himself a common man proceeded to his impeachment. To be portrayed sincere and honest and personal as a political candidate is one of the most effective strategies to relate to citizens and be relatable to the public in general. Artifice is what differentiates a political candidate that wins to the one that loses. While all political candidates may not have a clean slate, how each fact of their life is displayed to the public is one of the most important factors in a successful political career. Artifice is truly an art that each person must master to have close relations and success.

Officially English

In Times Magazine (2006), the essay "In Plain English: Let's Make it Official," Charles Krauthammer analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism. He starts off by stating he was from Canada, where he "had no choice about bilingualism." The United States, which is composed of many diversities, cultures, and religions has only one language officially: English. By explaining and referencing his experience in a country founded by bilingualism, Krauthammer wonders why America and its citizens are choosing to lose an opportunity to be bound by one language. Logically and ethically, he explains that it is acceptable to practice different languages, but it is NOT acceptable for the United States to establish every language as official: "No immigrant presumes to make the demand that the state grant special status to his language." While each person may continue spreading the use of their language, they should accept English "as the gateway to American life." By comparing the French-speaking people in Quebec and the rapidly growing Spanish communities in America, Krauthammer predicts that the acceptance of Spanish as an official language may be widely protested, as America is "a world far more complicated and fraught with division." With every document in English, it only makes sense to maintain the norm of English as the "U.S.'s national and common language." While America grants every individual the power to act upon their own opinions and practice their own practices, it is important to establish regularity and unity throughout the country. Which is in english. Branching off of his credibility, the reader understands the perspective and point Krauthammer displays. 

Words Mean What They Mean

While Steven Pinker argued that several times in life words are used to define relationships and create boundaries, words can be used to express true feelings and reciprocate strong relationships. While I may mention "Do you think you can pass the salt," it doesn't necessarily label our relationship. I may have asked her a question instead of a command like "Gimme the salt" to be polite because being polite is my personality. Words can be spouted out based on moods and feelings, and the fact that Pinker represents words as an influential power that constantly affects a person life can be untrue. Human nature doesn't always have to entail being 'intentional' or 'upright.' Sometimes words can be used to express feelings at the time, without a second-handed thought. Not all words have to have a reason or purpose. Although I don't necessarily agree with Pinker, I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the complexities of language; his piece created a new insight into how our minds work in the world, about ourselves and affect those around us. 

After reading the piece, my interest in what Pinker's book, "The Stuff of Thought," increased. He analyzes human nature and negotiates the relationship between the reader and audience. As a psychologist, Pinker contemplates the meaning of the word "f***" in "f*** you." Do you know? I don't. Pinker paints human nature as having "distinct and universal properties, some of which are innate – determined at birth by genes rather than shaped primarily by the environment."

                                                 https://youtu.be/LjQM8PzCEY0

This is a TED talk by Pinker. He talks about language habits and grammatical structure, and the in-depth meaning of what we say on a daily basis. Highly recommend it.

Troy High

Not a magnet school, not a charter school, but the 397th best school in the United States. With 110 full-time teachers and 2,018 students enrolled, the school has been dictated as the 6th best in Michigan. Each student in this school strives for a strong and successful future proven by the fact that 98% of the students attend college. Although the total minority enrollment is 44%, each student sustains a high proficiency in core subjects such as math and english. This school preserves a 60% college-readiness level, preparing students for the next step in their lives. Given the fact that there is a 18 student to 1 teacher ratio, aspiring young adults are given the opportunity to learn more. With math and english being above the district, state, and national standards, Troy high places as one of the best schools to attend.

As a public school, Troy high school is definitely an overachiever. Placed in the top 3 of the public schools in the state, winning a gold medal for ranking extremely high nationally, and having 90% of its student pass AP tests, are just a few of Troy High's achievements. Many students deem Troy High as the ultimate school to be admitted at. It is perfect, exemplary, and the best combination of sports and academics. It is "unfathomable" to understand the greatness of the school, without attending it. Although it is an area filled with stressed students, heavy books, and pressurizing parents, the numbers speak for themselves. The rest is inapplicable. It remains as an area that fulfills student's dreams.