Death and Karma

The idea of karma and death has always perplexed me. How in this life our actions, and thoughts can follow us into the next. The Hindu texts we've been assigned reflect this idea the most I believe, and directly explains what happens to those who live an immoral life. You can be punished for years, decades, even centuries, stuck in the wheels of karma. I believe the idea of karma was probably some type of scare tactic, encouraging the common man to do good or else...

Now this idea of being punished in the after life isn't an original one, we see it in many of the texts we've been assingned. But karma to me, is something we hear spoken about more today, then hell itself. To me, being able to apply such an age old idea to our modern lives speaks volumes about its popularity, and how applicable it still is today.

Karma can either make an individual absolutely fear death, or it can have quite the opposite effect on a person. If you know in your heart you've lived a just, and moral life, than you can rest assured that when you die, karma will do right by your soul. The same idea is reflected in Christian texts aswell, Dante's inferno, upAnishads, and many more. Also the idea of purgatory comes to mind, the idea of being stuck in between heaven, and hell. How does one go about fixing their wrong doings, if their already stuck in a limbo game of heaven, and hell? What do you Gus think?

Response to Clinton's blog

I couldn't agree with Clinton more on the idea of those before Christ going to hell, simply because they weren't Saved. If god is so just, merciful, and all knowing, why should these people be condemned for shear ignorance? Clinton's absolutely right, where is the justice, mercy, and reason behind that? Dante's inferno talks about how these individuals were neither good, nor evil throughout their lives, they were pretty much neutral parties. They didn't pick a side if you will. Now if these people aren't infringing upon others natural born rights, what crime did they really commit, other then just not picking a side?

Why should these individuals be condemned to hell, even if it is just the first stages? I understand that supposedly it's bad in gods eyes not to be saved, but they technically didn't sin other wise. This is an interesting idea to say the least, and one I feel, which I assume Clinton does as well, is completely overlooked by most readers.

Often times questions arise that one must either analyze, or interpret, however in this instance with this simple yet profound idea, I can do neither. I'm left to guess just like everyone else, and I don't like assuming things I know very little about. I'm very curious what others think about this...

Small group discussion

I suppose I prepared for this group discussion very differently then for normal class discussions. I knew Beowulf inside, and out or so I thought. At first I just analyzed the questions that were to be discussed in class, and try to answer them to the best of my abilities without having to open my book. I then identified rather easily where my weaknesses were, and how best to address them. I went through the questions where I had the most difficulties, and I addressed them directly. I went throughout Beowulf, found the areas I lacked knowledge, or informed opinions, and I studied them vigorously. It was my goal to be able to give an almost perfect response to any question on our assignment sheet, without having to open my book even once, which I believe I was very successful at doing.

Note taking was key, I had over 4 pages front and back of notes, just for that one class period, and they were vital to my over all participation. I believe that the notes provided a base of discussion ideas for me, so when I was proposed with a question, I could answer it with ease, based on my own prior research on the particular subject. Having legible, coherent thoughts on paper allows me to freely express my own opinions, and ideas, with a factual reference at my side, whenever needed.

The three most dominant things I did differently to prepare for our group discussion was annotations throughout Beowulf, research on specific characters in Beowulf, and comprehensive research to find scholarly opinions on the subject matter of our book. I didn't feel my word was simply enough, so I read through hundreds of pages of other students pinions on Beowulf online, to help mold, and shape my own opinions into something all could understand, and appreciate. This discussion was far more useful than to my learning than my regular classes, because this style of discussion forces the students to become Experts on whatever subject is at hand. I loved this assignment.

Comitatas

When pondering the idea of Comitatas I find myself asking, " what would I have done, I presented with the same curcumstances, and decision?". At first I was utterly perplexed as to what the right decision may or may not have been, but upon further review of the exact definition of what exactly Comitatas is, and was in that time period, I feel beowulfs men had an epic failure.

Now I say this boldy because I believe that Beowulf could not have made it to his final climactic battle without his men's aid, and help throughout the story. If they started this epic journey, and battle together, they should Finnish it together as one single unit of courage and nobility. The simple fact and point I'm trying to make here is that no matter what your bold, and perhaps big headed leader may tell you, it is your job as a soldier, and a friend to help your leader out when he is facing almost certain death. Screw what he tells you, his decision making skills are probably flawed, and skewed already because of the horrors he is about to face. You are his loyal soldiers, and under Comitatas you owe your leader your loyalty, and life for that matter.

If it was me, I would have come to my homies aid immediately, without question. So what if he's big, tough, and slays monsters in his spare time, he's obviously still mortal despite what he's previous deeds may suggest about immortality. The point is, their leader Beowulf was in danger, they knew it, he knew it, and they chose to dip out on him. That's messed up. Even wiglaf agrees with me on that one, there was a clear breach of Comitatas, or the warrior leader contract if you will.

Screw politics, screw emotions, and screw curcumstances, Comitatas is till death do us part, and their leader died because of there lack of respect for the law of Comitatas. Beowulf could have ended on a way better note, but I also think Christian influence had a hell of a lot to do with the ending but ats a whole other subject, and blog post in itself.


Peace out see y'all in class