Kuei-Shan

"A Master of Zen, a man who has freed himself of all attachments." To free oneself from all attachments is the only way to obtain enlightenment. That seems to be the common theme for this book. Kuei-Shan reinforces that notion by writing a Zen Master, the master of all enlightenment. The master appears to be the highest rank of someone in enlightenment. It's as if this is the type of person we want to become if we aim for enlightenment.

Symeon The New Theologian

Symeon The New Theologian says in his writings, "Our mind is pure and simple. When it is emptied of thought, it enters the pure and simple light of God, and finds nothing but the light." Once again, this is another scholar who believes that heaven/ascension to God/enlightenment is achieved by having a pure mind that is free of thoughts.

Symeon compared the pure mind to an ocean. When a person wades (or keeps their head above the water), you can see everything. Therefore, your mind is focusing on the vast ocean, the waves, the rocks, the sand, and the seagulls. Not much room left them to be thinking of nothing and preparing to ascend to God. When a person dives into the ocean, there is only one thought on their mind...I'm in the ocean. Because being underwater for a long period of times (without scuba gear) is not a natural state for humans, usually the thoughts about the rocks and sand have been cleared out of your mind. You are only thinking about the ocean. If the ocean was to represent God, then would this be a type of state of enlightenment?

Hugh of St. Victor

In his passage, Hugh of St. Victor believes that heaven is not some paradise in the sky, but rather, heaven is a calm ascension to God within ourselves. "Thus, to ascend to God is to enter into oneself, and not only enter into oneself, but, in some unsayable manner, in the inmost parts to pass beyond oneself." The heaven within us can not be reached by simply "entering" into ourselves, but we have to pass beyond ourselves. Maybe we have to let go of our identities and material possessions in order to pass beyond ourselves.

"But when a man, through his sense of flesh, goes out to visible things, desiring what is transistor and perishable, he descends from the dignity of his natural to what is unworthy of his desire." In my opinion, Hugh of St. Victor is indicating that the natural state for a human to ascend to God is when they are not desiring visible things such as money or clothes. It's sort of like entering enlightenment in Buddhism. You have to let go of your earthly possessions and desires in order to achieve the calm afterlife within yourself.

Thomas Traherne

Thomas Traherne's passage appears to be more of an idealistic description of heaven than the usual passages I have read (mostly everyone is connected passages). Traherne writes that as humans living in the mortal realm, we will never experience the greatest happiness or beauty until we are standing before God and his heaven kingdom. Also, it can be taken as we do not understand or see things clearly until we are in God's realm. Either way, Traherne describes his heaven as a place of absolute perfection. It is a utopia. Children were "moving jewels" as they played in the streets. Young men were glittering angels, and maidens were pieces of beauty and life. He loses his fears, his doubts, and other mortal thoughts and enters a form of enlightenment.

Johannes Scotus Erigena

Johannes Scotus Erigena article was very difficult to read. I had to reread it multiple times before understanding the basic gist of it. In almost every sentence, he contradicted himself with explanations for each sentence. For example, he wrote, "...the creator of all things created in all things, and the maker of all things made in all things; and eternal he begins to be, and immobile he moves into all things and becomes all things in all things." Johannes may believe that God and creation are the same thing instead of two separate events. "The creator of all things created in all things" may indicate that God created himself within all the things he created (humans, animals, etc...). God could be a more than just a spiritual and religious presence to all lives; Johannes believes that God is within every single one of us.

Novalis

Novalis' writings are short, sweet, and very clearly stated. It is like the "fortunes" you receive out of a quarter machine at a carnival, except they are not really fortunes. They are more like advice given to you by some wise man.

"Philosophy is really homesickness." As human beings, we are very curious creatures who want to know all the answers of life (at least a good majority of us). Basically, philosophy is the study and questioning of everything. We research topics, find answers, and question them; however, we do not know if the answer we have found is the correct one. Humans are homesick for the right answer, and philosophy is like the teddy bear given to us to comfort us.

"Marriage is the highest mystery." First of all, is there really a true meaning of the word marriage? The typical and popular one in American society is the union between a man and a woman (in some states between a union between the same genders). In some cultures, it means the union between 1 man and 3 women. Without a solid definition, marriage is shrouded in mystery. Does marriage have to be a union with spiritual meanings, or is it an economic stabilizer? Is it a prerequisite for a family, or is it the greatest expression of love?

Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau's writings are very straight forward and clear in what he means. In his writing, it says " Shams and delusions are esteemed for the soundest of truths, while reality is fabulous. If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be deluded..." Thoreau seems to be a realistic individual who believes that one should not distract themselves from the bigger picture of life. At least for me, it is a struggle to keep focus on the more important aspects of life. For example, when I should be doing homework or studying, I usually end up watching TV or hanging out with friends. I would probably cause Thoreau a migraine with how much I let my mind become "deluded" with unrealistic things.

"Children who play life, discern its true law and relations more clearly than men, who fail to live worthily, but who think they are wiser by experience, that is, by failure." It is true that children can resolve difficult issues much easier than adults can. If two children are having issues on lending something to each other, they might settle it by trading that item for one of equal value or swear a pinky promise. On the other hand, adults would go into liability, insurance, contracts, etc...all for one item they are lending.