07-20-2020, 11:41 PM
This is a weird title and likely something not heard as much as compared to other major religions to discuss here.
I want to first post something I've heard recently from a Buddhist tale/philosophy and would like to compare/ask from a Judaic perspective.
There's two monks - the older one who is wiser and the younger one who is inexperienced and learning from the wiser monk. The older monk asks the younger one to bring the vase with water from the first table onto the second table that was closer to him. The younger one did what was asked; during the process the water inside the vase was tilting and spilling over carelessly. The older asks, "What are you doing?" The younger one said that he did what he was told by him and brought the vase over where the older one asked to bring it to. Then the older monk responds, "Yes, but you done so carelessly. What if this was your purpose in life?"
The takeaway mainly being that even if a person does what was asked, even as far as being their purpose in life - are they doing so with care? Are they treating what they do as if it's the last thing or the last time doing so, and how would they make of it as that is the meaning of their life.
I want to ask in similar context with Judaism - as it started with Moses in doing what Gd asks and does so in specific manners in order to keep his covenant and purpose for his chosen nation. How would one know that even if they are simply doing what is asked is being done so for the 'right' reasons, in the right way? If they are not, how can they fix what they had done carelessly so that they can continue throughout life with what ever purpose they are given to do so in the right fashion?
I'm interested to hear from the Judaic perspective and perhaps within the text that may instruct or give a commonality on how it is instructed. Especially since, as the younger monk in the example had, done what was asked but did it in the way that was not seen as part of their purpose and with care on a higher level. The vase can represent 'a' purpose or in general perspective on how we go through about life.
Your thoughts? I am interested to hear. Any type of resources to read or watch can be helpful.
I want to first post something I've heard recently from a Buddhist tale/philosophy and would like to compare/ask from a Judaic perspective.
There's two monks - the older one who is wiser and the younger one who is inexperienced and learning from the wiser monk. The older monk asks the younger one to bring the vase with water from the first table onto the second table that was closer to him. The younger one did what was asked; during the process the water inside the vase was tilting and spilling over carelessly. The older asks, "What are you doing?" The younger one said that he did what he was told by him and brought the vase over where the older one asked to bring it to. Then the older monk responds, "Yes, but you done so carelessly. What if this was your purpose in life?"
The takeaway mainly being that even if a person does what was asked, even as far as being their purpose in life - are they doing so with care? Are they treating what they do as if it's the last thing or the last time doing so, and how would they make of it as that is the meaning of their life.
I want to ask in similar context with Judaism - as it started with Moses in doing what Gd asks and does so in specific manners in order to keep his covenant and purpose for his chosen nation. How would one know that even if they are simply doing what is asked is being done so for the 'right' reasons, in the right way? If they are not, how can they fix what they had done carelessly so that they can continue throughout life with what ever purpose they are given to do so in the right fashion?
I'm interested to hear from the Judaic perspective and perhaps within the text that may instruct or give a commonality on how it is instructed. Especially since, as the younger monk in the example had, done what was asked but did it in the way that was not seen as part of their purpose and with care on a higher level. The vase can represent 'a' purpose or in general perspective on how we go through about life.
Your thoughts? I am interested to hear. Any type of resources to read or watch can be helpful.