John the Evangelist 1st-2nd Century

I thought this had a great message. It was easy to understand, but was short and sweet and still very profound. I thought it was interesting when it said, "in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god". I thought that it meant, that Jesus was the first born, he was the beginning, he had the word from his father, and he had the authority to spread his message, meaning he was the word. It then said, " to all who receive him, he gives power to become the children of god". If we will except his message in hopes to be come better people, he will help us as we put in our effort to do our best. Whether that be through our trails or problems we encounter in everyday life. The next quote I really liked and thought it was very true. It reads, " you will know the truth and the truth will make you free". I thought of just one example of how this was true in my life. It is different in all religions but it relates to a health code, or set of commandments. I have had people tell me that because I don't drink I cant have fun, but rather I look at it as a freedom I can have. Alcohol impairs your brain and slows down your thought process. Therefore I can be free and make decisions on my own because I have the truth and it makes me free rather than restricting me and impairing my brain, often putting others in dangerous situations. This was a great speech and I thought it was very true. 

Jesus of Nazareth 4 BCE-30 CE

I thought this was an awesome message and started out using a very profound statement. I love how is said, " Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you, so that you may be children of your father in heaven". If everyone followed this simple quote of guidance our world would be so much better off. We wouldn't have people killing others in retaliation to get back, rather they would be praying for those who mistreat them and blessing those that curse them. It then goes on to say, "For this is what wordily people seek; and your father knows that you need these things. But seek first for the kingdom of god and these things will be given to you as well".  I love how it he says this so simply. That when we seek for the kingdom of god, he will give us the other things as we strive to do good. This message is full of so many profound statements that are no long and wordy and rung out. "Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find;  knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives' and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened". I interpreted this, that as we do our part and give everything our all we will be able to achieve things that matter to us. I also liked how it said, " dont judge, and you will not be judged; dont condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven". As we work to be the best we can and treat others with respect our god will judge us just as we treated others. This was a great message and had some awesome advice and insight. 

Chang-Tzu 369-286 BCE

This speech was very interesting to me in the way that he look upon certain things. I loved when he said, "Everything has its that, Everything has its this". He then goes on to talk about this and that. He then concludes by saying , " so I say, the best thing to use is clarity". I think so many people get caught up in thinking about things when in actuality they are simple. I love how he says, " what is acceptable we call acceptable, what is unacceptable we call unacceptable". He puts things in such simple terms that it is easy to understand. I thought some of the things that he said were very profound. He said, There is a beginning. There is not yet beginning to be a beginning. There is not yet beginning to be a not yet beginning to be not yet a beginning". I think he is trying to prove that things are what they are. We as individuals make things more complicated then they really are. We just need to step back and see things in the bigger picture in clear view. When he said, " I want to speak some reckless words and I want you to listen to them recklessly". I think this saying really goes to prove that we hear things and they are what they are. We dont need to transform them into something greater. Everything comes in a certain form for a reason. Take what you hear, learn form it but dont try to transform it. As we make things more simple life will be easier as it will be easier to comprehend things and grow. 

TZU-SSU 482-402 B.C

This writing really interested me and I thought that it has some very interesting points. I thought it was true how it said, "Thus the mature person looks into his own heart and respects what is unseen and unheard". I think people that can view the whole picture and look to the future trying to understand what will effect them throughout their life, not just in the present day. Another saying I really could relate to was, "Once we find the center and achieve harmony, heaven and earth take there proper places, and all things are fully nourished". I thought of the saying, once we achieve things that really matter, the things of less importance will fall into place. We need to focus on things of larger importance that make us better people and the smaller aspects will follow, later in life. I also like how it stated the golden rule. It said, "Don't do to others what you wouldn't want don't to do". I think so many people get caught up in me, me, me and dont realize how they are treating others. Yet they feel that they should be treated just as good as everyone else. If everyone lived by this rule it would be much easier for others to get along and our world would be more peaceful. One last thing that I really enjoyed in the reading was when it said, " The mature person accepts his situation and doesn't desire anything outside of it. If he finds himself rich and honored, he acts as a rich man should act; if he is poor, he acts as a poor man should act". This was a great part of the speech and I thought it was great advice. We need to live within our means and not worry about others, and the things they have. So many people are envious towards others. This leads to worse things such as stealing, murder, things terrible things could have been avoided if these people didnt worry about others and focused on their situation. This was an excellent speech. 

Shunryu Suzuki 1905-1971

This was a great reading and had some awesome sayings. One thing that really stuck out to me was when it said, " When we lose our balance we die, but at the same time we also develop ourselves, we grow. Whatever we see is changing, losing its balance. The reason everything looks beautiful is because it is out of balance". I thought this was so true that most almost everything in nature is extremely beautiful because it has contrast and things are always changing. The leaves on trees, shapes and sizes of things in nature, everything has its own individual beauty. On the other hand most things that are man made and that come from factories are not very beautiful, not full of life. For example tools, cars, books, buildings, are not very beautiful as they are not of nature and rarely change. It then continues to say, "This is how everything exists in the realm of Buddha nature". Too many people get caught up in material goods and not the things that really matter. These manmade things will get broken, lost, stolen, but the things of nature will constantly bring beauty and happiness. I also really liked how it said, " We must have a beginners mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change". When it said to have a beginners mind it made me think of a child's mind. How they are just born, starting fresh, they are so innocent and pure, so beautiful. If we can put on a child's mind then things will flow so much better, rather than if we get caught up in the worldly possessions and things that dont really matter. This was an awesome reading, and sparked new ideas. 

The Buddha 563-483 BCE

I really liked this reading and thought that it had some awesome points that were really true. I liked how it stated his message that he taught throughout his life in just one sentence. When it said, " You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think alot of people get caught up in achieving things or completing tasks, they dont realize what really matters. Lie how to get money, a house, belongings, etc. If we do the things that matter those things will fall into place. Rather I think we should be more aware of our world around us. How we can help others, what we can do to make the world a better place to live, not focus so much on materials things. I also really liked how it said, "When you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it". How simple and true that is. But is that it is so hard for some to apply to themselves. Just because something may make you happy that is not what will matter in the end. I thought it was interesting and rather odd, that it said to let go of even the most profound insight and most wholesome teaching. Why would you let go of those things if that make you better as a person? That doesn't make sense to forget important teachings. I like how it closes and says, "Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence". Dont worry about what others do, but be confident and be a light to yourself and to others that they can look to. I really enjoyed this reading. 

Philo (20 BCE- 50 BCE)

I really liked how the first part of this writing began and thought it was very true. That said, " God loves to give, and freely bestows good things on all people even the imperfect, inviting them to participate in virtue and to love it". Everything we have comes from god, every good thing is from god, he loves to bless people with his good works and creations. I thought it was crazy when it said that the true name of eternity is Today. I thought eternity was forever, never ending, not just today. I also enjoyed when it said, " His nature is absolutely perfect, or rather, God is the height, the goal and the limit of happiness". It then continues on, there is nothing outside himself he needs, but he has given some of his beauty to all beings, from the foundation of beauty; himself. This reminded me of the scripture that says we are created in gods image and in like manner. He is perfect and forever happy and he knows the ways to attain happiness and joy. I agreed when it said, according to Moses, the goal of wisdom is laughter and play. We need to have fun, enjoy life as it comes and goes and live everyday as if it were your last. This last saying was my favorite of the whole writing, when it says, " When the righteous man searches for the nature of all things, he makes his own admirable discovery: that everything is God's grace. Every being in the world, and the world itself, manifests the blessings and generosity of god". We are so fortunate to live in a world with all of our needs and most of our wants, we have so much and have no reason to complain about the little things in life. 

The Bible

One part that really stuck out at me was when it said, " You shall love the Unnamable with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength". I though that it was very interesting that it said to love the unnamable. Another thing that I really enjoyed, something that I have loved all my life, was, " love your neighbor as yourself". We need to treat others with respect, kindness and love if thats how we want others to treat us. Kindness is what makes the world go round, continue to be kind and you will be happy. One quote that I also thought was very interesting was when it said, "a great wind tore the mountains and shattered the rocks;but the Unnamable was not in the wind" it goes on to tell of an earthquake, and fire, but the Unnamable was in neither of those. "And after the fire a still, small voice". That although god had power over all these things he came and spoke with a still small voice. We don't need to be afraid of god, he is there to help us and be our friend, he is ready to answer with a still, small voice. One last thing in the reading that was insightful to me was when it said, " I have put my truth in your innermost mind, and have written it in your heart". In other words he has made the truth know unto us and has branded it on our soul. I love the closing when he says, " be still and know that I am god". We dont need to worry if we do our best and live our life as good as we can, everything will turn out alright.