For those who didn't watch Dragon Ball Z.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odRFaz4HblQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqEqgEXHYkM&feature=related
^ That's what I think happens.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Rites of Passage During a Lifetime
So far we've been shown many characters and people who've undergone various rites of passages. We've all gone through are own rites of passages as well. It's something thats been happening and will continue to happen forever. So my question are: What is your vision of a truly enlightened person? Is it possible for you to reach this final, enlightened (Super Saiyan like) form? If not, does that trivialize all the changes that we've gone through in our lifetimes or does it make each transition even more important? Is there any fictional character or person that we've learned about in class that you feel is a true, Super Saiyan beast?
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I think what is significant about coming of age processes is not that we reach enlightenment or perfection; rather, the significance is found in the journey, in the fact that little moments change us and grow us. I certainly don't think that we ever become "perfect" (whatever that is!) or fully enlightened. Life is a journey. Not just attaining a point of perfection and then ceasing all struggle or growth once we reach there. The journey makes each small, daily coming of age moment even more valuable because it creates a comprehensive experience. If each moment counts, it makes us more reflective about our lives and the experiences we have.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that there is a truly enlightened person, there are too many areas of life and knowledge to become truly enlightened. This also depends on what you consider truly enlightened, each individual definition would imply that it could be possible but that depends on the individual. I also don't believe that since true enlightenment isn't possible that each is more imporatant than the other though all are important. I used to watch Dragon Ball Z when I was a kid and I remember wishing that was real because that would be awesome and if that's what true enlightment is then sign me up. But I think those who have come closest to true enlightement would be people like Buddha who are simply try to be at one with the world and to understand nature. It's the people who strive to understand peace and accept things as they are, including themselves, who can come close to true enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of "Flowers for Algernon," Charlie knows almost everything about the world, but he also lacks other aspects of being "enlightened" such as compassion and understanding. I can not think of there being a truly enlightened person, just as Kaleigh said there are too many areas of life and knowledge to be truly enlightened. My idea of a truly enlightened person would be someone who is in touch with himself, others, and the natural world while also knowing what affects each of these components. Everyone has different ideas which makes it possible for everyone to think that one person is truly enlightened.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex, the fact that we never truly stop growing is what makes life so interesting, that's what makes life worth living. A person can reach a state of enlightenment yet still continue to grow. Just because someone is enlightened doesn't make them all knowing. My favorite saying is, "you live and you learn" that's what life is. The only way to stop learning, to stop growing, is if you stop living. So no, nobody ever reaches a state of final enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteI swear, I could write enough to fill three months worth of posts with these anime related topics. But I'll keep it simple.
ReplyDeleteMany of the "power-ups" in DBZ were brought about by emotional shifts, but note their plurality. There were multiple levels of Super Saiyan, each brought about by an emotional shift. Can we say that the characters ever achieved enlightenment? I don't think so. As grand as the transformations in DBZ were, going Super Saiyan for the first time was simply a physical indication of the end of a more drawn out sort of trial. The characters are always trying to get better. Had someone found enlightenment, well, we would probably only have a 2-cour show...and what the hell would we have to look forward to on weekday afternoons?
Just because you’ll never know everything there is to know, that doesn’t mean our journey through life and all the knowledge we gain from that journey is trivial. So yes, I think they fact that we know that we will never be truly enlightened simply makes every coming of age moment all the more valuable. But, if I were to imagine a completely enlightened individual that could realistically exist I’d say it’s a newborn child. A truly enlightened person would be aware that every action and concern we fuss over in life is completely irrelevant. Since every person I’ve ever met fusses over stuff that doesn’t matter with regard to the universe, I can’t say any of us are enlightened. But a newborn child spends all of their time learning with considerably less regard to the trivialities we busy ourselves with. They got it goin’ on.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is such thing as a truly enlightened person. Just because there isn't such thing though doesn't mean the coming of age moments are any less significant. Just because a person doesn't die truly enlightened, I think they have made peace with all the knowledge they have acquired over the years, which to me could be considered an enlightened person I guess. Kind of contradictory to my first sentence, but oh well.
ReplyDeleteI don't think one ever reaches an apex when it comes to coming of age. I believe everyone will always learn from life experiences and grow from that, until they die. It is true that one can become very enlightened, but I don't think it is possible to pinpoint a time in which one could say, "That is it. I have learned all I can." Knowledge and experience are infinite things, and in that note, its impossible to gain all that knowledge and experience.
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