Prompt 17

"Indeed, the divinites,

satisfied by sacrifice,

will give you desired pleasures.

Without giving back to them,

one who enjoys these gifts

is only a thief". (60)

I think that this passage of the Gita shares a very important lesson. Throughout all my years of going to sunday school and confirmation class we are always told to do Mitzvah. Mitzvah is basically just doing good deeds, and helping other people besides yourself. This quote says exactly this, you cannot enjoy gifts without giving back, and if you do, then your a thief. In Judaism we are not told we are thieves but you wont feel the same accomplishments as if you were to do mitzvah. This quote I thought explained the message in a way that makes you almost feel guilty for not helping others, which I think is a little bit extreme.

Prompt 16

"When the mind constantly runs

after the wandering senses,

it drives away wisdom, like the wind

blowing a ship off course". (59)

To me this quote can have different interpretations. Some people can relate to this when they can't focus and the mind just wanders off from what one is suppose to be doing at that moment. Others might think that this quote means that when you are unsure about making a decision you end up making a decision that is not what you originally wanted to do because you over thought it.

This speaks to me because I personally have a difficult time with making decisions. Decisions as little as what to eat for dinner, to which college I want to apply to early. These race around my head and I tell myself that there are negative reasons for every decision. The path that I sometimes tell myself I want to take, gets disturbed by everything that is going on in every day life. Just like in the Gita is says that the wind blows the ship off the course, I think every person sometime in their life gets blown off course, and this is a hurtle that everybody has to deal with and find out how to get back on the path that they started for themselves in the beginning.

Honors Prompt 5

Mitchell mentions stopping time in the Gita. In reality though, there isn’t any time during the time of a battle to stop and pause time to have conversation this also happens in the Secret Miracle. Hladik first mentioned time when talking about how much time he had left to live, “Six more nights to come”(145). The feeling about how time can feel like it doesn’t move when you are sleeping mirrors what Mitchell says when time is moving in slowmo to reflect on what you believe is most important in that moment in time. Both use the theme of time to get the reader to think about the deeper meaning of time, and how and when it is possible to stop and think about the present and what lies ahead.

Prompt 15

Before meditation today, my tree did not look very lively. I have been stressed, tired, and have not had much enthusiasm. It is hard with the busy days that we all have to focus on myself and make sure that my inner self is as healthy as it could be. During todays meditation I stepped outside of myself and looked at my tree from a distance. Honestly, I think it would of been a very pathetic looking tree, because I think I am drained in all different ways. After being able to think of what I wished my "tree" looked like I was able to think about what I need to do to be able to get my strength back and have the stress disappear. This I don't think can happen right away but I can try to not procrastinate and do my best and put all the effort in that is possible. I want to be able to look at my tree from a distance and be pleased with everything that I have done and have a strong and stable tree.

Honors Prompt 4

Monday's meditation was not very successful for me. This whole day was fairly long and things just were not really going my way. Coming home all I could think about was how much work I have to complete before going to sleep, which was the only thing on my mind. After dinner I realized would be the only time where I had a chance of focusing in on mediation. I tried to have all my thoughts leave my head about school, soccer, and all the college stuff I have to complete but all this junk would not leave my head. I tried using a mantra and it did not work. I sit here still just as anxious and frustrated as when I sat on my floor with a straight spine, and long neck. Maybe trying to meditate before coming to school would help my day move smoother than waiting till the end when all I have is built up tension.

Prompt 14

Sunday afternoon I awoke and felt like I had gotten no sleep. When I opened my backpack to try to start homework it felt like it was going to be near impossible to sit down with out my eye lids slowly force themselves shut. I shut my computer to try restorative yoga. Normally in class this is very hard for me because I normally drink coffee in the morning, so I get kind of antsy. Before this I had no coffee and laid there still and motionless. Not even finding a mantra I dropped in and was able to lay still for a little over ten minutes. I felt tired and hungry after my meditating, so I went downstairs for some food and finally coffee. Upon my return I could feel my body more awake and being able to respond better and faster. I think this was one of the first and successful times that I have done restorative yoga!

Prompt 13

I meditated on saturday before I went to Portsmouth Abbey. Waking up I was really not looking forward to going that distance to not play in the game. I went downstairs to eat breakfast then came back up into my room to do some meditation. I had a lot of negative energy so I focused on my breaths and I made sure to use numbers and counting as my mantra. I started with alternate nostril breathing, but it became a little bit difficult so I switched to breathing for five on the inhale and eight on the exhale. This calmed me down as I stood up to leave for my game.