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Author Topic:   Does it matter if a parable is based on reality?
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 1 of 15 (134678)
08-17-2004 12:10 PM


Chapter I
1. Mencius went to see king Hi of Liang.
2. The king said, 'Venerable sir, since you have not counted it far to come here, a distance of a thousand l, may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?'
3. Mencius replied, 'Why must your Majesty use that word "profit?" What I am provided with, are counsels to benevolence and righteousness, and these are my only topics.
4. 'If your Majesty say, "What is to be done to profit my kingdom?" the great officers will say, "What is to be done to profit our families?" and the inferior officers and the common people will say, "What is to be done to profit our persons?" Superiors and inferiors will try to snatch this profit the one from the other, and the kingdom will be endangered. In the kingdom of ten thousand chariots, the murderer of his sovereign shall be the chief of a family of a thousand chariots. In the kingdom of a thousand chariots, the murderer of his prince shall be the chief of a family of a hundred chariots. To have a thousand in ten thousand, and a hundred in a thousand, cannot be said not to be a large allotment, but if righteousness be put last, and profit be put first, they will not be satisfied without snatching all.
5. 'There never has been a benevolent man who neglected his parents. There never has been a righteous man who made his sovereign an after consideration.
6. 'Let your Majesty also say, "Benevolence and righteousness, and let these be your only themes." Why must you use that word -- "profit?".
This is the first chapter of Book 1 of the works of Mencius. It describes a conversation between Mencius and king Hi of Liang.
Suppose that king Hi of Liang never existed and thus the conversation never really took place.
Does that make a difference? Is the lesson contained in the tale any less valuable if the incident never actually took place?
This would probably be best in the Faith & Belief area.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Loudmouth, posted 08-17-2004 6:04 PM jar has not replied
 Message 12 by General Nazort, posted 08-18-2004 2:58 PM jar has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 7 of 15 (134889)
08-18-2004 9:49 AM
Reply to: Message 6 by Dr Jack
08-18-2004 5:38 AM


Can you expand on that a little? For example, in the section of Mencius quoted, we may not know if the King existed in reality, or that Mencius actually really paid him a visit.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by Dr Jack, posted 08-18-2004 5:38 AM Dr Jack has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by Dr Jack, posted 08-18-2004 10:39 AM jar has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 9 of 15 (134912)
08-18-2004 10:48 AM
Reply to: Message 8 by Dr Jack
08-18-2004 10:39 AM


Still struggling to understand, so please bear with me.
You mention that it makes no difference since nothing really happened. That confuses me somewhat.
Consider this scrap.
'The T caused his own children, nine sons and two daughters, the various officers, oxen and sheep, storehouses and granaries, all to be prepared, to serve Shun amid the channelled fields. Of the scholars of the kingdom there were multitudes who flocked to him. The sovereign designed that Shun should superintend the kingdom along with him, and then to transfer it to him entirely. But because his parents were not in accord with him, he felt like a poor man who has nowhere to turn to.
Here, something is alleged to have happened. Does it matter if it is a true account or not?

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Dr Jack, posted 08-18-2004 10:39 AM Dr Jack has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by Dr Jack, posted 08-18-2004 11:03 AM jar has not replied
 Message 13 by Phat, posted 11-08-2017 11:36 AM jar has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 15 of 15 (823281)
11-08-2017 3:19 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Phat
11-08-2017 11:36 AM


Re: Tales Told Round A Campfire
Phat writes:
A myth can't help me, however. I have to do all of the work myself.
Naaman needed help. He had leprosy. He needed a cure and was willing to do all kinds of difficult and embarrassing tasks if that was what was needed.
Naaman was told to go bathe in the crick nearby.
"Too simple", he said, "I'm outta here." But he was convinced to give it a try since he was there and the crick was cool and he came out refreshed without leprosy.
BUT Naaman had to go bathe in the crick. No one was gonna wash him or go get the water and bring it to him or give him a bath.
When you pray, the best you can hope for is advice on what YOU need to do.
Noe, build a boat.
Naaman, go bathe in the crick.
Edited by jar, : eeeeeeeee

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios My Website: My Website

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Phat, posted 11-08-2017 11:36 AM Phat has not replied

  
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