Marina
McKeown
1/23/13
EN
101 17
The Jesuit values taught at Loyola University educates
the whole the person, cura personalis, and can be applied to every aspect of
life. At first I was hesitant to try Heart of Zen Meditation. I questioned if I
would be able to draw connections to the assigned literary works such as the
reading “The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice
in Jesuit Higher Education” by Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach. Surprisingly I was
also able to connect my experience to the poems “Mending
Wall” by Robert Frost, and “Learning to Read” by Frances E.W. Harper and “Accident,
Mass. Ave” by Jill McDonough.
“The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice in Jesuit Higher
Education” by Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach speaks about the “promotion of justice”
and “the service of faith” as a role in the Jesuit education. Father Kolvenbach
speaks about Saint Ignatius and the expression of love through words and more
importantly deeds (Kolvenbach 27). In order to help those around us and fully
act through our faith it is important that we understand ourselves as
individuals. The Heart of Zen Meditation helped me become aware of my day and
what I could have done differently to greater fulfill the Jesuit “promotion of
justice” and “service of faith”. When entering the room it is important to
enter with the left foot and bow down. The bow can be directed to anything or
anyone. The unique way to enter the room made me think about how it is
important to start anything, such as your day or service, on the “right foot”
and have a reverence for something. I think Zen could teach me a lot about the
“promotion of justice” and “service of faith”. Father Kolvenbach says “…some
rushed headlong towards the promotion of justice without much analysis or
reflection …” (29). Zen allows you the opportunity to balance your body, mind
and soul. You are physically balanced in a position proven to naturally support
your body for mediation, such as the half locus. The silence and stillness for
the allotted time allow inner peace and tranquility. But first, there is
frustration and difficulty. A scratch on your arm or a foot falling asleep can
cause extreme temptation to move. In
life I think people can have difficulty promoting justice or serving through
their faith, but if they focus they can accomplish great things. Similar to Zen
it can be difficult, but a life changing experience in the end.
“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost reflects on a fence that is
rebuilt between Frost and his neighbor. Frost writes “And on a day we meet to
walk the line/ And set the wall between us as we go”. The tone of the poem
alludes that Frost doesn’t necessarily like the wall or believes it is what
makes them “good neighbors”. The poet would like to know before building a
wall, “What I was walling in or walling out”. This line in particular made me
reflect on my meditation. The instructor mentioned that meditating is learning
to control what bothers you. For example, during our fifteen-minute mediation
students running up and down the stairways could be heard loudly. At first I
thought I should be annoyed, that I should “wall” them out and build a divider
between my Zen and their distraction. But instead the instructor said we couldn’t
be bothered that college students are loud anymore than we could be angry that
the rain falls from the sky. The poem and Zen made me consider what I “build
walls” up against and for what reason. I realized I could take down some
“walls” in my life and live a more productive life.
Frances E.W. Harper’s poem, “Learning to Read”, talks about the
“Yankee teachers” teaching slaves how to read. The poet, who is sixty years old
when she finally learns to read, is determined to learn. Harper “never stopped
till she could read/ The hymns and Testament”. Equally as important Harper gets
her own cabin, and “…Felt as independent / As the queen upon her throne”. The
Jesuit emphasis on faith and education are evident in Harper’s life experience
expressed in the poem. She “longed to read [her] Bible/ For precious words it
said”. Harper’s determination to learn to read despite her age and the
challenges of the Southern folks disapproval must have required an inner
discipline and meditation on the importance of her faith. Practices such as Zen
can help a person reflect and find inner strength they were previously unaware
of. A strong desire to accomplish something and the patience to do so are
valuable characteristics to help “promote justice” and “service with faith”.
“Accident, Mass. Ave.” by Jill McDonough reflects on a minuscule
car collision on a Boston street. The author describes how both drivers knew
the drill, the screaming and yelling, that would occur once jumping out of the
car. The angry body language and vulgar words, swearing at each other in
“perfect posture, unnaturally angled chins”. But when the poet realizes that
there is no damage the drivers are taken aback. It is as if they do not know
how to react next without the anger, “There was nothing else for us to do”. The
poem shows a lot about how easy it is for people to jump to conclusions and act
on their emotions before using reason. My introduction to meditation touched on
the importance of focusing on what you are doing, from the position of your
feet to the folding of your hands. Focusing on what is important in life
instead of exploding over the little things such as an undamaged tire, can
better a person’s life. The more focused and at one a person is with their
emotions and self the better they can help themselves and others whether it is
through service of faith or promotion of justice.
The Heart of Mediation experience connected to my life as a
Loyola student at a Jesuit University. The practices and experience of Zen can
be applied to everyday life, even literary works. Father Kolvenbach’s reading,
and the poems by Robert Frost, Frances E.W. Harper, and Jill McDonough all
shared a common theme of reflection. Father Kolvenbach’s reading in connection
to Zen showed the importance of balance in life to help others. Robert Frost’s
poem reflects on why we put “ walls”, and why do we allow ourselves to get
annoyed about things. In life it is important to exercise and apply methods of
meditation such as Zen. The Jesuit values can be practiced everyday, in education,
the whole body, and spirit through balance, in, patience, reasoning, and
determination. Harper’s “Learning to Read” reflected on the importance of
determination, such as the Bible to learn to read. Lastly McDonough’s poem reflects
on a person’s ability to lose focus on what is important in life and become agitated
over small unimportant things.
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