Martin
Buber's The Way of Man
1.
What is the key
message of the
first story (pp 9-10), and why is it said "But his heart trembled?"
God asks us
questions that He already knows the answer to so as to call us to
examine
ourselves. This is based on the belief that we are capable of knowing
who and
what we are by self-examination. The chief did not what to be called to
examine
himself because he was afraid of what he might find out.
2.
What is the key
point of the
second section, "The Particular Way?"
That each human being is unique and
should
seek to discover and then be himself and do what he ought do in service
to God.
3.
Explain, as best
you can, the
point Buber is making on p 18, lines 8-24.
The way
to reach God is revealed when a person comes to understand who and what
he or
she is in their own individuality in recognition of that absolute which
create
and stirs those inner desires so leading that person to that absolute,
which is
God, by being what he or she ought be as God intends.
4. In section III, what do you see as the difference between
"patchwork" and "resolution?"
There is a conflict between body and
soul
where the person is not ‘all of one piece.’ When one aspect attempts to
lord
over the other or tries to bring the other into submission, this is
what is
referred to as ‘patchwork’ since there is a disunity in the person.
Resolution
occurs when the ‘core of the soul, the ‘divine force’ is allowed to
bind the
conflicting desires of body and soul to act in concert as it is
intended to be.
5. What do you consider "oneness of soul" (in section III) to consist
of?
When the desires of
both body and
soul are unified in purpose and action, in absence of conflict, a
person is
being what he or she ought be.
6. Explain the main message of Section IV. (Much of it is clarified on
pp.
28-29).
In order to make peace
with the
world you must first be at peace with yourself.
7.
Try to think of an
example,
perhaps from your own experience or from imagination, that can
illustrate this
Hasidic principle that says: conflicts we have with another person are
often
just mirror images of the same conflict going on within our own psyche.
Please
describe that example.
Often times
we preach hardest against that which we struggle with ourselves. In
previous
years in struggled with atheism so I gravitated toward atheists seeking
debate
and argument because I myself wanted answers; doubt is very
disintegrating. A
couple of years ago I struggled with the issue of free-will, despite
the fact
that I despise the implications of determinism I listened to and
studied
prominent Calvinists. I am not comfortable with only listening to what
I want
to hear because I view that as a form a self-brainwashing. I’d rather
learn
through conflict and antithesis.
About six
years
back I had to work with a person who brought out the worst in me, he
knew how
to get under my skin. As I struggle through that relationship (Long
story
short, both he and I wanted the driving spot at that station that was
soon to
become vacant, so he was trying to drive me out.) I began to see that
many of
the same traits that I disliked in him I came to see in myself. As much
as I
didn’t like it I came to accept it and confront those things in myself
and
start getting at the root of the problem, me. Through counseling in
came to
understand myself better and begin to heal some fundamental issues
eating away
at my core. The relationship began to improve, at least my perception
of it,
and perhaps we could have become friends if more time was given. ( I
scored
better on the performance evaluations and tests and so was appointed to
the
driving position. He transferred soon after.) Today we are on amiable
terms
with one another, and I am thankful for that conflict in my life
because it was
a big factor in getting me into counseling which I so desperately
needed. I’m a
better husband and father because of it.
8.
What does Buber
mean in Section
V, by not being "preoccupied with oneself?" How might forgiveness of
oneself (or forgiveness of another) fit into that?
When we focus upon our
sin and not
upon He who conquered sin, we are only left with a hopeless, ever
spirally
downward spin of remorse and regret; we become self-absorbed and so
preoccupied
to turn towards goodness and light. I struggle with this. It is
infinitely
better to accept the free gift and in so being freed to focus upon that
which
is good. Repentance is not mere remorse or guilt, but a turning of a
person
towards doing and thinking about that which is good, noble,
praiseworthy and
true.
Godly sorrow brings repentance
that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings
death.
See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what
eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what
longing, what
concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have
proved
yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11
9.
What do you see as
the main
theme of Section VI.
“In their true essence, the two worlds are one.’ The goal here is integration. As Buber stated earlier, it is man’s work to hallow creation, and here in section 6 to draw God into the world since God wants to come into the world through man. So the theme of The Way of Man comes together, integration.
10.
How might there be
a "treasure"
buried in your own present life situation? What might the "treasure"
be that can be found only in your
particular place?
My life is a gift so any ‘treasure’ I have is not of my own making. I have a wonderful wife, two beautiful children, my health, live in freedom, have a good job and financial stability. Any of these wonderful gifts could be taken from me at any time, so I must be careful as to what I put my trust in and what I value as my ‘treasure.’ To have any lasting, ultimate value I must store up treasures that are imperishable and of eternal significance. My relationships and the priorities I place on them will be of eternal significance, which the most important relationship being with God. It is when I put my relationship with God first that all my other relationships begin to be what they ought be. As the pastor who married my wife and I said, ‘Your marriage and your relationship with God functions like a triangle, the closer you both draw to God, the closer you will draw to each other.’ So ‘treasuring’ the eternal has earthly value as well.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
11.
What do you think
Buber means
by the first line on p 41?
I would say this means God gives man freewill; He
is a
perfect gentleman who will not enter where He is not invited, but will
gladly
enter where He is.