Kanan Jarrus, The Last Padawan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
uncertain_dume) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2019-05-06 07:10 am
uncertain_dume) wrote in fandomhigh2019-05-06 07:10 am
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Tao of a Silly Old Bear, Monday, Period Two
Today's class was told to meet outside, to take advantage of the decent weather, and were given directions to meet at the park. Kanan was standing in the shade under one of the larger trees, not far from the pond, and was smiling a little to himself. This was introduction week. However else he might have felt about having a philosophy class shunted off on him, he was generally pretty confident in his ability to do introductions without having to worry about too much disaster.
"Hey, folks," he greeted, nodding at his class. "Welcome to... this class about Taoism." A pause. "And occasional stuffed bears. Most of you have already had a class with me before," he nodded to the students in question, "but for those of you who haven't, I'm Kanan Jarrus. Please, just call me Kanan. I'm not a professor, I'm a guy who flipped through a book and spent a few minutes contemplating what's in it, and now I'm passing it to you."
Yes, he was absolutely holding up his copy of the book in question, a well-read paperback with a cream-colored cover with a red border, the picture of a little yellow bear flying a kite on the front.
"For this workshop, we're going to discuss the Earth philosophy of Taoism. I'm not certain if any of you recognize the bear on the cover of the book, but... yeah, we're gonna talk a little bit about him, too, if only because the adventures of this children's storybook character pose very convenient parallels to the topic in question. So if you're in this class just to hear me say phrases like, 'Silly willy nilly old bear,' and 'Oh, bother,' you might not even be disappointed." He shrugged. "This week, though, we're not going to touch much on the bear in question. This week is a week for explaining Taoism in broad strokes, so that you have some idea of what you've just gotten yourself into. Taoism is, at its core, a philosophy that emphasizes doing what comes natural, following the guidance and flow of a cosmic force that flows through all things. Binds them and releases them."
... Yeah, it had caught his attention for possibly obvious reasons, if you knew anything about his upbringing at all.
"So, this term, we're going to do a lot of that. Going with the flow. Not trying to force things to be what they aren't, but rather, trying to accept and work with them as they are. And, since this is the first week of classes, going with the flow means introductions." Kanan grinned faintly. "Names, why you took this class, and, if you feel so inclined, share with us some aspect of your own personal philosophy or your first impressions of Taoism, based on today's lecture."
"Hey, folks," he greeted, nodding at his class. "Welcome to... this class about Taoism." A pause. "And occasional stuffed bears. Most of you have already had a class with me before," he nodded to the students in question, "but for those of you who haven't, I'm Kanan Jarrus. Please, just call me Kanan. I'm not a professor, I'm a guy who flipped through a book and spent a few minutes contemplating what's in it, and now I'm passing it to you."
Yes, he was absolutely holding up his copy of the book in question, a well-read paperback with a cream-colored cover with a red border, the picture of a little yellow bear flying a kite on the front.
"For this workshop, we're going to discuss the Earth philosophy of Taoism. I'm not certain if any of you recognize the bear on the cover of the book, but... yeah, we're gonna talk a little bit about him, too, if only because the adventures of this children's storybook character pose very convenient parallels to the topic in question. So if you're in this class just to hear me say phrases like, 'Silly willy nilly old bear,' and 'Oh, bother,' you might not even be disappointed." He shrugged. "This week, though, we're not going to touch much on the bear in question. This week is a week for explaining Taoism in broad strokes, so that you have some idea of what you've just gotten yourself into. Taoism is, at its core, a philosophy that emphasizes doing what comes natural, following the guidance and flow of a cosmic force that flows through all things. Binds them and releases them."
... Yeah, it had caught his attention for possibly obvious reasons, if you knew anything about his upbringing at all.
"So, this term, we're going to do a lot of that. Going with the flow. Not trying to force things to be what they aren't, but rather, trying to accept and work with them as they are. And, since this is the first week of classes, going with the flow means introductions." Kanan grinned faintly. "Names, why you took this class, and, if you feel so inclined, share with us some aspect of your own personal philosophy or your first impressions of Taoism, based on today's lecture."
Re: Introductions!
Points, er, for honesty, at least?
"Going with the flow, though... like, I think I'm either really good at that or really bad at it??????????????"
Re: Introductions!
To Kanan's credit, his only real reaction to that 'grumpy bus driver' comment was a soft snort and a roll of his eyes skyward.
"Good or bad at it? How do you figure?"
Re: Introductions!
"But if it does matter to me and, like, I don't like where it's going, then I do everything I can to not have it go that way?????????? Isn't that, like, the opposite of going with the flow???????????"
Re: Introductions!
"It's kind of the opposite of going with the flow," Kanan agreed, smiling wryly. "To a point. Taoism isn't about not acting or even about not trying to change the way things are, so much as it's about acknowledging what the nature of those things is, and working with that guiding force of the universe to do what needs to be done or change what needs to be changed. Letting the natural direction of things guide your actions."
Re: Introductions!
What...?
"But, like, how are you supposed to know the guiding force of the universe's will???????????"
And if the guiding force of the universe wanted something Nina didn't like, she was still going to ignore it.
Re: Introductions!
Kanan shrugged.
"Where I'm from, you just listen to what it's telling you," he replied. "But since not everyone here can sense that sort of thing, hopefully the next few weeks will help you sort the answer to that one out for yourself. Destiny and inner nature can both be intensely personal things. The only person who can realize those answers for you is yourself."