uncertain_dume: (Contemplative)
Kanan Jarrus, The Last Padawan ([personal profile] uncertain_dume) wrote in [community profile] 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."
unusual_sith: (smile in profile)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] unusual_sith 2019-05-06 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
Lana Beniko
unusual_sith: (smile)

Re: Lecture!

[personal profile] unusual_sith 2019-05-06 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
Lana knelt on the grass; this was a much more familiar class posture than sitting in chairs.
unusual_sith: (sarcastic smile)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] unusual_sith 2019-05-06 11:25 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm Lana Beniko." She nodded to Kanan. "And I'm in this class because you're teaching it, and I'm always interested in learning from people with your philosophy."

Look at her being tactful on the first day of class with newbies!

"My own personal philosophy sounds very much like Taoism, though I imagine the similarities don't go too deep."
bookbeltof_love: (Default)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] bookbeltof_love 2019-05-06 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Nina
bookbeltof_love: (that's great!!!!)

Re: Lecture!

[personal profile] bookbeltof_love 2019-05-06 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Nina sat primly on the grass under a tree, her back against the bark of the tree trunk and her feet tucked demurely under her skirts.
bookbeltof_love: (fake smile)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] bookbeltof_love 2019-05-06 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm, like, Nina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Her grin was definitely impish as she directed it at Kanan. "And I guess I took this class because, well, I just had to see what sort of philosophy a grumpy bus driver taught!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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??????????????"
Edited 2019-05-06 12:33 (UTC)
bookbeltof_love: (seriously considering)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] bookbeltof_love 2019-05-06 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, if it's fun or totally doesn't matter, than I'm more than willing to just run with basically anything that's going on????????????" Nina offered. This was how things like bus stealing happened in the first place.

"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???????????"
following_my_fishie: (Default)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] following_my_fishie 2019-05-06 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Del and Barnabas!
following_my_fishie: (Default)

Re: Lecture!

[personal profile] following_my_fishie 2019-05-06 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Del climbed up onto a tree branch and hung upside down from her knees to listen to the lecture.
bookbeltof_love: (thinking hard)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] bookbeltof_love 2019-05-06 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah that was...

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.
following_my_fishie: (Default)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] following_my_fishie 2019-05-06 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Del listened from her position, hanging upside down from the tree branch. She looked vaguely at the other students. When it was her term, Barnabas stood on his hind legs, forepaws pressed to the bark of the tree, and licked her face to bring her back to focus.

Delirium giggled and wiped her face. "Oh. Um. Hi? I'm Delirium. Um. I like the Hundred Acre Woods. It's a nice place. The Silly Old Bear and his friends all make space for the sad donkey even when he's floating in rivers on his back and they're always nice to him even when he's sad because they don't want him to be sad but they know that's just how he is so they let him be how he is without making him feel bad or that he should be something he's not and they love him anyway just exactly how he is. And that's Taoism."

Beat.

"Oh! And this is Barnabas."

Barnabas inclined his head, "Hello. I am the Lady Delirium's service dog."
following_my_fishie: (Default)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] following_my_fishie 2019-05-06 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Bears aren't hard and this one is very squishy," Delirium agreed.
following_my_fishie: (Default)

Re: Introductions!

[personal profile] following_my_fishie 2019-05-06 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"I meant you," Delirium said brightly.

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