What True Love Is - Baucis & Philemon

The story of Baucis and Philemon was my favorite of all the stories in Metamorphoses. It was basically a summary of all the previous ones that had been shown, for it concluded all the points that had been discussed. Love had been the main topic for almost all of my recent posts and this story doesn't stay behind. Furthermore, this story is the one that love has been show the greatest and deepest, for the characters are very humble and did truly love on another.

Love can be shown in various ways and demonstrated to the different people differently. For example, the love that you have for your parents is a distinct affection to that that you have for your boyfriend. However, the essential key of love is still there. Baucis and Philemon had lived their whole lives together. They were a happily married couple that truly loved each other. Their love was so great, that they went to the Gods and asked them for eternal companionship. So their love was so strong, that they didn't care how and when, but they wanted to be together forever. When thinking of something strong, and stable I may think of a post. But in this story, these two loving characters are turned into trees, for their love was so strong that they would stick together forever. Trees that would remain next to one another eternally.

So, in this final story I learned what Metamorphoses was all about. It was about evolution and the change in love. How people and things transform from one thing into another, not necessarily referring to the trees, but more to the values that come with it. Of course these stories are not real and lay their senses all upon fiction, but the literal meaning is the one that shouldn't really be taken. One should learn from its figurative teaching, and try to take some lesson from it. I now think that what type of human would do such sacrifice upon to love forever? I know this story isn't real, but will I ever be able to find one love such as that one? Hope so.

Phaeton's Iambic Pentameter: Not Long, Just Concise

Phaeton took the chariot for a ride.

Disobeyed and set the world on fire.

Spoiled But Mighty - Phaeton

The story of Phaeton is that of a spoiled kid that wants to ride his fathers' chariot. I was able to identify a lot with this story since it is reflected upon our daily lives. Obviously, not every kid today wants to ride their fathers' chariot, but however they do want everything they don't have. Maybe the reason for them not to ride their fathers' chariot is because most fathers don't have a chariot nowadays, (only mine). For those of you that can't familiarize that much with the story yet, Mary Zimmerman made an interpretation that will help you indeed. The chariot is now a car. Easier? Pleasurably modern?

But this story isn't really about a car. It's more of the kid in the car. That spoiled, stupid child that burned the whole world. With a car? Yes. This is how everything happened:

Apollo, Phaeton's dad, finally lets his son take the reins. This isn't something very easy to handle, and when Phaeton had his turn to show off, he did it with no doubts. But, he loses control. He wasn't able to manage the light that was delivered by the car and ended up burning the whole world. Yes, you heard it right. The whole world was burned.

So why are we here? How did we get here? I think that this story tries to explain the world as it is somehow. So maybe Phaeton isn't that spoiled after all.

Lovely Affairs: Not That Lovely - Pomona & Vertumnus

The story of Pomona and Vertumnus narrates the story of an impossible love. Pomona was this gorgeous nymph who Vertumnus was deeply in love with. He would dress up and act differently in order to impress Pomona every time he saw her. But every time he tried to make her notice him, he failed. Since he never reached his goal, Vertumnus then decides to dress up as an old lady. "The old lady" approaches Pomona and tells her how beautiful she is and recommends her to get a love partner.

In this story I was able to identify a lot with Vertumnus. Even though he is a guy, I was able to familiarize a lot with him since it isn't easy to be ignored by the one you love. When one is truly in love, you do everything in order to gain the attention of that person. Feeling completely ignored and as a failure, Vertumnus then decides to tell Pomona the story of Cinyras and Myrrha. This story narrates how a daughter, Myrrha falls in love with her own dad, Cinyras and eventually has a love affair with him. Aphrodite allowed Myrrha to love his father, since she had many followers but still didn't love any. However, this obsession between family members doesn't last for long, since when Cinyras notices that he was actually sleeping with his own daughter, he tries to drown her. She scarily reacts since she noticed what her father was trying to do, and decides to leave and transform into anything else.

How could a so called love story end in hatred and death?

Love Drunk - Orpheus and Eurydice

Who said that all ends were happy? And who said that all beginnings were perfect? Well, for those of you that did, there is a story that will prove you all wrong. Orpheus and Eurydice are another couple shown to us in Metamorphoses. Yes, they do have a love story but however, this story is way more depressing than those that we read before. It all begins when Eurydice, the bride, dies on her wedding day during the ceremony after stepping on a dumb, stupid snake. Did there really have to be a snake there and at that time? I constantly wonder why it is always snakes that ruin things up.

Orpheus, can't manage his grief and decides to take off to the Underworld and sings to Hades begging for his wife's return. Orpheus begged and begged and if his request was denied, he offered to be kept by her side. Hades feels affection and sad for him and is convinced by emotions. He tells Orpheus that he will return her to life but on the way, he can't look back at his wife because if he does, she will be returned to the Underworld forever. The desperate and miserable husband accepts the offer and they start their way all together back to the Upperworld. But guess what! Due to the lack of trust and patience that Orpheus had towards Hades, he turns back to look at her wife. After commiting this crime, Hermes immediately takes Eurydice back into the Underworld and this time, it was eternal.

How could he? Why did he? So many questions rise, but no answer is given at all. Maybe because he was so insecure and really wanted to prove her existence there for it might have been a trick or something. Was their love really powerful? I believe that their love was so powerful that her only absence made him feel insecure and therefore, he had to turn around and check her out. But what he had forgotten was that this time was the last time that he would see her ever again. This last image repeated in his head for more than minutes, hours, days, months and even years I would say. It was the last memory he had of her and he would never see her again, or maybe not for now. Will he ever get to the Underworld?

Full Of Ambition - Erisichthon

This was a great story that even though its length

was rather short, it had an important meaning

and a moral. I was able to connect this story with our current society and how humans act

towards their own environment. As soon

as Erisichthon cut off that grove tree, a part of

me died. In this story, the grove tree wasn't a

plaintree just found on the park of your

neighborhood, but it was more like the only tree

there. Its meaning was so great that it

represented nature itself and completely.

So when he cut the grove, he wanted more

and more that by seeing the wood, he got hungry.

Erisichthon could not satisfy himself for there

was nothing to do.

It seemed as if he had been cursed for cutting

down the tree. He was so ambitious that he passed

the limits when he decided to sell his mother.

Am I kidding? No, I am not. For as more

ridiculous that it may sound, this is what he did.

He wanted to have more of everything and therefore be who he always dreamed of being.

A man with lots of power, wealth, and belongings. But what Erisichthon never realize

was that by doing this, he was only loosing. He lost his family, he lost his values, he lost respect.

But what did he have left? Nothing. Erisichthon soon starts to devour himself.

Since he couldn't satisfy his needs, he gets desperate and begins to eat from himself.

He destroyed himself, being led by the ambition within him.

And They Loved Forever - Alcyone & Ceyx

Love, is one of the best feelings that one could have. It is this theme that inspires me to read a novel. It works as simply as this: if love is the topic in the story, I read the book. I think this might explain why I am enjoying so much Metamorphoses. Alcyone and Ceyx are the main characters and an adorable couple. Alcyone is the loyal and affectionate wife who doesn't want her husband to leave on a journey which he might never come back from. Ceyx, is the type of man that wants to gain power as he tries to prove his braveness to those he knew.

After he leaves, Alcyone has to live miserably without her husband, since she depended on him in a greater way than how he depended on her. Aftter all, he was the one that decided to leave no matter the affection that he felt for his wife. Alcyone waits for his arrival but that day never comes and she soon becomes a widow.

However, it is also shown how Ceyx cries for Alcyone when he is affected by the storm. This proves that their love was unbreakable and eternal.

Such as in most Greek Mythological pieces, Gods also appear and interfere with the lives of the other characters in this story. It is Poseidon and Aeolus who send the storm to Ceyx and his men which causes their deaths. At the end, the gods turn both of them into birds so they can live together forever.

Creating Metamorphoses - Ovid

Metamorphoses was originally a narrative poem of 15 different stories that try to explain and describe the creation and past of the world. It has survived as one of the most popular works of mythology since 8AD, and it was written by the Roman poet, Ovid. It reflects several topics, however, Creation was emphasized in this first clip. When I hear the word creation, I usually think of the scientific explanation, the Big Bang Theory, which is a comprehensive and accurate explanation of how the world came to existence. Nevertheless, on the other hand, we find its ethical explanation. In Metamorphoses, another theory of Creation relating Gods is explained. It states how an unknown God separated the land, the air, and the seas, and put the calm pieces of these in heaven and the others were left, reckless, on a surface, know as Earth. The God decided to organize the world and re-shape it. He finished his creation with two snow filled taps, four habitable sections, and one final and fifth heated center. Finally, he gave the work a round shape in order to make all sides equal, and gave it an orbit.

From all this explanation, I only find one confusion which is that since in Greek mythology there were many gods (polytheism), it never specifies which one of those many gods was the one that created the world. The narrator referred to the God of the creation as unknown.

Anyways, I find it very interesting how it starts talking about Creation in the beginning and after all, Creation initiated humanity. I believe that later on as I cover up more of the story, it will begin to talk about evolution, as it title states. Metamorphoses, the change completely in form or nature.

OM - Bhagavad Gita XVII & XVIII

The teachings are getting close to the end, but for now, I would like to give a good use of the time left. In the last two teachings, Krishna is able to explain to Arjuna the differences among the divine traits to those demonic traits. Take a quick guess on which one Krishna favored. Yes, you were right. Krishna obviously favored the divine traits over the demonic since the traits contained in divine include kindness, charity, and basically, being a good human being. Furthermore, maybe even a leader. It is also explained that those demonic traits lead to an unhappy, miserable material life. People are influenced to follow the divine traits and when you do so, rebirth won't be a punishment. "All creatures in the world are either divine or demonic." (Page 128) This is something very true but however, I believe that not everyone has one complete extreme but a balance. You can't say someone is completely demonic since we all have some kind of balance and this is why I believe none of us is in a complete extreme. With that quote, we can also realize that the previous teachings were all about being a good person and following the thought to be right path.

Previously the key terms dark inertia and passion were mentioned. However, they weren't well explained for us to understand the complete concept of them. In teaching seventeen, these terms are fully explained and one new one emerges. Lucidity is this new word! For those of you that don't know what it means, it is a synonym for sensibility. Try to make it fit with the content that I will deliver below. This is what I understood from this teaching adding all the key terms and their actual meaning. When sacrifices are to be made, Krishna sheds darkness over dark inertia and passions because the sacrifices are done without faith. It is also stated that a good sacrifice is that that should "be offered with lucidity when the norms are kept and the mind is focused on the sacrificial ac, without craving for its fruit." (Page 137) In dark inertia, sacrifices are made without feeling and in passions, only the end product, or the fruit is what is really wanted.

I love meditation and I find this very interesting. I think the part that I liked the most from these teachings was when Krishna explained the sounds one makes to express different things. Some of these sounds include OM (my favorite), SAT, and TAT which are words that should be used when asking for forgiveness.

Finally, the book is over and so are its teachings. I agreed with some of it but as well, I disliked other of its parts. It didn't really interest me the topic but however, I began to find it captivating as I kept on reading. I didn't believe in it at all and this might be why I am happy its over. At the end, I learned that through learning and listening, one can learn how you should live and what you should follow as well as what you are expected to be after all.

Inertia - Bhagavad Gita XI & XV

I was always wondering and on the previous post I even shared it with you, that why was it Arjuna the one being taught by Krishna. Out of everybody in the world, why is he the student of Krishna? After having read these two teachings, my question was somehow answered. I now kind of understand the connection between Krishna and Arjuna and why this whole lesson has been going among these two characters. I can now say that Krishna is somehow Arjuna's leader that is guiding him towards success. Krishna tells Arjuna that he has to fight and kill somebody for some strange reason that I didn't get, but after all, this action will benefit Arjuna for Krishna is leading him. Before the battle, Arjuna was a strict follower of his ways, but now he revealed himself to Krishna. He might have felt confident being led by the supreme, well, there was no way he could go wrong.

Arjuna talks about Krishna in a very respectful way. He honors him for what he really is but at the same time, he knows that Krishna is someone great to have as a friend rather than an enemy. "As moths in the frenzy of destruction fly into a blazing frame, worlds in the frenzy of destruction enter your mouth." (Page 102) Krishna, just like the moths being described above, can cause immediate destruction to his enemies. Arjuna doesn't like to see Krishna in this way for he is scared and therefore prefers to see him as the gentle charioteer he once was and not as the supreme being he now is.

Later on, it is finally told what it is that Krishna wants from Arjuna and why is it him the one being elected. What is his job? It coems to be that Krishna is simply using Arjuna as his weapon to kill those that oppose him. In other words, Arjuna is defending Krishna and punishing those that apparently offended Krishna in some way. Arjuna takes action as the others didn't and forces them to commit a sacrifice. Maybe what I just said is contradicting, for one commit sacrifice by himself without forces, but that's how it seemed to be.

Detachment and knowledge, the past key terms are now explained. It said how Krishna once had to leave all his family and home for other principles. I find this extremely depressing and sad for the family is the only thing you will have forever and you should never replace is for something else. Also, a new term is now introduced; dark inertia. What inertia means here is negligence and falling into those desires that are looked down by Krishna. Passion, as well as inertia are two bad things that come from negligence which originates from the previously stated desires. I had never seen passion as negligence for I see it as an opposite to inertia. One is to remain still, while the other is plain passion. Does anyone need the definition of passion?

Legit Supreme - Bhagavad Gita VII - IX

Teachings seven through nine are basically all about Krishna. It doesn't only talk about only Krishna and just Krishna, but it is Krishna talking about himself. Yes, sounds rather confusing but it isn't. Sorry if I made it a big deal. I apologize. So, Krishna talks about his superiority and how discipline guides men towards him. He says that he is desired by men and that when one reaches his divinity that one will not suffer from rebirth. By saying that he is ones desire does it mean that they desire to be like him? Or that he influences their desires? "I know all creatures that have been, that now exist, and that are yet to be; but, Arjuna, no one knows me." (Page 29) Even though this quote shows how powerful Krishna is, it is also very interesting the fact that Krishna is telling Arjuna that no one knows him. It is explained how Krishna created all the creatures and places them wherever they are believed to be suitable. Krishna knows everything but why don't people know him? I also began to wonder that if Krishna wanted to be knows he can do it. Well, she has so much power and knowledge which doesn't make everything impossible.

Something that I have been wondering a lot is that why is it Arjuna the one chosen to be taught. I understand that Krishna knows a lot and is extremely powerful and therefore, she shall be the leader and teacher to all. But why is Arjuna the student? Why not somebody else? This question is actually killing me and I really hope to be able to answer is soon.

These teachings were the most insightful into who Krishna is and all of the concept on Hinduism. It explains good and bad and how your actions can come to be seen as positive or negative. I found this really cool song that honors Krishna in a way. It shows how powerful she is and I can now say she is literally supreme!

Call Me Krishna - Bhagavad Gita III - V

In the third teaching, I was able to identify two key words; action and sacrifice. Yes, this whole lesson was based on those two terms and their influential meanings. According to Krishna, with action comes sacrifice but action is actually needed to survive. Once you take action, you make a difference and change is considered to be good for all. "Perform necessary action; it is more powerful than inaction; without action you even fail to sustain your own body." (Page 44) Here comes the part in which action is stated to be needed to sustain life. In order to sustain your own body, you must action which is much powerful than inaction. This makes so much sense because when you are still, you don't have to do anything at all and therefore, you don't require any strengths. But when you are active, you do need strength and power which explains why action is so much more powerful. This can be seen in so many ways but I think that its meaning and what is needed is already understood.

"Action imprisons the world unless it is done as sacrifice; freed from attachment, Arjuna, perform action as sacrifice!" (Page 45) Krishna is trying to say that without action, there is no sacrifice. Action was explained through sacrifice previously which demonstrates that one cannot exist without the other. Sacrifice is something one does for the benefit or honor of another. When you act do it well for one should benefit others as well as themselves and never do bad to others. You shall think upon your actions as beneficial to all and not only to yourself.

In the fifth teaching, I was able to get a clearer description of who Krishna really was which helped me create my own image of her. "Though myself unborn, undying, the lord of creatures, I fashion nature which is mine, and I come into being with my own magic." (Page 52) I also learned another key term which was knowledge and this one, was also connected to the others. Krishna is believed to be the creator of knowledge and she was the one who taught it to others including Gods. Thus, I believe Krishna is extremely powerful and superior to the rest. For her to have taught the Gods shows extreme greatness and how supreme she is to others.

So far, I understand various concepts and since these teachings were some of great importance, I would like to share them all.

1. Man should accomplish action in order to obtain knowledge. No knowledge is obtained without action.

2. Knowledge is extremely powerful and it eventually leads to peace.

3. Only those wise are capable of seeing the difference between action and inaction.

*The amount of actions compared to your inactions declares your knowledge.

You may now call me Krishna and you may be my Arjuna.