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Metanoia It is frequently translated as repent in English Bibles, but metanoia, as Jesus uses it has deep meaning beyond what we usually think of when we think of repentance. Its about making a positive change in our lives and in our society. Metanoia wrongly understood is a guilt ridden awareness of all that is going wrong in our lives and society. Metanoia properly understood is a push forward toward something better for us. Jesus asks us to foster metanoia within ourselves. And we recognize that this kind of change needs to begin with each of us as individuals.
Metanoia as Jesus and the great Teachers of the east taught it, is not about controlling our actions and forcing our mind over our body. It is about controlling our thoughts. Its about knowing ourselves and recognizing what we think. Its the ability to stand apart and recognize our own thoughts. When we can separate ourselves from our thoughts, we then can think now I am angry. At that moment the anger can be brought down.
It is mastery over ourselves. And a constant movement towards a recognition of our innermost self. We need not think that the self is sin-ridden and be guilty. All human beings have the same feelings and emotions. The path is to recognize, accept ourselves and then move on to a self we want to have. Its an inward movement on and on.
Parables The good Samaritan. The pearl of great price. The good shepherd. New wine in old wineskins. The prodigal son. Jesus parables have been called "heavenly stories with earthly meanings, " or "earthly stories with heavenly meanings. " And their characters have spread all over the world.
So powerful has been the image. Jesus was a master storyteller. His parables contain striking images, dramatic action and bold character development, all built around universal themes that have touched people for two millennia. Yet the parables offer minimal detail.
Most often Jesus provided no clear explanations for the stories, leaving them open to multiple interpretations through the ages. Some people can read a lot into the stories. But it is generally left open to the reader /listener to make what he will out of them. What he does learn or interpret depends on his own life and his own experience. This way Jesus makes people think and create their own religion. There are no hard fast rules.
Each man must find his own truth. And if possible stay true to it at all times. The way a man thinks keeps changing with his experiences. As new people and new ideas come into his life, his perception changes. He rereads the parable and finds new meaning in it. Jesus heavily utilized metaphor and even shock to get his point across.
He used his parables to make his hearers think. Jesus' parables encouraged his hearers not simply to think outside of the box. They declared that there is no box. Some people like to be told what to think. They listen to the pastor or whoever is telling the tale and accept his interpretation. Others like to make up their own minds.
And the parable gives them scope of what they should draw from it. But what the parable and metanoia teach us is - there are no rules or religion. As the Indian philosopher, J Krishnamurthy teaches 200 years after Jesus you have to think and find your own truth. Do not accept the truth of others as your own.
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Research essay sample on Metanoia As Jesus Parables
