For example, the Amal. The Amal, closer to the beginning of sefer, had the goal is building and impact. He then finds a solution. Two is better than one. Why then does he continue and say even better is three? If he already found a solution why is he still looking for one? Even after he says that three is better than two, he adds on that a king is even better than three. Why stretch it out even more? He already found a solution. Now he is just going to end up concluding that everything is Hevel.
I think that after learning all the final speeches of the characters an thinking about their train of thoughts, I understand. All humans, although start out just wanting a small amount of something, become greedy and want more and more. A lot of times we give an example of fame. Someone who's dream is to be well known, will become well known, but then will become greedy and do anything they can for more attention. It's common for all humans to make this mistake. Even Shlomo Hamelech made this mistake.
This week Mrs. Perl reminded us that all of the different characters of Kohelet aren't real people, they are just thoughts in Shlomo's head. Shlomo was given power, wisdom, and materialistic things. It makes sense, that just like all other humans, he would become greedy and start off just wanting to do something small, like build and make an impact, but then once that is achieved, want more, like getting rid of injustice and being perfect.
This is why I know completely agree with the Yirie Elokim's solution to finding meaning. At first I didn't like his solution. He told us how to find meaning, but didn't tell us the meaning. I then asked, well if we don't know the meaning, how do we know there is one? I know understand that we become greedy when we want just power, just wisdom, or just materialistic things. If we want to know everything, we become greedy, when we know a lot, and begin to think we are more important then everyone else. We need to remember that there is someone who is greater than anyone we can become. G-d.
If we combine a little of the physical, a little of the intellectual, and a little of the creativity, you will have everything G-d wants you to have, and will be able to spend your life focusing on your actions, because there will be judgement at some point and we will be accountable for our actions.
Nice blog post, Yehudit. I agree with you. The fatal flaw of the three characters was their incessant need to push everything to the extreme, and thus blow everything out of proportion. In my opinion, the Yirei Elokim definitely provides the best and most effective approach to finding meaning. Once we realize that we are limited, we recognize that we cannot have everything in this world. Then, we can try to accomplish what we have the potential and ability to do. If we can do that, we're set, and can find meaning. However, we must continue to keep in mind that our actions do matter, and that we will be judged.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. They do always seem to go to the extreme. When we realize that it is all in one mans head it makes it easier for us to understand him doing this. Sometimes in our own situations we also look at the outcomes as the most extreme they can be.
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