Words won't Work

Can you cite a specific example on how the golden rule applies in real life? Recall an experience in your life in which you reaped what you sowed.

The first thing that pops up to mind is the flooding during typhoon season. People have a habit of improper disposal of their garbage and waste. They dump it in rivers, sewer systems, and basically anywhere they want to. As time goes by, the garbage clumps up and blocks the sewer systems. When the rain comes, excess water that can’t flow through the sewers floods neighborhoods and along with it are all kinds of trash and garbage. People suffer every time but they do it every time. And then they blame it on the government, which is sad and funny at the same time. When people are bad to the environment, the environment is bad to them.

I remember that I was super into candy when I was a kid. My aunts and uncles would give me one pack of chewy chocolates and I could finish it within the day. In addition to that, I had this habit of not brushing my teeth. My parents used to remind me constantly that I should. I didn’t listen and that’s why my childhood was full of days spent crying because of toothache. But today, I don’t do that anymore. I’ve learned my lesson.

As a student, do you think Mencius’ philosophy of “Follow your heart” has relevant implications in choosing a career path? Explain your answer.

Definitely, yes. Because the heart tells what one desires. In my case, I really like math and computers. That is why in my college application forms, I put Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics in my preferred courses. A lot of people tell me that computer science is very difficult, that I wouldn’t have a social life if I were to choose it. I get their point but I don’t care. It’s what I like and it’s what I’ll do no matter how difficult it could be. If there’s a will, there’s a way, as the saying goes. I know my heart is willing and I will find a way.

Give your explanation of Tao.

There’s a part of me thinking that this may be a tricky test. I’ve been told that Tao is not to be explained, and if I tried to explain it, it would be wrong. Tao is a way of life, it is a philosophy of some sort and if I were to put them into words, I would fail. Because when we think of something, and then we tell it to other people, our words can’t make them understand the way we understand it. Words put limitations to something. For example, honey and apple are both sweet, based on the standards of words. But in real life, they taste very different from each other. There are some things going on in their tastes that we can’t describe entirely but when we use words, they are narrowed down to just ‘sweet’. So, if I tried to explain Tao, that would be narrowing it down and putting limits to it. And for me, that is wrong. That’s just what I think.