Jean Vanier’s Becoming
Human: “The Path to Freedom” Notes
l Vanier explains the meaning of exclusion
and says we create barriers to protect our weakness.
l People make a group because they highly
value helping and encouraging others.
l All people want to be happy and that is
the reason why we avoid the things that make us to feel bad such as anguished
or helpless.
Freedom to Choose
l Successfulness can be anything that
makes one to satisfy such as money, honours, or having a happy family.
l Sometimes being free allows you to do
right things as a human being, but, when you are afraid of losing what you
gained, it makes you not to free anymore.
l Each people have their own motivation
for helping others in need.
l ‘Acts of generosity’ helps you to grow
your inner side rather than personal success.
l We become free when we do not care about
these needs.
l The story of prodigal son is about two
brothers who risk new ways for freedom.
l We need to understand what drive us and
choose our path on our own not by forces, and these lead us to see a larger
vision of our life, to help people who stand up in truth.
l Becoming truly free is to consider more
about justice and truth than our personal achievement.
l Some people help others without taking
care themselves, eventually, it makes their generosity to their downfall.
l Knowledge and power can lead people
downfall due to their need for power and control, and not only it makes them
unfree, but also make them to lead away from true love and the gift of self.
l Belonging somewhere such as religion
gives people the place to hide, and distract each other to be open to others.
Behind Compulsive
Needs: Anguish
l The compulsive and addiction helps your
successfulness by pushing you forward for a moment, however, it makes you to
have false characteristic later on.
l Vanier shows an example from Matthew 7:3
to say that it is hard to see our own limits and brokenness, unlike others'.
l It is hard to be aware of our limit,
however, when we start to aware ourselves, we start to take our own place in
the society.
l Working with others to find a greater
fullness to humanity lead us to live in truth, in love, which is the basis of
freedom.
l We might find fulfillment of our
humanity when we guide our life like a horse rider.
l To become free is hard and comes with a
real struggle.
Signs of Freedom
l To be controlled by compulsions,
illusions, and prejudices occur due to a lack of freedom.
l People who have prejudice are not free
because they do not open their hearts due to the fear of big change.
l Being free is an awareness of ourselves
and also love ourselves.
l To understand others' weakness, limits,
and imperfectness when you belong to a group are one of the ways to become
free.
l Freedom allows us to be free from our
inner fears and leads us to face these.
l Vanier wants and loves freedom, but, on
the other hand, it makes him afraid of losing his 'walls of defence.'
Freedom Is Also the
Death of the False Self
l The death of false self is more painful
because it has much things to lose, but the death of person who never desire to
have power is less painful.
l Being free is to see the new and
positive truths/realities from behind the prejudices of yesterday, that means
we suppose not to struggle in the past.
The Road to Freedom
l To achieve aspiration of peace and
universal love, we need to make a leap into trust.
l Naive makes you to break down trust.
l Freedom is not only for an elite, but
also most of people.
l Vanier states the first step to freedom,
"Fear can be a good counsellor." Because it makes us to desire a
freedom.
l The second step is awareness of our own
limits.
l Other religion's spiritual masters have
their own way to reach freedom.
l The third step is to look for the wisdom
from sudden event such as the death of a relative.
l At first, challenges lead us to denial
or anger, however, these eventually lead us to find a new freedom and a new
meaning of the world.
l The fourth step come with accompaniment
such as a teacher, parents or a friend. and Accompanier helps us to get out of
struggling by reconciling our past.
l Accompaniment allows us to open up our
mind to each other and that is one of the reasons why it is the heart of human
growth.
l The fifth step is having a role models
who have a clear vision or truth because they sacrificed themselves for truth
and love and also show us a bigger picture.
l The sixth step is "to recognize
that the road to freedom is also a struggle."
l The seventh step is to recognize that
liberation of the heart comes with the faith in God because God leads us to
realize that we are unique, and gives us inner strength.
l To rediscover things such as forgiveness
will be hard, but a worthwhile one.
l Vanier mentions the theme of last
chapter, "the ultimate secret of liberation: to forgive and to be
forgiven, and thus to become free, like little children."
Jean Vanier's Becoming
Human: “The Path to Freedom” Quotations
1. "To be free is to put justice,
truth, and service to others over and above our own personal gain or our need
for recognition, power, honours, and success. When we cling to personal power
and success, when we are frightened of losing social status, then we are in
some way denying our humanity; we become slaves to our own needs. We are not
free" (Vanier 108).
A. In this quote, Jean Vanier tells us that
successfulness can be anything that makes a person satisfied, such as money,
honours, or having a happy family. Sometimes, freedom allows one to do the
right things as a human being, but, if one is fearful of losing what one
gained, it makes you not to free anymore. This quote called out to me because
we can see it everywhere in our society today. People who are shaped by
society, such as politicians, fear things that may bring their social status
down. It shows that those people are not free. It is happening to me too.
Because I always trying to be a nice and good student, I fear something that
bring my reputation down, which means I am not free. Therefore, now we know
that people like Mother Teresa are held honourably because they sacrificed
themselves for truth and love. To be free asks us to sacrifice ourselves.
2. "The road to freedom is never easy;
it involves a real struggle. Inner pain and feelings of distress emerge as we
change and try to live in greater truth and emerge from our self-centredness"
(Vanier 115).
A. This quote warns us that to follow the
road to freedom, we should face our fear and overcome it. I picked this quote
because it reminds me that it is hard to become truly human even though there
is an instruction that lead us to the path of becoming human. And this helps me
to look behind me in the wall. In my experience, it was hard to understand my
friend after we argued about something and it was also painful to forgive/love
him. However, after we reconciled, I grew mentally. No matter what we face on
our road to freedom, we should overcome that challenge with our inner strength.
3. "Freedom is to accept that when we
belong to a group, a race, a tribe, a family, a community, a religion, that
none of these is perfect, that each has its limits and weaknesses. Every
community of humans has its light and its darkness" (Vanier 117-118).
A. Through this quote, Jean Vanier is
telling us that to understand others' weakness, limits, and imperfectness when
you belong to a group are one of the ways to be free. There is no one who is
perfect and everybody has a light side and a dark side in their mind.
Therefore, we need to accept the difference between others. I chose this quote
because I think that most people have an experience where they had excluded
someone from an activity. It is really easy to find people participating in
this act in our society today, especially teenagers. When I was in the elementary
school I once followed the lead of my friend, and excluded my friend who has
ADHD. My friends were good people. However, after I realized that there was a
darkness in our group, I started to accept the difference. However, as they
grow up, I believe that they will realize that everybody is not perfect and may
accept the difference like me.
4. "Crises and unexpected changes can
lead us to denial, despair, anger, and revolt, but these feelings can gradually
help us to accept reality as it is and discover in the new situation new
energies, a new freedom, and a new meaning of life and of the world"
(Vanier 128).
A. In this quote, Jean Vanier tells us that
challenges lead us to denial or anger at first, however, these eventually lead
us to find a new freedom and a new meaning of the world. I chose this quote
because like a wise saying 'failure is a mother of success,' sudden change
makes you to fear at first, however, you will realize that you learn a good
lesson from those situations. I suddenly decided to move to Canada so I did not
expect it. This sudden change led me to gain fears regarding language problems,
making new friends, and adapting to the different traits of this new country.
However, for now, I realize that it was a good decision that I moved to Canada.
I also realize that this change led me to see the bigger picture. Therefore, we
should not give up when we face the challenges.
5. "This union with God, this trust
that we are loved by God and held in the arms of God, gives us inner strength
and fortifies our desire to be, and to be true" (Vanier 132).
A. Through this quote Jean Vanier tells us
that liberation of the heart comes with the faith in God because God leads us
to realize that we are unique, and gives us inner strength. I chose this quote
because when I faced a real struggle, my faith in God leads me to overcome that
challenge and also makes me free. About a year ago, I suddenly heard that I was
being forced to go back to South Korea to serve in my country’s military. I
felt pity for myself, however, when I prayed in the parish, I realized that God
is always with me, and this truth gave me inner strength and made me free from
my situation. Thankfully, my situation has been changed for the better, and I
am now free to stay in Canada. My experience caused me to fortifie my inner
strength, and that allows me to see the bigger picture. Therefore, the trust
that we are loved by God and God is always watching us is really important to
strengthen your inner side.
Jean Vanier’s Becoming
Human: “Forgiveness” Notes
l Vanier says that he will talk about how
to find freedom from inner hurts that allow us to act inhumanly.
l The most common reason that people close
their heart (barriers) is because they have an experience that they were
ignored when they asked for help.
l There are two types of guilt:
psychological guilt and moral guilt which is also call shame.
l l'Arche helps disabled people by
convincing them from self-hatred to self-love.
l One of the reason of psychological guilt
is lack of trust in ourselves.
l Forgiveness is the gift because it makes
people free from the powers of moral, psychological guilt and the hurts of the
past.
Personal Hurts
l Vanier introduces the story of young
woman who is in university that has a problem with her father, eventually, her
hatred is governing her life. So Vanier says both of them need to understand
each other to forgive.
Imprisoned in
One's Likes and Dislikes
l We easily categorize/judge people like a
pyramid, and we want to see ourselves at the top. And when you look down, you
do not consider them as our brothers and sisters.
l To be free, we need to accept the
differences and try to communicate with them.
Hatred of a
group of People
l Asking for forgiveness for our own
hatred is as important as accepting others' forgiveness, and both of them allow
ourselves to get rid of our inability.
l Oppression affects their own hearts,
therefore, if they do not get rid of hatred of the oppressor, they become their
own oppressors.
l It is also important to express your
hatred. Keeping them is not the right way.
Liberating
Ourselves from the Power of Hatred
l Words of hate and the heritage of
unresolved bitterness can poison our hearts.
Love of Enemies
l Love your enemies is one of the most
important message in Catholic.
l Jesus' words 'love your enemies' sound
like idealistic, but it is not. He told us about inner liberation. And also in
Buddhism and Islam, forgiveness of enemies is important.
l We have to solve the conflict that cause
us pain to become truly free.
l Loving one's enemy is about spiritual
reality and also essentially human.
Awareness at the
Heart of Forgiveness
l When we realize our fears and barriers,
forgiveness begins.
l We want to escape from the hole of
depression and anger when we meet the sudden event of openness, however, we
aware that we are imprisoned in ourselves and hard to relate to others.
l When you realize that there is not only
darkness in ourselves, but also the light of hope, it is the beginning of
'ascension.'
The Desire to Be
Liberated from Fear
l We realize our importance, our
blessedness through the desire for liberation.
l For this moment, we are free from fear,
anger, indifference, and unworthiness.
Principles and Steps
Towards Forgiveness
l Principle 1: People are all equal. We
may have differences, but, we have same value.
l There has to be no superiority and
inferiority to follow the path of forgiveness.
l Principle 2: People can be changed. Even
though somebody make a mistake in the past,
their
brokenness lead them to grow in humanity, in inner freedom.
l Principle 3: "To forgive means to
yearn for unity and peace."
l It is hard to forgive somebody or to
accept forgiveness.
l Propose five steps: refusing revenge,
becoming genuine, understanding the oppressors, recognizing our own darkness,
and being patience.
Changing the
Heart of the Oppressors
l Reconciliation is the final destination
of the forgiveness process.
l Power always flows downwards, towards the
weak.
l When the people who aware of self-worth
and personal identity through the exercise of power make a mistake, they ask
for forgiveness to their victims and give up all of the power that they had
before. And they are free from guilt and start a new.
The Gentle Power
of God
l Forgiveness like removing our masks
shows that we are ready to accept who we really are.
l Hiding our fault bring an inner pain.
But when you reveal it, you are also more beautiful than you ever suspected.
l To love your enemies is to hope them to
lock their pride and power and to be free.
l Through the gift of forgiveness, we have
a new power to stay in love.
We Work and God
Works
l Vanier believes desire to be free comes
from God, but it has to be with our own efforts.
l Forgiveness starts with love and
accepting ourselves, trying to understand and appreciate.
l Forgiving others leads us to be
open-minded.
l To be simply human beings, we can start
with the small things to change our world to
better
place.
Jean
Vanier's Becoming Human: “Forgiveness” Quotations
1. "Our hurts leave wounds in the
heart, pushed down and covered over in the recesses of our being. These hurts
are at the origin of the barriers that we create" (Vanier 136).
A.
In
this quote, Jean Vanier tells us about the reason that people close their heart
(creating barriers) is because they have an experience where they were ignored
when they asked for help. Vanier also states that these barriers prevent
communication and openness. Therefore, to become a truly human, they must be
removed. I chose this quote because we can find this kind of case easily in our
society and also I agree with his opinion. Most people who were bullied in
school refuse to have relationships with others after they graduate the school,
as they become the odd one out. About few years ago, I desperately asked a
close friend of mine for help, but he refused it. It caused me to create
barriers preventing me from opening up to others. However, now I forgive them,
and it led me to grow my inner strength. Therefore, they should forgive and
love those who have hurt them to remove the barriers.
2. "To be truly liberated, we have to
make an effort to communicate with those we dislike, to try to understand and
accept them as they are, and to experience our mutual humanity. This is
forgiveness" (Vanier 142).
A.
Through
this quote, Jean Vanier is telling us that we need to accept the differences
and to try to communicate with them to be free. This has to do with including
others because if we do not accept others, then how can we forgive myself and
others. I chose this quote because it is the first thing that we need when we
build a relationship. I usually hang out with people who have the same interest
as me. One day a person who does things that I dislike joined our group. At
first I did not accept her for who she is. But as time flew by, I just learned
to accept her for who she is. I started to hang out with her. In this present
time, we spend too much time judging others. In order to experience our mutual
humanity we should learn how to accept others for who they are, and know how to
forgive them.
3. "When all seems lost, that this
tiny light of hope begins to shine. We become aware not only of all the
darkness in ourselves, but also of the light of hope. At that moment an
ascension begins" (Vanier 151).
A.
In
this quotation, Jean Vanier says that when you realize that there is not only
darkness in ourselves, but also the light of hope. And this will lead us to
openness and to keep self-control from darkness. The reason why I chose this
quote is this quotation shows that if the sky falls, we shall catch larks.
There is no one who is only born with darkness. All of us have darkness and
light in our heart. I have darkness in my mind like others because I am not a
perfect person. I make a mistake, and sometimes I judge people by their
appearance. But, I aware that there is also the light in my mind, and that is
reason why I always try to be an ethical person. Like I said, in bad situation,
if you govern your darkness well and wait until you find the light of hope, an
'ascension' begins like Vanier states.
4. "Forgiveness, however, implies the
removal of these masks, an acceptance of who we really are: that we have been
hurt, and that we have hurt others" (Vanier 158).
A.
Jean
Vanier states that forgiveness like removing our masks shows that we are ready
to accept who we really are. And hiding our fault will cause an inner pain,
however, Kim 15 when you reveal it, you will realize that you are more
beautiful than you ever suspected. Because this quotation clearly shows the
importance of opening and accepting ourselves, I chose this quote. Everytime
when I go to church I try to forgive myself that I have hurt others without
consciousness and others who have hurt me. I know it is difficult to remove this
veil. But I always try. Like Vanier mentions, all of us have our own hurts and
also have hurts others. When we are ready to accept those truth, we can be a
truly free.
5. "It will not seek to exclude but to
include the weak, the needy, and the different, for they have a secret power
that opens up people's hearts and leads them to compassion and mutual trust"
(Vanier 162).
A.
Through
this quote, Jean Vanier is telling us that we need to include our weakness to
communicate with others, which also means to get rid of others' barriers. I
chose this quote because Vanier states the key point of the path of becoming
free. If you close your mind and make a wall when you build a relationship with
others, you cannot get trust from them. However, if you open your mind and get
rid of your barriers, you will have a magical power of including others. After
I finished reading this book, I realize that we always need to include others
by opening our mind, not to exclude others. I can definitely say that my
personality is changed due to Jean Vanier’s advice about how to follow the path
of freedom. His words lead me not to judge the book by its cover. Maybe, for
now, I have a ‘secret power’ like Vanier says. Therefore, we need to be
open-minded and not to exclude others.
Works Cited
Vanier, Jean.
"Forgiveness." Becoming Human.
Toronto: House of Anansi Press Inc., 2008.
135-163. Print.
Vanier, Jean. "The
Path of Freedom." Becoming Human.
Toronto: House of Anansi Press
Inc., 2008. 105-134. Print.
