Comments on: Qingming Festival: The ponderings of one otaku about the dead and their legacy. http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/ THAT blog of various wonders! Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:08:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Crusader http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-206182 Crusader Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:38:33 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-206182 @TP Yeah for all our differences we all share death in common. @TP
Yeah for all our differences we all share death in common.

]]> By: TP http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205839 TP Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:14:01 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205839 Qing Ming Festival, All Souls Day and any other festivals that are associated with remembrance of the dead, are important elements of a functioning society. The reason for that is that by remembering the dead, you remember their legacies in life, and what they had left in this world, so that you will reflect on your own legacy, and by doing so, spark an impetus to improve on yourself, and make at least your world, a better place to live in. I respect these remembrance festivals because if there's something that's common between Jews, Christians, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and all other cultures, there's a respect for the dead. And we should celebrate on that common ground, because at the end, we are all but originated from the meiosis resulting from a single sperm and egg cell. Life can be giveth, life can be taketh away. Qing Ming Festival, All Souls Day and any other festivals that are associated with remembrance of the dead, are important elements of a functioning society. The reason for that is that by remembering the dead, you remember their legacies in life, and what they had left in this world, so that you will reflect on your own legacy, and by doing so, spark an impetus to improve on yourself, and make at least your world, a better place to live in.

I respect these remembrance festivals because if there’s something that’s common between Jews, Christians, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and all other cultures, there’s a respect for the dead. And we should celebrate on that common ground, because at the end, we are all but originated from the meiosis resulting from a single sperm and egg cell. Life can be giveth, life can be taketh away.

]]> By: Crusader http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205770 Crusader Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:59:27 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205770 @rieuzedx Thanks. @RyanA A noble and worthy cause. Best of luck to ya. @Cherubium It's not that deep, though I am glad you read it. @Ascaloth Then may we fight until hell freezes over. ;) @DrmChsr0 I don't think Qingming is mere idolatry, but more of a family get together. Graves are not for the dead comrade, they are for the living to that we may deal with the loss of their passing and console ourselves when they are no longer there to listen. Perhaps the ceremony does little in the end, but then again it might help out the dead in the next life, we will both find out when we die. If I am wrong then I owe you a pint. @IKnight Our relations exert a greater influence on us than we might suspect, after all it was your elders who helped raise you from a pooping machine into a the person you are today. I doubt that anyone can claim to have learned nothing from their elders, at least not your mum. Besides if you wish to see the legacy of your ancestors just look in a mirror for the physical manifestation of their deeds. @Leviahan Well if nothing else you owe your mum and papa something for contributing to your genes. Besides you probably owe your mum a lot for having to go through the pain of birth to squeeze you out into the world and perhaps a bit for feeding and clothing you for many years. @Will To each his own, but I prefer to embrace my own mortality it give me purpose in life as I don't have tht much time to cry. @Linya Have fun raising your kids. I don't think that the dead remain with us if only in hearts and in our genes. @rieuzedx
Thanks.

@RyanA
A noble and worthy cause. Best of luck to ya.

@Cherubium
It’s not that deep, though I am glad you read it.

@Ascaloth
Then may we fight until hell freezes over. ;)

@DrmChsr0
I don’t think Qingming is mere idolatry, but more of a family get together. Graves are not for the dead comrade, they are for the living to that we may deal with the loss of their passing and console ourselves when they are no longer there to listen. Perhaps the ceremony does little in the end, but then again it might help out the dead in the next life, we will both find out when we die. If I am wrong then I owe you a pint.

@IKnight
Our relations exert a greater influence on us than we might suspect, after all it was your elders who helped raise you from a pooping machine into a the person you are today. I doubt that anyone can claim to have learned nothing from their elders, at least not your mum. Besides if you wish to see the legacy of your ancestors just look in a mirror for the physical manifestation of their deeds.

@Leviahan
Well if nothing else you owe your mum and papa something for contributing to your genes. Besides you probably owe your mum a lot for having to go through the pain of birth to squeeze you out into the world and perhaps a bit for feeding and clothing you for many years.

@Will
To each his own, but I prefer to embrace my own mortality it give me purpose in life as I don’t have tht much time to cry.

@Linya
Have fun raising your kids. I don’t think that the dead remain with us if only in hearts and in our genes.

]]> By: Linya http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205754 Linya Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:11 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205754 Very true and insightful. It is always important to at least honor our ancestors, because we are inseperably connected to them, even if it's only through our genes. As for a legecy: I hope in the future to have several children that I can raise to be outstanding, well-adjusted, people of faith. I couldn't ask for anything more. Very true and insightful. It is always important to at least honor our ancestors, because we are inseperably connected to them, even if it’s only through our genes.

As for a legecy: I hope in the future to have several children that I can raise to be outstanding, well-adjusted, people of faith. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

]]> By: Will http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205690 Will Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:21:04 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205690 There has only been one death in my immediate family (maternal-grandfather, cremated 14 years ago) within my lifetime. I don't make a point of going to see the site every years, but I do stop in on big occasions. I left a tassle at the site when I got my bachelors (he worked at the university for many years). Try as I might, growing up, I still soaked up a bit if the Western aversion toward ruminating on the dead. In a fast-paced individualistic society, a lot of people don't like being reminded of their mortality. There has only been one death in my immediate family (maternal-grandfather, cremated 14 years ago) within my lifetime. I don’t make a point of going to see the site every years, but I do stop in on big occasions. I left a tassle at the site when I got my bachelors (he worked at the university for many years). Try as I might, growing up, I still soaked up a bit if the Western aversion toward ruminating on the dead. In a fast-paced individualistic society, a lot of people don’t like being reminded of their mortality.

]]> By: Will http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205689 Will Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:53 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205689 There has only been one death in my immediate family (maternal-grandfather, cremated 14 years ago) within my lifetime. I don't make a point of going to see the site every years, but I do stop in on big occasions. I left a tassle at the site when I got my bachelors (he worked at the university for many years). Try as I might, growing up I still soaked up a bit if the Western aversion toward ruminating on the dead. In a fast-paced individualistic society, a lot of people don't like being reminded of their mortality. That being said, I think we do a decent job when it <a href="http://compuball.com/av/mansionsofthelord.htm" rel="nofollow">comes to our soldiers.</a> There has only been one death in my immediate family (maternal-grandfather, cremated 14 years ago) within my lifetime. I don’t make a point of going to see the site every years, but I do stop in on big occasions. I left a tassle at the site when I got my bachelors (he worked at the university for many years). Try as I might, growing up I still soaked up a bit if the Western aversion toward ruminating on the dead. In a fast-paced individualistic society, a lot of people don’t like being reminded of their mortality.

That being said, I think we do a decent job when it comes to our soldiers.

]]> By: Leviahan DarklyCute http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205662 Leviahan DarklyCute Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:02:35 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205662 I'm an atheist, so I don't worship my ancestors or somthing like that.. I don't really feel I own somthing to them or to the next generation. Sorry Crusader.. I’m an atheist, so I don’t worship my ancestors or somthing like that.. I don’t really feel I own somthing to them or to the next generation.
Sorry Crusader..

]]> By: IKnight http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205652 IKnight Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:08:34 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205652 Hmm. My family tends to get cremated and scattered, which means there's very little grave-keeping to be done. To be honest, I think I tend to honour my literary mentors more, because they have a physical presence - books - in my life (on my shelves, in fact). Now that I think about it, it's odd that I become more emotional considering the deaths of people I didn't know than considering the deaths of relatives. But then mine is an insignificant family. Hmm. My family tends to get cremated and scattered, which means there’s very little grave-keeping to be done. To be honest, I think I tend to honour my literary mentors more, because they have a physical presence - books - in my life (on my shelves, in fact). Now that I think about it, it’s odd that I become more emotional considering the deaths of people I didn’t know than considering the deaths of relatives.

But then mine is an insignificant family.

]]> By: DrmChsr0 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205608 DrmChsr0 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:04:23 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205608 Strangely enough, while I do my best to honor the people who came before me, I cannot condone the practice of ancestor worship. It's the same as bowing down to an ivory statue of Zeus. It's uh, idolatry, so to speak. I honor my ancestors by living each day to the fullest. Without them, I would not be here. I do not need to burn incense, nor do I see the need to burn offerings or offer food to people who will never taste them. It is not a matter of faith for me, but it is a matter of how you do it. I do not need a special day to pop down to a cemetery to clean graves, I can do so any time I feel like it. I may not see the need for a special day to go down to clean graves but I do understand the significance of proper grave-keeping. An unkempt, forgotten grave is one of the more depressing things to see, next to mass graves, when it comes to death and dying. Even the dead have to be interred with all respect and honor due to him or her. No matter how evil that person is. Strangely enough, while I do my best to honor the people who came before me, I cannot condone the practice of ancestor worship. It’s the same as bowing down to an ivory statue of Zeus. It’s uh, idolatry, so to speak.

I honor my ancestors by living each day to the fullest. Without them, I would not be here. I do not need to burn incense, nor do I see the need to burn offerings or offer food to people who will never taste them.

It is not a matter of faith for me, but it is a matter of how you do it. I do not need a special day to pop down to a cemetery to clean graves, I can do so any time I feel like it. I may not see the need for a special day to go down to clean graves but I do understand the significance of proper grave-keeping. An unkempt, forgotten grave is one of the more depressing things to see, next to mass graves, when it comes to death and dying. Even the dead have to be interred with all respect and honor due to him or her. No matter how evil that person is.

]]> By: Ascaloth http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205580 Ascaloth Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:34:40 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205580 Even though faith is not something I live by, allow me to pray that your duty will not be ending anytime soon; I look forward to future clashing of horns over the choice of two fictional ladies in an animated medium with you. ^_^ Even though faith is not something I live by, allow me to pray that your duty will not be ending anytime soon; I look forward to future clashing of horns over the choice of two fictional ladies in an animated medium with you. ^_^

]]> By: Cherubium http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205572 Cherubium Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:20:54 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205572 Wah that is so deep. I feel somewhat idolizing Crusader recently. Wah that is so deep.

I feel somewhat idolizing Crusader recently.

]]> By: Ryan A http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205566 Ryan A Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:53:23 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205566 Interesting stuff. I think my legacy extension goal is just to leave the world better than when I arrived, or at least my remote world. Definitely not emo about the regrettable things, that's just a wasteful and easy trap to fall into, though I do agree with the idea of grieving (not eternally). ^^ Interesting stuff. I think my legacy extension goal is just to leave the world better than when I arrived, or at least my remote world. Definitely not emo about the regrettable things, that’s just a wasteful and easy trap to fall into, though I do agree with the idea of grieving (not eternally).

^^

]]> By: rieuzedx http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205562 rieuzedx Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:41:37 +0000 http://that.animeblogger.net/2008/04/07/qingming-festival-the-ponderings-of-one-otaku-about-the-dead-and-their-legacy/#comment-205562 A good read, indeed. A good read, indeed.

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