Comparison

      There are numerous similarities and differences between the several parables included in “Zen Parables” and “Existentialism” by Jean-Paul Sartre on the topic of world views.  Specifically in the way that both passages look at human behavior while still thinking of the universe in the big picture aspect, not so much specifically.  One similarity or connection occurs with Learning to Be Silent, Jean- Paul Sartre makes the point that “man chooses his own self” but that in doing this we “also choose all men”, meaning that when we choose to make a decision for ourselves in the bigger picture our decision sets a precedent for everyone else around us, making us responsible for all of mankind around us. Just like when the first boy began talking he set an example for the other kids and in pointing out his wrong doing all four of them ended up breaking their vow of silence. The first boy chose himself which in turn affected the others making him responsible for them too.

      The biggest difference between the passages is the structure of them and the way their ideas are presented. The Zen Parables was composed of three separate stories that each taught a lesson independent of one another.  The first Zen Parable, “Muddy Road” , teaches the lesson of letting go of the past and living in the present, more specifically inconsequential events. Ekido harbors confusion and negative energy about Tanzan helping the young woman because “monks don’t go near females”, and when he voices his opinion Tanzan replies “I left the girl there” , meaning he has let the situation go, and poses the question of “are you still carrying her?”, asking Ekido if he is still stuck in the past and silently urging him to move on.  “A Parable” moves on to teach us the lessons of living in the moment and finding the silver lining in every bad situation. The tigers represent the man`s future and past, both chasing him and trying to consume his being but he catches “hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge” suspending him in the air (the man`s present). He realizes that eventually he will fall and one of the tigers will consume him but rather than focus on his demise he grasps “ the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other”, he found something sweet in a time of despair. The last parable teaches us that everything we do has consequences and sets the precedent for others around us to follow suit. “Existenalism” was more of an essay and had his three separate ideas presented in paragraph for and eventually tied them all together, making his structure completely different from the Zen Parables.