Who do you emulate?

Question

When you see a good man, think of emulating him; when you see a bad man, examine your heart.

-Chinese Proverb

Namaste

Peace and Love

Answer 1

I try to emulate Frodo Baggins or Gandalf the Grey if I can; yes I know they're fictional characters, but aren't creatures of fiction more finely and keenly drawn to represent necessary aspects of reality? I think of Frodo's treatment of Gollum and contrast that to how Aragorn treated him. While Aragorn's intentions were good, he "was not gentle" with Gollum in capturing him, earned his enmity, and Gollum would not speak to Aragorn. However, Frodo was able to see through the "Gollum" that had risen to the fore due to the presence of the One Ring and bring out the forlorn and struggling Smeagol. Frodo's understanding inspired more openness and trust than Aragorn's roughness. Both were good people, but Frodo won more by understanding than Aragorn won by force.

This also is echoed in Gandalf's close ties to Bilbo and Frodo and the hobbits in general. He was perceived as ridiculous by the great Saruman the White, but this very quality of revering the small stood his soul in better stead than Saruman's shaky position as second banana to Sauron. (The erosion of Saruman's soul as he faced Sauron through the Palantir of Orthanc came partly because Saruman only considered the larger picture to be important and would chide Gandalf for his "love for the Halfling's leaf," i.e. his love for the hobbits, who were beneath Saruman's (and Sauron's) notice.)

The theme I harp upon here is how the so-called "bad men" think in grandiose ways (the big picture) at the expense of the personal one-to-one (the small picture). Sauron is defeated because he does not suspect his real doom is a nearly dead halfling climbing up Mount Doom while the apparent threat of the more visible and "great" Aragorn, the Returned King of Gondor stands at the Black Gate as a diversion.

Sometimes I think my holy book is Lord of the Rings, and I have just sermonized. But don't worry; I take inspiration from many sources but try to follow the good in all of them. Your question about emulation made me think of little Mr. Baggins, though. Interestingly, Tolkien admits that the themes in Lord of the Rings are explicitly "Catholic in the revision," and yet I am quite far from being a Catholic. Thanks for the question and for your patience in reading my answer!

Namaste and Cheers!

Answer 2

There is no one person that I emulate. I am who I am, the product of countless rebirths and karmic winds, and I am blessed to enjoy this precious human life. Within me are the seeds of enlightenment and Buddhanature, and it is these seeds that I want to nurture. They are the seeds of liberation that are mine, and emulating someone else won't nurture them!

There are, however, several people that I admire and who have qualities that I would like to cultivate within myself. Some are alive, like the Dalai Lama, Thich Naht Hahn, Neil Tyson, and others. Some are historic figures like Thomas Jefferson. Some are even fictional characters like Sherlock Holmes or Mr. Spock!

Answer 3

Some people emulate whomever they are nearest too -They have no personal strength or integrity or perhaps that is the only way they know of coping, or the only way they know how to survive.
Sad.

Answer 4

I emulate the quiet security guard who lived across the street with his mom and wore purple pants when he walked his dog, which was often.

Answer 5

I don't think I do. Bio's of people are not something I pick and follow - I make my own path. I never learned to follow the cool "in" kids or trends. I do not wear brand names/marketing products, (unless I can remove the brand name).

Answer 6

I see characteristics in others that I admire and try to reinforce those habits into my personal life but I live and think for myself

Answer 7

Nobody

Answer 8

Nobody. I act as I think I should act.

Answer 9

My better self.

Answer 10

jOHN LENNON.
NAMASTE.