109: The Waterbending Scroll

Monk Gyatso:

In this chapter we see a weakness of Katara that we need to be careful of in ourselves: jealousy.  She gets upset when Aang demonstrates a natural gift for bending, as he quickly masters some of her tricks.  When others have success, sometimes that upsets us, especially if it seems undeserved or we unfairly compare ourselves.   

But why should someone else’s success automatically mean our failure?  Maybe we aren’t as fast as someone else at picking up something new.  Maybe we will never be as good at something as someone else in the same way.  But each person has their talents and learns and does things in their own special way.  That others are good at something should never make us feel that we are less in some way.   

We should keep working on our talents and interests, and enjoy the fruit of those labors.  We need to work on the level we are at, and not be upset when others enjoy their successes as well, but celebrate with them.  We see that this seed of jealousy leads Katara to anger, dishonesty, and selfishness.

In this chapter, we learn another lesson we need to be careful about: justification.  Katara feels that since the pirates stole the scroll, it is okay to steal it from them.  

 It is NEVER okay to steal.  If we start making up reasons for why it is okay to break a commandment, we get into trouble very quickly.  A person might think it is okay to steal from a rich person because they have enough money to buy more, or okay to tell a lie to a person because they have been dishonest before and payback is fair.   

We need to do what is right always and not think right and wrong change because of what others do, or what situation we are in.  Being a keeper of principles and laws is following them even when it is difficult. 

Panzerfaust: you shouldn’t steal, even from pirates.  Doing something bad to someone bad is still bad.

Pirate Capn: if you do something bad there is always a consequence.

Ellabella: you should always apologize.  Even if you didn’t mean to do something wrong.  You shouldn’t steal.

Now, these are NOT lesson plans, and are not fully developed; but they are the beginning of discussions we are having in our home and our invitation for you to join in and see lessons you glean from the shows.  So Please Comment!!