In season 2 of Babylon 5, Sheridan requests that Kosh teach him how to 'think like a Vorlon'. Kosh agrees. One of his lessons is to experience "One Moment of Perfect Beauty". We can see the lesson here:
So, knowing what we know about Kosh, the Vorlons, Sheridan, and the Babylon 5 universe, what is the purpose of this lesson? Who are these people that are singing for Sheridan? How did this experience help Sheridan? What are your thoughts?
What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
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Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
Maybe the lesson is that some things should be appreciated for themselves, not as a lesson. Yes, that is a paradox.
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Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
To think like a Vorlon, you must experience one moment that you consider perfect beauty, and then spend forever busting ass to try to preserve it instead of approaching it with more of a Life is Like a Garden LLAP Y'all mindset. The purpose of this lesson was to try to further indoctrinate Sheridan into their Order Cult, already well on its way thanks to a very successful unwitting honey trap. This experience helped Sheridan by damaging his trust of them as selfless benefactors, leading up to his eventual equation of them with the Shadows and rejection of the influence of both.
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? Y'know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! Y'know, I just do things..." --The Joker
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Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
Pretty sure they're an order of Mendicant monks (Mendicants being monks who beg), they're signing in latin after all.
That said, OG Kosh wasn't like most of the other Vorlons. He cared about the younger races for their own sakes, and wasn't about dominating them the way the other Vorlons did (you can tell, because he ended up fighting Ulkesh). I think this was a lesson to Sheridan that beautiful things don't come about due to the actions of single people, but through concerted action. You cannot have a gregorian chant without many cantors,all acting with a common purpose but but in slightly different ways.
That said, OG Kosh wasn't like most of the other Vorlons. He cared about the younger races for their own sakes, and wasn't about dominating them the way the other Vorlons did (you can tell, because he ended up fighting Ulkesh). I think this was a lesson to Sheridan that beautiful things don't come about due to the actions of single people, but through concerted action. You cannot have a gregorian chant without many cantors,all acting with a common purpose but but in slightly different ways.
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Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
this series has always fascinated me, sooner or later I have to find time to see it
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Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
The lesson has many facets:
The most important point at which to find a moment of serenity and contemplation is when you are most tired and harried, for that is when your spirit is most in need of refreshment. [Kosh saying that when Sheridan is tired and harried is precisely the correct time for the lesson]
One must be open to new things and uncertainties, rather than rigidly planning out all actions in advance. ["I'm not sure I understand what we're doing down here." "Good."]
There is beauty to be found even in the most ugly and neglected parts of the universe. [The worst part of down-below.]
One must give some payment/earn one's moment of beauty. [The putting forward of the begging bowl]
One must set aside ones mundane/daily concerns in order to see the beauty. [Sheridan offering his bar, which is not worth much in a monetary sense but symbolizes his career, life, and daily concerns]
The lesson: when you are at your most spiritually depleted set aside the mundane, open yourself to previously unheeded possibilities, offer yourself to the universe and you will experience beauty where you thought there was none.
Now, as to whether or not that actually has anything to do with thinking like a Vorlon, or is just what the Vorlons want you to think, is another question entirely.
The most important point at which to find a moment of serenity and contemplation is when you are most tired and harried, for that is when your spirit is most in need of refreshment. [Kosh saying that when Sheridan is tired and harried is precisely the correct time for the lesson]
One must be open to new things and uncertainties, rather than rigidly planning out all actions in advance. ["I'm not sure I understand what we're doing down here." "Good."]
There is beauty to be found even in the most ugly and neglected parts of the universe. [The worst part of down-below.]
One must give some payment/earn one's moment of beauty. [The putting forward of the begging bowl]
One must set aside ones mundane/daily concerns in order to see the beauty. [Sheridan offering his bar, which is not worth much in a monetary sense but symbolizes his career, life, and daily concerns]
The lesson: when you are at your most spiritually depleted set aside the mundane, open yourself to previously unheeded possibilities, offer yourself to the universe and you will experience beauty where you thought there was none.
Now, as to whether or not that actually has anything to do with thinking like a Vorlon, or is just what the Vorlons want you to think, is another question entirely.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. Leonard Nimoy.
Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid.- Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity, which sums up my feelings regarding the lawsuit discussed here.
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Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid.- Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity, which sums up my feelings regarding the lawsuit discussed here.
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. - John F. Kennedy
Sam Vimes Theory of Economic Injustice
Re: What was the purpose of Kosh's "One Moment of Perfect Beauty"? (Babylon 5)
I think you've figured it out. That makes perfect sense as The Lesson.Broomstick wrote: ↑2019-09-08 03:43pm The lesson: when you are at your most spiritually depleted set aside the mundane, open yourself to previously unheeded possibilities, offer yourself to the universe and you will experience beauty where you thought there was none.
One thing it did do was move Sheridan down the path the Vorlon planned ... until Sheridan met The Eldest, and then the plan went out the window.Now, as to whether or not that actually has anything to do with thinking like a Vorlon, or is just what the Vorlons want you to think, is another question entirely.
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet