The modern definition of excellent health, according to Glencoe Health textbook, one of the best-selling health textbook of all time, is “the combination of physical, mental/emotional, and social well-being”. According to the health textbook, physical, mental and social well-being is critical in order for a person to stay healthy and happy, yet Teddy, the main character in the short story “Teddy” by J.D. Salinger, remains vigorous without being attached or doing anything to balance the three components of health. According to westerners, Teddy would be recognized as a freak, but to Hindus he would be viewed as an enlightened soul. Three behavior of Teddy that depicts how he truly lives his life according to Hinduism is his detachment from the
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Teddy’s detachment from physical existence may be perceived as abnormal or weird by Americans, but according to Hindus this would be considered as an important step toward moksha. J. D. Salinger begins the story with Teddy’s father being materialistic about the expensive bag that Teddy is standing on. He continuously tells Teddy to get off the bag, but Teddy continues to look through the porthole without bothering to pay any attention to what his father is saying. While Teddy is standing on the bag Salinger describes his physical appearance for the first time, “he was wearing dirty, white ankle-sneakers, no socks, ... an overly laundered T-shirt that had a hole the size of a dime” (Salinger 69). Teddy’s poor appearance proves that he is disconnected and has no value for the physical matter. Because of his experiences in previous life he is aware that physical matter is only an illusion and knows that it is not a permanent thing. He is conscious of the fact that only thing that is real is brahman and everything else just Maya of god. Then later in the story, Nicholson asks Teddy if he informed the professors in the Leidekker group of the place and the time of their death and Teddy argues that he only told them “places, and times, when …show more content…
Most people consider emotions and feelings as a required characteristic to be human. Teddy, a sannyasin, does not agree with that fact and believes otherwise, he claims, “they love their reason for loving us almost as much as they love us” (Salinger 77). Teddy points out that most people do not love other just the way they are, and instead they only love someone only if they have they have reason to love them. For example, a husband might love his wife, but if the she was not his wife and was a stranger, he is unable to love her. In order to have equal love for everyone, Teddy has an affinity for everyone. Teddy has an equal affinity for parents, god, sister, or even a stranger. Further in the story, when Teddy is describing the process of samsara to Nicholson, he says, “If I fracture my skull and die instantaneously... what would be so tragic about it, though?” (Salinger 80). Teddy’s foreshadows his own death without any fear or gloominess because he is aware that life on earth is only like a dream and that in reality he will never die. He is aware of the fact that the atman within him is indestructible and that death is only a wake-up call after a long dream. Teddy is conscious of the fact that emotions are Maya or god’s created illusion. He knows from his previous lives that emotions are distraction that lead away from moksha and brahman, so to
Teddy’s detachment from physical existence may be perceived as abnormal or weird by Americans, but according to Hindus this would be considered as an important step toward moksha. J. D. Salinger begins the story with Teddy’s father being materialistic about the expensive bag that Teddy is standing on. He continuously tells Teddy to get off the bag, but Teddy continues to look through the porthole without bothering to pay any attention to what his father is saying. While Teddy is standing on the bag Salinger describes his physical appearance for the first time, “he was wearing dirty, white ankle-sneakers, no socks, ... an overly laundered T-shirt that had a hole the size of a dime” (Salinger 69). Teddy’s poor appearance proves that he is disconnected and has no value for the physical matter. Because of his experiences in previous life he is aware that physical matter is only an illusion and knows that it is not a permanent thing. He is conscious of the fact that only thing that is real is brahman and everything else just Maya of god. Then later in the story, Nicholson asks Teddy if he informed the professors in the Leidekker group of the place and the time of their death and Teddy argues that he only told them “places, and times, when …show more content…
Most people consider emotions and feelings as a required characteristic to be human. Teddy, a sannyasin, does not agree with that fact and believes otherwise, he claims, “they love their reason for loving us almost as much as they love us” (Salinger 77). Teddy points out that most people do not love other just the way they are, and instead they only love someone only if they have they have reason to love them. For example, a husband might love his wife, but if the she was not his wife and was a stranger, he is unable to love her. In order to have equal love for everyone, Teddy has an affinity for everyone. Teddy has an equal affinity for parents, god, sister, or even a stranger. Further in the story, when Teddy is describing the process of samsara to Nicholson, he says, “If I fracture my skull and die instantaneously... what would be so tragic about it, though?” (Salinger 80). Teddy’s foreshadows his own death without any fear or gloominess because he is aware that life on earth is only like a dream and that in reality he will never die. He is aware of the fact that the atman within him is indestructible and that death is only a wake-up call after a long dream. Teddy is conscious of the fact that emotions are Maya or god’s created illusion. He knows from his previous lives that emotions are distraction that lead away from moksha and brahman, so to