Religious Zen

I think many in the gaming community have played the award winning “Portal.” I managed to get my hands on it, and enjoyed its dark comedy and ending credits song on so many levels that I can’t describe it all. For me, Portal is a very philosophical game that raises many questions about A.I., life, and post apocalyptic scenarios about the earth getting taken over by aliens (Half-Life).

One of my favorite instances in the game is when I meet up with the Weighted Companion Cube. This wonderful and existential buddy of mine accompanied me for all of one level of the game, but that was enough to leave an impact and life lessons were forever imparted to me. Or maybe I’m looking for something that’s not there? Nonsense! There is wisdom in everything, even the Weighted Companion Cube.

This article is about those life lessons. Even a supposedly non-sentient futuristic crate can show us things- if we are looking for them.

Life Lessons:

1. Sometimes all you need to do is listen. You can’t actually “talk” in the game through your character, but you can talk as a human being to the companion cube. It doesn’t really make a difference, because the companion cube rarely speaks. It only listens. Sometimes this is the best form of advice, listening, and the companion cube does it with high marks. Want to be a great friend to somebody with problems? Just listen. Let them unload their problems on you and instead of giving out self-important advice- just be there! That is what makes a good friend a great friend. Thank you, Weighted Companion Cube, for listening to everything I have to say!

2. A good companion takes some hits for you. Self-sacrifice has often been one of the highest bars set for the measure of true love. Arguably the best example of this in any game is the Weighted Companion Cube. Without objection the companion cube charges in front of me into oncoming balls of de-atomizing energy. Surely without the Weighted Companion Cube, I would never have gotten as far as I did through the Aperture Science facilities. Sometimes we get caught up with our ever so human trait of being greedy and putting ourselves first. Many times we do this without thinking, and sometimes there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. If we are to make change in the world we will often need to take some hard steps and help out a friend in need.

This doesn’t necessarily mean putting your self in physical harm’s way, but holding the door for others is a small step we can all do. See somebody broken down a long the side of the road? See if they need assistance. Give freely out of the abundance we all have. Who knows, maybe someday you will actually have the choice between letting your friend die or jumping into oncoming balls of de-atomizing energy, but that is not likely to happen. Start small, and we’ll work up from there.

3. Life doesn’t always have to make sense. Those who have played portal know of the redundancy of some of the crazy situations you can come across in the game. Some of them are absolutely absurd, like falling 50,000 feet but never leaving the confines of your living room. Your Weighted Companion Cube, too, can do most of the same things you can. All in all, life doesn’t always have to make sense for us to enjoy it. And really, life doesn’t make sense. Many philosophers make a living on that very idea.

When life does throw a curveball it can often be stressful. We can react to stress positively or negatively. Many respond negatively by getting angry, depressed, or even lashing out at the people they love. Not the Weighted Companion Cube. Even when life has him- quite literally- tumbling around and around in a never-ending loop, he doesn’t complain. He simply recognizes that bad things sometimes happen, and chooses to enjoy them as they are. When stress hits us head on acknowledge the fact and face it straight-on. You will overcome stress and reduce your problems all at once!

4. Always be willing to give a helping hand. As sort of a summary of some of the above points, always help out where needed. My Weighted Companion Cube was willing to help me open a door, for example. Life is full of people only looking out for themselves. Devote your time not just to individuals, but help out everybody! Volunteer at a homeless shelter or local salvation army center. Maybe put in some unpaid hours at your job (If you love it THAT much!)? I know several who spend weekends at veterinary clinics, pounds, and zoos to help out. There is no end to legitimate organizations that need human muscle and mind to continue helping our fellow man & animal worlds.

Be like the Weighted Companion Cube, and help those in need without complaining or objecting. Don’t be a doormat- the Cube isn’t- but evaluate and help those who need it. Your life will be all the more fulfilled.

5. Cherish your friends while you have them. Eventually, and rather traumatically, my journey with the Weighted Companion Cube came to an end. I won’t spoil how it ended, but it was a pretty heated situation (forgive the bad joke). It was too bad, too, because I had grown attached to the endless love and, well, companionship that I was given for that fleeting moment. In the same way, some friends are only around for a season. They come into our lives to impart something to us. Some might impart that same love and companionship. Others might even stress us out and we wonder why we ever called them friends to begin with! Whether they are stressful or loving, friends who come in and out of our lives are there for a reason.

Take every opportunity to think and meditate on why they are there, and learn from them. This, more than anything, will allow us to appreciate even the most obnoxious individual and allow us to cherish our friends while we have them. You never know, someday they might not be there. If love and understanding is all we have to give, then give it abundantly.

What a teacher the Weighted Companion Cube is! I believe that if there was an academy awards for video game “actors,” then the Weighted Companion Cube will go down as one of the most enigmatic, energetic, and deepest character in any video game that has existed to date. I may be biased simply because I love the game so much, but who isn’t? The Weighted Companion Cube has never lied to me, and has lead me out of many seemingly inescapable situations. Learn the life lessons that he/she/it has to give us, and grow as a human being. Life lessons are truly everywhere, even in a cube.

Popularity: 25% [?]