Preliminary Questions -
1 - Jason Ruys
2 - jruys@student.mtsac.edu
3 - 6 posts completed
Post 1 - 1/17/11 6:13 PM
Post 2 - 1/23/11 9:38 PM
Post 3 - 1/25/11 8:03 PM
Post 4 - 1/26/11 12:12 AM
Post 5 - 1/26/11 12:14 AM
Post 6 - 1/26/11 6:49 PM
Interactive Post - 1/26/11 9:17 PM
Current Event Post - 1/30/11 9:47 AM
4 -
Week 1
- When Scholars Study the Sacred
- When Gods Decay
Week 2
Enchanted Land: A Journey of the Saints in India
Chapter 1 - Intro
Chapter 2 - Hinduism
Wikipedia article on Jainism
Why I Don’t Eat Faces
Lions in the Punjab
Week 3
Chapter 3 - Buddhism
Chinese Philosophy - Confucius The Analects
Tao
Chapter 4 - Confucianism
Chapter 5 - Taoism
5 - I am up to date on all the reading assignments
6 -
Week 1
Video on Education and Internet
Meme Theory
Week 2
Film on the guru
Hinduism - Smith Interview
The Story of India
Hinduism 1 - 5
All 3 Jainism videos
Week 3
Sikhism videos
All 4 Buddhist videos
All 4 Tao/Confucius related videos
My favorite video is the first video in the Jainism folder. People who are willing to share their religion with others are typically passionate about their religion. I love this man’s passion. He shares his beliefs in a way that is easy to understand. It was a personalized message rather than a text book message.
7 -
Week 1
Introduction of Huston Smith
8 - I plan to visit the Hindu Temple of Las Vegas on Saturday, February 5 with my wife and daughter.
9 - Tao & Confucius the Analects
10 - Negative
11 -
Week 1 - 14 hours
Week 2 - 12 hours
Week 3 - 23 hours
12 - Jainism has been the religion that has stood out to me the most. Their non-violent approach to everything is what we all need. Here in the United States we have become a shallow and insecure people. We are too judgmental and violent (be it physical or emotional) towards our fellow man. I have found myself falling into this pitfall of passing judgment when I have no right or saying things that are destructive of others. If I can apply the Jainistic principles into my life I know that I could have a better impact on those around me.
MISC INFO -
Website - http://jasonmwr.blogspot.com/
**Some of the essay responses contain excerpts from my prior weekly posts. If I state “the reading” in a question, it implies the quote is from the reading that was assigned for that question.**
RELIGION MIDTERM -
Question #1
Ninian Smart defined religion as being seven dimensional. The first dimension is myth. A religion must have myths in order to be classified as one per Smart’s dimensions. These myths are not false accounts, but stories about the sacred. These myths can hold a contain symbolism and doctrine along with hagiography. That all depends on who is giving an account of the myth. To illustrate this principle the reading contains the example of the game of telephone. The game could start out with the simplest of phrases or instructions but over the transference of this message some simple truth is lost. These myths can also contain symbolism. Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell profess that myths are similar to dreams. They believe that our dreams are universal symbols of our minds while we are sleeping.
The next dimension is called rituals. Every religion has its rituals no matter how big or small. For one it could be singing hymns while for another it could be reciting a written prayer or praying at certain times each day. These rituals are used to connect the follower/believer with the sense of the sacred. They are mostly simple activities that need to be carried out in a certain way. Sometimes they are repeated often, other times not so much. No matter what the ritual is, it is something that helps the believer define their faith.
In conjunction with rituals we have experiences. Experiences can occur at the same time as the ritual that is being performed or spontaneously. Either way it is these religious experiences that bring the believer/follower closer to the sacred.
Doctrine is next as what defines the “who, what, where, when and why” to the religion. It is what provides the structure to the belief system. It is what is passed down to the followers by word of mouth or through a written method. Religions also contain a code of Ethics that is passed down to the followers/believers. Most, if not all, share the same sentiment with regards to murder, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. Basically, all religions believe that you should do unto others as you would like done unto you.
An interesting aspect to religions is the Social aspect. Religions provide a place for the believer/follower to feel as though they are a part of something special. It provides them a place where beliefs and lifestyles are similar. This sense of one-ness provides a sense of security to the individual.
The final dimension is the Material aspect. It would be difficult to spread a religious message without having a place to meet at, a book/scripture to read from or a sort of dress code to follow. These material items provide a pathway to the divine.
It is important to understand that religions survive due to memes. Susan Blackmore describes memes as ideas that are copied into another believer. In the video she describes a little about how we humans have evolved and she says, “As memes evolve, as they inevitably must, they drive a bigger brain that is better for copying memes that are doing the driving.” Religions survive due to this method. In a way it’s a battle out there. Religions are fighting for their survival. If no one accepts the beliefs of a religion and the religion is not copied into others the religion will die out.
When discussing religion, one must also address cults. Cults are defined in the reading as, “simply a new religious movement.” Cults carry a negative connotations in our society as brainwashing centers among other names. Cults, if their memes are able to be copied into more and more followers will inevitably become more and more accepted in society. A prime example of this is that of the Mormon church. They have not been readily accepted, but are becoming more and more accepted as society embraces more and more of their beliefs.
In The Cult Experience J. Gordon Melton describes how diverse these United States/Western cultures are with regards to religion. He states that there are approximately 900 different mainline denominations and 600 alternative religions. He describes how many join these new religions (cults) to re-instill religion into their lives. He also describes that many of these individuals who join these cults are not uneducated. Some are middle-aged, well-educated individuals who are just looking to become a part of something special. For many it is the social aspect of a religion that Smart defines in his 7 dimensions to a religion.
Dick Anthony in source that we can turn to to help understand cults. If we are to discern between any new religion, he suggests that we discern between what groups are problematic or not. Problematic meaning promoting attitudes towards those who are not apart of the new religion.
What would I do if I were asked to create a religion? Coming to understand the many different criteria that need to be met to even be considered a religion and be able to pass this on to others is not an easy task. The only way I believe it can be done is for me to have an outrageously spiritual experience. That experience would have to tie into the core beliefs of the Christian society here in the United States in order for me to present something new. This religion would have to be based on a belief of the family unit and it would have to be something that is easy enough that a child could understand it. I would eliminate the complexity that is found in many religions. Rituals would be simple and members would have the end goal of making sure their fellow man was taken care of before themselves.
Question #2
Secularization is called the fuel of religion in the reading due to its ability to inspire innovation in a religion. It is what helps religions stay pertinent in todays society. There are a few groups that the reading describes as being the Classical Orthodox Groups. They are Fundamentalism, Orthodox Judaism and Evangelicalism.
Fundamentalism is a conservative movement that is considered an extreme movement of Christianity. The fundamentalists want a return back to the fundamentals of religion. Those being: a return to the traditional family model, high moral standards and taking the Bible literally. These have come about as a reaction to the secularization of religion. Orthodox Judaism has had a similar response to the modernization of religions. They also promote a return to the fundamental values of their religion.
Evangelicalism is a more conservative belief for Christians. They are not as strict as the Fundamentalists, but that does not mean that they do not believe in maintaining a strict code of conduct.
These groups have been fueled by what the reading calls the Baby Boomer Effect. As the baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) have grown older, for whatever reason that have turned to religion. In turning to religion, they have begun to question the establishment of religion and its principles. Unlike before, followers would follow like lemmings and not question what was being taught or research what was being taught. Now, these baby boomers have begun to question and seek for answers to the questions that they have about life. Many of these baby boomers have found answers to their questions by aligning themselves to a religion.
These baby boomers have been found to have certain characteristics. It is as though this generation of people have focused on the final stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization. The baby boomers typically have more tolerance and in doing so have been called narcissistic. This argument that they should be considered narcissistic is not a fair argument since the baby boomers are more centered on being self-aware and not selfish. Their tolerance is due in part to the education level of these individuals. Baby boomers have sought education and this has allowed them to see more angles to the same teachings.
Baby boomers are able to be classified into three groups with regards to religion. Loyalist, Dropouts and Returnees. Loyalists make up a third of the population. They are those who have not wavered or turned away from the religion of their upbringing. Dropouts make up forty-two percent of this population. They remove themselves from the mainstream religions to align themselves with an alternative or secular religion. The final group of Returnees make up approximately twenty-five percent of the baby boomers. They are those who stay in their own religion, but try to make the change from within. It is comical to think that some may have denounced their religion only to return and try to change it on their own.
All these groups and individuals have challenged religion. The baby boomers have left a lasting impact on how one studies and aligns themselves to a religion. Before, it was as though people were following blindly. They accepted their religion to be the one and only truth. Baby boomers questioned establishment and in turn questioned religion. One thing the baby boomers have shown us is how durable religions are. Even after all the questioning and movements that have taken place since they were born, I would argue that the main religions have weathered the “storm” of questioning. The religions could have just molded to society or the individuals could have aligned themselves to the teachings.
While I was reading these two assignments I was fascinated by the many different ways there are to study religion. In my first post I wrote, “One could study any religion through theological, sociological, psychological, phenomenological, anthropological and many other “-ical” methods. Smart argues three methods (antipathy, sympathy and empathy) while Berger argues three similar, but altogether different methods (reduction, deduction and induction). It is not an easy task to maintain objectivity while studying any religion.”
Studying religion scientifically presents more questions to any religion, especially when it comes down to testing things that are un-falsifiable. How can you test if god exists? You cannot test the faith of a follower. Testing the psychology and the social aspects of a religion can provide some answers as to why people align themselves to any religion. There are many schools of though and practices as to how to practice and even study religion.
I am not sure I could study a religion objectively at this point in my life. I believe that I would have to devote more time to studying how religions work before questioning if they are true or not. I am set in my religion and while studying other religions I believe I might be trying to prove the other religions wrong while studying them. Maybe after some time I will be able to question and study any religion without presenting a biased point of view.
Question #3
Religion has proven to provide a social function. There are many different ways to look at this. We will look at Durkheim, Weber, Juergensmeyer and Simmel.
A 19th century scholar named Emile Durkheim believed that Freud’s teaching of totems (Early male humans, possessing the Oedipus complex wanted their fathers dead. In lieu of actually killing their father, they sacrificed an animal as a ritual and this animal became the clan totem.) was a personification of the forces of society rather than it being a substitute for the father. Using the totems, the early male humans were able to tackle the taboos that existed in their society.
In todays culture we do not have totems. In the United States we have God. We put our trust in Him and we behave a certain way if we want His approval. He puts order into our everyday lives. Socially, He has a great impact on His followers. When we disobey Him we live in the fear that we will be cast into hell. Thus, we try to live our lives in a way that is acceptable to Him.
Max Weber also has his understanding of how the social function of religion can control our lives. He contends that religion itself can be the instrument to instill social change. He gives the example of how Protestants were vital to capitalism in the world. Catholics had a different approach than that of the Protestants. He noticed that business leaders were mostly Protestant. Something in their beliefs differed enough to create a different mind set regarding work ethic and worshipping their god. This could have been their acknowledging god in all aspects of life and not only the sacred.
Mark Juergensmeyer agrees with Weber that religion can play a vital role in bringing social change. In the reading we are presented with the example of the Untouchables in India. The Ad Dharm movement in the early 1920’s proved that change can be brought socially through religious a movement. Although this movement ended up becoming more politically charged than religiously charged, this movement proved Juergensmeyer’s point that religions can bring about social change.
George Simmel argues that for society to function properly it needs religion. He contends that society would not exist without it. He speaks of religious rituals, pilgrimages and festivals that bring people together in the spirit of worship and love for their fellow man. These activities truly are for the common good. He expresses how the group think of god changes as the group changes. This change in dynamics helps keep the order in the group.
As shown through these sociologists, religion has a huge impact on society. Religions provide that outlet for individuals to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. Many religions have rituals that take place several times a week, providing an opportunity to interact with others while learning and sharing about their beliefs. I know that without the religious influences in my life I would not be where I am today. I know I could have made choices that would have greatly influenced my life today. More than anything, a religion provides a place for someone to be a part of something good. It teaches one how to be a good person in society and how to be a good neighbor to those around you. The only problem is that we learn these principles but it seems as though everyone has a problem putting these principles into practice.
Question #4
I chose to answer question #3 in lieu of question #4.
Question #5
One of the most basic yet important beliefs of Hinduism is that which people really want. We may ask ourselves what we really want in life. Most people may say wealth, pleasure or responsibility. But according Hindus, that is not what people really want. What is it that we desire most? The answer is simple: we already have it. That which people really want, they already have. Huston Smith says of Hindus, “...what we really want is to be, to know, and to be happy.”
Hindus believe that the human being has a body, naturally. They also believe that a human being encompasses personality with mind, memories, and thoughts. Others may believe that there isn’t much more to a person but the Hindus disagree. Huston Smith describes what Hindus think of one’s self as, “...a reservoir of being that never dies, is never exhausted, and is unrestricted in consciousness and bliss.” Hinduism calls this inner self the Atman. Along with the Atman is Brahman or the Godhead. The complete human being or self is not complete with these three: Body, personality, and Atman-Brahman.
There are many different personalities and goals that each person possesses. Not one person is ever in the same place emotionally and mentally as another person. For this reason, Hindus have four main paths to enlightenment. The key word in describing the various ways to arrive at these paths to enlightenment is yoga. Yoga means to unite or to discipline. It is a way of training that leads to unions. The ultimate goal to God. The first way to God is through knowledge or Inana Yoga. It is said to be the shortest way to God but the hardest. People function and react more on emotion than they do logic. Which brings us to the second way to God: bhakti yoga- the yoga of love. Bhakti yoga is the most popular of the yogas. The goal in this yoga is the adore God. Japam, or repeating God’s name in worship is the method in which bhakta uses to love God. The third way to God is through Karma Yoga, the way through work. Hinduism is passionate about work and working unselfishly. To work with an unselfish heart, always thinking about others, then the end goal will be accomplished. The fourth and last of the yogas is what they call, “the royal road to integration.” Raja yoga: the way to God through psychophysical experiments. Hindus believe that there are four layers that make up the human being: the body, the mind, the subconscious, and the fourth being the eternal part of the human being. These four things make up the human being and this fourth yoga is the final way to enlightenment.
Hinduism belies each person enters and experiences a stage of life. At every age, one is always involved in a different stage of life. The first stage of life are between the ages of eight and twelve called the student. The second stage usually begins when marriage has taken place called the householder. Time will be divided into family, vocation and community. The third stage of life is the stage of renunciation- the time of retirement. This is where one learns and understand the world to it’s fullest.
Difference in people, their phases of life and what they are currently experiencing is admired by Hindus. They have four ways or groups that people are put in to describe how they best fit into society and develop their own potentials. The first is Brahmins or seers. These are spiritual and intellectual leaders. The second group are the organizers. The third are the producers. And you always have to have the followers- this is the fourth group. Usually in one lifetime, one will fall into each group and experience what it is like to be in each one. Each group is embraced and respected.
One final idea of Hinduism is that there are “many paths to the same summit.” Hindus believe that though one may be Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, or Sikh, every individual is trying accomplish the same goal to get to the same God. There may be different names and ways to practice, worship and reach the end goal. There are multiple ways to achieve what all are working toward. This idea of accepted difference is embraced and respected by Hindus.
Question #6
Jainism started around the ninth century BC although they believe that Jainism has always existed and will always exist. It started spreading in the south of India in the third century BC. Jainism has been appressed by rulers in India but has weathered the storm and can now be found in many different countries. The first Jain temple to be built outside of India was in 1960 in Mombasa, Kenya. Jainism has spread to many countries and temples can be found in many of them. These countries include, Suriname, the United States, South Africa, Nepal and Japan.
Jainism believes that one needs to have complete and absolute control over the mind and body. The followers try to do everything to liberate themselves from the negative effects that their thoughts and actions can have on their lives. They try to prevent this through abiding by three principles. 1 - The right view (seeking to view reality correctly) 2 - The right knowledge (finding the true meaning of reality) 3 - The right conduct (applying the knowledge acquired into one’s life) Jainism also preaches that every creature is divine and every human has the potential to become divine. It is also preached that Karma is a reaction to something taking place (unlike the Hindu belief).
Jainism follows a firm code of ethics. One of them being non-violence. This belief of non-violence applies to all living things. One should minimize violence, be it intentional or unintentional, to all living things. Another belief is that of truthfulness. Speak the truth, but with tact. Be constructive and not destructive in word and thought.
One of the Jainistic philosophies is that of vegetarianism. Their belief is all encompassing. Their non-violent approach to living things includes plants. Jain followers will not consume root vegetables because if one is to harvest a root vegetable you would, in essence, be ending the life of that plant. Also, they do not partake of this food because of the impact it has on the soils.
Jainism has been and can be compared to many different religions. Buddhism is a religion that I will compare Jainism to.
Similarities -
Jainism and Buddhism can both be considered atheistic religions. They do acknowledge the divine in all living things, but not the divine in the non-living things.
They also believe in the presence of gods and higher beings who can change and evolve just as we can according to their karma.
Both religions welcome people from all walks of life into their religion. There is no distinction for the caste system or anything of the sort.
Both religions feature a monastic lifestyle for those who chose. Their monks live together in monastic communities and these individuals seek to attain knowledge and also impart their knowledge to those around them.
Both religions began in India.
Differences -
Jainism was propagated from a lineage of several thirthankaras from royal families. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama who became Buddha after he received his enlightenment.
Jainism believes the soul is eternal and that death separates the soul from the body and the soul is sent to another body. That body is determined by the individuals prior actions. Buddhists do not believe in an eternal soul.
Jainism believes in complete vegetarianism and non-violence (ahimsa). Buddhism is not as stringent. For example, a Buddhist could eat a fish that was caught by others.
Question #7
The history is Sikhism is complex yet simple. It can be understood in three different ideas: 1) Guru Nanak founding Sikhism, 2) Guru Har Gobind turning to militancy in times of unrest and 3) The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh organizing the Khalsa. Though in the history of Sikhism there have been more than ten gurus, it is only necessary to mention the original and most important ten gurus as they will briefly be discussed.
Starting with Guru Nanak who is the founder of Sikhism. Nanak felt the need for gurus was very important. He meditated often and his message was that of love and peace. He was followed by guru Angad who didn’t change much in his rule. Guru Angad is followed by guru Amar Das who is the third guru. Amar Das organized the manji system: a Sikh administration. He established a system that allowed Sikhs to fall into debate with the hierarchies of the Hindu World. One important thing Amar Das did was collected the gurus’ words that became the govindval pothis that ended up being the Ani Granth. Then comes guru Ram Das, who had three sons but felt his youngest was the most qualified to follow in his guruship. Arjan is the fifth guru, son of guru Ram Das. During Arjan’s rule there was much persecution and upheaval. Because of this unrest, Arjan was a martyr. The day of his death marks a day of holiness to the Sikhs. The sixth guru was instrumental in the history of Sikhism, guru Har Gobind. He is the son of Arjan. He felt there was much to be changed and done because of everything that had happened with his dad. Guru Har Gobind wore two swords around his wrists symbolizing temporal and spiritual strength. When Har Gobind died, he appointed his second grandson, Har Rai as the next guru. Har Rai appointed his young son to be the next guru. Har Krishan is the son of Har Rai. A distance family member then takes the lead. The ninth guru is Tegh Bahadur who was also a martyr. He had a nine year-old son who took on the great responsibility of leading the people after his father. Bringing the tenth and final guru to Gobind Singh.
Gobind Singh is credited for organizing the Khalsa which also means the community of the pure. These Sikhs were viewed as Orthodox. This stated the many rules and regulations of expected Sikh behavior. The two reasons for the Khalsa: to establish the Sikh community in times of such upheaval, and the obtain a peace and independence in the community.
In the online video about Sikhism I learned that Sikhs are just ordinary people who live next door. There are many all around and they actually take up an important part of our lives. I learned that Sikhs believe that God is without form or gender. They believe that their Sikh god is also a god of Islams and Buddhists and Christians. He expresses the notion of tolerance and love. Sikhs take up less than 2% of India’s population. It is said that Sikhim has championed the concept of freedom and democracy.
Question #8
In every religion there are many different people. Many people come together with the same idea and beliefs. Within this group of people, however, there are those with differing opinions on how to live these ideas and beliefs. Standards vary with certain individuals. One person may see and live a belief a different way than another person. This happens in every aspect of life. It happened especially with the Buddhists. There was a group who insisted that Buddhism was a full-time job. The other group didn’t see the importance on making their religion their life. Both of these groups were called yanas, rafts or ferries for which to carry themselves across life’s river. To be more specific, the second, more relaxed in their religion group was named Mahayana meaning the big raft. Which means the first group was called Hinayana, or the little raft. This didn’t settle with with the Hinayanas so they preferred calling themselves the Way of the Elders or Theravada. This group claimed to be the original Buddhist, taught by Gautama himself. These two groups continued seeing many things from a different perspective. They believe different things. For example, Mahayanasists that Buddha taught more by example than he did by words. Theravadians believe it is all about the letter of the law. What is said is what is done. However, there are more than just two schools of Buddhism.
After Buddhism split into two schools, Theravada and Mahayana, more divisions continued happening. Theravada continued unified in their beliefs, traditions and practices whereas Mahayana divided into smaller schools. One of the main schools is called the Pure Land School. These people believe in having faith in Buddha to carry them to their Pure Land, a sort of heaven. Another school that was branched off is a school that set on learning and social harmony called Tendai. One of the main sects of Mahayana is Zen. Like many sects, this one actually claims that they can trace themselves back to Gautama himself. Zen is a different world. Huston Smith describes it as, “...charmingly mad... a world of bewildering dialogues, obscure conundrums, stunning paradoxes... all carried off in the most urbane, cheerful, and innocent style imaginable.”
Another sect that developed from the branching off of Buddhism is Vajrayana, meaning the Diamond Way. When Mahayana turned Buddha into a cosmic figure, Vajrayana turned Buddha into a diamond scepter. Their roots are mostly in Tibet. The Diamond Way is a powerful way. To them this is a symbol of strength.
Unfortunately where Buddhist were first formed and originated, they no longer exist. From the text, “Today Buddhists abound in every Asian land except India.” Hinduism is greatly practiced in India, which is why the merge of the two religions happened and Buddhism eventually died out. Though these religions have many similarities, they are very different. Among those in India, Hinduism seems to be the preferred practice of religion.
Question #9
Tao essentially means the path or the way. Everything is centered around it. The way has three meanings. It can mean the way of ultimate reality. This ultimate reality is taught to mean too much for one’s mind to conceive. Next is the way of the universe. This has reference to the spirit rather than matter. It can in no way be exhausted. This also refers to the mother of the world (Mother Earth). Lastly we have the way of human life. This simply means the way life is.
There are three approaches to power that are preached with Tao. They are Efficient Power, Augmented Power and Vicarious Power. Efficient power is also referred to as philosophical taoism. This is essentially an attitude toward life. There are teachers and there are students. It, however, is not organized as a religion. Huston Smith writes, “The object of philosophical Taoism is to align one’s daily life to the Tao, to ride its boundless tide and delight in its flow.” In this power, Wu Wei is subscribed to. That means that all friction, be it in a relationship or with one’s self, is reduced to the minimum. Wu wei is also described as supreme action and simplicity. Wu wei is also a way to teach one to be non-competitive. Tao is non-competitive by nature.
Augmented power describes says to be alive is good, to be more alive is better, hence the importance leading a healthy life. The healthy lifestyle also includes meditation and yoga. There is teaching that if you are able to have control over your mind much is possible. Smith illustrates this when he says, “Without lifting a finger , a ruler who had mastered this stillness could order an entire people with his mystical-moral power. Without being aware of what was happening, his subjects would spontaneously forego unruly ways.”
The last power is vicarious power. This is also referred to as religious taoism. Much of Taoism can be considered “crude superstition.” Taoism is thought to have powers and through the creation of a church, these powers were able to be shared with the most ordinary of people.
The principles taught in Tao is very much applicable today. Just think if everyone was thinking about wu wei in their daily lives. We would have a lot less road rage because no one would be competing for little things in life that do not matter. I have read a majority of the religious literature assignment “Tao Te Ching” and I have loved reading its simple yet profound ideals in each one of the chapters. I have shared these simple passages with family and friends and I have been active in trying to incorporate these teachings into my life. I have already seen how they can bring peace and tranquility into my life.
While reading on Confucius I was astonished to learn that he did not find a following until after his death. In life he was arguably a failure in his endeavors. One of the things that I admire about him is that he sought to learn continuously. He hated being called a “sage.” He did not believe that you could never know everything. Often times many educated individuals start to believe too much in themselves and that makes life miserable for the student. The teacher student relationship cannot flourish because the teacher is on a different level than the student and therefore communication can be lost.
Question #10 -
Hinduism - The thing I learned most from these two videos are the Hindu words. Everything that Michael Wood taught and talked about in this video he stated the Hindu word after. I thought that was very good and very teachable. It was nice to see a visual on how they worship to the way they do things.
Buddhism - These videos were very interesting to watched. It was nice to look and listen to these instead of reading. These videos put Buddhism into a different perspective for me. Especially the BBC Life of Buddha documentary. I loved how he went into depth about each guru and how they felt about their sons, grandsons, and successors. The detail he went into to talk about how they felt and what they were going through was very educational.
Chinese Religions -
The three great teachings of China are Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Confucianism teaches political and social harmony. Taoism teaches soundness in physical body and mind. Buddhism teaches psychology. All three of these religions together provide the bedrock of ancient culture.
Confucius - Everyone must assume their rightful place in society determined by their abilities.
Taoism -
Buddhism - Imported from India. Not a great influence in China back in the day. Present day Buddhist temples are all over the place. Understanding true nature of the mind.
Interview with Huston Smith -
He was born in China in 1919 to American missionaries. He was surrounded by rich culture from an early age.
The yin and yang is an interesting symbol. It shows the undefined relationship between the opposites in life. It shows how opposites are in need of each other. He shares many stories that illustrate how each side of the yin and yang encroaches on the other. He shares an article from “Dear Abby.” This woman wanted to find a mate, but she described how she attended and practiced many different religions. Abby responded in a way that Smith identifies as being “Western.” He illustrates that Japanese and Chinese religions intertwined with each other, thus illustrating how the yin and yang overlap upon each other.
Confucius - 5 basic relationships
1 - Parent and Child
2 - Spouse and Spouse
3 - Elder Brother and Younger Brother
4 - Elder Friend and Younger Friend
5 - Ruler and Subject
We are always in the middle of one of these relationships. If we keep our “wings” up we will build up ourselves and make ourselves better. If they are tilted down we will go down to the path of bitterness and despair. The symbol for love contains the symbol of the heart in the middle.
