This is an image of the indian currency. As you can see, Ghandi is the face on the bill, or Rupee.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Ghandi is the New Face on the C Note
This is an image of the indian currency. As you can see, Ghandi is the face on the bill, or Rupee.
Wu Wei and Tao
The beliefs of Wu Wei and Tao are a way of living. It is to live life simple and quiet. To inhabit oneself without the artificial luxuries that society has created over time. Pride, self satisfaction, and glory are all feelings that one has grown to accomadate. Athletes pride themselves with the amount of points that they can attain in games and how many games they have actually won. Individuals reach satisfaction when they accomplish goals that they had set. Yet Wu Wei and Tao do not believe in such feelings. It is nothing more than illusion that can disappear in any given moment. Happiness is forever as long as there is nothing in the way that is negative or can result in a negative outcome.
Lao-Tzu vs. Confuscius
1. What is the Meaning of Life?
2. What is the nature of the Tao?
3. What is the meaning of family and ancestors?
4. What is the role of government?
5. How to live a well balanced life?
1. Lao-Tzu: The meaning of life is find Tao and nothing more. Nothing else in life is important or necessary. Daily goals and there achievements are not to be celebrated for they have not accomplished your ultimate goal.
Confuscius: In order to find the meaning of one's life, you must set goals that will affect your life and result in the outcome that you desire. Social goals are also important too. They will bring postive energy to your well being.
2. Lao-Tzu: The nature of Tao is non action. Do not do more than you have to. Be in your natural state as nature is with you. What you see is what you get. To try to change it will only tire you for the outcome will not bring satisfaction.
Confuscius: Tao is the way of nature. It is they way that things are intended to be. The way you found that flower is the way that it should be when you leave. Do no change anything for change can bring consequence and negative outcomes.
3. Lao-Tzu: Life is precious. Lives that sprout from other lives are just as precious. Everything else, both materialistic and mentally pleasing are limited in growth. Happiness derives from the sharing of life not with the objects and luxuries that the society has sculpted.
Confuscius: Family is important yet there is a system by which family should live by. Honor and respect should be expressed to the leader of the situation. Minors should respect their elders. Wives should respect their husbands. Sons should honor their fathers. However there is an equal emotion for love. Elders appreciate minors, men appreciate their husbands, and fathers appreciate their sons.
4. Lao-Tzu: Government should come from within. It should not be expressed by any sole individual. Only you know the best desicions that can be possibly made for yourself. Government manages the way you live and standardizes unecessary beliefs. The most important is the individual. Conflict is created when one tries to tyrranize society.
Confuscius: Government is necessary in order to live life accordingly. It sets laws and provides solutions or models to conflict. Without government, there would be no justice or say in the actions of people; whether their actions are positive or negative.
5. Lao-Tzu: A well balanced life relies on the individual. Keep your self out of unnecessary situations. Keep life simple and tranquil. There is no need for stress and negativity in the mind of an individual.
Confuscius: Live life by your beliefs and standards. Maintain a positive posture and honor those whom you encounter with peace and respect.
2. What is the nature of the Tao?
3. What is the meaning of family and ancestors?
4. What is the role of government?
5. How to live a well balanced life?
1. Lao-Tzu: The meaning of life is find Tao and nothing more. Nothing else in life is important or necessary. Daily goals and there achievements are not to be celebrated for they have not accomplished your ultimate goal.
Confuscius: In order to find the meaning of one's life, you must set goals that will affect your life and result in the outcome that you desire. Social goals are also important too. They will bring postive energy to your well being.
2. Lao-Tzu: The nature of Tao is non action. Do not do more than you have to. Be in your natural state as nature is with you. What you see is what you get. To try to change it will only tire you for the outcome will not bring satisfaction.
Confuscius: Tao is the way of nature. It is they way that things are intended to be. The way you found that flower is the way that it should be when you leave. Do no change anything for change can bring consequence and negative outcomes.
3. Lao-Tzu: Life is precious. Lives that sprout from other lives are just as precious. Everything else, both materialistic and mentally pleasing are limited in growth. Happiness derives from the sharing of life not with the objects and luxuries that the society has sculpted.
Confuscius: Family is important yet there is a system by which family should live by. Honor and respect should be expressed to the leader of the situation. Minors should respect their elders. Wives should respect their husbands. Sons should honor their fathers. However there is an equal emotion for love. Elders appreciate minors, men appreciate their husbands, and fathers appreciate their sons.
4. Lao-Tzu: Government should come from within. It should not be expressed by any sole individual. Only you know the best desicions that can be possibly made for yourself. Government manages the way you live and standardizes unecessary beliefs. The most important is the individual. Conflict is created when one tries to tyrranize society.
Confuscius: Government is necessary in order to live life accordingly. It sets laws and provides solutions or models to conflict. Without government, there would be no justice or say in the actions of people; whether their actions are positive or negative.
5. Lao-Tzu: A well balanced life relies on the individual. Keep your self out of unnecessary situations. Keep life simple and tranquil. There is no need for stress and negativity in the mind of an individual.
Confuscius: Live life by your beliefs and standards. Maintain a positive posture and honor those whom you encounter with peace and respect.
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is "the practice of the wheel of law." It is a cultivation method that involves mind and body meditation. It is practiced in large groups or individually. In which ever manner, the student is trying to build character and virtue, morality, and salvation for his or herself.
The Way of the Samurai
The Bushido code and the ways its followers endulge its beliefs is very interesting to me. Whereas many cultures are shocking and or boring in the field of war, the samurai have a conduct that I have a lot of respect for. Army generals pride themselves with victories and body counts. They are more worried about the adrenaline rush rather than the reason to fight. The samurai fought with and for honor. That was there highest achievement when entering battle. They would rather die than submit to the hands of their enemys. In this image, you can see a samurai warriou being followed by a servant. This scene portrays the Tokugawa era. During this time, samurai became bureaucrats and couriers rather than militant warriors.
3 of the Ultimate "Big" Questions
1. What is the nature of a person?
2. What is the purpose of human life?
3. What happens to us after death?
Hinduism - The nature of a person is to go through the cycle fo action and reaction; birth, death, and rebirth. The person goes through the cycle of samsara which is the thought of reincarnation. However, if a person can escaper through moksha, in which they would reach complete happiness. The purpose of human life is to follow moral and ethical codes, dharma, and proceed with daily objectives or duties, Kharma. Completing these tasks through daily life will result in positive reincarnation and eventually reaching moksha. After death, reincarnation takes place in the body of any natural being, depending on the actions of the previous life.
Buddhism - The nature of person in Buddhism is to live with your life as it is and appreciate all. This state of mind will eventually bless the individual with an awakening or reality check. To see the world as it really is and embrace the natural surrounding for what it really is. The purpose of human life is to meditate and reach outside of the natural world into zones of enlightenment. Eventually, life will become clear and its purpose will come to the individual in the form of a blank thought. After death and depletion fo the "sleeping ignorance", individuals will reach nirvana, in which they have achieved total peace and happiness.
Jainism - The purpose of life is specified by the tirthinkaras. Every human is responsible for specific action that they must complete. Every individual also has a soul or Jiva. As a human, you must respect and appreciate the natural life. Maintaining the beliefs of honor and respect will eventually lead to liberation in the next life.
Sikhism - In sikhism, the goal of human life is to reach salvation. By refraining from social conflict and embracing the spiritual life, individuals will have a union with God. It also comes by obliging to help world issues, such as hunger and poverty, etc.
2. What is the purpose of human life?
3. What happens to us after death?
Hinduism - The nature of a person is to go through the cycle fo action and reaction; birth, death, and rebirth. The person goes through the cycle of samsara which is the thought of reincarnation. However, if a person can escaper through moksha, in which they would reach complete happiness. The purpose of human life is to follow moral and ethical codes, dharma, and proceed with daily objectives or duties, Kharma. Completing these tasks through daily life will result in positive reincarnation and eventually reaching moksha. After death, reincarnation takes place in the body of any natural being, depending on the actions of the previous life.
Buddhism - The nature of person in Buddhism is to live with your life as it is and appreciate all. This state of mind will eventually bless the individual with an awakening or reality check. To see the world as it really is and embrace the natural surrounding for what it really is. The purpose of human life is to meditate and reach outside of the natural world into zones of enlightenment. Eventually, life will become clear and its purpose will come to the individual in the form of a blank thought. After death and depletion fo the "sleeping ignorance", individuals will reach nirvana, in which they have achieved total peace and happiness.
Jainism - The purpose of life is specified by the tirthinkaras. Every human is responsible for specific action that they must complete. Every individual also has a soul or Jiva. As a human, you must respect and appreciate the natural life. Maintaining the beliefs of honor and respect will eventually lead to liberation in the next life.
Sikhism - In sikhism, the goal of human life is to reach salvation. By refraining from social conflict and embracing the spiritual life, individuals will have a union with God. It also comes by obliging to help world issues, such as hunger and poverty, etc.
Compassion For All Beings
I have taken time to observe my community and its surroundings. During this entire week, the neighborhood has been bad mouthing the department of water in my town. Because of the addition of two new fire hydrants, the water is being temporarily disabled on Thursday and Friday between the hours of eight and three. Where as my neighbor rich is comfortable with the inconvenience, my other neighbors, Dave and Denise, are outraged with the ordeal. In a way, my family and I are feeling the same way. However, we are not as outspoken as they are.
Although this conflict does not seem spiritual, there are some signs of spiritual challenges. What I have learned from Buddhism is the appreciation for the things that we have;needs over wants. It is an inconvenience to not have water for a half of day, however, we forget to appreciate when we have it and so forth.
In accordance to buddha, I would tell me neighbors to:
appreciate the water while we dont have it. Thank the water for being there at all other times. Eventually, the consistency of the want for water will become a need for water. And jus be ready to wake up before eight so that you can get that shower in.
Although this conflict does not seem spiritual, there are some signs of spiritual challenges. What I have learned from Buddhism is the appreciation for the things that we have;needs over wants. It is an inconvenience to not have water for a half of day, however, we forget to appreciate when we have it and so forth.
In accordance to buddha, I would tell me neighbors to:
appreciate the water while we dont have it. Thank the water for being there at all other times. Eventually, the consistency of the want for water will become a need for water. And jus be ready to wake up before eight so that you can get that shower in.
Torii
This is a torii from the shinto religion. This one is more interesting than the rest that I have observed or noticed in the readings. While others are placed in front of the shrines, this one is placed in the ocean. In a sense it seems like it is the gateway into Japan
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
October 2nd "International Non Violence Day"
October 2nd is the birthday of Mohandas Ghandi. Because of his religious devotion and ability to separate India from the British Empire without violence, people have made his birthday an international non violence holiday.
Mohandas Ghandi
Mohandas Ghandi was a very inspirational motivator. In his early years, he was a scholarly individual with a profession as an atorney. However, racism and prejudice opened his eyes to the torment that his nation and fellow people were enduring. England was the governing force at the time and their customs were being forced upon the people of india. Ghandi turned to religion as a solution to the political issues undergone by the nations people.
Ghandi was born and raised as a Hindu. Generally, religion is an important factor in the life of a traditional indian individual. However, Ghandi attended school and was well educated in the way of the western developed world. He studied in England and earned his degree in law. As an attorney, he was well respected for the education that he had recieved and his success as lawyer. In one occasion, he was forced to exit a train because he was seated in the wrong part of the locomotive. In defense, he claimed that he was of an upscale social class and that his reputation separated him from other Hindu people. Yet this excuse was not sufficient for the train conductor and he was forced off at the next exit. From there on it was his goal to make the public aware of the injustice that the english were supporting.
He, along with other important leaders in the indian country, made a public display of the cruelty that the English were capable of. Yet Ghandi believed that his voice would be heard without using violence as a resource. Thus, he turned to religion to voice his cocerns. Hinduism was the major religion, besides Islam. This religion involves the beliefs of various other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. Yet he was a deep believer in his religion. He was heavy on ahisma. This is a belief that nonviolence is the key to tackling objectives and goals. He projected his ideas and beliefs onto his followers.
In my opinion, Ghandi was a good Hindu and this is how he too portrayed himself. His constantly used exerpts from his holy book explain why his way of handling matters would be successful. He was able to attract many followers by using the common religion of the country.
Ghandi was born and raised as a Hindu. Generally, religion is an important factor in the life of a traditional indian individual. However, Ghandi attended school and was well educated in the way of the western developed world. He studied in England and earned his degree in law. As an attorney, he was well respected for the education that he had recieved and his success as lawyer. In one occasion, he was forced to exit a train because he was seated in the wrong part of the locomotive. In defense, he claimed that he was of an upscale social class and that his reputation separated him from other Hindu people. Yet this excuse was not sufficient for the train conductor and he was forced off at the next exit. From there on it was his goal to make the public aware of the injustice that the english were supporting.
He, along with other important leaders in the indian country, made a public display of the cruelty that the English were capable of. Yet Ghandi believed that his voice would be heard without using violence as a resource. Thus, he turned to religion to voice his cocerns. Hinduism was the major religion, besides Islam. This religion involves the beliefs of various other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. Yet he was a deep believer in his religion. He was heavy on ahisma. This is a belief that nonviolence is the key to tackling objectives and goals. He projected his ideas and beliefs onto his followers.
In my opinion, Ghandi was a good Hindu and this is how he too portrayed himself. His constantly used exerpts from his holy book explain why his way of handling matters would be successful. He was able to attract many followers by using the common religion of the country.
Ghandi and his belief in Hinduism
Ghandi was a devoted Hindu. Although many of his beliefs and teachings incorporate different aspects of different religions, his upbringing and faith mainly rely on that of the Hindu religion. This is wat he had to say about the Hindu religion:
"Hinduism as I know it entirely satisfies my soul, fills my whole being ... When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. My life has been full of tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita."
"Hinduism as I know it entirely satisfies my soul, fills my whole being ... When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. My life has been full of tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita."
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