2010년 12월 12일 일요일

Reflection # 8 - Islam: Two Perspectives

Western Perspective: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11848806
- This BBC news article talks about the Saudi Arabian authorities having arrested 149 al-Qaeda suspects in duration of the past eight months. 124 of these suspects were Saudi Arabians themselves and 25 of them were from other Islamic countries. These al-Qaeda suspects had planed plots to attack Saudi officials, civilians and journalists. These 149 suspects were coming from 19 different militant cells.  2.24m riyal which is $600,000 had been confiscated from the al-Qaeda during the pilgrimages of Hajj and Umra where militants had been fundraising. Additionally, Saudi Arabian anti-terrorism agencies had found an al-Qaeda plot to blow up cargo planes.

Eastern Perspective (Islamic Country's Perspective-Saudi Arabia): http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=196907&R=R1

Comparing and Contrasting: The Saudi Arabian perspective of the BBC news article on al-Qaeda is very different from the Western perspective of the news article. The Saudi Arabian article gives more details for example they talk about the al-Waeda having foreign links, training their memebers to use weapons and making explosves as well as raising funds. The Saudi Arabian article lists way more details about the al-Qaeda and their attacks than the BBC news article lists. The Saudi Arabian news doesn't list the Hajj and Umra pilgrimages and the nterference of the al-Qaeda witht the pilgrimages whereas the BBC news article does. Lastly, the Saudi Arabian news article involves or includes more information about the US and their interference in the al-Qaeda than the BBC news artivle does. The comparisons would be that both articles are based on the same topic and cover the same news article but I found the BBC news article more brief and to the point with all the details in a short news article whereas the Saudi Arabian news article was very detailed but didn't include all the facts such as the Hajj and the Umra pilgrimage which was very important because it related to the al-Qaeda and is an important Islamic practice.

2010년 11월 27일 토요일

Modern Religious Experience - Reflection #7: Personal Commemoration

I am going to create a commemorative ritual for the sixteen years of travelling all over the globe. Since my father works in the Indian Embassy, I move every three years and so far I have been to six different countries and this is really significant to me because it has shaped my character and made me who I am today. This event started when I was born and will continue until I graduate from school in two more years. Through these sixteen years of my life living in different locations of the world, I have learnt a lot about each culture, the people, different ways of education, different languages, different traditions and have gotten the oppurtunity to make friends from all over the world. I would like to commemorate this event by gathering with all my closest friends (who come from all around the world) at Nehru Park in India and having a feast/picnic with food from all the different places such as Seychelles, Qatar, Switzerland, Venezuela, South Korea and India. This commemoration would also include representing different cultural outfits, languages, religions and traditions. Basically this commemoration will last for six days. Each day would involve commemorating one of the six places. Therefore this commemoration would last for almost a week when there won't be school or office. On the seventh day of the week which would be Sunday, all the friends would discuss about the significance of the event and the commemoration. At the end of the commemoration which would be on the seventh day, all of us would gather and read a short poem that would go like this:
'All the different events make us who we are today,
They taught us a lot throughout our journey of life,
They shaped our personality and characteristics,
They made us unique and different and special in our own way,
They made us stronger, bolder, smarter and braver,
They made several unforgettable memories,
They made us encounter many other special people in this world,
Which gave us the oppurtunity to learn about the several different beliefs in this world,
Appreciate them,
and apply some of them to our lifestyles,
We thank each other and our families who made the effort and took us around the world,
Which made us who we are today.
Thank you!'
Additionally this would be our Commemorative calender for the week:
-Day 1: Mahe, Seychelles
-Day 2: Doha, Qatar
-Day 3: Geneva, Switzerland
-Day 4: Caracas, Venezuela
-Day 5: New Delhi, India
-Day 6: Seoul, South Korea
-Day 7: Commemorating the significance of all different places
Each day we would all dress in that particular cultural outfit, speak/communicate in the language spoken at that country, practice their religious rituals, learn about their culture and traditions, eat the food from their country and learn about their main historical background and how they got freedom. This way we would all learn about each others backgrounds and celebrate its significance because it is essential to know and adapt into these different atmospheres every three years.

2010년 11월 9일 화요일

Reflection 6-Greek Mythology and Morality: Echo and Narcissus


Echo and Narcissus is a Greek myth. Jupiter was the King of Gods and his wife Juno was he Queen of Gods. Jupiter often wandered away with the nymphs and Juno had a jealous nature and started suspecting her husband. One day she followed her husband into the woods where he was going to meet the nymphs but Echo came in her way and started talking, something she always loved to do. She wanted to save her friends (the nymphs). Juno was too late and the nymphs were gone with Jupiter. Juno figured out Echo's trick and cast a spell in which Echo could never speak with her own desire unless repeating the last few words of others. One day Narcissus was wandering in the woods with his friends and lost sight of them and Echo saw him and instantly fell in love with him. She started following him in the woods and responded "here" whenever he asked "is there anyone here?", because she couldn't say anything else. With difficulty she expressed her feelings by actions to Narcissus and he rejected her because he was incapable of developing feelings for anyone. Echo mourned and died thinking about Narcissus. Echo prayed that Narcissus be punished because of his disregard towards Echo's feelings. Narcissus had fallen in love with himself when he looked at himself in the pond and soon Nemesis, the God of revenge turned him into a white flower.
We can learn a lot from this myth. I think the saying 'Treat others the way you want to be treated' comes from this myth considering how Narcissus was rude to Echo and God punished him. Also Echo tried to save her friends and Jupiter by diverting Juno's attention when she lost her voice which she dearly loved and she couldn't speak unless repeating the last words of someone else. I guess this myth has many other morals as well. I guess there are more than one life mysteries that this myth attempts to answer. However, according to me, this myth conveys that you should treat others the way you want them to treat you and mainly that you should be a good human being, otherwise you face obstacles. The term 'echo' which means a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound, and 'narcissus' is the name of a white flower. An important virtue of the Greeks taking this story in consideration, would be to treat others like you want to be treated.

2010년 10월 20일 수요일

Mystery of Religions: Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwo...

Mystery of Religions: Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwo...: "Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk: 'After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, Bongwonsa and attempt..."

I didn't go to the Zen Buddhist Temple due to absence however I can connect my daily life experiences with Taoism and nature. The idea of nature brings peace and solitude to my mind which is pretty much what the Taoists must have thought about as well before they came up with the conclusion of non-action or wu-wei and the idea of harmony without obstacles. Nature can hardly become a source of destruction and when you hear the word nature the first thought that rises in your head would be birds chirping, quietness, solitude, peace, harmony, and it will arise a peaceful and silent atmosphere. When we think of nature we think God brought nature into existence for humans to forget all their miseries and worries and experience splendid peacefulness. There have been many instances when I have been to gardens/parks and the second I enter a garden I hear the birds, I see the blue skies, the flowers, the green grass, the tall trees and it takes me to my fantasy. It takes me into my own world and my own dreams. I disconnect with reality. Since nature brings peace, Taoism which is based on worship of nature doesn’t involve violence and action. Humans sometimes take nature and the world for granted. Maybe Taoism also teaches us not to take nature for granted since it’s the only source that brings eternal peace to us and keeps obstacles and worries away from our lives. 

2010년 9월 30일 목요일

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation: "Spend 20 mintues in a silent meditation; a place you won't be disturbed, your own 'fig tree' as was Buddha's inspiration. In those 20 mintue..."

As I was seated in the balcony of my house with the sun shining on my face, I meditated for 20 minutes and it was peaceful. I did attain right thoughts, right mindfulness and right concentration. I suddenly felt like I was disconnected from the rest of the world and that there was nothing to worry about, no stress and no worries or tension. I was lost in my own imagination. Before I started meditating I thought I would get distracted and wouldn't be able to do it right because the thoughts of tests and more homework were settled in my mind. However, as soon as I closed my eyes and folded my legs (one of the postures) and began meditating all wonderful thoughts came to my mind letting go of all my worries. My mind was empty and I could seek life's truths and mysteries and wonders. My thoughts were changing very rapidly. At one moment I thought about nature and wildlife while the next minute I was thinking about silence and the sounds of birds. My mind couldn't control one thought/idea for long. I was surprised by how there were several peaceful thoughts going through my mind even when I was jus sitting at one place closing my eyes. It was amazing. It inspired me to meditate whenever I have too much homework or stress or anger so I can obtain peaceful and positive thoughts and get rid of my anger and stress.

2010년 9월 16일 목요일

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist: "In class, your small groups went over movie questions about the content in Gandhi. You should know who each of the main characters are and t..."

Gandhi, the father and political/spiritual leader of India was generally a Hindu. However, he was tolerant of all the religions. There was a part in the movie where many people convinced Gandhi not to go to a Muslim location but he got frustrated and said he was Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and every other existing religion. He exhibits the Hindu characteristic of accepting all the religions which was one of the Hindu traits. He convinced everyone else in India to accept and appreciate all the religions of the world. At the end of the movie when there was the India-Pakistan separation, he started a fast because he didn't like the idea of Hindu and Muslim separation and discrimination. He wanted Hindus and Muslims to be united like it was previously. He believed that the idea of Hindus living in India and Muslims living in Pakistan would result in enmity and wars between the two countries. During his fast, we can see how he is willing to sacrifice himself for his nation if his nation is not willing to unite (Hindus and Muslims). We can see how strong his belief in unity of religions is.

Gandhi once quoted "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind". This quote tells us he supported non-violence. We can see that Gandhi believed that violence would only cause damage or even worse. He didn't believe that the answer to hostility/antagonism was war. We can see that even in the movie, he responds to everything in a peaceful manner. For example, during the end of the movie he decided to go on a fast or moral blackmailed his nation instead of facing war because he knew that war would involve the death of several people and a  havoc. Therefore, he decided to moral blackmail his people. That way there wouldn't be deaths, there wouldn't be a keos in the surroundings and his people would stop the Hindu-Muslim separation because they wouldn't want the father of India to die. Throughout the movie we can see Gnadhi supprting his idea of non-violence because he knew that its not the wisest decision to take revenge on the opponent because that way both sides end up getting hurt. He encountered his problems peacefully and without violence. He also encouraged his colleagues and his people to support non-violence and promoted it. Today he is known for his policy of non-violence. He established this idea through all his actions in the movie.   

2010년 9월 2일 목요일

Modern Religious Experience: Assignment #3- Sacred Poetry

Modern Religious Experience: Assignment #3- Sacred Poetry: "Assignment #3- Sacred Poetry • Add a picture of an ancient religious symbol to your Online Portfolio (it can be one of those from the notes..."



Aum




Aum signifies the importance of birth, existence and death,

There are three states in Aum,

Jagratha Avastha is the waking state,

Svapna Avastha is the dreaming state,

And Susupta Avastha is the dreamless sleep state.



The breathtaking intonation of the word Aum,

Unifies the concept of past, present and future,

Into an eternity of singularity,

Aum is the rhythm of my life,

Aum takes me to my own world and my own imagination.



Aum represents earth, atmosphere and heaven,

Aum represents Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva,

Aum grants me hope,

Aum gives me power, strength and confidence,

Aum entrusts me the feeling of eternal peace.

2010년 8월 24일 화요일

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection Question #1

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection Question #1: "According to Mircea Eliade religion has 'not vanished without a trace; [it] has contributed toward making us what we are today and so, after..."

I agree with Mircea Eliade and the whole idea of how religion has not vanished without leaving a trace. Even though we don't depend on religion as much as people used to back in time, it still makes us who we are. Religion still influences us largely. I am a Hindu and all my great grandparents in other words ancestors have been Hindus. Religion has impacted me and made me the person I am today. I believe that there is one God who is watching us at all times, whether good or bad. I know that whatever happens in my life is not just a miracle but something God planned for me. I believe that my existence and presence on earth is because of God. So far, I have always considered God before I made any choices and pondered whether he would be pleased or not.
I believe that God has sent me to earth so that I can make the most use of my life by being a good citizen/human. I am scared and nervous whenever I make a decision but I know God is always there to guide me and support me. I value God and I know that I am here because of him. Though I am Hindu and my whole family is Hindu I believe that there is one almighty who is controlling everything thats happenning and created life. Though science and technology have taken a very vital role nowadays, religion was discovered earlier and makes us who we are today.