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..."

Meditating helped me release all the stress that I was carrying over the week from school. It gave me a chance to relax and think of all the positive things in my life that I am very grateful for. Memories of sitting with old friends and having a good laugh by our favourite hangout spot, kept creeping back into my mind, it was quite hard to control those toughts since I am constantly thinking of that wonderful time I had with my friends in Pakistan. Thinking about the future, was a thought I was concentrating on a lot. The future is something that I am always concerned about most, not only for myself but also for everyone around me, especially my family and friends. Its a very scary thought that no one in the world knows what tomorrow is going to bring for them, and this is why it's always better to be thinking ahead. Nothing from this exercise has inspired me as such, but meditating helped me realize that thinking about things is someting very important and that everone should take some time out to relax their minds and think of good thoughts that help a person mature and prevent them from making foolish mistakes.

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 took te religious principle of `Ahima' which is doing no harm. This was his main teaching. Gandhi hoped to win people over by changing their hearts and minds, and advocated non-violence in all things. This can be seen in many parts of the movie. 1)How Gandhi fasted till his people turned away from violence and learned to be patient and stopped themselves from from rebelling against the British army. 2) And also when he was in England and gave a speech to the Hindus and Muslims about how they should not provoke the fight, but stand back and do no harm.

`A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the of its people'.

Although Gandhi was away from India and went to England at the age of nineteen, for college and did not return back to India till quite some time. Even after being exposed to the western world and its traditions he still did not fotget about his own roots. When he Travelled back to India, he lived modesty in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti, woven from yarn that he had spun by hand himself. He ate vegetarian food and undertook long fasts and sacrificed of the sake of his own people.

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..."

TOTEMS

Totem oh Totem, you have not decayed
You live in the hearts of millions
Spead in the northwest costal regions
Of America, you live in the zillions

Aritist make a fortune by carving you and raising you
They educate new apprentices and are repaid
Modern poles, carved poles are your beauty
you are like plume of the eagle, colourful in red, green, yellow, white and turquoise

They erect you to ridicule and shame
Execution of such roles are popular in the game
You are a symbolic of independence and nationalism
Totems are a manifestation of outrage against political decision, the cost of construction is a major inhibition