Aljamaan,+LeenE2012

__**My religious journey**__
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[|Confucianism in everyday life Video (2:30)] **In this video it shows one of the main teachings of Confucius, and how everyone has a role in society. ** = __//**The Tao Of Pooh**//__ = 

**Summary of Nowhere and Nothing:** In this chapter the author talked about four major points, doing nothing, the key of wisdom, empty minded, and loneliness. Doing nothing and going nowhere is when you're going to do something then someone asks where you're going, you say nowhere, this was called T'ai Hsu, "The Great Nothing". Key to wisdom (Knowledge is adding something everyday, wisdom is removing something everyday), happiness and truth is nothing, in Taoism nothing means something and something is the thing that people think is important but really is nothing. Then Eeyore lost his tail, Pooh was the one who found it, not Owl (didn't recognize it even though it was right in front of him). not Rabit (busy being clever), and not Eeyore (he didn't notice that it was even missing). Pooh found it because he was empty minded, he sees what's right in front of him while the one with a stuffed mind doesn't really notice things (the more the mind is stuffed with information the less it perceives). Loneliness is when you have a full and busy schedule, in the book they gave an example of an emperor and how he had a lot of meetings then when he arrived to an empty hall, he was happy. (L) **Discussion Questions:** 1. What do you do when you say you are doing nothing? (S) 2 .what is the first step towards finding peace in the Tao? (A)

**Summary of The Now of Pooh:** The brain can do everything, but the things it does are the less important things. People think too much and care too little, but if they changed their way (approach) then learn how to value wisdom. Don't have time to look in the wrong place, it always has to be right or just let it be. Master of life knows how to listen to the voice within, voice of wisdom is beyond the voice of cleverness. (L) **Discussion Questions:** 1. What is the one chance we have to avoid certain disaster? (A) 2. Why do you think too much knowledge can cause destruction? (S)

**Summary of Backword:** We've come to the end of Pooh's learning in this chapter and he sings a little song about what he has learned. He summarizes the teachings with the line "to know the way, we go the way; we do the way" (Page 158) (K) **Discussion Questions:** 1.How would you describe the Tao of Pooh? (A) 2. How is the Tao of Pooh different from Confucianism? (S)

** Analytic Themes :** Wu Wei (Nothingness or the "Great Secret") (K):

Pooh and Christopher Robinson in the chapter, //Nowhere and Nothing//, are both sitting down "doing nothing" and "going nowhere." Chuang-tse described that in order to understand Tao you must first not put any effort or thought into trying to understand, but simply, letting it come to you. Having an empty mind is believed to be better than an overstuffed brain full of knowledge. Christopher Robinson shows Pooh who is itching to know what they're doing and where they're going this idea and tune in with what's around them and let go of all their worries. "While the Clear mind listens to a bird singing, the Stuffed-Full-of-Knowledge-and-Cleverness mind wonders what kind of bird is singing." (Page 146) This saying is telling us that knowledge and cleverness actually clouds our judgement because it preoccupies us with things that don't even matter, while the empty-minded are able to see and make use of what's in front of them. In fact, children are the ones who possess great wisdom and know the way of the universe because at a young age, although they are helpless, they are aware and enjoying what's around them.

Pu (Simplicity) (K):

This chapter, The Now of Pooh, discusses the idea of valuing wisdom and contentment. Knowledge and cleverness do have importance in our lives but they don't help us with what is really important, in fact, it actually drives us away from hearing our own inner voice. "It may be hard to hear at times, but it is just important just the same, because without it, we will never find our way through the Forest." (Page 155) Making right choices does not require thinking, because all it does is make people look for the wrong things in wrong places. A voice of wisdom and simplicity has been given to every single human being and that is what should be paid attention to because it is the only way to avoid certain disaster as history has shown us.

Tao ("The Way") (K):

We have come to the end of Pooh's learning in the chapter, Backword, and he sings a song describing the "Tao of Pooh." Its main message is in order "to know the way, we go the way; we do the way" (Page 158) This line from his song means in order to find our paths in life, we must exercise the ideas of Tao, which is doing nothing and simply following the flow of the universe. Also, thinking too hard is discouraged since all it will do is confuse us. Perhaps Tao is the key to finding the meaning of life, many people have tried so hard to finding the answer, but it obviously hasn't been the right approach to it. = __//Buddhism Sect: Tibetan Buddhism//__ = = **Introduction:** = Tibetan Sect: It is part of the Buddhist religion practiced by those in the Tibetan region, which includes areas such as Nepal, Bhutan, India, and more local communities, and can be traced back to about 7th century BCE. Among its most unique characteristics are its system of reincarnating lamas and the vast number of deities in its pantheon.

= **Basic history:** = Certain Buddhist scriptures arrived in southern Tibet from India as early as 173 AD during the reign of Thothori Nyantsen, the 28th king of Tibet. During the third century the scriptures were disseminated to northern Tibet. The first significant event in the history of Tibetan Buddhism occurred in 641, when King Songtsen Gampo unified Tibet and took two Buddhist wives. The most important event in Tibetan Buddhist history was the arrival of Padmasambhava in Tibet in 774 at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen. It was Padmasambhava who merged tantric Buddhism with the local Bön religion to form what we now recognize as Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to writing a number of important scriptures, Padmasambhava established the Nyingma school from which all schools of Tibetan Buddhism are derived.

Tibetan Buddhism exerted a strong influence from the 11th century AD among the peoples of Central Asia, especially in Mongolia and Manchuria. It was adopted as an official state religion by the Mongol Yuan dynasty and the Manchu Qing dynasty.

an ethnic group that is native to Tibet which is mostly in People's Republic of China. Are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Tibetans speak the TIbetan language.

Tibetan Buddhists plant these flags in front of their houses and it is said that these flags bring happiness, long life and prosperity Some add their own text on the flags believing that it will be more powerful and affective

prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and to purify negatives (bad karma)

A Tibet funeral where they bring the body on a mountain top to expose it to elements and animals.

The Beliefs and Practices of Tibetans The Tibetan Buddhists seeks nirvana. The worship includes reciting prayers and intoning hymns. //On mani padme hum// is a type of jewel which is repeated, inscribed on rocks and walls, displayed on banners and streams.

-Tibetan architecture is influenced by both Chinese and Indian
 * Architecture **

-Always have a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, private houses have prayer flags

-Natural material; stone and wood

__**Interview**__
Information about the person I interviewed: Name: Natsuki Fujimoto Age: 17 years old From: Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Current place: Cobham, Surrey, England Questions: 1.Do you believe in God? If yes, what god do you believe in and why? 2.Do you believe in sins? why? 3.Do you believe that there will be an after life? 4.Do you believe in heaven and hell? why? 5.What was the most religion you think was spread throughout the country? 6.What are the religions that you think use prayer beads, and what is/are the purpose(s) of using the beads? 7.Do you think that nature has its way in working things out or does there have to be a greater force leading things? 8.What do you think is better, having an empty and simple mind or having a mind filled with information and academics? why? 9.Do you believe that bad things should be punished and good things rewarded? why? 10.What religion do you practice? why do you believe in that religion? 11.Do you think that other riligions affected you in any way? if so, how?

Answers: 1. Not really. I don't believe in gods, and heaven and hell, and that my life is already been decided. This is because there is no proof at all. However my grandparents are Buddhists.

2. I don't think there is something "definite sin" because in some situations, what we normally call "sin" should be allowed. However I have my moral standard which has been built through my experiences that helps me decide whether someone's behaviour/action is allowed or not.

3. No. My parents used to tell me that dead people are watching us from the sky but I believe that that is something all parents have to say in order to calm down the kids. i don't really believe in such thing as "spirit", i just think that there is brain, heart and body. That's it.

4. No. They are based on religions and according to my friend who is christian, people who do not believe in the Christ go to the hell. I just think that that's totally unfair. Also who's gonna judge whether you go to hell or not - the God right? but what if your serial killing was to help someone?

5. Buddhism (came from china and now i think we have our own buddhism way of thinking i guess...?) used to be our major religion but nowadays people don't really believe in such.

6. Buddhism uses beads for praying. I think the reason was something like ... spirits have to repeat living as a human until it realize what it means by "constant" (perfect??) and "not constant"

7. I think this question totally depends on religion. I believe Darwin's Evolution theory so natures (animals, plants ...etc) will adapt to each other and figure out their own way of supporting each other.

8. This is a very tricky question In buddhism (maybe only in Japan), we say to empty our mind (such as personal emotion) and calm yourself down. Then you can see the world much more peacefully and figure out problems and troubles easily. But this is based on the idea that you know information to solve those problems. Also taking "sin of not knowing" into consideration, I think knowing things is better than empty.

9. yes. based on moral standards; we are animals which have to live within a group. therefore some rules must be applied and if someone did not obey that, we have to punish that person in order to save "myself".

10. I do not believe in any religion.

11. Yes. Especially since I started going to international school. I started to think that human is just soo imperfect that they need bigger existence to rely onto, which they are now called "the God". The way I think about human, religion, discrimination and many other stuff has changed. But i think it would be super long to write it here so I'll write it to you if you are really interested


 * Used facebook to contact and interview [[image:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gYmrNg0TgF7zvwtaQA5byWI889sTR6yNVJrMkriSJrh-3y9sj6pbwcAi-7JXI7MtKQsp6G_QLz9P_s1WFxy-6Y9SATylobexrLdX46ysEmzB_aECvnY width="295px;" height="308px;"]][[image:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RlgLIBj85HffThynzgtxymVQxqaporiYD9WcciZU1fuhWxwlLSdhGSQrFgMr4N4KbJdcT4WmvaBFma4Gtr7MutxPObRqGzqbH5uhrUhc_Y0ZeAqLxFY width="319px;" height="311px;"]]**