Kim,+YoungjaeF2011

Religion and philosophy both have a "belief". People can believe both of it and it relates to our society, our life, our culture as well. They both are created by humans and they are made for people to believe it. It is important because we have to know them in order to understand other people's perspectives because there are variety of religions and philosophy. If we have no idea of them, it would be hard for us to understand different people which can block us from understanding the world more widely.
 * WHAT DO RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY HAVE IN COMMON?**
 * WHY IS THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY IMPORTANT?**

media type="youtube" key="ACZpbXuS-UE?version=3" height="283" width="450" - How family was affected - How it affects my friends (experience) - Purpose of making Church (money etc.)
 * **How does your religion impact your identity? Be sure to describe your journey (even if it is on-going).**
 * How I started to go to Church?
 * Did I go to Church constantly?
 * Why am I going to Church?
 * Do I really believe in God?
 * How did this impact my identity?
 * **How does your religion impact your family?**
 * How members of our family accept Christianity
 * **How does your religion impact your society (and even the world)?**
 * Christianity - Gives mental belief

media type="file" key="F Block Asian Studies- Zen Buddhism - Reece Hanbaik Shelley.m4a" width="300" height="300" Script
 * ZEN BUDDHISM RECORDING**

Citation

Buddhism Comparison Chart Four on a Log




 * 1) Are you a Bisy Backson? (94)
 * 2) What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104)
 * 3) How does the Bisy Backson waste time by trying to save it? (108-109)
 * 4) What is the Youthful Immortal? (108-9)
 * 5) What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111)
 * 6) What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9)
 * 7) Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128)
 * 8) Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137)
 * 9) What is the “Great Nothing?” (143)
 * 10) Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7)
 * 11) Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9)
 * 12) Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151)
 * 13) Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154)

__**Taoism:**__ 1. What is the significance of the painting Hoff describes named The Vinegar Tasters? (2) The three Vinegar Tasters are, in fact, Confucius, Buddha and Lao-Tse. Vinegar is a metaphor for life. Confucius thinks that life is sour, Buddha thinks that its bitter while Lao-Tse believes that life is sweet. Thus, the painting illustrates the different perspectives of the three leaders of Asian philosophers and religion. 2. What is the theme of life according to Hoff’s interpretation of Taoism? (5-6) Life, itself, is sweet. However, it is up to one to interpret life and to make the best of one’s life. Thus, they say that one must we should “appreciate, learn from and work with whatever happens in daily life.” 3. How does Hoff explain the “uncarved block” metaphor? (10) P’u, the uncarved block, basically means that objects are better in their original state: they maintain their original beauty and are not spoiled. He compares the characters of Winnie the Pooh to illustrate the concept. 4. What is the secret message of the “uncarved block?” (2 “From the state of uncarved block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet and the natural and the plain; along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously.” 5. What was the main conflict between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? (24) Taoists regarded Confucianists as ants ruining a picnic, trying to pick up food pieces from up above. Taoists didn’t think that scholars are wise because learning about a specific subject won’t enable one to see the holistic picture of things. 6. Which of Milne’s characters represent Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? Confucianists are represented by the Owl while the Taoist is represented by Winnie the Pooh. 7. What is Hoff’s opinion of Confucianist scholars? (26) People who study “for the sake of studying, keeps his learning to his own small group, writes pompous and pretentious papers that no one else can understand, rather than working for the enlightenment of others.” 8. What does Hoff say about knowledge vs. experience? (29) They are different: knowledge that is based on experience is more valuable than those that are not. 9. What do most scholars blame for problems in the world? Why isn’t it justified? (32) It blames the mind of the Uncarved block; however, it is not justified because such problems were caused by the scholar’s own near-sightedness and limitations. 10. What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38) Cleverness refers to knowledge that you have sought and obtained in life, used to mechanically examine life, whilst Inner Nature is more pure, basic logic. 11. Why is it important to discern your own Inner Nature? (41) Knowing your Inner Nature is important because it means that you know how to make your life happy. If there is a wedding, or even a more modern example, school course that you are unhappy with, yet are still taking for some reason, there is obviously something wrong. 12. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48) If you know your problems and how to deal with them, then it's more likely to be more adept in dealing with the problems, while a man who has no experience will fail as soon as something goes wrong. 13. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50) It sorts of resembles bliss in ignorance. If we keep delving into pointless matters whilst still hardly knowing what we mean, then nothing will be accomplished. If we simply work with things as they are, then things would be better. 14. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57) They either end up going astray because Brain distorted their correct path, or they are led by someone else. 15. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8) Taking our life in our own hands, taking charge. Instead of following someone else's vision for us, we choose and modify our own path. We find what we don't like, either not include it, modify it to fit us, or try to use it to our benefit. 16. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58) Utilizing the Way of Self-Reliance, we can maximize both our happiness and benefits in life by eliminating all negative things and finding the correct path for ourselves. Then we work with Things As They Are, and not waste our time on pointless questions that we hardly understand. 17. What is the Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way” according to Hoff? (67-8) It's going with the flow. Not forcing things, not going against the system to get something to happen, no meddling. It's just allowing things to happen, and going along with the flow. 18. How does the quote, “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done,” explain Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way?” (70) The quote means that Tao does not cause things to happen, but things happen. It means that things just happen, and Tao goes along with it. 19. How does Tai Chi reflect Wu Wei or Taoism as a martial art? (87-8) Tai Chi is very passive, compared to other martial arts. Instead of punching and kicking your way to victory, you wear your opponent down by dodging or deflecting his moves, and when the time is right, you throw them off balance. 20. Are you a Bisy Backson? (94) No but I have similarities with him, such as I like athletic characteristics. You can see that he is concerned in physical fitness in the passage where it says “The Athletic sort of Backson- one of the many common varieties- is concerned with physical fitness,” 21. What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104) His view of American history is extraordinary. Bisy Backson thinks that progress is fighting and overcoming. Real progress involves growing and developing (changing inside) which Bisy Backson is unlikely to do. He thinks that the have to change everything and everyone except himself. 22. How does the Bisy Backson waste time by trying to save it? (108-109) He has practically no time because he is too busy wasting them by trying to save it, and when he does that he wastes the whole time. “Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so they take a thousand stitches to-day to save nine tomorrow.” 23. What is the Youthful Immortal? (108-9) A belief in Taoism that a person can have a long life of youthful appearance, outlook and energy and it comes out in stories, considered as the Secrets of Life. 24. What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111) Goals make us go through a process, successful progress will make us wise, happy but if we do a process that is sort of wrong in a way, then it will make us miserable, angry, confused. 25. What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9) The was a Stonecutter who was jealous of merchant’s power. He became a merchant, then he became jealous of high official so he became a high official. Then, the became jealous of a sun so he became a sun, then the cloud, then the wind, then the stone. He eventually figures out that the strongest position was the stonecutter. One should be satisfied by itself. 26. Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128) “From caring comes courage”, this statement is siginificant because it says that knowledge doesn’t really matter when you want to become clever. You need both wisdom and compassion in order to become like the statement. 27. Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137) In order to find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage, you have to start appreciate who you are and what you’ve got. 28. What is the “Great Nothing?” (143) In order to unlock the wisdom, happiness, and truth, there needs a key. The key is nothing. Nothing is considered something and considered important, that is really nothing, called the “Great Nothing” 29. Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7) “Empty sort of mind” is very valuable according to Taoism because they believe that Emptiness cleans out the messy mind and charges up the batteries of spiritual energy. 30. Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9) The meaning is apprehensible by just reading the quote. Chuang-tse explained by talking about Yen Hui and the master. Yen Hui said he forgot the rules of Righteousness and the levels of Benevolence. He also said that the was making progress that the forgot the Rituals and the Music. Master still thought that he was not perfect. Then Yen Hui said that he will sit down and forget everything and the master questions why. Then Yen Hui says that the forgets his body and senses and leaving appearance and information behind. Then master says that he found the Way. 31. Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151) When we know more as we grow, our minds are befuddled with this knowledge. Enlightened ones and children are truly happy because they are pure in mind, and they follow Wu Wei. They tend not to force things, they just happily go along with them. 32. Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154) They can destroy life because they make us look so desperately hard for something in a wrong way and to the wrong place. They are allowed to go on wrecking things.

Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly, And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking. Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ? Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things? The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream. The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city, Was once the Prince of the East Hill. So must rank and riches vanish. You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?

Prepare an answer for the following questions"
 * 1) Why does the author choose a butterfly? I think the author chose butterfly
 * 2) What is the importance of the water cycle?
 * 3) What is the point about the 'man raising melons'?
 * 4) What is the author attempting to convey to the reader?

= Chapter: Nothing and Nowhere =


 * [[image:splashman/pooh_christopherrobin.jpg caption="Christopher and Pooh"]] ||
 * Christopher and Pooh ||

In this chapter, Christopher Robin explains to Pooh more about the Taoism. He tells the story of Consciousness. Consciousness went to meet Speechless Non-Doer and there was no reply. Then, he went to ask Impulsive Speech-Maker, but he forgot what he was going to say as soon as he started to speak. Finally, Consciousness returned to the palace and told the Yellow Emperor that to go nowhere, to have no thought and put no effort and do nothing is the first step towards understanding and finding peace in the Tao. To start from no point and follow no road is the first step of reaching the Tao. According to Chuang-tse, Nothing is the key that unlocks the doors of wisdom, happiness, and truth.


 * [[image:splashman/empty_mind.png caption="Empty Mind"]] ||
 * Empty Mind ||

====The Empty mind can bring wisdom and happiness; however, an overstuffed mind brings you loneliness. An overstuffed mind is full of knowledge and ideas, so you won't be able to see what's in front of. The more your mind is stuffed up, the less your mind can hear through its own ears and see through its own eyes. With an empty mind, you feel relaxed and happy, but you will feel lonely with an overstuffed mind. More examples of the Taoism can be seen among children, helpless and enjoying what's around us.====

Clear-minded, all seeing Child is the end of the cycle and highest level of development which is called as wisdom, not the adults. The wise are Children Who Know, because their minds have been emptied and filled with wisdom.

//**Discussion Questions:**//
====1. What should the person do to have an empty mind instead of an overstuffed mind ?====

//**Theme Analysis:**//
In the book, Consciousness wandered around places to places and asked these three questions to Speechless Non-Doer, Impulsive Speech-Maker: What thoughts and efforts will lead us to understanding the Tao? Where must we go and what must we do to find peace in the Tao? What point must we start and which road must we follow in order to reach the Tao? Then when he asked the Yellow Emperor, he said the message of this book. The message in this book is that in order to step forward reaching the Tao, you have to start from no point and follow no road. You shouldn't put any effort during the first step understanding the Tao.

[]
In //Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching//, Lao-Tzu says, that, "The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels". Does this quote have an equivalent to in Christianity? Are there other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind you of Christian ideals?
 * Essential Quotes of Taoism**

This quote does remind me of a Christian quote but I can't quite remember which quote. I believe in Christianity they have the same ideal of "mysterious things" being the entrance into a world of great and marvelous things. Like Christianity, this Taoist quote seems to portray that what we cannot attain (the mysteries) are something greater than our existence in that by reaching them, one can attain "indescribable marvels." There are other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind me of Christian ideals as well. For example, in the line "That which has no name is the origin of heaven and earth" shows that Tao had an understanding of a difference in "heaven" and "earth." Also, in the line "Treat great calamities as if they were happening to yourself" reminds me of a Christian quote: "Love thy neighbor." Though they may not be entirely related to each other, I believe treating great tragic situations is important in understanding people's situations just like the Christian quote "Love thy neighbor" and "do unto others the way you would wish others to do to you." Lastly, the line that states, "Through compassion, one will triumph in attack and be impregnable in defense. What heaven succors it protects with the gift of compassion" reminds me of Jesus Christ in a way. Jesus had compassion for his people and used that love for his people to protect himself and his followers from attack.

See Passage 2, "Not honoring men....Not wanting rare things...Not paying attention..." How are does this help one understand how Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems?

These lines help us understand how Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems in that they share common traits and beliefs. The values of "not wanting / not honoring / and not paying attention" are all deeply entrenched ideas that all of these three faiths have: that one should not honor or respect men of worth, should not want precious things, and should not pay attention to desire.

Consider the last three entries from D.C. Lau's //Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching//, Lao Tzu describes government. How is this ideal different from Confucius' ideal? What present day system of government are you reminded of when you read this section? Do you think this is a good system? Explain.

The last three entries describe Taoist government. This Taoist ideal of government is different from Confucius' ideal government of of hardworking and educated individuals making the government because the Taoist ideal is a government with compassionate rulers who do not focus on expansion or gaining more power land-wise. When I read this section, I was reminded of a socialist government perhaps because it is especially egalitarian. I believe that socialism is a good form of government in theory, however, it is not good when practiced. In the world, whenever a government changed into a socialist government, the people and government became corrupted and everything did not end up well in the end so I don't believe that it is a good form of government in the end.

Regarding the third treasure that Lao Tzu describes, what do you think is his message? Do you agree? What does this say about people who are ambitious?

I think that Tao's message is "The third is known as not daring to take the lead in the empire; Being compassionate one could afford to be courageous." I agree with this message of compassion because compassion is brought out by being caring and brave in the face of hardships. In order to be compassionate, you need to care for a cause and look after your people. This says that ambitious people are greedy and only think about themselves instead of considering the feelings of others.

Han Fei’s ideal state of supreme governing authority is that the ruler of the country have to enforce all laws and make a stable nation. Conformers are essential to make a strong country and without them then the country will become weak.
 * 1.In Han Fei's ideal state what is the supreme governing authority, the will of the ruler or the law?**

The “Two Handles” stand for chastisement and commendation. These are essential because they make limits that people can’t go pass by. These are basically rules that gives people punishments if they do not follow the rules. Not only punishments but there are also rewards that are given if they do good things to the society. Sovereign should never surrender control over the two handles because they have to keep the balance of the society or else there will be more people not following the “Limits”.
 * 2. What are the "Two Handles" and how important are they to a legalist state? Why must the sovereign never surrender control over the two handles?**

Since Han Fei’s ideal state is based on the two handles, individuality and private initiative play a role. Since they have an idea that they have to punish the ones who does bad things and give rewards if they do good things.
 * 3. What roles do individuality and private initiative play in Han Fei's ideal state?**

**4. Why do you think Legalism appealed to some people?** I believe that there were people who were not satisfied with the not organized society and legalism surely for them, definitely made them appealed because legalism make people more organized, makes a better and safe society because there are punishments and rewards for people’s action.

**5. Imagine a series of conversations among a Daoist, a Confucian, and a Legalist. How would each respond on the following issues: What is the purpose of good government? What role does morality play in formulating law? What are the qualities of a superior ruler? The proposition "Might makes right."** Daoist: Let the government flow itself along with nature... Confucianism: Government has to make people be organized and there have to be classes...  Legalism: Government has to stable (“two handles”)...

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