There are numerous statements that stand out to me in Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh that have altered my worldview in some respect. Several topics discussed in class have also changed my thinking on a number of subjects. The three quotes that I selected from the book occur in the first few dozen pages where tolerance and mindfulness are discussed. The ideas gone over in class that have helped me most change my worldview are the example with the sheet of paper and its origins, the explanation of Carl Jung's psychological theories, and the idea that the United State's priorities are really out of whack.
The first passage that sticks out in my mind is: "People kill and are killed because they cling too tightly to their own beliefs and ideologies." This is absolutely correct. Examples are visible in everyday life but especially in the news. Palestinians believe that they are the only people that have the right to the land in and around Israel. The Israelis or at least those in power believe the exact opposite. Because they hold onto their beliefs so firmly, they are not willing to compromise and believe they are the only side with the correct point of view. If either side would be willing to let go of their ideologies and begin an honest dialogue, perhaps progress would be made toward peace.
This brings us to another quote that is important to me: "If we think we monopolize the truth and we still organize a dialogue, it is not authentic." What Hanh is saying in this excerpt is that all discussion is faux if made between parties who are not ready to accept each other's truth and set ideology aside. For example if one enters a discussion with someone else to right a wrong or reach an understanding with no intention or willingness to let go of his beliefs the dialogue that will ensue will not yield a fruitful outcome. We need to realize that perhaps we can learn from somebody when we are willing to accept what they believe to be true.
... have to go to Europe or to the United States in order to develop their lives" (Berger). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answered one of the conflicts by announcing more student living choices and selling state-owned land at a discount to lower the price of housing. While the protestors are glad that he heeded one call, they do not want the government ... ...
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, is the author of the book "Peace is Every Step." " Hanh is a spiritual leader, a poet, an author and is well known as a peacemaker. With his instructions based on Zen Buddhism, he has brought peace to many thousands of people. In his book "Peace is Ev...
... the largest and most influential religions in the world. These profound religions are widely practiced and were both spread by religious leaders. Jesus Christ was the founder of Christianity and spread the word of God across the Middle East. Buddha taught peace and kindness and lived a spiritual life. When comparing their lives, one can see that they contain many similarities and interesting ... "Consider others as yourself." Jesus and Buddha urged their followers to not judge others and also preached the dangerous nature of sin and the consequences that can be brought about by sinning....
... if he chose to leave the palace to become a wandering holy leader; otherwise, he would become a universal monarch. The supernatural elements of the Buddha's birth can only be passed on as myths; however they stand as the foregrounding of some of the main Buddhist ideas. Firstly the supernatural aspects ... the slaughter of the worms rent by the blade of the plow. This led to the Buddhist idea that killing and causing pain to any living creature is wrong and that it creates bad karma. While contemplating the round of suffering that pervades life he met a man of religious ... joined him a...
... polytheistic Hinduism, seems to have treated even Brahma, one of the highest of the gods, with disdain. Buddha did not deny the existence of gods, but he considered them only as the higher grade of living beings, also to be taught by him. Jesus, came out of a monotheistic culture, and continued to ... Jesus: "Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it." Mark 8:35 Buddha: "With the relinquishing of all thought and egotism, the enlightened one is liberated through not clinging." Majjhima Nikaya 72:15 Jesus: "Go therefore and make...
... wise man sat down to ponder this question about two and a half thousand years ago. This man was Siddhattha Gotama, better known as the Buddha. He believed he had found the way to elevate himself above the suffering of the world. However to understand why he reached the conclusion ... and banned him from the sect. Siddhattha realized that the path he was on wasn't getting him anywhere. Starving yourself and living in poverty on purpose was stupid. However so was living in a fabulous palace not acknowledging that bad things exist. He knew that there was a different way, and he was determi...
... two Noble Truths stated that it is necessary for inner peace and it is also necessary for a deeper state of mine, where everything is made clear. Buddha then spoke of the noble truth of stress, stating that birth, aging, death, sorrow, pain and many other things in life are stressful. He also stated ... that the cause of stress is cravings; craving things like pleasure and power. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to cessation of stress. Buddha told the monks that he did not directly awaken into the cosmos as long as his knowledge and visions were not pure, but it was when they ... wi...
... prosperity, and the potbelly, happiness and good luck. Because of his giving nature, people believed he was the embodiment of Maitreya -the Future Buddha. When he was alive, he granted people whatever they wished for. After his death people made images and statues of him for prayer purposes ... is placed side to side. Blue flowers with vines and two bronze candleholders stretch out gradually from back of their shoulders. Overall, the Buddha figurine here is made using the French cultural materials and thus the original use and meaning has been changed to a utilitarian function. It ......
... Beck implies to the reader that they can find within themselves the ability to be a better person, reach enlightenment, and become a bodhisattva or Buddha. Full Buddha-nature is in everyone's mind, yet its presence is often hidden. People who are good inside sometimes need to be shown their own goodness to ... and not to others. The true self is nothing at all, and sitting meditation is the purpose of better understanding the true self, our Buddha-nature. Buddha-nature can also be seen as an environment in which enlightenment can develop (Strong, 158). In Zen, this environment is created ...
