Noble titles

There are three steps to the training which is given in vipassana meditation: A. The Technique of Vipassana Meditation: Code of discipline to be followed: Noble silence (no communication even through gestures or eye contact). No reading / no writing. No intoxicants. No contact whatsoever between males and females. Follow the meditation technique and other instructions in toto. Part I: Aana-pana sati. Step-1: Awareness of inhalation and exhalation of breath in the triangular area covering the…

What is the origin of Christianity? The exact origin of Christianity can be quite questionable. According to Damen, The historical study of Christianity begins not with Jesus Christ but with his most important early follower, Paul. Although Paul was an oppressor among Christians, he converted to Christianity ("Early Christianity and the Church."). However, according to, “The Boisi Center Papers on religion in the United States”, Christianity began as a movement that was led by the Jewish rabbi…

inflicted through emotional triggers. Emotional power is more common than many people might think. An example of these powers are pressures from a manager or boss. When a quota needs to be reached, managers will use tactics to fill this void. With their title, they can control the team and the moral surrounding a project. Having this power allows them to pull from other resources and get the job done by using his power to either incentivize or pressure employees. Jean Joque Roussu shows how…

India is the births place of two of the world’s major religions: Hinduism and Buddhism. Around the year 500, Brahmanism dominated India, which was the continuation of Vedism, the culture bought to India by Aryans around 1500BC, The Aryans’ ideas of Brahmanism merged with the ideas of the native people in the Indus Valley, developing Hinduism. Around 500BC, Buddhism was established by Siddarttha Gautama. Both Brahmanical Hinduism and Buddhism in India are inseparable from its society, culture and…

Children have been immersed in gender stereotypes since the moment they were born. Girls are placed with ribbons on their heads and dressed in pink whilst boys are smothered in the colour blue. Jennett, 2013, states society works from birth to teach children “…which colours, toys, games and books are for boys and which are for girls” pg.3. For instance, Tonka trucks are known as masculine toys whilst Barbie dolls are known as feminine toys. If a boy was seen playing with a barbie doll, he would…

representation of skillfull means lays the foundation for the many references to skilfull means that follows. Before discussing the parable I want to quickly give some background information on both suffering and skillful means. According to the Four Noble Truths suffering comes from desire/clinging/craving. People might not be aware that the suffering they are feeling is due to their desire and lack…

Siddhartha has been searching for fulfillment all his life. Though he was the most scholarly and respected Brahmin, this did not satisfy him. He drank knowledge, yet still felt ignorant. He could not find peace and desired fulfillment. His journey is essentially one of trial, error, suffering, mistakes, and rebirth. In this essay I will demonstrate how Siddhartha’s story both legitimates and challenges Indian religious authority, by giving examples both from Buddhism and Hinduism. Siddhartha…

In life, there are many distractions and few realities that we choose to face on a daily basis. Humans feel as though they can avoid the harshness of reality by choosing to “focus” on the inconsequential thoughts that will eventually bring them back to suffering. The Buddha taught the Eightfold Path to liberate people form their false sense of eternal suffering and guide us toward a meaningful existence. The most crucial step towards enlightenment is explained by right mindfulness; remember to…

In my Master of Divinity program I wrote a paper entitled, “What is the place of work in the Christian Life?” That paper was a reflection on Lee Hardy’s book, The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice and the Design of Human Work. While Hardy’s work began with an examination of Greek thought in regards to work and leisure, as represented by the works Plato and Aristotle, a contemporary piece might begin with Working, by Studs Terkel, moving from work into theology, as…

Since the beginning of mankind, humans have searched for collective actualization in order to truly understand themselves and the world around them. The concept of self-discovery is explored in the novel, Siddhartha, through the spiritual journey of the main character during the lifetime of the historical Buddha. Originally a Brahman, a member of the highest Hindu class, Siddhartha abandons his life in hope of finding wisdom and reaching Nirvana, the final goal of Buddhism. Throughout the novel,…