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AnonymousLogic and critical thinking could be introduced through Buddhism as a philosophy.
AnonymousI was really confused about the concept the principle of emptiness...Also the idea of asking for donations to save your parents from the after world suffering from people seems to go along the idea with other religions to ask for money so they can be saved once they died. I found this interesting and can go well with comparing religions with students.
AnonymousGreat presentation by Prof. Meeks nice conversations that will help us explain some other worldviews to our students. Many examples of how foreign ideas are fused with local traditions. Interesting to learn some details about how Buddhism was adopted differently in Korea, Japan, and China
edited by rbrady on 7/28/2016
AnonymousA question I have is more about contemporary life in the east Asian and Pacific Rim countries, and ways Buddhism influences ways of life in tangible evident ways. It's one thing to communicate history or history/religion in isolation, but to really engage my students in a more dynamic way I would like to see direct lines of connection between ideologies and habits of everyday life, including decision making. If anyone has any hard examples, please share.
For example, do any businesses or industries operate with Buddhist ideologies as the backbone for its interactions with clients? There are hospitals, for example, in the US that have strong religious ties. Do the same exist in the East? Schools too for that matter?
edited by gtyau on 7/28/2016
AnonymousAs someone relatively new to learning about religion I found the presentation interesting and thorough. There's so much information out there, its hard to prioritize. Something that kept popping up, today and in other lectures (and readings) is how a lot of the terminology used to label or catalog ideas are distinctly western and used out of convenience, and stem from the "modern" period of world history. Asking my students to think about bias, as much as possible, will be valuable for them as scholars and as thinkers, as they continue to grow as individuals. The uncertainty and ambiguity found in the study of "religion" is perfect for keeping my students feeling little unsettled and uncomfortable (to really stretch their minds) because so many of them have learned to rely on clear and definitive right and wrong, they have not developed critical thinking and communication skills. Today's lecture, especially, reminded me of that.
AnonymousI wonder if there are correlations between wealth and religious beliefs followed, both contemporary and historically? Also, the world of "politics" and "governance" and religion has always had close connection, overt connection, but the world of "business" hasn't it seems. Or maybe I'm just not educated enough.
AnonymousSo much great stuff out of this morning. So many connections to other ideologies throughout the world & time that I can make with my students. One of my main goals in my classroom is to show my kids just how similar we all are and the the differences are nothing but superficial. We are made to separate ourselves through government agencies and media but once we get beyond those who want to divide in order to hold power over us, we can connect to each other in myriad ways.
Bonus, I now feel infinitely more prepared to teach even my 7th grade classes about Buddhism, especially since I'm a bodhisattva....
AnonymousAt lunch I had a short conversation with the Professor regarding a "newer" religion in Japan known as Tenri-kyo. When I first heard about it, no one was really able to explain to me the basics of the religion because, in Japan, it was regarded as a type of cult. Even though they had a city named after the religion in Nara Prefecture, there was no clear explanation of what the teachings were nor why it was looked down upon. When I brought this topic up with the Prof. Meeks, I asked whether or not this was a sect of Buddhism, and she answered that it was not. However she did say that it may have borrowed some of the core values about human beings from Buddhism. She mentioned that at the surface level, however, there was no clear relationship between the two groups. I am still very curious about Tenri-kyo and will continue to research this "new" religion through some of the suggested readings provided by Prof. Meeks.
AnonymousDr. Meeks clarified many of the questions that I had about Buddhism. Particularly the Karma aspect of the religion, and the cyclical context of existence. Very effective and impressive presentation. Also, she explicated why Buddhism spread north into china rather than south into the country of origin of Buddhism.
edited by mmadruga on 7/28/2016
AnonymousI studied Asian History focused on China, especially Tang Dynasty. There might have been little bit of exaggeration, but many of Buddhist scripts written in Sanskrit were brought back to China and Indian linguists go to China to see those books.
AnonymousThere are several sects of Korean Buddhism in Modern day Korea, and the latest sect is called One Buddhism. The largest sect is 'Chogye' and they have a university, but Buddhism in Korea does not take much role in business or education fields. There are number of reasons why it became like this, but the biggest reason is the last dynasty of Korea, Chosun, discriminated Buddhism so it became isolated from everyday life and elite society. It became more for women and lower class. However, Buddhism is still prevalent in Korean culture in many ways and they are still respected by non-Christians.
ex) Non-Christian Koreans' funerals have two parts. The first part is the 3-day-long funeral at a funeral home monastery which begins the day a person deceases. The second part is not much simplified than before, but families still gather together 49 days after the person died. I believe this process is very similar to Japan and China.
AnonymousProfessor's Meeks presentation on the spread of Buddhism was extremely interesting. The idea that in order to facilitate the spread of Buddhism in Japan the Buddhasattvas were identified with the native deities, similar to colonial Latin America. The Spanish used Native Americans deities and have them assimilated to the Spanish's saints.
AnonymousI was surprised by the idea that Buddhism had trouble spreading into China, because they required shaved heads. The Chinese valued the natural body, and the hair from their parents. I can understand better why when the Mongols demanded Chinese shave the front of their heads, it was so traumatic. after today's lecture, it made mire sense.
AnonymousI was fascinate at the notion that those who practice different faiths can still reach Nirvana and become a Buddha.
But I am still unclear about many concepts, one of which is the differences between a Bodhisattva and a Buddha. According the definition I found online, "a Bodhisattva is a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings." In that light, Mother Teresa can be seen as a Bohisattva. Is a Bohisattva then equivalent to a Saint in Western term? Could Mother Teresa be one of the manifestions of Guanyin? Moreover, does she then becomes a Buddha with her passing?
Another related question I have is regard to the possibilities of multiple Buddhas. If there are many of them, are they all equal, or is there a hierachy as to which Buddha is more enlightened? In other words, when Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa meets Guatama in Heaven, do they all sit on a round table and chat or would the late comers bow to the latter similar to the hierarchy depicted in Caodai?
I guess the only way I can find the answers is to get there myself, which in theory is possible but not probable - at least not in this lifetime for me. If anyone gets there first and finds the answers, please let me know.
edited by hlien on 7/28/2016
AnonymousProfessor's Meeks presentation on Vietnamese religions in California was interesting. I had seen the eye of God on Asian paintings, but didn't understand why, the left eye is closer to the heart, which makes sense.