Meeks - Buddhism and Its Spread (Thur)

[Anonymous]

I have learned a lot from Dr. Meeks' presentation. I will share the learned information with my students. I'm sure that they would be interested to learn that Buddha appears only when things go bad and people need to overcome suffering. Today's presentation also included terms such as Upanishads, moksha, samsara and so on, which will be interesting for my students to learn. I will also discuss the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism, what is Karma, and will probably discuss the Eightfold Path before creating our own classroom rules/student contract.

[Anonymous]

I had no idea that Buddhism had a range of adoptions until today. While younger, I had a misconception that only Asians practiced Buddhism. It wasn't until I saw the movie based on Tina Turner's life, "What's Love Got to Do With It," that I learned that Tina Turner practiced Buddhism and even later made albums with different chants. Later, as a Lakers fan, I discovered that the famous head coach Phil Jackson was also a practicing Buddhist. I wonder which adoption of Buddhism do they practice. For students, I think it helps to see that people who are not of Asian descent love and practice Buddhism as well.

[Anonymous]

It is so interesting to hear the history of how Buddhism spread in Asia area. Since I have so many friends are practicing Buddhism, I am very interested to know more about this religion. I went to Temples with my Mom when I was little, and went to Temples with friends after I grow up. I heard so many different ways to explained the Karma, the rules, but the never have change to learn the history about it.
I feel confused of a lot of things related to this religion, but it could be a very interesting project for my “Info process” computer class. I believe students will like to see how different this religion to their ow religion, and make some comparison.

[Anonymous]

@cgonzalez I think the meaning of donations to save the parents, is not counting the donation as “money” is counting the “points of the good practicing”. I been going to different Temples or Buddhist groups, I found a way to understand all these “transfer” can think as a deposit of “good points “ and “bed points”
That way I fell is easier to understand the punishments or the rewards. If we want the rewards can give to parents to use then we earn the “ goods points for nice to parents” too.

[Anonymous]

@ gtyau For your question: Do any business or industries operate with a Buddhist ideologies as backbone for its interactions with clients. In Taiwan, yes, it is happened in a lot of hospitals. Some of the Hospital has both Buddhist practice room and Christian pray room. In my father last month of life, he is in a public hospital’s hospices’ room. The Dr. in charge that department is a Buddhist nun; she became a nun after few years work in that hospital. Our family like the way she took care my father’s last month of life.

[Anonymous]

• As I heard about Buddhism during Professor Meeks’ lecture, one of the thoughts that became more prominent in my mind is the possible influences Buddhism had on Christianity. In learning more and more about Buddhism, I see a lot of parallels between Christianity and Buddhism and I am very curious to know if there has been any investigation that looks into what elements of Buddhism have shaped Christian culture. Buddhism came into being much more earlier than Christianity and this along with very active trade networks leads me to wonder if Christians heard about the elements of Buddhism and somehow shaped them to fit their theological framework and their population.

edited by nramon on 8/4/2016

[Anonymous]

Anytime I hear of Zen, I automatically think of Phil Jackson who was referred as the " Zen Master" for his level of calmness as a NBA head coach. Many times while other coaches were exasperated while their team was down, whenever Phil Jackson's team was down he had this evident calm spirit and very rarely seemed to be anxious about anything while the game was being played. I think a great lesson for upper grades would be to compare the reading of San Francisco Zen and the actions to a few highlights of Phil Jackson and the Bulls or the Lakers game while the team was losing and perhaps needed a time out. Phil's mannerisms should be observed and compared to the article and how Zen is implemented into one's thought processes.

[Anonymous]

In the article "Bodhisattva Who Bestows Children", I was not especially surprised to see the link between Buddhist deities and Christianity. After all, Christianity has usurped many of its saints, feast days, and other important concepts from other religions in order to be the dominant belief system across the globe. What did surprise me was the change in gender of this Bodhisattva from male to female. Maybe it was the handiwork of the missionaries that came through that region...
The testimonials that are supplied in the article are pretty astounding.

[Anonymous]

The article "Modern Buddhism" brings to light the way we as an American society shun what we are unfamiliar with. Even though we are supposed to be the great Melting Pot - or more modernly, a great salad bowl - we still are reluctant to accept differing viewpoints. It's kind of sad that it took the Vietnam War to bring Buddhism to some form of acceptance here but now that it is more in the limelight, it's time to show more and more people what Buddhism can offer. The idea that there were no priests to lead the people which meant less spread & less "leadership" of this new way. It is still my conjecture that if more people adopt Buddhist concepts, we might have a chance at becoming a more peaceful and accepting society.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love the first paragraph of the article "The Origins of Zen". It shows what I've been saying for ages that translations of translations can create entire new stories or meanings in writing. For me, it's a pleasure to see the development of the term over centuries. These things always fascinate me.
It's not so surprising that the narrator of the story didn't have enough confidence in his own thoughts as to present them but at the same time, writing them on the walls was a bold move. What this proves to me is simply that we can utter truths and epiphanies but if we lack faith in our own words, we will not take our own messages.

[Anonymous]

Nepal is considered by most as the birthplace of Buddhism, at least that was my perception? However, Hinduism is by far the dominate religion in the region at 90% in Nepal with approx. 7% Buddhist. Although Lord Buddha was Born in Lumbini, and and preached with his disciples throughout what is now Nepal his compassion spread North to China with little effect on the powerful established Hindi religion prior to his exixtance.

[Anonymous]

This question about why Buddhism became more pronounced in China than its native India is a great question for the 6th grade Social Studies curriculum. Students usually spend 4-6 weeks studying Early Man, Mesopotamia, India, China, and then conclude the year with ancient Greece and Rome. This would be a great way to transition from India to China and demonstrate some of the cross flowing of ideas and trade between these regions and ancient cultures. Nice writing prompt of essay assignment as one moves from a study of India to China.

[Anonymous]

The question as to why Buddhism became more pronounced in China instead of its native India is a great writing prompt or essay questions that can link the studies of India and China in the 6th grade curriculum. Typically students study 4-6 weeks units on early man, Mesopotamia, India, China, and conclude with ancient Greece and Rome. These questions are a great way to transition from the studies of ancient India to ancient China. It also demonstrates to students the links that existed between these ancient cultures
edited by rbrady on 8/24/2016

[Anonymous]

Great opportunities here for the study of ancient cultures embedded in the curriculum beginning in the sixth grade. The visit to the Getty and the viewing of the beautiful artwork in particular the statuary of the Silk Road cave art was impressive. Great opportunity here for students to compare and contrast the depiction of the human form in religious representation. I found the discussions regarding the influence of the Greeks during Alexanders conquests into India and the emergence of statuary interesting. This could become a great way for students to compare and contrast Greece, India, and China through the art element of Form. Also a great way to work in some art lessons on the elements of art, FORM in particular. Much as one could use food to teach academic standards and the spreading of ideas and goods so also could the educator use art.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that Buddhism finds fertile ground and becomes more pervasive in the Far East than its native India. This would be a great research question for students and lead them into a study of both ancient India and China. Another great way to transition from the study of India into ancient China for the sixth grade.

[Author]

Posts