Shinto kamidana

If i had to create my own Shinto Kamidana it would be very interesting. My shrine would be placed in a room which we call it the new room. It is located on my first floor of my house and that is the room that when you enter the home, is the first room. It is more of a open room that many people would see.

The one thing that would be very important to me would be a butterfly. Ever since i was little i was always into Butterflies but as i got older they meant more to me than just an insect. They represent freedom, peace and life. When i look at a Butterfly i think of my life being free. Away from problems. The color purple would be on the Shrine. That is my favorite color. It would put a silk purple sheet laying on the shrine. The next things i would put on the Shrine would be pictures of family memories and family members taht have died, as a reminder they still are here in soul. I would also put candels at the both ends of the shrine because they give relaxation. That is something that i need in my life and that i cherish. Lighting candles at night gives me a time to myself and a time to forget of every stressful thing that happened during that day.

Get rid of "learning" ...

Get rid of "learning" ...

Get rid of "learning" and there will be no anxiety.
How much difference is there between "yes" and "no" ?
How far removed from each other are "good" and "evil" ?
Yet what the people are in awe of cannot be disregarded.

I am scattered, never having been in a comfortable center.
All the people enjoy themselves, as if they are at the festival of the great sacrifice,
Or climbing the Spring Platform.
I alone remain, not yet having shown myself.
Like an infant who has not yet laughed.
Weary, like one despairing of no home to return to.

All the people enjoy extra
While I have left everything behind.
I am ignorant of the minds of others.
So dull!
While average people are clear and bright, I alone am obscure.
Average people know everything.
To me alone all seems covered.
So flat!
Like the ocean.
Blowing around!
It seems there is no place to rest.
Everybody has a goal in mind.
I alone am as ignorant as a bumpkin.
I alone differ from people.

I enjoy being nourished by the mother.

As i read this poem i thought of homeschooling a person. This is a person who believes that going to school and learning in books will only bring anxiety. Those yes or no questions is a waist of time there is no difference. This person is alone all the time and has not been at a normal comfortable setting. I read all the poems on this website and they are very touching. I love poems in wrote one poem already and i was actually thinking about putting a book maybe together of poems. Right now my scheduale does not allow me to sit back and write poetry. When you get a chance look at this website and if you like poems there might be a couple on it you might like. http://www.hm.tyg.jp/%7Eacmuller/contao/daodejing.html#div-1

"10 questions for the Dalai Lama"

I think that this interview video was excellent. It painted a clearer picture in my mind about the Dalai Lama. Things about him; where he came from; what he believes in; and what he wants to do for the rest of his life. It is very sad what Chinese government is doing to those who believe in the Dalai Lama. That is their religion and I do not understand who can tell them what or who to believe in. That is like the USA government telling the citizens that we can only practice one religion. After watching the video i wish he would do more for those who believe in him. I feel as like he is just living his life and not caring for others in his religion. After he dies they will not have a Dalai Lama to believe in and feel comfort to. It is a shame and i wish people all over the country would realize that each religion is different and that you can not take away something what people believe in.

"Big" questions

There are many fundamental or "big" questions to which all religions respond. Examples of "big" questions would include:
What is ultimate reality/God?
What is the nature of the cosmos?
What is the nature of a person?
What is the purpose of human life? Or how can we achieve "salvation"?
What happens to us after death?
What is morality or what is the basis of morality?
What is the meaning of history?


Hinduism religion believes in many different things. Hindus believe in one god and reincarnation. They still do believe in other gods and except the belief of other gods. They also believe in the caste system which is that the person is born into the religion. It also accomodates the idea of religion and personal god. By doing good and reaching Nirvana we can achieve salvation. Buddhism has many different values, which include right knowledge, speech, behavior, effort, livihood and aspiration. Salvation comes by nonattachment to the world; follow the eight fold path. This includes self-effort, salvation through reincarnation. Jainism believes in nonattachment, honesty and nonexistance. They acknowledge the existance of gods but does not rely on them. Sikhism believes in kharma and that people will contine with kharma and live again and again.
They all believe in rebirth and reincarnation. The difference amoung them are what they believe in towards gods and goddesses.

10 questions for the Dalai Lama

I work at Blockbuster and on Tuesday i receive movies coming out in the following weeks and as i was opening them up, i can accross a movie titles 10 Questions For The Dalai Lama. It seems very interesting. I will bring it to class tomorrow and see maybe we can watch it next week. I just need it back before the 22nd. It released date is the 23rd. I get movies for free weeks ahead. That is one great thing working at blockbuster.

My Community

I live over the Tappan Zee Bridge in Pomona. It is about a 10-15 min drive from the Bridge. In my community we have mainly Catholic, protestant and Jewish. Mostly Catholic people live around here. My neigborhood is "dead". As you drive around I rarely see people outside. Only a few people i see almost all the time. It seems as if they have busy scheduales ( as do I) and might be distracted with cleaning their houses, their life styles. Some spiritual issues that my community deals with is that they are all to themselves; very quiet and not very socialable. My family we interact with some of our neighbors. A solution for the problem would be for someone to gather around during a holiday and get to know everyone.

I am having trouble with pictures and stuff to be added to my blog because my computer acts up everytime i try to.

Buddhism

The other night i was watching television and i switched to special on nbc. They were talking about how Buddhism has changed over the years. It was just very interesting because we were pretty much talking about it during class a couple of days ago. You might be able to catch it on nbc nightly news website. They showed how in one community, Indiana they practiced in a persons home. Thery are building a new temple and in the mean time the Monks and the Buddhist gather at the head persons homw. Also what i found interesting is that the monks live in the same community as Christians and other religions. One teenager said that it was very cool, when asked about having Monks and Buddhist live next door.