Beliefs And Practices In China Free Essays

The three main religions in China – Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism – originated at about the same time and share common beliefs in human goodness and the need to behave kindly and justly. However, they differ in their practices and, more importantly, in how they view deities and the afterlife. Derived from Confucius’ teachings around 500 BC, Confucianism emphasizes justice, sincerity, morality, and hierarchy. We will write a custom essay sample on Beliefs And Practices In China or any similar topic only for you Order Now It emphasizes conduct and decorum over spirituality, emphasizing self-control and obedience instead of religious doctrine in the Judeo-Christian sense. Its practices include being sincere, just, and deferential to elders, since it embraces a strict view of worldly hierarchy and the need for etiquette rather than one governed by gods or an omnipotent single God. In this sense, it is less a religion than â€Å"a tradition of ritual/propriety† (Yao 191) which upholds sacrifices to heavenly, earthly, and ancestral spirits (generally performed in temples). It is hard to define as a religion because it does not fit the Western world’s criteria and is more a tradition and code of behavior; indeed, it was initially used to govern the actions of China’s ancient bureaucrats. (Yao 39) Daoism evolved at about the same time as Confucianism and also embraces virtues like justice, patience, and decency. However, it is more of a religion than Confucianism because it mandates reverence for the Dao (roughly meaning â€Å"the way†), which is â€Å"a cosmic principle, permeating and infusing all aspects of creation with vitality. † (Oldstone-Moore 23) To become one with the Dao, one must attain enlightenment by practicing good, proper behavior in addition to cultivating a spiritual wisdom and serenity through unity with the Tao. Here, Taoism differs sharply from Confucianism, which does not place as much importance on cosmic forces or one’s spiritual nature. It also embraces a more concrete idea of the afterlife than Confucianism, since the Daoist view has the soul entering Hell, being forced to atone, and being reincarnated. (Oldstone-Moore 84-87) Originating in India at roughly the same time as Confucianism and Daoism, Buddhism shares with them the principles of harmony and balance, though to a Westerner it seems more like a religion than either of its fellow faiths. Indeed, its doctrines and rituals are more evolved and clearly-defined than those of China’s other two main religions. Like them, Buddhism teaches that while human nature is essentially good, the world is corrupt and one must practice pure-mindedness and good, just behavior. It also shares with Daoism the importance of seeking cosmic enlightenment, though Buddhists attain it through meditation and discipline. (Wangu 8) However, it also mandates a degree of asceticism (like varying degrees of vegetarianism) not required by Confucianism or Daoism, asking its laypeople to refrain from violence, theft, sexual misconduct, using intoxicants, and â€Å"incorrect speech† (lying, gossiping, etc. ). Also, Buddhism’s concepts of the soul and afterlife are much more developed than those of either Confucianism or Daoism, and it places more emphasis on its written scriptures (which were committed to print during the first century AD). However, it has no supreme being and does not demand exclusive allegiance, as do Western religions; its appeal â€Å"has rested solely on the message of its founder and its flexibility in adapting to different cultures and philosophies. † (Wangu 10) China’s three chief religions share common traits and basic outlooks (which they openly exchanged over the centuries). Confucianism is the most secular and least spiritual, while Daoism has a more evolved sense of the spirit and afterlife and Buddhism the most evolved concepts of these, as well as the most involved code of practices. In all, they represent varying degrees of spirituality and what Westerners would call â€Å"religion. † BIBLIOGRAPHY Oldstone-Moore, Jennifer. Taoism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Buddhism. New York: Facts on File, 2002. Yao, Xinzhong. Religions of China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. How to cite Beliefs And Practices In China, Papers

Presentation of the Monk and the Pardoner Essay Example For Students

Presentation of the Monk and the Pardoner Essay In the prologue for the Pardoner and the Monk Chaucer satirises both characters, the Monk is only satirised lightly in his choice of vocation, whereas the Pardoner is satirised much more harshly for his morals.  As a member of the church, the Monk should devote his time to religious matters, for example coping out the bible by hand. The Monk however is satirised by Chaucer for neglecting his duties, many times in the prologue, An outridere, that loved venerie  Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable  This tells us that he had a lot of horses and loved hunting, not a sport encouraged by the church, in fact banned by them. There is not a direct criticism of the Monk contained within the description of the Monks actions, all it tells us is that Chaucer believes that the his priorities are confused,  And whan he rood, men mighte his briel heere  Ginglen in a whistlinge wind als cleere  And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle  This indicates that the bells on his bridle were as attractive to him as the church bells, which were supposed to call him to prayer, this again criticises his actions as a monk not as a person. The Monk obviously is an obsessed hunts man,  Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;  Of priking and of hunting for the hare  Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare  Once again this for a normal man would not be wrong, but for a man of the cloth this is totally the wrong thing to be interested in.  He then tries to justify his priorities, of hunting, by claiming to be a new style of monk, where the old rules do not count.  The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit  By cause that it was old and somdel streit  This ilke Monl leet olde thinges pace,  And heeld after the newe world the space.  He yaf nat of that text a puled hen  This says that he does not follow the rules written by Saint Maur or Saint Benet, which were written as the day to day guide for how people should live their lives, which was a very blasphemous view for that time. He yaf nat of that text a puled hen,  That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,  He is trying to defend his actions with an argument that is absolutely absurd, hunting which is the killing of animals, is against all of the teachings of the bible which tells one to preserve and care for life.  As well as devoting their lives to the monastery monks should give up all material possessions and live a life of near poverty, however the Monk does not seem to have obeyed this rule,  with gris, and that the fineste of a lond  And, for festne his hood under his chin  He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pin. This tells us that he had had the finest fur lined cuffs, which would have been expensive, he also has a gold pin fastening his hood, which is a fashion statement, not an appropriate type of clothing for a monk. Most people when they think of a monk imagine a pallid faced man with sunken cheeks, as he has not been eating well, however Chaucer describes the Monk in a different way,  He was a lord ful fat and in good point

Underage Drinking free essay sample

There are several problems caused by underage drinking; furthermore, this is a serious disease. Most teenagers have a greater record of underage drinking compared to young people 20 years ago. There are more accidents and deaths now as a result of underage alcohol consumption. Subsequently, we are for the banning of underage drinking. First of all, alcohol causes many problems for society nowadays. Alcohol has been used throughout history for various reasons. According to the medical Encyclopedia, alcoholism is an illness marked by drinking alcoholic beverages to excess. As long as alcohol consumption is not at a level that interferes with physical health, it is not a problem. There are two types of alcoholism: dependence and abuse; however, both of them could cause many problems in society. Alcoholism has a large effect in youth; there are more than 10. 4 million young people between ages 12 and 20 who suffer from it. Second, the difference between social drinking and alcohol has changed a lot over time. We will write a custom essay sample on Underage Drinking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Now alcohol abuse has become teenagers’ focus. In addition, they don’t have control over how much they drink. They might want to attend social events that only involve alcohol, or they can’t enjoy themselves. Going to a bar or making a drink after coming home from work becomes more important than connecting with friends or family. These days, alcohol might be the way to avoid painful feelings or troubled relationships. As a result, teenagers might resort to dangerous behavior, like driving while drunk, or they may even exhibit violent behavior. Third, there are more accidents and deaths as a result of underage alcohol consumption. When people ask teenagers how easy it is to get alcohol, they mostly say it is very easy. As alcohol is easier to obtain, it produces more problems. Around 4,300 deaths are caused by teenagers who drink alcohol because they are more likely to have car accidents or fights. For example, according to the daily mail online, †Joseph Salah, 19, lost control of his car while he was driving drunk, crashing and killing David Powel, 20 years old, instantly and injuring two other passengers. Imagine a teen driving drunk without thinking about consequences, or messing around with someone who cannot control his or her behavior; it often results in a catastrophe. Finally, we disagree with underage alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, this issue causes a lot of arguments around the world. Society is affected by alcohol, but governments still allow it to be sold while banning other drugs. Alcohol companies produce millions of dollars annually in revenues and taxes; that’s why governments won’t do more to prevent underage alcohol consumption.

Tropical Fish Essays

Tropical Fish Essays Tropical Fish Essay Tropical Fish Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: Tropical Fish There are different varieties of tropical fish, and people should know the type of fish they want to keep. Keeping fish is a lot of responsibility, and the people intending to keep the fish should be aware of these responsibilities. They need to know how to set a fish tank in the right way, and how to prepare it for the fish. They also need to perform regular maintenance on the fish tank, as this will ensure healthy growth and maturity of the fish. In setting a fish tank, many people do not know the amount of water needed, or the number of fish that can thrive well in the tank. The general rule is that one should use one gallon of water per inch of fish. This creates an enabling environment for the fish to grow well, and it ensures that the fish are not crowded. Keeping fish requires a person to know the right temperature to use. Tropical fish require a temperature of between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people like putting decor in their fish tanks for aesthetic purposes. They should ensure that the materials they use for such purposes do not change the quality of the water. Materials such as coral and metal change the water quality, and they should not be used for decor. When keeping tropical fish, one should be aware of the type of species to keep. Some varieties are more popular than others are because they are physically appealing and come in many different colors. Such fish are an added benefit to the home because they beautify it. Other varieties are common because they are hardy. These varieties have higher chances of surviving, and they do not require as much maintenance as some of the varieties do. A person intending to keep tropical fish should decide on the varieties he wants to keep, and should learn more about them. Some varieties of tropical fish do not get along, keeping them together lessens their chance of survival because they will fight each other and die. It is important for a person to have a clear purpose for keeping tropical fish. Some people like to keep the fish as a way of adding beauty in the home. They beautify the aquariums by adding beautiful varieties of tropical fish. Many tropical fish have different beautiful colors. The way a person handles the aquarium can also be a source of beauty. People can add different decor in the aquarium, and this enhances the beauty of the home. They display their creativity in the type of design for their aquariums, and in the different ornaments that they choose to have inside there. Some people keep fish for educational purposes. They are more likely to have different aquariums holding different varieties of fish. Children learn a lot by keeping fish, especially if they are involved in taking care of them. They learn how to be responsible as they take care of the fish in feeding and changing the water. They also learn how tropical fish live, and they learn the nature of aquatic habitats. M any children are familiar with land animals and habitat and they do not know much about aquatic life. Keeping fish enables them to learn more about aquatic life. Keeping tropical fish is an important and interesting activity. The owner has to know how to understand the responsibilities of keeping the fish. He or she has to know the right way of setting a fish tank and maintaining it. The person has to know the right species to keep. Many people prefer keeping different species, but they have to know the kind of fish that get along well. Doing so will enhance the chances of the fish surviving. People keep fish for different purposes, including adding and enhancing the beauty in their homes, and for educational purposes. In all the cases, it is important to understand the right species of fish to keep.

Case Study # 2 Lounge Talk Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

# 2 Lounge Talk - Case Study Example The way each of them handled issues were different and aligned to the leadership styles they used as stated earlier. A classical example presents itself when Dr. Werner helps Delores with planning skills and classroom management unlike Mr. Calbo, who covered the teacher up. For a fact, Dr. Warner is more interested with the professional development of the teachers and the students, which is coupled to the realization of the schools goals and objectives. Essentially, the students and teachers expect a different kind of treatment from the principles. Some of the teachers and students expect to have a loving and caring principal while the others expect the principles to be very decisive and dynamic. The differences in the way the teachers expect the principal to react bring about the difference in reaction to Dr. Werner. The teachers demonstrating excellence in their fields have a problem with the principle for the fact that they do not get the praises and reward as it were before with Mr. Calbo. Instead, the principle spends more time with the students and teachers with a few shortcomings. The approach is important and advantageous for the fact that there is development of the individuals involved. They gain better skills and self-management which works towards achieving the goals of the institution. For instance, the fact that the principle took time with Delores, there has been improved performance and increased productivity. At the same time, the students attending the trip with the teacher are likely to change their character and work towards excelling. This wholesomely works towards the individual level development and achieving of the organizational goals (Yang, 2008 P2 L 26-36). Mr. Calbo used the transactional leadership style while Dr. Werner used transformational leadership style. Mr.Calbo promoted the rewarding of the staff member. The staff members were paid for any activity they were involved in. Moreover, he lacked the vision and

Video Observation and Reflection Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Video Observation and Reflection - Movie Review Example She explains that it is vital they work in that manner because the girls may not participate well when they partner with the boys. Completing the task required that the students partner so that they share and discuss how the connections worked. They also managed to walk around and ask the other students how they managed to work on their experiments successfully (Completing the Circuit: A Conversation About Teaching, 1999). Engagement Questionnaires were given to the students by Ms. Block to allow her know about the encounters of students with electricity. Posters about various uses of electricity and the applications were made by the students. Engagement can spring from two different conditions: experience and dialogue (Bilica, 2007). Experience has been used by Ms. Block through the classroom experiments she has administered. The students in the learning have been assigned the duty of carrying out experiments using the materials they have been given and making precise observations a bout the circuits. Through dialogue, the students purposefully discuss the unit content with their experiences in relation. They write down the class notes and the discussion details. The students thus become the creators and users of knowledge and not passively the recipients of it. Communication Ms. Block herself allowed the students to talk about their observations. This she does by first taking them through the step-by-step process of discussing with them the things she will look for during the learning session. She asks the students questions regarding what their thoughts about sharing and working in groups. It is a process of question asking and letting the students give out their thoughts on the topic (Bilica, 2007). Ms. Block explains that she will be interested in the way the students will be sharing the materials she will give out. Additionally, she will be interested in how the students themselves will share with others the observations and ideas as the experiments contin ues. While giving out the instructions on how the discussions and experiments should be carried out, Ms. Block was standing in front of the class. The students communicated with each other by: 1. Discussing with their individual partners about the connection details and the observations. 2. Moving from their individual groups to other tables to check, ask and help others on their experiments. 3. Giving out their observations to the whole class as they answered the questions asked by the instructor later on when they had finished different phases of the experiment. Direct instruction Ms. Block directly instructed the students about what she looked for during the lesson. She explained-before she gave out the materials for the experiment-that the students will work in groups. The atmosphere in the classroom The groups had different encounters and views during the experiments. This helped to bring out seriousness and involvement in the learning environment (Barton & Haydn, 2006). Studen ts could reveal their excitements when their connections were a success. Others, however, could be seen to be a bit nervous considering that they had difficulties completing their circuits. Ms. Block did her best by also engaging in the experiment process by checking on the groups that were not working out their connections properly. The classroom atmosphere was fun, and the students mood was jovial. We could finally say that the classroom

Murder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Murder - Essay Example The novel starts with him dispatching a priest who had killed orphaned children. He is aware of his being inhuman, but he has grown in himself qualities which is human-like to conceal who and what he truly is. He can be very charming but there is no sincerity behind it. Dexter cannot control his desire; when the full moon is out, he is compelled by his passion to kill, urged by a hidden force he calls his Dark Passenger. He takes pleasure in his killings, obtaining delight from a perfectly executed murder, gradually filleting his victims when they are still breathing, no traces of blood after, but he leaves one drop of blood from his victims in order for him to feel again the excitement of the murder He is one of the most likable vigilante serial killers, deals with his eventual opponent, a frightening evil which scares away Dexter's inner monster, and almost weakens his sense of humor. His job as Miami crime scene investigator, Dexter is familiarized with observing evil acts specifically in some instances, wherein he is more willing to commit them himself. He was A horrible double homicide at a university campus changes everything for Dexter as he is called to the crime scene wherein Dexter should usually investigate with delight. But this crime scene, wherein two co-eds were burned ceremonially and beheaded, gives even the human vivisection, mysteriously vanishes the voice of the Dark Passenger inside Dexter's head. The burned and beheaded corpse count persists to increase, and Dexter recognizes that the power behind the killings is incredibly even more evil than his Dark Passenger. Dexter Dark Passenger senses something familiar, something absolutely frightening, and the Passenger, the mastermind of Dexter's homicidal ability, instantly disappear. Similarly disturbing, Dexter starts to understand that a touch of a very dark force is reaching out to him. (Lindsay 2004) Matt Fowler kills for revenge, as he suffers tremendously because of his son's, Frank, murder. The victim's murder was so distressing to his parents that Matt's heart was dying to kill his son's killer, Richard Strout. The endless imagination of Frank's murder destroyed Matt and his wife Ruth, until they carried out their vengeance on Strout and comforted their emotions. At the same time, the crime also reflects through the mind of Matt Fowler, how Strout loved ones would die inside by his murder. In this particular spot, it is portrayed that the emotions of families died on the deaths of their loved ones. At the back of Matt's mind, he presumes that Strout will only serve some years in prison and be given probation and he does not agree that he can deal with it if that will happen. Ruth suffers the idea of seeing Strout all over places and can not face the truth that Strout is out on bail after murdering her son Frank. Matt then was overpowered with the killing of his son and chooses to take action. Matt, from his own perspective, has no other option but to kill as his wife 3 is emotionally manipulating him into taking drastic action and in their mind, they will never achieve peace unless they take a desperate act of closure. Richard murders