Can the next prophet please stand up?

This week in class we spent a lot of time talking about peoples negative perceptions of other cultures and religions. This idea kind of goes hand in hand with my post from last week. For the average American our only view on other cultures are what we are told by the media. We are discussing Muhammad in class whose religion is is Islam. All of us are very aware of the way Americans perceive them.

Is it right or fare? No. Have we been brainwashed to think this way? Yes.

Would a prophet like Jesus even be able to to fix everyone's cynical perception of people different than themselves? Are we to far gone to be saved? Would a prophet make a difference?

My book analysis is on Taoism and I think one of the concepts really works for this argument. Taoist believe that being one with nature is key, and to be one with nature you must go back to your natural form, like a block of wood. You can carve a block of wood into anything. Just like our perceptions can be carved into anything. Can we get back to our natural way of thinking and decide for ourselves how we perceive the world around us?

Reading Avery Finnivan's post about religions being strict, and a friend who isn't allowed to be friends with someone of different beliefs really got me thinking about all religions.

When do "religions" and religious figure heads go to far. This brings me back to Jesus, and how what he was trying to teach has been altered and changed from the notion of equality among all men and woman to Christianity with thousands of rules.

Can what was originally purpose be twisted so far that the main point is actually erased? Do the wrong people become religious figure heads and alter the original message to make people act a certain way? You could even ask the same thing when it comes to news media. People are smart and know how to get reactions from the mass crowd. Scaring them into behaving.

Greed-excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

In class yesterday Professor Silliman said that greed is what makes the world a bad place. I couldn't agree more. This idea isn't just the case in Buddhism which is the religion we were discussing, but I finds this to be a universal idea.

Greed, desire, jealousy all roll into one when we think about the human experience. The human race's mind set is to have more or something better than your neighbor and by doing this you will achieve happiness. FALSE! Happiness is fleeting and will only last a few moments. I think Buddhism has it right on this one. Greed is what makes the world go round but not in a good way.

Are we like an artichoke or an onion?

This we week we delved right into The Dhammapada, and understanding the teachings of Buddha. I have really enjoyed the readings thus far and think that even if one doesn't choose to become Buddhist they could definitely take what Buddha says it stride and apply it to their lives.

That being said I am still trying to understand the idea that we are just stick figures and our lives aren't real...we just are. Professor Silliman used an artichoke/ onion metaphor in class which really helped me to comprehend what Buddhist believe, but it is still hard to fully embrace this belief. We are taught to be ourselves and have a concrete belief of who we are, and being Buddhist you have to set that aside and just...be.

I guess this idea brings my post from last week about soul full circle. It is hard to comprehend but not impossible.