Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Afghanistan: A Lost Cause?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Children Of The Taliban
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Afghan War For Dummies
Monday, November 30, 2009
Problems Aplenty
Monday, November 23, 2009
Drawing To A Close In Ashgabat
Unfortunately my trip of a lifetime had to end somewhere, and that somewhere was Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. I ended up with a few extra days there, as I was originally intending to also visit Afghanistan, but my reasons for not doing so are listed below. It was quite a ride, and thank you reading everything I've written and for enjoying all the photos I've posted. I only have one photo from Ashgabat, because all my film had been used up by then, but it is shown above. I took the photo of a screenshot of Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan's deceased leader. I'll leave you with a piece I've written about him below. Enjoy, and thank you for reading about my Adventures in Central Asia!
Turkmenbashi
Turkmenbashi was the leader of Turkmenistan up until a few years ago, and then his dentist took over. If that sounds strange to someone in America, imagine how the Turkmen people felt under his “rule”, if you could even call it that. Turkmenbashi’s career as the leader of Turkmenistan was defined by his erratic behavior and totalitarian approach to leadership. As he lived in splendor and enjoyed the high life, his people suffered greatly. He is regarded by the global community as one of the most corrupt and unreasonable leaders in history. He renamed the days of the week to his liking, changed each month’s name to the name of someone in his family, and all the while watched as his people starved and struggled, only to claim that the situation was their fault. Upon his death in 2006, his dentist stepped in to rule the country. So far, his dentist has proved to be almost a crazy as he was. His legacy exists only in the faces of emaciated children, poor families, and his ridiculous projects. What is one of the more famous of these “projects” he commissioned as president? He ordered the construction of a resort, complete with a pool, air conditioning, a theater, and luxury suites. The intended clients? Horses. To sum things up, what would Turkmenbashi say if you told him he was involved in cruelty and corruption? “That’s for the birds, or rather, it’s for the horses.”
Afghanistan: Extreme Danger Zone
It is recommended by the US State Department that all American travel to or through Afghanistan cease entirely. The situation there is being called “critical” for a multitude of reasons. Terrorist attacks; kidnappings, bombings, and drug-related violence are only some of the issues that contribute to the unbalanced state of things in Afghanistan. It doesn’t help that foreigners are specifically being targeted by the terrorists, putting any non-Afghan in an immense amount of danger. In fact, things are so bad that even the US embassy in Afghanistan cannot and will not help you if something happens to you in the wrong area of Afghanistan. For these reasons, I have decided to cut Afghanistan from my itinerary, avoiding this dangerous situation entirely and hopefully emerging from my trip safe, happy, and best of all, alive.
Photos: Samarkand
Samarkand: A City Of Historical Treasures
Samarkand was a city of many surprises. My main attractions to the city were the historical richness and well preserved ancient sites. I visited a paper mill and even an observatory, or rather, the ruins of one, and also saw Samarkand Square. See below for my description, and see my next post for photos.
Samarkand: The Gem Of The East
Photos: Tashkent
Trekking In Tashkent
Uzbekistan: Terrorism Run Amok
According to the US State Department, Uzbekistan is currently a hot spot for radical activity and potential terrorist attacks. It is strongly recommended that travelers avoid visiting Uzbekistan for the time being. Numerous groups responsible for localized bombings in the past several years have made threats and are currently active inside Uzbekistan. If you must travel through the country, it is advised that you register with the US Embassy and stay alert. For my trip, I’ve decided to try and limit my stay in Uzbekistan as much as possible to keep safe. I plan to visit both Tashkent and Samarkand, but will make sure to stay up to date with current information and be extremely cautious as I travel through the country.
Being Uzbek Ain’t No Picnic
The word Uzbek means “independent”, a strange definition for a country of people plagued by civil unrest, dissatisfaction with the government, and corruption. But amidst the chaos and confusion, the Uzbek people have created a unique and identifiable culture that can only be described as independent from the mess around them. The predominant language in Uzbekistan is a Turkic language bearing similarity to the language of the Uyghurs, oddly enough. In terms of religion, it is extremely apparent that Islam reigns supreme in Uzbekistan. Many other religions exist in small pockets, but Islam is the definitely the most commonly practiced. It is noted that Uzbekistan has a very high literacy rate, but only about 76% of the Uzbek people are enrolled in school, so there is still room for progress. Folk and pop music are both very popular amongst Uzbeks, even though folk music has been banned from the Uzbek radio since the 1950’s. It has survived in small communities and gatherings, where it performed and danced to. As is apparent, Uzbek culture remains rich, even if the state of their country is very poor.
Taking In Tashkent
The Russian influence in Tashkent is extremely noticeable. The architecture is all very modern, reminiscent of the buildings you might see in a place like Moscow. But even if the Soviet influence is obvious, the city manages to maintain an atmosphere all its own. I would recommend purchasing an Uzbek guidebook if you want to purchase anything from the street vendors. It makes things much easier. It was one of my favorite places to visit on my trip, because the people were so hospitable and the city was so interesting.
Lodging: I quite enjoyed staying in the guesthouses of Almaty & Bishkek, but decided to stay in a slightly different but equally cheap place in Tashkent. Gulnara’s Bed & Breakfast was a great place next to a small pond in the outer part of downtown Tashkent. The rate was 12 US dollars per night, but it was well worth it for the service I received. The place was clean, the bed was comfortable, and the breakfast was delightful. It was placed just a few blocks from the Metro Station too, so that made traveling around town very convenient. If you are looking for a simple but comfortable set up for a low price, I highly recommend this little place.
Food: Tashkent without a doubt was home to the best food I had on my entire journey. The traditional lunch dish is a Samsa, which is similar to a South American empanada. I had an assortment of different types of Samsas for my lunch, for only 3 US Dollars. I tried one each of the beef, mutton, and onion varieties. They are finger food from an oven and are like little pockets of instant gratification. After spending my afternoon enjoying the Tashkent people and the sights around town, I headed out for dinner. I had been told by a friend in my hometown that during his travels across Asia he had tried a food called Plov, which is rice with wild spices, carrots, some type of meat, and cumin. At first I wasn’t so keen on trying it, as I’m not a huge fan of cumin, but I decided that for experience’s sake, I wanted to be able to say I’d tried the national dish of Uzbekistan. It was good, but as I expected I would have preferred it without cumin. Even if you have a very limited tolerance for new foods, I recommend that any traveler try whatever foods they can in a new country. The experience will not be forgotten, and it makes you feel like you have been a part of that much more of the culture in the country you are visiting.
Sightseeing: Instead of seeing a natural beauty like the mountains of the XUAR or the canyons of Kazakhstan, I decided to visit Tashkent’s very own Aqua Park. The Park was great, complete with a wave pool, water slides, and even a high dive. Admission was about 6 US Dollars, but was a very reasonable price for the amount of fun I had. I left my shoes in the locker room, but would recommend to anyone visiting to keep a pair of flip flops with them, because the stones get very hot in the summer. My feet were scorched. If you are hungry, the park has a restaurant and bar where you can grab a cool drink or a nice snack.
Souvenir: I was thrilled to find a small business called the Human House in the North part of town, where craftsman from remote and poor villages can sell their work. I had heard that Tashkent was famous for its ceramics, and entered the shop with the intention of finding a small handmade pot to put my souvenirs from the entire trip in. But I found something even better. For only 3 US Dollars, I found a beautiful little teapot, with a hand painted scene of an Uzbek garden painted on its side. It also felt great to know that my money was helping struggling people in this country which had been so kind to me. That teapot would remain symbolic of my whole journey, and remind me of the wonderful people I met along the way.
Photos: Bishkek
Snapshots of a city that changed how I think of hospitality. I mean really, the people of Bishkek were sensational. Above are some of the photos I gathered in Bishkek. Seen are a group of children I met outside of Bishkek, a statue of a soldier dedicated to the wars of ancient Kyrgyz history, and the Syr Darya River.
On To Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan: The Early Years
In its ancient history, the Kyrgyz state existed peacefully and quietly. This calm existence helped them thrive for quite a while, but their neutrality would not last long. Around 840 AD, the Kyrgyz made a huge move by attacking the Uyghur Empire, a dominant empire rooted in Central Asia. They succeeded in defeating the Uyghurs, and conquered the entire region that was left behind. This area would remain under their control for the next 200 years. Then came the Mongols in 1200, who pushed the Kyrgyz towards the Altay and Sayan mountains, drastically shrinking their domain. Eventually, the Kyrgyz migrated south to avoid conflict, but were then conquered by Genghis Khan’s son just a few years after their move. The Kyrgyz were originally thought by the groups they encountered to be of Slavic descent, because of their peculiarly colored eyes and hair. The process of war and all that it entailed scattered many Kyrgyz throughout Central Asia, which explains why depending on where you travel, the native Kyrgyz may all speak slightly different languages. Kyrgyzstan endured a lot to reach its current state, and its history of conflict and compromise surely explains that.
It’s Great To Be A Kyrgyz
By definition, the Kyrgyz are a blend of people. Their name means “ a collection of forty tribes,” referring to the many nomadic groups that combine to represent the people of Kyrgyzstan. The word Kyrgyz can also mean imperishable, inextinguishable, or undying, which is why the name has risen to such popular appreciation. Even though times are tough in their country, they remain positive, and their culture flourishes. The most popular forms of Kyrgyz housing are yurts, and are often constructed out of leftover and scrap material. Many families actually live with people who are not related to them, as many different ethnicities trickle in Kyrgyzstan, and due to the impoverished state of the country, shelter for one group of people is often shelter for another. These diverse ethnical groups speak similar languages, but with small differentiations in pronunciation and tonality. The dominant religion in Kyrgyzstan is Muslim, and a handful of other practicing religious groups are scattered throughout the country. Folk music is popular in Kyrgyzstan, especially instrumental folk music. The komuz is the national instrument of Kyrgyzstan. It is a plucked string instrument. The kyl kiak, however, is also an important symbol of Kyrgyz identity. It is a string instrument, and is associated with horses and the vital role they play in Kyrgyz culture. Kyrgyz clothing is very colorful and is often inspired by nature. Most clothing items are gender specific, but regardless of gender, all clothes are made warm to support people who may need to travel in the mountains for their jobs. Rising above the desperate situation, the Kyrgyz remain optimistic, and while they have many hurdles to overcome, they can surely do it.
Syr Darya River
The Syr Darya River is a river in Central Asia, with portions of itself snaking through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The river rises in two headstreams into the Tian Shan Mountains, in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which are called the Naryn and Kara Darya Rivers. Both of these rivers then drain into what is remaining of the Aral Sea. The Syr Darya River remains crucial to all of the countries it passes through, as it serves as irrigation to the many cotton growing regions along its route. The canals that were built to support the river and agriculture were massively expanded upon by the Soviets, and now have contributed to the drying up of the Aral Sea. With millions of people now living along the river, the situation is a tough one to resolve. No matter how bad for the Aral Sea, it is apparent that the river is important to the region, and no major changes will be made to it soon.
Photos: Almaty
Arrival In Almaty
Oil, Oil, Oil!
In recent years, Kazakhstan has risen to international fame for the enormous amount of untapped resources it houses. Diamonds, uranium, manganese, and many others are all plentiful under the ground in Kazakhstan. But a different resource is the one making many countries want desperately to be best friends with Kazakhstan. It is estimated that Kazakhstan has around 30 billion barrels of untapped crude oil, which makes Kazakhstan a huge target for countries like the United States who are interested in purchasing large amounts of oil. So why is Kazakhstan still one of the poorest countries in all of Asia? Firstly, there are only three oil refineries in all of Kazakhstan, which greatly limits their ability to actually refine the oil. They send lots of oil to Russia, where it is then refined and either exported or sent back to Kazakhstan. Also, the main oil fields are all in somewhat difficult to access locations, in the far corners of the country. The one oil field that is in the central part of the country remains untapped. So for now the people of Kazakhstan remain poor, waiting for the day that their oil will make them rich.
Charyn Canyon
The Charyn Canyon is an 80 km canyon in Kazakhstan set on the Charyn River, about 200 km east of Almaty, on the Chinese border. It is the second largest canyon in the world, and is often called “the mini Grand Canyon.” The canyon is also called the Valley of Castles, because many of the rock formations there look like the turrets of a fairy tale style castle. Many fossils have been found in the canyon, some dating back to 300 million years ago.
Back To Basics in Almaty
Almaty is city of many surprises. Upon arrival here, I found that what may look like a quiet town is really a bustling center for all things Central Asia. My first orders of business upon arrival to Almaty: find a place to stay, get some grub, and check out the sights!
Housing: For lodging, I stayed at a lovely little guest house in downtown Almaty called So Young’s Happiness Guest House. It was run by a kind but cantankerous woman with a funny name. I chose the guest house because of its central location in the city, and its proximity to many great sights around the town. The location was recommended to me by a travel agent in America because of its safe location. There was great service and the works were some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Many services are offered, like laundry, games, movies, and homemade food. And at only 12 US dollars per night, who wouldn’t want to stay here? It was fantastic, and I recommend So Young’s to anyone traveling in the area.
Food: When I arrived in Almaty, it was about 11:00 in the morning, and I had already eaten a quick breakfast that morning on the bus ride from Urumqi. By 11:00, I was about ready for lunch. The little place I stopped by was called Gakku, and specialized in serving traditional Kazakh food. I decided to try “beshparmak”, which is a stew made from herbs containing pieces of cooked lamb. It was delicious, and again, enjoying the cheap prices of Central Asia, I paid only 5 US dollars for it. Later that day, after touring the city, I was about ready for dinner. I found Soho, a restaurant that again served Kazakh food but also had a free live band play every night! They even played several covers of English music, which was a real treat. My dinner was a dish called “Shashlik”, recommended to me by the locals, and as I later found out, popular throughout this part of Asia. Shashlik is a kebab made from chicken or lamb, and it is grilled over a charcoal grill. It was even better than my lunch that day, and again, only cost me about 4 US dollars. Central Asian cuisine is definitely for me!
Sightseeing: I was torn between seeing many things in Almaty, but eventually decided to hop on the bus for a three hour car ride out to second largest canyon in the world, Caryn Canyon. All I can say is that it was beautiful, and certainly one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited. I was especially surprised by the beautiful rust color of the rock there. See my description above of the history of the canyon.
Souvenir: On the morning I was scheduled to leave for Bishkek, I resolved to find the perfect souvenir to bring home from Almaty. As I was browsing the street stalls in the downtown market, I realized that many of the felt creations in the market were unique and would be a perfect gift for someone like my sister. So, with that in mind, I purchased a small felt doll for her. It cost me about 3 US Dollars, and I asked the lady working the stall where I found it what it was made from. As it turns out, the many Kazakh felt dolls are made from boiled lamb’s wool, and then dyed with natural dye created from plants in the area. Content that my sister would love the doll; I gathered my belongings and headed onwards to Bishkek.
Photos: Urumqi
Hello Urumqi
The XUAR: Conquests & Turmoil
China has always been famous for its lengthy history of the rise and fall of dynasties, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has stayed true to the legacy of conflict. Since its beginnings in 206 BC, it has struggled under fierce rulers and fought for eventual independence. The region’s first iron fisted rulers were the Han Dynasty, who held the XUAR as a Chinese protectorate until the Han Dynasty was challenged by northern neighbors. The Han Dynasty overcame its northern enemies and continued to hold the XUAR as a commodity. Then, after the fall of the Han Dynasty, warring ethnic groups continually tried to take control the region, with its ownership under question for much of the next few hundred years. Just when there appeared to be room for the XUAR to escape control, the Tang Dynasty took over. They maintained control for the next hundred years, until an empire unlike anything the XUAR had seen arrived, The Uyghur Empire. They beat out the Tang Dynasty for control of the region, and would reign supreme in the area for the next 100 years, until a small tribe arrived that threatened to destroy everything. The Kyrgyz tribe arrived in 840 with great ambition and a fiery spirit. In fact, they were so driven that they, in war, defeated the Uyghur Empire, scattering the Uyghur people all throughout Central Asia.
Gradually, the Uyghur people managed to group back together and stay that way until the 1200’s. Then, they sensibly offered allegiance to Genghis Khan and the Mongol Army, riding the coattails of his success for a long time. This cycle of conquests and turmoil continued through the 1800’s, until 1912, when the XUAR became part of the Republic of China, where they remain today. The reason this lengthy history is so significant is because of the lingering cultural tensions still rotted in the region today. A melting pot of peoples, the area has suffered greatly due to violence and uprisings in the past few years, all of which are reminiscent of the conflict of the XUAR’s early years.
Trouble in the XUAR
The XUAR is known for housing a melting pot of cultures and people, but what does a pot do when it gets too hot? It boils over, and that is exactly what happened during the 2008 Uyghur unrest. The region has had a long history of conflict, dating all the way back to its origins. The Uyghurs, one of the foundation ethnic groups, in the XUAR, has been trying since the 1700’s to obtain self determination, which is basically the ability for a group of people to determine their own way of life. The Chinese government has made many attempts to curb the rise of independence groups like the Uyghurs. Following the death of a famous businessman who was in police custody in 2008, several pro-independence groups, some of which were predominantly Uyghur, were sparked to protest the government in Xinjiang. Simultaneously, a Uyghur woman detonated a bomb in a packed bus, escaping as the only one alive. The authorities started blaming random ethnic groups for starting the protests and also for bombing the bus, which lead to even greater chaos. This sparked a chain of events that included bombings, police brutality, and shooting. The situation continued to escalate with more and more deaths until things finally calmed down in late August.
After several days on enjoying Urumqi and all that the city has to offer, it was time for me to go. I hopped on a bus and headed for Almaty. But before I got there I had to cross the Tian Shan Mountains. They tower over the rest of Central Asia, and needless to say, were quite impressive. Below is my research piece on this famous Mountain Range.
The Tian Shan Mountains
The name Tian Shan in Chinese means celestial mountains, suggesting perhaps that the Tian Shan Mountains reach the heavens, which wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration. With its highest point towering above the surrounding peaks at 24,406 feet, the Tian Shan Mountains are some of the highest mountains in all of Asia. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the XUAR are all in proximity to these mountains, located to the northwest of the Taklimakan Desert. As I mentioned earlier, the highest peak is Victory Peak, named because of the incredible feat it would be to climb it. The largest passage through the mountains is via Torugart Pass, connecting Kyrgyzstan to the XUAR. Serving as a shield from the outside world, the Tian Shan Mountain range arches around Central Asia, protecting and enclosing the countries tucked inside.
For pictures of Urumqi, the Urumqi riots that were a large part of the unrest there, and to see the Tian Shan Mountains, see my next post.
The Adventure Is Over...
Additional Note: Here is the route I took based on the order of the cities I visited:
1. Urumqi (The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region)
2. Almaty (Kazakhstan)
3. Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
4. Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
5. Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
6. Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Faith, Spirituality, and Where I Fall Amongst Them
Alright. Time to find out what I believe. Here we go:
Part 1: Level Of Spirituality
I received a 57 on the quiz, placing me in the Spiritual Straddler category (50-59). The descriptor says: "One foot in traditional religion, the other in free form spirituality."
I have mixed emotions about this. I think this is a fair way to describe me, seeing as how I am not committed to a particular religion or spirituality. To be honest, I did expect to see a result like this. As to whether I agree with the findings or not, here is what I think after looking at the next step up and the step below the one I got. The next step up implies that I have a particular religion that I follow, which is incorrect. So I could go no higher than the category I'm in now. The category below could apply to me, as it says I am spiritual, but sometimes turned off by organized religion, which is true.
I did have difficulty responding to some of the questions, because, to be honest, I don't know exactly what I believe. I know what I value, and what moral beliefs I have, but I have difficulty paralleling those to religion.
Part 2: What is my faith?
The assignment only asked for us to post our top five results for this quiz, but I am posting my top ten. Here they are:
1.
Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2.
Liberal Quakers (94%)
3.
Neo-Pagan (89%)
4.
Reform Judaism (84%)
5.
Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (78%)
6.
Mahayana Buddhism (78%)
7.
New Age (78%)
8.
Secular Humanism (75%)
9.
Taoism (68%)
10.
Theravada Buddhism (65%)
Highest Ranking Eastern Religion: I was not sure if Unitarian Universalist or Reform Judaist counted, so I chose Mahayana Buddhism as my top Eastern Religion.
Here is what it gave me as my beliefs:
•Belief in Deity
Mahayana Buddhism (like Theravada Buddhism) posits no Creator or ruler God. However, deity belief is present in the Mahayana doctrine of The Three Bodies (forms) of Buddha: (1) Body of Essence--the indescribable, impersonal Absolute Reality, or Ultimate Truth that is Nirvana (Infinite Bliss); (2) Body of Bliss or Enjoyment--Buddha as divine, deity, formless, celestial spirit with saving power of grace, omnipotence, omniscience; and (3) Body of Transformation or Emanation--an illusion or emanation in human form provided by the divine Buddha to guide humans to Enlightenment. Any person can potentially achieve Buddhahood, transcending personality and becoming one with the impersonal Ultimate Reality, which is Infinite Bliss (Nirvana). There are countless Buddhas presiding over countless universes. Bodhisattvas--humans and celestial spirits who sacrifice their imminent liberation (Buddhahood) to help all others to become liberated--are revered or worshipped as gods or saints by some.
•Incarnations
The historic Buddha, the person Siddhartha Gautama, is considered by many as an emanation or illusion of the highest power (which is also called Buddha). Many believe there have been countless Buddhas on earth.
•Origin of Universe and Life
No Creator God. All matter is illusion or manifestation of the Ultimate Reality. Generally, Mahayana Buddhist beliefs don't find modern scientific discoveries contradictory to Buddhist thought.
•After Death
There is no transmigration of individual souls, but through the law of karma, one's wholesome or unwholesome intentions become imprinted in the mind. Negative mental states persist through continual rebirth until one's intentions become wholesome. Once fully enlightened, one is liberated from rebirths, reaching a state of absolute selflessness resulting in ultimate bliss called Nirvana--the "Deathless State." One becomes Buddha (or one with Buddha). Some Buddhists, especially modern Western, don't emphasize or believe in literal rebirth.
•Why Evil?
People have free will to commit wrongs. Evil results as cravings, attachments, and ignorance accumulate through perpetual rebirths, thus perpetuating greed, hatred, and violence.
• Salvation:
The goal is enlightenment, leading to Nirvana--liberation from cycles of rebirth and suffering--which is life. All are already endowed with Buddha-nature but need to come to realize fully that only the Ultimate Reality (the great "void" or "emptiness") is real (or nonconditional) and permanent. The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path show the way, along with worship of the essential Buddha. One must work to extinguish self: All worldly cravings, desires, and attachments, through loving-kindness, compassion, charity, moral conduct, wisdom, and meditation. Renouncing worldly possessions and goals is not necessary for the laity, if balanced. Buddha taught the middle path, moderation. Human and spirit world Bodhisattvas are sought for help in gaining enlightenment. Pure Land Mahayana Buddhists aim to find a place of eternal Nirvana in a paradisiacal Pure Land, attainable by calling out the name of the Buddha ruler of the Pure Land.
• Undeserved Suffering:
Life is suffering. Suffering results from this and past life greed, hatred, and ignorance, which, unless mitigated, returns as suffering (karma). Intense suffering may be viewed as the release of karma, hastening one's liberation. Suffering is illusion or ignorance of one's true nature as Buddha.
• Contemporary Issues:
Abortion is considered murder, and all violent acts cause horrific karmic consequence. Homosexuality in itself is not specifically condemned by scripture, but opinions vary, especially among various Buddhist cultures--e.g., American Buddhists are generally very accepting, while Asian Buddhists are generally strongly opposed to homosexuality. It is believed that divorce wouldn't occur if one follows Buddhist precepts, but a couple is not condemned if they separate due to vast personal differences. Gender roles are generally traditional (e.g. women are child caretakers and men are providers), but are growing less rigid as society inflicts more and more contemporary demands (e.g. women working in increasing numbers).
I again have mixed emotions regarding my results. This time there are quite a few more religions involved, and I was surprised to find that I had a 100% match. Upon further investigation, I realized this is because Unitarian Universalism is somewhat vague, providing the fact that they are very accepting, but not much else.
My highest ranking Eastern Religion was also a surprise, because for some reason I was expecting to get Hinduism before Buddhism. I'm not complaining though, as I've always been really intrigued by Buddhism. My particular sect is called Mahayan Buddhism, and its beliefs are listed above. After reading through them, I felt as if parts suited me and parts did not. I identify with the belief that there is no creator god, as creation puzzles me always. I like the idea that "god" is not necessarily a particular being, but an underlying spiritual body/essence/energy. That said, since I do not know what my beliefs are at this point in my life, I don't necessarily wholeheartedly agree with these ideas. On the other hand, there are definitely things I do not agree with. I do not believe that life is suffering, or that we have past lives. Even more than that, I strongly disagree with their stances on contemporary issues. It seems to me like they try to appear as if they are accepting, but I do not think this is the case.
And in that one fact lies my largest problem with religion. Many religions pimp the "We accept everyone for who they are and what they believe" speech, but then they all have a long list that accompanies that speech. That long list is: God accepts you for what you are, unless you are this, this, this, or this. I have a major problem with that. Religion is supposed to be untainted by man, and simply taken from the divine texts, stories, etc. But the fact that religion is sometimes SO discriminatory makes me think perhaps we are inserting more of our own personal issues into it than is necessary or fair.
Sorry for that little rant. Back to my thoughts on my results. Overall, I don't think that Mahayan Buddhism is the best fit for me. But looking through my top ten list, I found a few religions I do quite like. Number 9, for example. Taoism. As odd as it may seem, and as out there as it may be, I like what it stands for, and the basic idea of balance it presents. I am super excited to continue learning about Eastern philosophy and religions, along with the history that shaped them. Or did religions help shape history? I guess I'll find out!
Part 4: Researching Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism appears to me to have originated from Guatama Buddha, although many scholars believe it originated in India. It is one of three routes to enlightenment under a particular bracket of Buddhism known as Vajrayana Buddhism. It is mainly practiced today in Eastern Asia.
In general, I found that the beliefs of Mahayana Buddhism are broken into four main parts. Universalism, Bodhicitta (or realization), Compassion, and Transcendental Imminence. Now I'll do my best to give a basic explanation each of these areas.
Universalism: Mahayana Buddhists believe enlightenment is reached at two levels. First, they acheive basic enlightenment, and then at death, something called Mahaparinirvana. As far as I can tell, this simply means "Final Nirvana", and can only be reached when you are at death's door. Some find this "Final Nirvana" as they are dying, others in the moment of death, and others are forced to search for it even in death. The reason Mahayana Buddhism is considered a form of universalism is because under it, everyone will reach total enlightenment. This is pre-determined.
Bodhicitta/Realization: Put simply, this is the idea that acheiving enlightenment for one's self is too small a goal. Once you have reached it yourself, you should help others to do so as well, so eventually everyone shall be in enlightenment together.
Compassion: A large part of Bodhicitta, compassion is the key idea that ones' merit can be transferred to others. I think this means that your accomplishments and the lessons you have learned from them can be given as gifts to others. Whether this is through teaching or cooperating, compassion is spread, and it is a linking force between those who believe in Mahayand Buddhism.
Transcendental Imminence: The longest words, but the simplest concept. It simply means that the immortal Buddha is present in all human beings. Essentially, he is a part of us all as we are a part of him.
Part 4.5: My Thoughts
My initial response to this religion was that I did not feel it was for me, and my opinion stands. However, after some more in depth research, I do see it is a very complex and geniusly created religion. I respect the beliefs associated with Mahayan Buddhism and particularly like the idea of Transcendental Imminence (see above). I do not think I could practice this religion for my entire life, but I do think I would like to experience it sometime. Perhaps when I am older and I visit Asia I will seek out someone to take me somewhere where I can learn and practice more about this religion. That way I can at least say I have tried it out, and seen what it has to offer. In terms of my worldview, I think this religion shares some unfortunate realizations. For example, the idea that evil arises due to individual greed, spite, and other dark emotions is one I also believe. It is unfortunate, and I do wish it was untrue, as I like to look at things through a positive lens, but it is important to take everything with a grain of salt. In the words of Buddha himself, the jug fills drop by drop. I had never heard of Mahayana Buddhism before, but I am glad that I have now. Each bit of information I gain about other's beliefs and cultures makes me more aware, and only that much more of a world citizen.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Cultural Bias & My Apparent Lack Of Geographical Knowledge
To be entirely honest, I am happy with this for now. Considering my embarassing lack of geographical knowledge, I feel as if I did as well as I could. Sri Lanka was the kicker. I sware I clicked on it in error trying to find another country, and when it came up as a question later, I was clueless. I knew it was an island, but then I realized I'd already used every possible island (or so I thought.) I would like to see my score improve to 100% asap. I think this is completely reasonable, considering this area is my topic of study for the next year. I also hope that as I learn more about different places, I can associate customs and religions with the picture on the map, instead of just names. That's enough of a rant on this for tonight, and now I'll move on to... CULTURAL BIAS & THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING HISTORY! Woohoo!
Why is it important (or not important) to study Asian history or any history for that matter?
First of all, I'd like to hear the argument for why it is not important. I mean seriously, history is unmeasurably valuable to us in so many ways. In fact, I can think of few things more important. We no longer live in a world where messages are sent by ship and everyone hunts for their own food. We are interdepenent, and inextricably tied to each other. It is crucial that we pay attention to history, because history often repeats itself, and we can learn so much from the past. We can learn from the mistakes made by people who existed hundreds of years ago, and learn why things are the way they are today. Even though it happened long ago, that does not mean it is not still affecting us today. Another reason it is important to study history is for the sake of appreciation. How can we appreciate the many cultures, religions, and marvelous places our world has to offer if we know nothing about how they were created? It is important to know why wars were started, and how they were resolved. Or when a country became sovereign, and what they had to do to receive that recognition. For the two reasons outlines above, I believe it is very important to be educated on the history of our world, and the same thing applies to Asia in particular. America's relationship with various Asian countries can only be determined by looking at the past. Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? How did China come to be the one to hold our debt? Crack open a history book and you might find your answer.
What must be considered when studying different countries or cultures?
I think the most important thing to consider is that all countries and cultures are different. What we find strange, disgusting, or politically incorrect in other cultures may be a valued part of the daily routine. It is always important to learn to respect and accept idealogies and practices that differ from your own. There may be a more logical explanation behind the things that people in other cultures do than I think, and I must have an open mind. Another thing to be considered is that while these people and cultures may seem very foreign and strange to us, they are probably more like us than we think. For example, we may speak different languages, but everyone shares the experience of music. Art has no language, no ideal living conditions. It is simply one more thing that connects us to the outside world, one more thing we share. So respect other cultures and their practices, because it is simply the right thing to do.
Those are my thoughts on the questions we were assigned, and I believe I did what was asked of me for the assignment. I'm still getting used to the Upper School way of life, so bear with me. :)
Live Bravely,
Sam