"Again and again we will be banished to a place far removed from towers and temples.All these various evils,because we keep in mind the Buddha's orders,we will endure." This is my favorite quote from the Encouraging Devotion reading. Enduring backlash to follow faith is inspiring. #DrSethBuddhClass

In our discussion today in class, we mentioned the difference of Buddhism and the western view when it comes to suffering. Even though the medical view is more specifically focused on eliminating suffering, I wondering if the two views are similar in the sense that "suffering...... #DrSethBuddhClass

"The Homo sapiens rapidly invented rituals and beliefs capable of comforting human challenges and existential anxieties..." (Neves, Pereira et al.) This is a very interesting way to look at religion as a whole. Even today, the crossovers between politics, science,..... #DrSethBuddhClass

In our reading, "Women and Buddhism," it says that Sujata, Tapassu, and Bhallika affiliated themselves with the Buddhist community as "laypersons." It then describes that there were also monks and nuns in the community. What's the difference between them and laypersons? #DrSethBuddhClass

As I was walking downtown, I was handed this book that was written by a monk. I haven't gotten the chance to read it yet, but it was told to me that it included ideas of happiness, yoga, and fulfillment. #DrSethBuddhClass

My favorite quote from "The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma" was "while success and failure depend on conditions, the mind neither waxes nor wanes." I like how they word the feeling of detachment and stable inner equilibrium. I think it sounds like a very difficult state to master. #DrSethBuddhClass

On social media, I found this recent story of a 2 year old girl in Nepal, Aryatara Shakya, who is now being "worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists" and is seen as a "living goddess." We've discussed many asian traditions in class, and I found this one to be especially unique. #DrSethBuddhClass

The Great South Gate of Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan. Buddhist structures are cool to me, this one especially because when you're directly under it, you can look to your left and right and see two large sculpted guardians. We talked about guardians like these at temples in class. #DrSethBuddhClass

"Shen-hui was an advocate of the doctrine of 'sudden awaken-ing', and one of the things that he charged Shen-hsiu with was teaching a doctrine of 'gradual awakening'." I liked the debate Gethin stated. I assumed instant b/c in class we talked about "the moment one reaches nirvana." #DrSethBuddhClass

At Nara Station I saw deer and monks; both have Buddhist relations.The back says "よしのよく見よ,” "take a good look at Yoshino".This is cool b/c Yoshino is where Shugendo originates, which has Buddhist ideas like proving one's discipline to reach enlightenment, but with mountain worship. #DrSethBuddhClass

"There appeared in the sky a countless number of thousand-petaled lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels, filled with colors and fragrances that one could not begin to enumerate." Our Gorsnick reading gives a visual of purity and enlightenment: the Buddha Body underneath the bad.
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This Buddha statue that I visited is located in Daibutsu-den of Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan. His right hand is up, which we learned in class represents the Abhaya Mudra ("fear not" gesture). Also, the bottom is lined with lotus flowers, which we discussed as transcendence.
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