Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God

The carol I chose to analyze was "Silent Night."  Jesus, in the Bible and the song, is described as holy, radiant, love personified, humble, tender, and compassionate.  He is also referred to by many various names - Son of God, Son of Man, Immanuel, the Lamb, Messiah, Savior, Lord.  On the whole, the Bible says that Jesus was the perfect person, without sin, God in human form, who came down in all his glory to the lowest of lows.  The song however does not focus on circumstances of Jesus' birth and instead interprets the atmosphere of the birth. Instead of focusing on how Jesus was born in a manger in a stable surrounded by animals, it says "silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright."  It shows the innocence of Jesus as a child, even as God made human, and the serenity of the night regardless of location and circumstance.

What was necessary from each of the people involved in the story of the birth of Jesus was one thing: faith.  Mary had faith that her sudden pregnancy was truly of the Holy Spirit to birth the Messiah.  Joseph had faith that Mary was not lying to him and that the conception was truly immaculate.  The wise men had faith that a star would lead them to the birth of a king, however ridiculous that may have seemed.  And the shepherds had faith that the sounds and sights they saw out in the fields was not their minds playing tricks on them after long hours in the fields on a cold night, but rather signs of the arrival of the Son of God.

God showed that he was a loving God through his descent to Earth.  He came through the form of a baby; not only a baby but one born in a dirty manger in a stable.  He was born not to any of the kings or wealthy or great men of the Earth, but to a simple carpenter in circumstances that were questionable to any who observed.  This humble birth shows that God knew what his people were going through.  He could connect to their struggles and trials not just by knowledge and by observing, but by living through those experiences himself.  By becoming a human but yet rising above the sin that encumbered all of humanity, God showed also his glory and power, made all the more strong through his use of a humble vessel.  Thus the God showed in the Bible and through Jesus Christ was proven to be a loving God.

Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives

CNN Article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/07/us.middle.east.talks/index.html?hpt=T2\


Aljazeera Article:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/articles/34/US-stops-urging-settlement-freeze.html


Both articles deal with the US ceasing to ask Israel to extend its moratorium (essentially a hiatus) on continuing settlement plans in the West Bank.  Both cite the US administrations statement that they had realized that this basis for negotiation was not the best way to continue peace talks and both cite the Palestinian government's refusal to continue negotiations as long as Israel continued its plans to build.  


The CNN article is noticeably longer, mentioning more historical facts such as previous agreements between Israel and Pakistan, as well as including more statements from Palestinian officials than does the Aljazeera article.  The Aljazeera article also differs in that it refers to the West Bank as "occupied Palestinian lands," whereas the CNN article simply refers to it as the "occupied West Bank."  In general, the article written by the Middle Eastern source seems to support the Palestinian administration, seeming to show the statements made as justified demands.  The CNN article puts those same statements in an ominous light, saying that "an Israeli plan to build more than 600 new housing units in East Jerusalem could be the "last nail in the coffin of the peace process.""  The CNN article also puts the US into more of a benevolent role as the mediator striving for peace.  

Personal Commemoration - Reflection #7

The event I have chosen is my graduation.  It will be a ceremony recognizing the completion of my high school education, as well as a turning point in my life as I leave my home to go to college, with more responsibility and independence.  The commemoration celebration of my high school graduation will last 12 hours, taking place at the high school, involving a 12 course meal as well as the receiving of 12 gifts.  Parents will give 1 gift to graduates, as a symbol of the last dependence the graduates will have on the parents before leaving for college, and the graduates will give gifts to 11 students who have not graduated yet, to signify passing on the responsibilities of a senior to the underclassmen.  Other festivities may include a movie-watching, playing games or sports, and making/listening to music (perhaps even a 12-act show or concert).

Words to be said at the commencement of the festival:
12 grades have been passed.  12 years you have persevered.  12 lifetimes you have given.  Now we give these 12 hours to you.

The Morality of Greek Myths

King Dionysius I of Syracuse

My myth was Damon and Pythias, a story of true friendship.  In Syracuse lived two young men, Damon and Pythias, who were the truest friends anyone could have.  The reigning king of Syracuse, Dionysius, was a tyrant, cruel and unjust, and sentences Pythias to death.  Pythias wanted to settle his affairs before death, but was forced to leave someone in his place to ensure his return.  Damon came to take his place, and Pythias went to do what he needed to.  But Pythias was held up by obstacles and was late, so Dionysius prepared Damon's execution.  However, Pythias came just before Damon was killed, and this act of friendship caused Dionysius to revoke the death sentence and ask Pythias and Damon to be his friends.
The moral of the story is to be faithful to your friends and they will be faithful to you, as shown by Damon's initial trust in Pythias that he would return and not leave him to die.  Pythias does remain faithful and comes back to die, saving Damon.  Thus the virtue that is advocated through this myth is loyalty to friends.

Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk

In observing nature, especially some of the more spectacular natural phenomena, I find myself feeling a sense of wonderment and awe.  There is something moving about nature, something in the way that nature seems so much bigger, so much more powerful, and so much more real than we are.  Yet at the same time there is a simplicity about nature that we notice in the midst of our wonderment, knowing that the things we see are not sentient and don't have cares and worries, joys and laughter, sorrow and strife.  I believe that there is something within us that reaches out to all of these aspects of nature that we observe - some identify with the enormity of nature and seek to be a part of the bigger picture, that of a creation and of a Creator, while others seek the simplicity in nature that can only be found through emulation of thinking nothing, through meditation.  That longing for the mysticism in the world around us is strong within all of us, to certain degrees, and I believe that the fulfillment of that longing brings a joy and peace that nothing else does.  This is why so many are drawn to spending their lives for religions - they are searching for that ultimate joy.  For example, in Zen Buddhism the final achievement of the self is nirvana - enlightenment.  This is achieved through years of meditation to control and rid the self of thoughts.  This is essentially emulating the things in nature - a rock does not think, nor does a tree or a river.  What nirvana is described as is the removal of all pain and suffering - a sense of peace that is lasting and beyond the pleasures of the world.

Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation

As I began my meditation, I tried first to concentrate solely on my breathing, making it regular and making sure that any muscle not related to the act of breathing was relaxed.  I sat cross legged on my bed, leaning against the wall to make my back straight.  After a short while, the breathing stayed regular and I felt calm and very relaxed.  Then, I started listening to what was around me, all the small sounds that usually I don't notice, the ticking of the clock, the sounds of cars on the highway in the distance.  But after listening for a time, my mind started to wander.  I started thinking about how much homework I had due the next day and what I would do after school.  I tried to regain focus by reciting a mantra, that all things are impermanent, but as I tried to let the reciting become more rote, I started to stumble over the words and I got distracted again.  This continued until I stopped.  But during the middle period of my meditation, I found that I felt extremely peaceful and relaxed, that my cares and worries were miles away and were trivial.  I felt a profound difference in perspective, of what was important in my life.  But that disappeared at the end of my meditation.

Reflection #3 - Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Gandhi's idea of Hinduism was that of a religion that was all-encompassing, meaning that it was nonexclusive and nondiscriminatory, as well as self-improving, that by understanding the self and working towards becoming a better person, one could attain the highest spiritual state, his concept of heaven.  These ideas of self achievement and openness to other religions were evident in Gandhi's life, as shown in the movie.  In the movie, when the reporter asks Gandhi's wife about their marriage, she reveals that Gandhi has taken a vow of celibacy, meaning that he had given up the sex.  Gandhi also went on long fasts, going for days without food.  Both are ways that Gandhi gave up pleasures of the world to transcend his physical self and achieve a higher state of spirituality.  He also demonstrates the acceptance of all religions through his actions in the movie to stop the splitting of India into Muslim and Hindu, as well as his actions to stop the rioting between the two factions in Calcutta.  In one part of the movie, he even states that he is a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, and other religions, showing how he believes that all religions are the same.  


Gandhi lived out his faith in this way, as exemplified by the quote: “’Love they neighbor as thyself’ is not something we Hindus prescribe to, but it is something we could learn from.” What Gandhi tried to do was bring peace and harmony to the Hindus and Muslims in India, in accordance with his belief that all religions are right and essentially the same.  His way to do this was to show his love for his neighbors, those of different religions than his own, and he tried to extend that love to others.  For example in the movie, a Hindu man wracked with guilt over killing a Muslim child comes to Gandhi.  Gandhi tells him that the way out of hell would be for that man to adopt a Muslim child, the same age as his own would have been if Muslims hadn't killed him, and raise that child as his own.  But Gandhi also adds that the man must raise the child as a proper Muslim.  Thus Gandhi tries to get others around him to love their neighbors as themselves, by showing it to those around him.  This is the faith that Gandhi lived by.