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| Luck: Personal Meme
I
made this meme on the AutoMotivator site. The phrase "Luck is simply when
preparation and opportunity intersect" is a quote that my grandfather told
me a couple of years ago. This always stuck with me because I think there is a
lot of truth behind it. I think a lot of times it is too easy for people to
blame the success of other (or more specifically the stagnation of themselves)
on "luck". While there might be some degree of chance to it, I think
that blind luck is a very rare thing. I am a firm believer that everyone who is
extremely successful, like the Bill Gates or the US when we landed on the moon,
put in a tremendous amount of time and energy to get to where they are. It
reminds of the book "Outliers" by Malcom Gladwell. It talks about stories
of success and how those who are very successful at anything put in their
"10,000 hours". In order to be success, you simply have invest a lot
of time and energy into it and if you want to GREAT you have to put in your an
extraordinary amount of work ("10,000 hours").
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Week 15 Growth Mindset
Week 14 Review
My favorite part of the Week 14 Announcements was definitely the meme.
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| Go Around: Announcements
I really liked this mainly because it is funny. I definitely was not expecting to see a meme about a giant pile of manure.. haha. But, also, it is pretty true. Sometime when you see something in your path (whether that be proverbial path or literal, physical path) sometimes it is easier to just avoid it all together. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or intimidated by something that is unimportant, so why not just avoid it all together and save yourself the time and energy?
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Famous Last Words: Week 14
This week I did was not able to complete both Readings, instead I had to use my Reading Diary A in place for B. The holidays were a crazy busy time and I was still rushing around on Monday and completely forgot. I chose another online PDE over the Buddhist tradition. The readings were very interesting, so it is a shame I was unable to complete both.
For the writing this week, I don’t think I would consider it my best work. I chose one of the stories from the reading called “The Hare Who Ran”. It was a very interesting story, but I was not able to recreate as good as I would have liked. I drew upon my childhood memories of snow days to reimagine the story. However, the snow days were some of the best times “back in the day” so I got a little nostalgic while I was writing.
As far as other people’s wriring, Heather’s storybook project really caught my attention. I don’t know how that was the first time I’d visited her storybook, but it was very well written and have a very cool layout that matched well with the overall theme.
My other classes have not been so bad this week. I had my first round of presentations, which is the first sign of the semester really coming to an end. I have spent most of this week just preparing the final two weeks of the semester, which will be filled with writing papers, presentations, and studying for finals.
Outside of school, I have to say it was very nice to be able to spend time with family last week. It’s always nice to get to spend time with people you don’t always get to see during the holidays. It definitely makes the hectic end to the semester easier to deal with.
For the writing this week, I don’t think I would consider it my best work. I chose one of the stories from the reading called “The Hare Who Ran”. It was a very interesting story, but I was not able to recreate as good as I would have liked. I drew upon my childhood memories of snow days to reimagine the story. However, the snow days were some of the best times “back in the day” so I got a little nostalgic while I was writing.
As far as other people’s wriring, Heather’s storybook project really caught my attention. I don’t know how that was the first time I’d visited her storybook, but it was very well written and have a very cool layout that matched well with the overall theme.
My other classes have not been so bad this week. I had my first round of presentations, which is the first sign of the semester really coming to an end. I have spent most of this week just preparing the final two weeks of the semester, which will be filled with writing papers, presentations, and studying for finals.
Outside of school, I have to say it was very nice to be able to spend time with family last week. It’s always nice to get to spend time with people you don’t always get to see during the holidays. It definitely makes the hectic end to the semester easier to deal with.
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| Turkey Time: Wiki Commons |
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Growth Mindset: Week 14
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| Comfort Zone: Growth Mindset Meme I chose this meme because this is something that I try to remind myself of as often as possible. Breaking out of your comfort zone is something that people talk about all of the time because it's difficult to do , and, if it was easy everybody would be doing, so the cliche goes. This is something that my dad had always told me the importance of throughout my life as well, accept he is a military man so the way he described it was "if you get too comfortable you get weak". I don't think weak is the right word, but breaking out of the norm and throwing yourself into the pit of new and foreign experiences can do nothing but better yourself and broaden your outlook on life. For me, this is most applicable when it comes to speaking in class. For some reason answering in class makes me nervous. But I know that by doing it the professor will take notice and it will only reinforce my knowledge of the course material. Overall I just think this is something that is important for many aspects of life. |
Reading Feedback: Week 14
This week I chose the Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock. It is an online PDE. Again, I chose this version because of its convenience as being accessible online but also because it had to do with the Buddhist tales. The reading was very straightforward and easy to follow. I liked this reading because it used animals to tell the tales, something that almost always makes the situation clearer. There was no detailed reading guides for this week's selection, however it did designated several stories as ones that need to be skipped, so that helped me manage my time better. The reading came form the Baldwin Project site. It liked this a lot because it had big bold texts, so it was very easy to read and keep your place.
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| Teaching Buddha Shakyamuni: Wiki Commons |
Reading Evaluation: Week 15
I think my favorite readings from this semester would probably have to be the Life of Buddha from the Sacred Texts website. I really liked this because Buddhism is something that has always struck my attention a little bit, so it was nice to be allowed the flexibility to chose stories like this one if you felt inclined to do so. Also, it was an online, public domain edition, so I was able to read the stories whether I was at work or at home or on campus somewhere.
I found that breaking up the reading into little subheadings that correlated to the each episode within the story I was reading was very helpful. This helped keep everything organized and I knew exactly where to find the information I was looking for whenever I was working on my writing.
I found that there was a fairly heavy emphasis on reading. I know this is just a personal preference, but I think I would have been able to come up with adequate stories from doing just one reading diary per week. For example, breaking up Part One of Week 5's into two parts, so 5 episodes for Reading Diary A and 5 Episodes for Reading Diary B (since they were usually 10 a pop). As far as the comments, I felt that was well balanced. It allowed us to read other students stories, but was not overboard.
My advice for people is to take the time to find a reading selection that you actually enjoy. If you just pick the first thing you see, you might end up forcing yourself through the stories. This is take more time and will be reflected in the storytelling. But when you're genuinely intrigued by what your reading, it no longer becomes an assignment, it's just a way to pass the time, almost like a hobby?
I found that breaking up the reading into little subheadings that correlated to the each episode within the story I was reading was very helpful. This helped keep everything organized and I knew exactly where to find the information I was looking for whenever I was working on my writing.
I found that there was a fairly heavy emphasis on reading. I know this is just a personal preference, but I think I would have been able to come up with adequate stories from doing just one reading diary per week. For example, breaking up Part One of Week 5's into two parts, so 5 episodes for Reading Diary A and 5 Episodes for Reading Diary B (since they were usually 10 a pop). As far as the comments, I felt that was well balanced. It allowed us to read other students stories, but was not overboard.
My advice for people is to take the time to find a reading selection that you actually enjoy. If you just pick the first thing you see, you might end up forcing yourself through the stories. This is take more time and will be reflected in the storytelling. But when you're genuinely intrigued by what your reading, it no longer becomes an assignment, it's just a way to pass the time, almost like a hobby?
Reflections: Week 15
This class has been a wild ride. To be honest, at first I thought it was going to be a hassle because of how busy the first couple of weeks were. However, looking back on it, I'm glad those were so busy because I wouldn't have been able to navigate the course sites and blogs without them. Once I got into the groove of the reading diaries, stories, and projects, the course was totally enjoyable. There were many aspects of this course that I enjoyed, but I think my two favorite things were the storytelling assignments and the growth mindset assignments.
The Storytelling was a great aspect of the course because it allowed for some creative expression, something that is usually lacking in other college courses where you just regurgitate information. I had never considered myself to be a story teller by any stretch of the imagination. While I still think that would be a stretch, it was fun getting to sharpen those skills a little bit. Having to write one every week really made you stretch your imagination, I think that was what I liked the most about it.
The growth mindset was great for me because it was something that could be applied to all of my classes and even life outside of school in general. Those assignments really make you conscious of your attitude about what you are doing and help you channel the struggles and stress of college and change them into something positive. It is amazing how much you can get done simply by changing your outlook on the various tasks that come before you. This is something that I think is very beneficial and can have long-term impacts on a person's development.
Like I said, there was a lot of stuff about this course that I liked, but I think these two aspects were probably my favorite.
The Storytelling was a great aspect of the course because it allowed for some creative expression, something that is usually lacking in other college courses where you just regurgitate information. I had never considered myself to be a story teller by any stretch of the imagination. While I still think that would be a stretch, it was fun getting to sharpen those skills a little bit. Having to write one every week really made you stretch your imagination, I think that was what I liked the most about it.
The growth mindset was great for me because it was something that could be applied to all of my classes and even life outside of school in general. Those assignments really make you conscious of your attitude about what you are doing and help you channel the struggles and stress of college and change them into something positive. It is amazing how much you can get done simply by changing your outlook on the various tasks that come before you. This is something that I think is very beneficial and can have long-term impacts on a person's development.
Like I said, there was a lot of stuff about this course that I liked, but I think these two aspects were probably my favorite.
Week 14 Storytelling: The Worst Snow Day Ever
It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and Stanley was watching TV by the fire with his family. Stuffed from the 3 day holiday feast, Stanley was dreading going back to school the next day. However, it had started snowing earlier in the day and Stanley’s hopes of a snow day slowly began to turn into an affirmation.
As the snow continued to blanket the streets of his neighborhood, Stanley thought to himself “School tomorrow? Psshh, no way.”
So confident in his recent mastery of meteorology, he decided to text his best friend Tommy to share the exciting news:
Stanley: Broo!! No skool 2morrow!!!
Tommy: LOL whatever Stan..
Stanley: Smh srsly! Skool is cancelled!
Tommy: Saaweeet! Xbox here I come..
Stanley: ROFL same here!!
Now, Tommy was known for being a loud mouth, so once he heard the news it began to spread like wildfire. Tommy told Christopher, Christopher told Jen, Jen group texted the whole basketball team, and within half an hour the entire 5th grade was convinced that they would be out of school the next day for a snow day.
Now, Tommy’s mom was a member of the Parent-Teacher Association at their school so upon hearing this news she became a little curious. She asked Tommy where he had heard this news and he astutely responded with, “Just trust me mom! It’s a real life snow day!”
Needless to say, Tommy’s mom was not convinced by her son’s declaration so she began to investigate. Turning on the tv, she switched it over to the news station so she could see the lists of school closings. Watching the list run through, not just once but three times, Tommy’s mom realized that her son’s school was in fact not cancelled the next day.
Upon making this realization, she knew she had to alert the school principal and tell her the situation, because if Tommy knew about the “snow day” everyone knew about it.
After calling the principal, all the families of the students received an e-mail confirming that there was indeed school the next day.
The children, grudgingly making their way to their first class were suddenly called into the cafeteria for an impromptu assembly.
At the assembly, the principal explained the situation and made sure the students realized that the only way to trust if school is cancelled or not is to monitor the school closing list on the local news station.
While the students were upset (and Stanley was embarrassed), they all learned a valuable lesson: Don’t adhere to the whimsical self-proclamations of others.
Author’s Note. This story is based off of the “The Hare That Ran Away” from Marie Shedlock’s Eastern Stories and Legends. The original story is about a hare who is eating under a fruit tree, contemplating the end of the world. Suddenly a fruit falls and the hare is concinvced that this is the end of the world. He relays the message to several hares and before you know it every animal in the forest is fleeing in a stampede, convinced the world is coming to an end. Eventually a lion gets to the bottom of the situation and reassures everyone that it was just the work of a frightened little hare. I chose to adapt this to a more modern theme with the snow day. I remember how easy it was as a child to get convinced that school was cancelled even though there was no official word of it from the school. I thought this was a story that most people could relate to, and I thought it made a good parallel to the original story. I also like the message that the story delivers. It is important to not base your assumptions off of the loose interpretations of others, who may not have any idea what they are talking about.
Title: Eastern Stories and Legends
Author: Marie Shedlock
Year: 1920 (originally published in 1910)
As the snow continued to blanket the streets of his neighborhood, Stanley thought to himself “School tomorrow? Psshh, no way.”
So confident in his recent mastery of meteorology, he decided to text his best friend Tommy to share the exciting news:
Stanley: Broo!! No skool 2morrow!!!
Tommy: LOL whatever Stan..
Stanley: Smh srsly! Skool is cancelled!
Tommy: Saaweeet! Xbox here I come..
Stanley: ROFL same here!!
Now, Tommy was known for being a loud mouth, so once he heard the news it began to spread like wildfire. Tommy told Christopher, Christopher told Jen, Jen group texted the whole basketball team, and within half an hour the entire 5th grade was convinced that they would be out of school the next day for a snow day.
Now, Tommy’s mom was a member of the Parent-Teacher Association at their school so upon hearing this news she became a little curious. She asked Tommy where he had heard this news and he astutely responded with, “Just trust me mom! It’s a real life snow day!”
Needless to say, Tommy’s mom was not convinced by her son’s declaration so she began to investigate. Turning on the tv, she switched it over to the news station so she could see the lists of school closings. Watching the list run through, not just once but three times, Tommy’s mom realized that her son’s school was in fact not cancelled the next day.
Upon making this realization, she knew she had to alert the school principal and tell her the situation, because if Tommy knew about the “snow day” everyone knew about it.
After calling the principal, all the families of the students received an e-mail confirming that there was indeed school the next day.
The children, grudgingly making their way to their first class were suddenly called into the cafeteria for an impromptu assembly.
At the assembly, the principal explained the situation and made sure the students realized that the only way to trust if school is cancelled or not is to monitor the school closing list on the local news station.
While the students were upset (and Stanley was embarrassed), they all learned a valuable lesson: Don’t adhere to the whimsical self-proclamations of others.
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| Snow Day!: Wiki Commons |
Author’s Note. This story is based off of the “The Hare That Ran Away” from Marie Shedlock’s Eastern Stories and Legends. The original story is about a hare who is eating under a fruit tree, contemplating the end of the world. Suddenly a fruit falls and the hare is concinvced that this is the end of the world. He relays the message to several hares and before you know it every animal in the forest is fleeing in a stampede, convinced the world is coming to an end. Eventually a lion gets to the bottom of the situation and reassures everyone that it was just the work of a frightened little hare. I chose to adapt this to a more modern theme with the snow day. I remember how easy it was as a child to get convinced that school was cancelled even though there was no official word of it from the school. I thought this was a story that most people could relate to, and I thought it made a good parallel to the original story. I also like the message that the story delivers. It is important to not base your assumptions off of the loose interpretations of others, who may not have any idea what they are talking about.
Bibliography.
Author: Marie Shedlock
Year: 1920 (originally published in 1910)
Week 14 Reading Diary A: Eastern Stories and Legends
The Hare That Ran Away
- Don't believe something just from word of mouth, you could be putting yourself at risk for something that isn't even true.
The Monkey and the Crocodile
- The Monkey outwits the crocodile in his own "game" of trying to trick him into getting what he wants
The Hare that was Not Afraid to Die
- Buddha reborn as a hare
- 3 friends-monkey, jackal, otter
- The hare (Buddha) and his friends are told to offer food to any beggars that they encounter. The two friends take things from other people, but the hare offers his on flesh. The true test of sacrifice
The Parrot that Fed his Parents
- The Parrot is allowed to continue stealing rice because he is doing so to provide for his elders/youth
The Man Who Worked to Give Alms
- Buddha= Vissaya
- His always give alms graciously
- The king gets jealous of him.
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| Buddha Sitting under a Tree: Blogspot |
Monday, November 30, 2015
Growth Mindset: Week 13
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| Change: Blogspot |
I feel like this meme is appropriate for this time period
in my life and in the coming months/years. I am about to graduate this December
and with that comes huge changes to my life and everything I’ve known for my
entire educational career. During school I have had to work and from work and
school I have learned the things that I do not like, which has been baby steps
leading to what would truly make me happy. I think that with anything in life
if you are not happy or not satisfied with your life you have to take baby
steps to change and it will eventually lead you to the life you want. If you
sit placid and simply content then you will never be truly happy with what
you’re doing. To start anything meaningful in life is hard work and it all
starts from somewhere. That’s why I think it’s important to decide where you
want to go and start today on getting there even if it’s not much. The “waiting
around” is what kills people, which is why I plan on starting with my “small
steps” straight out of college while I have the drive and the freedom to do so.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Week 13 Storytelling: The Red Paperclip
The story begins in Belcarra, Canada, a small town outside of Vancouver. It is here, in a place that most have probably never even heard of, where Kyle McDonald called home. Now, some of you may already be familiar with this name. I know what you might be thinking, but no, Kyle has nothing to do with infamous “Golden Arches”. Actually, his story is much more interesting than extra salty fries and apple pies.
Since of the days of his youth, Kyle was always a person who had some project he was working on. Whether that was building a Lego castle, setting up a lemonade stand, or starting up his very own lawn mowing company-Kyle was always busy with something. There was something about the excitement of watching something grow and develop right in front of your eyes that turned these projects into a sort of obsession. However, although he didn’t know it, this obsession would pay off for him, in a big, big way.
It started off as a joke, really. You see, Kyle had never really liked the color red, nor did he like paperclips- they reminded him too much of school. One day, surprisingly enough, he was working on a project at home when he noticed a red paperclip sitting on his desk. His first impulse was to simply throw it in the trash bin. However, sticking true to his colors, he thought to himself “You know what? Let’s have some fun with this”.
So, Kyle took a picture of the red paperclip and posted it to the barter section of the Craigslist site in hopes that he would be able to trade it for something bigger or better. As luck would have it, a few days later Kyle was the proud new owner of a fish-shaped pen!
“That was so easy..” Kyle thought to himself, so he decided to keep on trading, always on the lookout for the “bigger and better”. Later that day, Kyle wound up trading the beloved fish pen for a hand sculpted door-knob. “Let the games begin..” Kyle thought to himself, inspired by the initial success of his latest project.
Only a handful of trades later, Kyle had wound up with a fully operational snowmobile. His friends and family could not help but laugh at how well the whole thing was going.
The snowmobile turned into a prepaid vacation, which eventually turned into a role in a real life movie..seriously, you can’t make this stuff up..
All said and done, after a series of 14 trades, Kyle had gone from owning an annoying red paperclip to inheriting a 2-story house.
Now, Kyle’s story was a big hit and all of his neighbors were eager to meet him. Coincidently, Kyle ended up falling for one of his new neighbors, to which he is now married. To this day, the couple lives “happily ever after” in their picturesque red paperclip home.
Author’s Note. This story is based on “The Little Gildmaster” from Francis and Thomas’ Jataka Tales. This was the first story in the reading, but I even after reading all of the other stories, it still was my favorite of the series. The story is about a young man who hears a guildmaster say that anyone who picks up a certain dead mouse in the road will become rich and enter into a happy marriage. Overhearing this, a common-folk man picks up the mouse and begins a series of trades and schemes that eventually make him wealthy. Ironically, the gildmaster who started the whole thing wound up offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to the newly rich man. I had heard this story about the paper clip before and thought it would make a good parallel. I like both of these stories because it shows how funny the world can work sometimes, but more importantly how you can create a lot out of a little with the right plan and perseverance. My story is pretty close to the actual events that took place with the red paperclip, but I did add the marriage to his neighbor as a way to make it follow the course of the original story more closely.
Title: Jataka Tales
Author: H.T. Francis and E. J. Thomas
Year: 1916
Since of the days of his youth, Kyle was always a person who had some project he was working on. Whether that was building a Lego castle, setting up a lemonade stand, or starting up his very own lawn mowing company-Kyle was always busy with something. There was something about the excitement of watching something grow and develop right in front of your eyes that turned these projects into a sort of obsession. However, although he didn’t know it, this obsession would pay off for him, in a big, big way.
It started off as a joke, really. You see, Kyle had never really liked the color red, nor did he like paperclips- they reminded him too much of school. One day, surprisingly enough, he was working on a project at home when he noticed a red paperclip sitting on his desk. His first impulse was to simply throw it in the trash bin. However, sticking true to his colors, he thought to himself “You know what? Let’s have some fun with this”.
So, Kyle took a picture of the red paperclip and posted it to the barter section of the Craigslist site in hopes that he would be able to trade it for something bigger or better. As luck would have it, a few days later Kyle was the proud new owner of a fish-shaped pen!
“That was so easy..” Kyle thought to himself, so he decided to keep on trading, always on the lookout for the “bigger and better”. Later that day, Kyle wound up trading the beloved fish pen for a hand sculpted door-knob. “Let the games begin..” Kyle thought to himself, inspired by the initial success of his latest project.
Only a handful of trades later, Kyle had wound up with a fully operational snowmobile. His friends and family could not help but laugh at how well the whole thing was going.
The snowmobile turned into a prepaid vacation, which eventually turned into a role in a real life movie..seriously, you can’t make this stuff up..
All said and done, after a series of 14 trades, Kyle had gone from owning an annoying red paperclip to inheriting a 2-story house.
Now, Kyle’s story was a big hit and all of his neighbors were eager to meet him. Coincidently, Kyle ended up falling for one of his new neighbors, to which he is now married. To this day, the couple lives “happily ever after” in their picturesque red paperclip home.
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| One Red Paperclip: Wiki Commons |
Author’s Note. This story is based on “The Little Gildmaster” from Francis and Thomas’ Jataka Tales. This was the first story in the reading, but I even after reading all of the other stories, it still was my favorite of the series. The story is about a young man who hears a guildmaster say that anyone who picks up a certain dead mouse in the road will become rich and enter into a happy marriage. Overhearing this, a common-folk man picks up the mouse and begins a series of trades and schemes that eventually make him wealthy. Ironically, the gildmaster who started the whole thing wound up offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to the newly rich man. I had heard this story about the paper clip before and thought it would make a good parallel. I like both of these stories because it shows how funny the world can work sometimes, but more importantly how you can create a lot out of a little with the right plan and perseverance. My story is pretty close to the actual events that took place with the red paperclip, but I did add the marriage to his neighbor as a way to make it follow the course of the original story more closely.
Bibliography.
Author: H.T. Francis and E. J. Thomas
Year: 1916
Link: Jataka Tales
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Week 13 Reading Diary A: Francis and Thomas-Jataka Tales
The Little Gildmaster
- A man is able to build up his wealth from just one dead mouse. He uses this to gradually build his way up in society, using clever schemes to make the most of what he has.
King Makhadeva's Grey Hairs
- King Makhadeva-righteous ruler who reigned for 84,000 years in Mithilia
- Finds a grey hair on his head and gives up his position to become a hermit
- grey hair reminds him of death and motivates him to reflect and lead a holy life
- Finds the "Four Perfect States", becomes a king in Mithilia again, unites his family, goes to become a hermit again (cycle)
- The monkey's are follow the command of their leader, which proves life-saving
- The ogre is convinced he will eat all of the monkeys, but their leader outsmarts him-using reeds as straws to drink from the lake. It's a win-win, they get to drink and avoid getting eaten
The Discontented Ox
- "Big Red"-Bodhisatta
- "Little Red"-his brother
- Together, they had to do all the work of the family
- Munika-fattened big to be given as dowry for the marriage of the family's daughter
- Little Red gets jealous of the great food Munika is getting fed, but Big Red has to point out that he is only getting that because he will soon be killed
The Oldest of the Animals
- Three friends-partridge, monkey, elephant
- The partridge becomes their leader because he has the most seniority
- doesn't matter the size or stature of the leader, just their wisdom
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| The Crab and the Crane: Wiki Commons |
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Famous Last Words: Week 12
Today marks my last day of class for the week. With all of my papers out of the way, it wasn't near as bad as my past weeks. I am enjoying the week of, though, because I will have three 10 page papers and the rest of my capstone due by the end of the semester *plays sad violin music*. I really liked this week’s extra credit blog comments assignment because it allowed me to reflect on this semester and think about all the stories I have read. At the beginning of the semester everyone was still putting their feelers out for their blog, so it was very cool to see how everyone developed their writing skills as time went on. It's impressive to see how good my classmates have gotten at this skill. Reading all of those stories reminded me of how much influence they had on my own writing skills. In the beginning, my writing was very rigid and didn’t have much imagination that allowed it to venture from the original story. However, after reading other people’s blogs you start to get more creative and stumble across different ideas for how to spin your story. It was a really helpful part of the course.
Outside of class, I had a fairly productive week as well. I have had a damaged car for a while now, so I finally took it to an auto repair shop and got an estimate on it. I’m planning on taking it in next week to get the repairs taken care of. It’s going to be so relieving to be able to open my car door all the way! Also, I submitted my final paper work for a scuba diving instructors course today. It only took me a quick trip to the post office, which is no big deal, but this thing has been lingering over me since the end of July, so I am very excited to have everything finally completed. As the semester comes to a close, everything seems to be working out pretty well!
Outside of class, I had a fairly productive week as well. I have had a damaged car for a while now, so I finally took it to an auto repair shop and got an estimate on it. I’m planning on taking it in next week to get the repairs taken care of. It’s going to be so relieving to be able to open my car door all the way! Also, I submitted my final paper work for a scuba diving instructors course today. It only took me a quick trip to the post office, which is no big deal, but this thing has been lingering over me since the end of July, so I am very excited to have everything finally completed. As the semester comes to a close, everything seems to be working out pretty well!
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| Keep Calm and Carry On: Google Images |
Growth Mindset: Week 12
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| Find your own path: Blogspot |
I chose this meme for this weeks Growth Mindset assignment because it relates to my time here at OU. During the first couple of semesters, I was often found myself placing more importance on "fitting in" and living up the "college experience" than on my studies. As a result, I had two semesters were my grades suffered badly. Once I realized what was happening, I prioritized and starting focusing more on my school work. Looking back on it, jeopardizing my classes by constantly worrying about fitting in was stupid. In fact, if everyone was on the exact same path, life would be extremely boring. It is amazing what opportunities life gives you when you start walking down your own path. This is something that I try to think about from time to time to make sure that I'm still on the right path.
Portfolio Guide
This story is based on the tale of the Golden Deer of the Ramayana. It tells the tale of how Ravana was able to kidnap Sita.
The Trojan Horse: Wiki Commons
Trouble in Middle Earth
This story adapts the tale of Rama's exile to fit the famous trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. It demonstrates how good men can be tainted by their jealous, bitter peers.
King Dasaratha is asked in Court to Banish Rama: Wiki Commons
Mahabharata Draft Day
A modern twist on the on the Mahabharata as the Pandavas and Kausavas prepare for battle.
Skip Bayles on ESPN's First Take: Wiki Commons
Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
Try as he might, young Buddha's father cannot prevent the life the Gods have destined for his son.
The Three Monkey's at Toshogy Nikko : Wiki Commons
Paradise Lost
A noble Shoshone Chief demonstrates the difference between a leader and a ruler.
The Red Paperclip
The story of how one man turned a single red paperclip into a two story house.
Trouble in Middle Earth
This story adapts the tale of Rama's exile to fit the famous trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. It demonstrates how good men can be tainted by their jealous, bitter peers.
King Dasaratha is asked in Court to Banish Rama: Wiki Commons
Mahabharata Draft Day
A modern twist on the on the Mahabharata as the Pandavas and Kausavas prepare for battle.
Skip Bayles on ESPN's First Take: Wiki Commons
Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
Try as he might, young Buddha's father cannot prevent the life the Gods have destined for his son.
The Three Monkey's at Toshogy Nikko : Wiki Commons
Paradise Lost
A noble Shoshone Chief demonstrates the difference between a leader and a ruler.
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| Snake River with Teton Range: Wiki Commons |
The Red Paperclip
The story of how one man turned a single red paperclip into a two story house.
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| One Red Paperclip: Wiki Commons |
Monday, November 9, 2015
Week 12 Storytelling: Paradise Lost
The Snake River of western Wyoming provides a landscape that is unlike any other. Its flowing waters sparkle like diamonds in the sun and are a life source for all creatures that dwell nearby. Protected by a wall of majestic mountain tops, the vast green fields stretch as far as the eyes can see. It is here under the protection of the mountains that Chief Washakie lived happily with his people.
For centuries the Shoshone thrived alongside the river. Playing countless hours of games, enjoying plentiful harvests, and fostering many generations of chiefs, warriors, and princesses, this was their paradise. While legend of such a place had spread throughout the lands, the expansive white settlers were never able to find it.
For centuries the Shoshone thrived alongside the river. Playing countless hours of games, enjoying plentiful harvests, and fostering many generations of chiefs, warriors, and princesses, this was their paradise. While legend of such a place had spread throughout the lands, the expansive white settlers were never able to find it.
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| Snake River with the Tetons : Wiki Commons |
From this day forward the Shoshone lived with this threat looming over their heads. No longer could they climb the mountains or burn the great bonfires. Nevertheless, Chief Washakie and his people enjoyed their lives under the protections of the mountains.
One day, Cullen Bohanan, a worker from the nearby settlement, went out hunting with this son. Catching the trail of an enormous big horn sheep, the pair climbed up the mountains protecting the Shoshone. Reaching the top of one of the smaller peaks, Bohanan looked out onto the Shoshone’s land and could not believe his eyes. Dumbfounded, he stood for hours taking in the beauty of what lay before him. Although he went home hungry, he raced straight to the mayor’s office to tell him of his exciting discovery.
Upon hearing the news, the townspeople all agreed that they must make this amazing place their home. After all, while their current home was one of the biggest settlements for miles around, the ground was dry and the crops were bland, making life there less than ideal.
All the men in town quickly saddled up their horses and, rifle in hand, raced towards the Snake River.
Now, since the discovery of the settlement, Washakie has ordered that a scout be situated atop of the mountains to keep an eye on their neighbors. Rabbit Foot, the fastest of the Shoshone people, happened to be on watch this day but was exhausted from the races that took place the day before so he was dozing off. Awoken by the sound of gun fire and the excited cries of the approaching posse, Rabbit Foot raced back to his village faster than his legs had ever carried him before, for he knew exactly what this meant.
Panic arose throughout the village once everybody had learned of the news. Looking for advice from their great leader, everyone turned to Washakie. Known for his bravery and compassion, the chief quickly organized a plan that would see his people to safety. With certain death and destruction quickly approaching, Washakie ordered all of his people into canoes, bringing with them all of the food and supplies they could carry.
Now, the food and supplies took up so much space that the people had already cast off before realizing they were without their chief. Fully aware of the situation, this was always a part of Washakie’s plan. Stranded in his village with no food, weapons, or supplies, the great chief had sacrificed himself in order to protect his people.
When the posse arrived, there stood one man fighting for the protection of the lands. With whispers of confusion among the men, the mayor asked Washakie why he remained when he knew this would lead to his death. To which Washakie replied, “Oh poor stranger, they lived with me in this valley. I am their chief, guide, and father, and I loved them. I do not suffer in leaving this world for I have gained my people’s freedom. And if my death may be a lesson to you, than I am more than happy. It is not your spear that makes you king; it is love alone.”
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| Chief Washakie: Wiki Commons |
Hearing this brought shame to the posse. The men returned to their settlement in honor of the great Washakie, only returning to the Snake River for harmonious trade and leisure alongside the Shoshone people.
Author’s Note. This is a story from based on an episode of the the Jataka Tales titled The Monkey-Bridge. I liked this story because it highlights the difference between a leader and a ruler. I had read this at some point earlier in the semester but chose a different reading, so I am glad that I stumbled across it again. The story involves monkeys living in a mango tree up river from a town. They know their fruit is the best thing around so they try and prevent any of it from falling in the river, knowing this would lead to their demise. Inevitably it does, and the chief of the monkeys forms a bridge with his body allowing his subjects to flee. I chose the Native American theme because I think that this is something that the Native Americans experienced quite a bit with the early westward expansion of European settlers. Particularly, I chose Chief Washakie because he remains one of the most revered Shoshone chiefs. A fierce warrior, clever diplomat, and great leader, Washakie lead his people through the intrusion of the white man while also helping them along the way in certain instances. Because of his great qualities, he was one of the only chiefs to actually chose the lands where his people were forced to relocate.
Bibliography.
Title: Twenty Jataka TalesAuthor: Noor Inayat (Khan)
Illustrator: H. Willebeek Le Mair
Year: 1939
Link: Twenty Jataka Tales
Reading Diary B Week 12: Twenty Jataka Tales
The Two Pigs
- Mahatundila and Cullatundila-two pigs that get taken in by an elderly woman and raised as her children
- "Bathe in the Pool of water as on a bright feast-day , and you shall find a perfume that never fades away"
- pool of water=love
- perfume=love (never fades away)
- The buffalo doesn't pick on the monkey because he knows he is too small/simple to deserve that harsh treatment
- Don't pick on the weak to make yourself feel better
- Mysterious deer that lives deep in the woods
- The Sarabha helps a King who is trying to capture out of a chasm he has fallen into.
- The king feels more pain from viewing the deer as his enemy
- A story of sacrifice
The Quarrelsome Quails
- All the quails have to do to avoid being caught is cooperate.
- The bickering of two quails also gets others trapped in the net
- The quail with small wings is able to do something his stronger brothers would never (drive back a forest fire)
- It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
The End of the World
- A little hare creates an uproar because he mistakes a fruit falling from its tree for the world coming to an end.
- Don't jump to conclusions
Lion saving all the animals from "the end of the world": Twenty Jataka Tales
Reading Diary A Week 12: Twenty Jataka Tales
The Monkey-Bridge:
- The lesson is for rulers to love out of love for their subjects, not because they have the biggest sword
- King Brahmadatta
The Guilty Dogs
- All the dogs were ordered to be killed for something the royal dogs had done (who were the only ones to be spared)
- Dog chief reasons with king and proves palace dogs guilty
Banyan
- Banyan-King of Deer (Golden Deer)
- He offers himself as a sacrifice to a gluttonous king in order to spare a mother who has a young daughter. By doing this the King finds love and spares the lives of all animals in the woods.
The Tortoise and the Geese
- A king learns who to hold his tongue
The Fairy and the Hare
- The hare is rewarded for his pure intentions and honesty while his friends do the wrong things for the right reason
The Young Parrot
- The young parrot is able to take rice from a farmers land after he tells him why he is taking it.
- Good deeds are often rewarded
Swan Kingdom
- King of Benares- same king from Monkey Bridge story
- King Dhritarashtra- king of swans
The Master's Test
- What matters is what you do when nobody is watching
"There is no place wherein nobody is watching"- Twenty Jataka Tales
Friday, November 6, 2015
Growth Mindset: Week 11
And if I try Harder, I can Climb Higher: Blogspot
I chose this meme in light of my past week or two of school. I had a ton going on-probably the busiest time of the semester so far. With the ominous, seemingly endless, workload I had in front of me, I almost didn't even know where to start. But, now that it's over, it's easy to see how that hard work has payed off. It could have been easy to just rush through the assignments to get them out of the way as quick as possible. But actually taking the time and putting forth the effort, while that sometimes cost you sleep, gets you the grade that you want and just gives you a feeling of accomplishment. I've have definitely rushed through assignments before, and I never felt any better once they were done because I knew I could have tried harder, and I knew that my grade would reflect that. By making that a habit, I have seen my grades go up pretty drastically, and that is going to help me in the long run.
Review : Week 11
I always get a kick out of the grammar and/or punctuation puns. I have never seen this one before. Usually, it is something about the difference between coma and comma, which can be quite hilarious in some contexts. I think the reason I find these things so funny is because I always think I am using too many commas in my writings. Every time I have someone proof read one of my essays, they call me out on it. However, I tend to get good grades on my essays so HA! Anyways, I got a chuckle out of this.
Famous Last Words: Week 11
This week was another busy one. Unfortunately, I started to lag behind in this class. I wasn't able to complete the reading diaries or write a story, so I am knocking out all of the extra credit to help make up for it now that my schedule has slowed down a little bit.
This week I had a 2 page mini essay, a 150 page book, three chapters of another book, a research paper proposal that included a thesis statement, bibliography, and explanation of the question, significance, etc.., and then to top that off I had a 3,500 words draft due for my capstone project. All of this, with the exception of the 150 page book, was due by Wednesday. I'm not going to lie, it was a pretty miserable week, but I'm glad that it is all out of the way. Hopefully now, with the majority of my capstone done, the rest of the semester won't be so bad.
This week I had a 2 page mini essay, a 150 page book, three chapters of another book, a research paper proposal that included a thesis statement, bibliography, and explanation of the question, significance, etc.., and then to top that off I had a 3,500 words draft due for my capstone project. All of this, with the exception of the 150 page book, was due by Wednesday. I'm not going to lie, it was a pretty miserable week, but I'm glad that it is all out of the way. Hopefully now, with the majority of my capstone done, the rest of the semester won't be so bad.
Lots of Paper: Wiki Commons
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Growth Mindset: Week 10
Growth Mindset Memes: Blogspot
I chose this meme because it related to my reading for this week and the writing I chose to do. This also caught my attention because I changed my major after my sophomore year from International Business to International Studies. While I excelled in the business classes, I didn't enjoy the material and found myself skipping class, which lead to me dropping a few classes. After thinking about it and talking with my parents, I decided to switch to International Studies. I have thoroughly enjoyed my new major and no longer feel bogged down when I have to go to class or work on assignments. I think following your passions is a very important thing to remember. I think this is the only way you can truly put forth your best effort.
Famous Last Words: Week 10
I am a little early on this post, but I have already had a busy week so I feel like it is merited. This week I chose to read "The Life of Buddha" online from the Sacred Texts site. Since the beginning of the class I have been wanting to learn more about the story of Buddha, so this was the perfect opportunity. The readings are a little lengthy, so I broke up the readings into two parts. For the reading, I focused on the episode in which Buddha returns home and convinces his brother to join him in his new pious life, which sort of bothers their father. I liked this story because it shows that everyone can create whichever path they want in like. There is no "right" or "wrong" as long as you are passionate about it. I really liked the storybooks I read this week too. I read to Western themed stories that were both very entertaining. I have also been really busy outside of this class. I have my capstone paper draft due next week, so I have to pump out 14 pages between now and then. It's going to be a busy end to the semester but I'm looking forward to finishing up my college career!
Sausage Race Finish Line: Wiki Commons
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Week 10 Storytelling: Suddy the CEO
Once upon a time there lived a very successful business
man named King Suddhodana. Now, Suddy, as he preferred to be called, was the
CEO of an oil and gas company in the south of Kapilavastu. He was well
liked by all of his employees, and was even often given praise by his
competitors. However, this was not always the case.
You see, up until the birth of his son, Suddy was
the run-of-the-mill corporate big wig. However, once his son was born he had a
totally new perspective on life, and for good reason. Now, his son, Siddhartha,
was no ordinary baby. It was predicted upon his birth that Sid, with the same
knack for nicknames as his father, was to be the bearer of the ultimate wisdom
who would rid the world of its suffering. Woah, is right.
From here on out, Suddy was determined to be the
best man he can be. With a son like Sid, no pressure, right? This went on for
many years and Suddy and Sid lived a happy life together-enjoying their wealth
while not abusing it.
However, this all changed when Sid got a little
older and decided he wanted to take their helicopter out for a leisure cruise.
Once up in the sky, Sid saw the how the other 99% of the world was living and
this pained him. He eventually moved out of his dad’s house and started up his
own non-profit organization aimed at helping those less fortunate than him.
While his father already had one set up with the profits from his oil business,
Sid was starting from the bottom up.
Eventually, Sid’s organization became the most
well-respected organization in the entire world. People from all corners of the
world dreamt of the day where they would get to meet the man who had done so
much good for the world. The prophecies had come true, and Sid was now known by
everyone as Buddha.
Suddy was proud of his son, no doubt. However, the
reason he was so contented with the situation was the fact that Nanda, Sid’s
younger brother, would one day take over the company and keep the family
business going. Nanda had started working for the company at a very young age
and loved every second of it. He seemed to be the perfect fit.
After years on the road, Sid returned to south Kapilavastu
to pay his family a visit. Everyone from his home town was thrilled to see him,
but none more than his father. Hearing his stories made Suddy very proud.
One afternoon Sid was talking to Nanda over lunch
and started asking him questions about his plans for the future. Nanda told him
how excited he was to fill his father’s shoes and enjoy all of the luxuries of
being the CEO of a massive oil & gas company. Now, this was difficult for
Sid to listen to after seeing all he had seen through his travels. After a long
conversation, Nanda decided that he would give up his future CEO position and
work to help other.
This was heartbreaking news for Suddy. He knew it
was for a good cause. But this still saddened him. He approached Sid and told
him how he was feeling. After calming him down, Suddy accepted that his sons
were off to make their own way.
The Great Going Forth: Wiki Commons
Author’s Note.
This story is based on the episode The Buddha Leaves
Kapilavastu from The Life of Buddha. In this episode, Buddha is visiting
his father and during his stay convinces his brother, Nanda, that his pleasures
are immoral. After a conversation with his brother, Nanda decides to become a
disciple of Buddha and leave his father’s kingdom. King Suddhodana is saddened
at first, but Buddha convinces him that is truly the right decision. I tried to
put a modern spin on it and I thought, being in Oklahoma, that oil and gas would
be the most relative comparison. The lesson is that it is ok for people to make
their own path in life, even if that means giving up a flashy lifestyle.
Bibliography.
The Life of Buddha, by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum [1922], at
sacred-texts.com
Week 10 Reading Diary B: The Life of Buddha Sacred Texts
The Crane and the Fish-lesson learned: cunning does not always succeed. Buddha tells this to his followers before he leaves to visit his father.
Once Buddha returns to his old home, everyone is surprised to see this transformation from a flashy prince in a chariot to a humble monk begging for food. He gains a following of people, "for he is more beautiful now than ever"
-it's not all about material riches
Kind Sudddhodana snaps at Buddha for begging and Buddha tells him of his past life where he gladly had is own feet and head cut off and his body impaled and fed to the birds, because he knew he would become Buddha one day. The moral of the story is that living a holy life will bring you peace and no worry. King Suddhodana fully believes in Buddha after this.
Buddha goes to see his wife, Gopa, and she has given up all her luxuries too. She lives just as he does, not sleeping in a bed and only eating once a day. Buddha then commends her, and then goes on a rant talking about how bad women are. Strange.
Buddha's brother, Nanda, is set to be king in his absence. However, Buddha approaches him and calls him out for his worldly/material happiness and Nanda soon falls at his brother's feet and becomes his disciple-leaving the throne and his beloved future wife behind.
King Suddhodana is sad that his whole family is leaving him, and he tells Buddha. Again, Buddha calms him down and then leaves Kapilavastu and returns to Rajagriha.
A young, very poor, girl in Cravasti gave up her only possession to the Buddha as a donation-a course dress she had saved up for. Upon giving this humble gift she died and became a Goddess of Indra.
Nanda is still grieving about having to leave his wife. Buddha then sends him into the heavens and he sees an Apsara who is far more beautiful. He remains pious because of this Apsara and is shunned by the disciples because of it.
-Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is still wrong.
Nanda eventually conquers his desires, but then wears the same robe as Buddha and claims to have equal virtue. This again gets him criticized, this time for his pride.
King Suddhodana dies.
Once Buddha returns to his old home, everyone is surprised to see this transformation from a flashy prince in a chariot to a humble monk begging for food. He gains a following of people, "for he is more beautiful now than ever"
-it's not all about material riches
Kind Sudddhodana snaps at Buddha for begging and Buddha tells him of his past life where he gladly had is own feet and head cut off and his body impaled and fed to the birds, because he knew he would become Buddha one day. The moral of the story is that living a holy life will bring you peace and no worry. King Suddhodana fully believes in Buddha after this.
Buddha goes to see his wife, Gopa, and she has given up all her luxuries too. She lives just as he does, not sleeping in a bed and only eating once a day. Buddha then commends her, and then goes on a rant talking about how bad women are. Strange.
Buddha's brother, Nanda, is set to be king in his absence. However, Buddha approaches him and calls him out for his worldly/material happiness and Nanda soon falls at his brother's feet and becomes his disciple-leaving the throne and his beloved future wife behind.
King Suddhodana is sad that his whole family is leaving him, and he tells Buddha. Again, Buddha calms him down and then leaves Kapilavastu and returns to Rajagriha.
A young, very poor, girl in Cravasti gave up her only possession to the Buddha as a donation-a course dress she had saved up for. Upon giving this humble gift she died and became a Goddess of Indra.
Nanda is still grieving about having to leave his wife. Buddha then sends him into the heavens and he sees an Apsara who is far more beautiful. He remains pious because of this Apsara and is shunned by the disciples because of it.
-Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is still wrong.
Nanda eventually conquers his desires, but then wears the same robe as Buddha and claims to have equal virtue. This again gets him criticized, this time for his pride.
King Suddhodana dies.
Buddha with the Group of Five: Wiki Commons
Reading Diary A: Week 10-The Life of Buddha Sacred Texts
Although he has attained the ultimate wisdom, Buddha refuses to enter nirvana before accumulating a following and spreading his teaching to others.
Buddha turns Mara's daughters into hags for trying to seduce him, but then reverses this once they admit their fault to him.
Trapusha and Bhallika-the first to profess their faith in Buddha and his law.
Initially, Buddha refuses to preach his knowledge because he thinks people will be too ignorant to comprehend his thoughts. The Bhrama finally convinces him otherwise.
-Whats the use of having all that knowledge if you don't share it.
Buddha tries to make Rama's son, Rudraka, the first to hear his words but he is dead.
He decides to preach to Rudraka's 5 disciples instead. On the trip to Benares (where the disciples live) he asks a boatman to help him cross the Ganges-the man will only do it for money and Buddha flies over the river. The man is then very distraught for casting away such a holy man.
They disciples decide to not acknowledge Buddha, but once he gets closer they cannot resist and they immediately take good care of him and listen to his every word.
He tells the disciples about suffering, the 8 fold path, etc.. They then proclaim their faith in him
"The thirst for power, the thirst for pleasure, the thirst for existence; there, O monks, is the origin of suffering." - The Buddha Finds his Former Disciples
Kaundinya-first disciple to approach/follow Buddha
Yasas- a rich kid who gives up his worldly life to follow Buddha.
-His friends come to try and convince him other wise (Vimala)
The Hare and the Hermit- The hermit is starving and tells his friend the hare he is going to leave back for the city. The Hare then tries to throw himself in the fire to save his friend from the corruptions of the city. The Hermit saves him, vows not to leave, and then they are blessed with rain and plenty of food.
-Buddha compares Vimala to the hermit, asking why he would try and prevent his friend from obtaining salvation.
Kind Padmaka- A story Buddha tells traveling musicians. The King sacrifices himself in order to save his people from an epidemic that is making them suffer.
King Suddhodana sends messengers to summon Buddha, but they all become his disciples and stay with him. Suddhodana then sends Udayin (Buddha's life long friend). He also ends up being a disciple, but does not forget his reason for traveling to Buddha in the first place. He eventually convinces Buddha to return to his father once the weather warms up.
Buddha turns Mara's daughters into hags for trying to seduce him, but then reverses this once they admit their fault to him.
Trapusha and Bhallika-the first to profess their faith in Buddha and his law.
Initially, Buddha refuses to preach his knowledge because he thinks people will be too ignorant to comprehend his thoughts. The Bhrama finally convinces him otherwise.
-Whats the use of having all that knowledge if you don't share it.
Buddha tries to make Rama's son, Rudraka, the first to hear his words but he is dead.
He decides to preach to Rudraka's 5 disciples instead. On the trip to Benares (where the disciples live) he asks a boatman to help him cross the Ganges-the man will only do it for money and Buddha flies over the river. The man is then very distraught for casting away such a holy man.
They disciples decide to not acknowledge Buddha, but once he gets closer they cannot resist and they immediately take good care of him and listen to his every word.
He tells the disciples about suffering, the 8 fold path, etc.. They then proclaim their faith in him
"The thirst for power, the thirst for pleasure, the thirst for existence; there, O monks, is the origin of suffering." - The Buddha Finds his Former Disciples
Kaundinya-first disciple to approach/follow Buddha
Yasas- a rich kid who gives up his worldly life to follow Buddha.
-His friends come to try and convince him other wise (Vimala)
The Hare and the Hermit- The hermit is starving and tells his friend the hare he is going to leave back for the city. The Hare then tries to throw himself in the fire to save his friend from the corruptions of the city. The Hermit saves him, vows not to leave, and then they are blessed with rain and plenty of food.
-Buddha compares Vimala to the hermit, asking why he would try and prevent his friend from obtaining salvation.
Kind Padmaka- A story Buddha tells traveling musicians. The King sacrifices himself in order to save his people from an epidemic that is making them suffer.
King Suddhodana sends messengers to summon Buddha, but they all become his disciples and stay with him. Suddhodana then sends Udayin (Buddha's life long friend). He also ends up being a disciple, but does not forget his reason for traveling to Buddha in the first place. He eventually convinces Buddha to return to his father once the weather warms up.
Buddha's Sermon in the Deer Park : Wiki Commons
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Storytelling Week 9: Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil
Now, news of the birth of Prince Siddhartha had spread joyously
throughout the lands. Throughout his early years he was second to none. The men
admired his strength and agility, the scholars admired his boundless wit, the
women adored his beauty and grace, and the children adored him for his playful
jest. The world was simply a better place after his coming. Beyond just his
peers-the trees grew taller, the grass grew greener, and the birds sang
sweeter. To the Sakya people, the prophecies of their prince's omnipresence
were all too true.
However, the Gods had much more planned
for the young Siddhartha.
Siddhartha's father, Suddhodana, knew that
his son was destined to leave his palace one day for a life of austerity. Now,
this threatened the legacy of his family, and so he did all he could to
entertain Siddhartha and keep him content with his life inside the palace
walls. However, though a mighty king, his will was no match for that of the
Gods.
This became all too true when someone
approached Siddhartha on a quaint Spring morning and described to him the
beauties of a forest rejuvenating after a long winter's rest. Siddhartha was
intrigued and so asked his father if he could take his chariot out and see
these marvelous things.
Suddhodana sent his son out of the gates
with great sorrow, for he knew that this would change the course of their lives
forever. However, before his son left, the king ordered all manners of
suffering, sick, or death to be removed from the streets in order to keep his
son blind from the harshness of life.
Do you remember the Gods and their plans for Siddhartha? The
moment had finally come for their plans to come into action. Annoyed by the short-minded happiness of the Sakya people, they devised plans to expose Siddhartha
to the realities of suffering that took place outside of his lofty palace
walls.
Their first task was to place an old man in the path of Siddhartha’s
chariot. The grey-haired man, with his crippled body and wrinkled skin, hobbled
along the dirt path with the help of his wooden staff. This caught Siddhartha’s
attention and set in motion ripples that would eventually turn into tidal
waves. He could not bear the sight of such suffering, and so returned to the
palace.
However, once back at the palace, he could not get the image of
the old man out of his head. The notion that all people were destined for the
physical, mental, and physiological withering that accompany old age weighed
heavy on his mind and he was unable to enjoy the pleasures of the palace.
Nonetheless, the unsettled Siddhartha decides to journey outside
the palace walls once more. This time, the Gods exposed him to the sufferings of
an ill man. The sight of the man, with his gaunt figure, pale skin, and sad
eyes, gasping for breath on the side of the side of the road filled Siddhartha
with grief. Realizing that he and everyone else were susceptible to illness,
Siddhartha returned home engulfed in his painful thoughts.
Again, the troubled Siddhartha was tormented by these thoughts.
How could he enjoy the pleasures of life when such suffering plagued the world?
Out of a sort of distressed curiosity, Siddhartha decided to
venture beyond the palace walls one more time. This time, the Gods had prepared
the grand finale. They would expose Siddhartha to the realities of death. This
would be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Once Siddhartha had
come to understand that death was something that awaited all living creatures, the
pleasures of his previous life were forgotten.
From this moment forward, Siddhartha was determined to alleviate
the world of these gruesome sufferings. What his father feared most had finally
come to pass. Siddhartha would leave the luxuries of the palace behind forever in
the pursuit of supreme knowledge. Siddhartha would eventually attain this
supreme knowledge and take on the everlasting title that we know him by
today-Buddha.
Siddhartha Retires into Seclusion: Wiki Commons
Author’s Note. This story is based on The Three Encounters episode
from the The Life of Buddha. This story tells the tale of how Siddhartha
finally makes the transition from the life of a prince to a humble monk. From
his birth it is prophesied that Siddhartha will obtain supreme knowledge and
in him there will be a force that changes the world. I chose this story because it shows that
sometimes people need a little push in the right direction in order to reach
their full potential. I also think another important take away is that it is
often harmful to shelter people too much. If you live in a bubble and are
unaware of what is going on outside of your immediate social circle, you have a
skewed perspective on how things work. It is important to expose yourself to as
much as you can so you can fully understand and appreciate everything that you
have.
Bibliography: The Life of Buddha, by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum [1922], at Sacred Texts. http://sacred-texts.com/bud/lob/lob11.htm
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Week 9 Reading Diary A: The Life of Buddha Sacred Texts
- King Suddhodana- Great wisdom, sucessful in battle, has many friends
- Maya-Suddhodana's favorite wife
- Wishes to rid the world of suffering and poverty
- Gives up her royalties to live an austere life
- Maya's dream: She sees an elephant with six tusks enter her womb. This is the moment when she knows she will never experience hatred, anger, is malcontent
- As King Suddhodana goes to the woods he starts to feel nervous/shaky
- The God's speak to him and tell him that his son will be one of supreme knowledge and wisdom
- Their son will be Siddhartha (Buddha)
- The royal couple returned to the city and fed the hungry, gave alms to the poor. The blind saw, the lame walked and the deaf could hear.
- When Buddha is born all of the world is joyous and corrects itself (sober up, gain reason)
- Asita the hermit weeps because will not be able to hear the preachings of the new born son.
- When Siddhartha was born the Kingdom was more rich, prosperous, and peaceful.
- Maya dies 7 days after the birth, the prince is given to Mahaprajapati, her sister
- She tries to put jewelry on him, but his thoughts are his true gems
- On his first trip to the temple all of the statues of gods came to life and sang to him
- Visvamitra- Siddhartha's teacher
- In an attempt to carry on the family name Suddhodona tries to convince Siddhartha to get married (introduce him to pleasures)
- Siddhartha makes a list of merits for his potential wife and Gopa is chosen
- Siddhartha surprisingly passes all of the tests to win Gopa (again uses an arrow as the final test)
- Siddhartha lives a lavish life of pleasure while his father lives almost like a hermit. While the King is living as pious as he can, he introduces as many pleasures to his son as possible so he will not leave for an austere life.
- Siddhartha finally leaves the palace and the gods expose him to the harsh realities of life-sickness, old age, and death.
- Udayin (Siddhartha's long time friend) tries to keep his mind off of the things he encountered by throwing women at him. This does not sway Siddhartha at all
- Siddhartha sneaks away in the middle of the night and vows not to return until he sees the end of life and death
- Kanthanka, Siddhartha's horse he rode into the forest is sad and dies when he returns to his stable
- Siddhartha gains five disciples and sits on the bank of a river meditating and withering away physically. The disciples abandon once they see him return to a city and beg for food
- Mara, The Evil One, tries to attack Siddhartha as he sits under the tree of knowledge but his attack is futile and he is defeated.
- Siddhartha realizes that ignorance is the root of suffering, death, and discomfort. At this realization he becomes Buddha
Buddha at the Tree of Knowledge : Wiki Commons
Friday, October 9, 2015
Growth Mindset: Week 7
Einstein Quote: Google Images
I heard this quote a couple of years ago and it always stuck with me. I think a big part of society today is people comparing their strengths and weaknesses to those of other people. I know I am definitely guilty of this sometimes. If someone does better on a test than me or can do a better flip than me off the diving board, it just kind of bugs me. I don't really know why. I try to constantly remind myself of this quote whenever I get feelings like that because everyone has their own nitch. If everybody were really good at the same thing, not only would life be really boring, but nothing would really get done. I try to view things that I am not good at in a positive light. It's not that I'm an idiot or something because someone else is better than me at something, it just happens to be their thing. When you look at like this, I think the world becomes a much more interesting and inspiring place.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Storytelling Week 6: Mahabharata Draft Day
Good evening, folks, and welcome to ESPN. We’re a bunch of guys wearing makeup talking about sports.
I’m Skip Bayles, and we have a very interesting show for you tonight. As we all know, this year’s draft just came to a close. As always, it was full of surprises. With Tebow returning to the Denver Broncos, Ray Lewis returning for a victory lap with the Baltimore Ravens, and the “out-of-left-field” drafting of OU’s Baker Mayfield to the Houston Texans, there is a lot to talk about.
BUT...what really has everybody buzzing is the shocking pickup of Shri Krishna by Arjuna of the Pandavas.
Recently returning from a 12-month suspension for foul play, the Pandavas were looking to bounce back with force. With this resurgence, everyone had figured that they would make a beeline for Krishna. But they weren’t the only ones who had their eye on the prize.
Duryodhana of the Kauravas pursued Krishna with the same tenacity. The rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas goes back for decades and can arguably be considered the most heated rivalry in the world of sports. However, that is not the end to our story here. If you recall, it was the Kauravas who were responsible for the 12-month suspension of the Pandavas. So, folks, as you can see, there is a lot on the line here.
Now, Arjuna had always had Krishna on his radar. Since he was a young'un, Arjuna had always admired and respected Krishna above any other player in the game. In his eyes, victory was inherent with the help of Krishna. Facing the Kauravas in their first game back from suspension, Arjuna hastened to Krishna in preparation for war. Little did he know, Duryodhana had beaten him to the chase.
Surprisingly enough, this didn’t affect Krishna’s decision. The constant nagging and pompous attitude of Duryodhana rubbed Krishna the wrong way. For this reason, he gave Arjuna the first pick.
The choice was simple-Krishna or an entire roster of players. BUT, to spice things up even more, Krishna had announced to the men that he would retire from play. Now, with any rational thought one can basically rule out Krishna as useless. However, Arjuna’s lifelong devotion to Krishna held true and he chose him without a second thought. Even Krishna was surprised.
Durydohana, like the rest of us, basically took Krishna out of the picture once he learned that he would not suit up. So he was elated when he was essentially handed a full roster of fresh players eager to prove themselves.
After the deals were done and the papers were signed, Krishna and Arjuna met to talk things over. Luckily, Arjuna somehow managed to convince Krishna that he would be useful as an offensive coordinator. If he couldn’t play, he could at least help guide Arjuna through the game. Now, this folks, could turn out to be a huge game-changer. Krishna’s wisdom and presence is unmatched by any.
We spoke with Arjuna this afternoon about the whole ordeal and asked why in the world he was so optimistic about his new draft pick and he simply replied, “If you were going into the Super Bowl, would you rather have Tom Brady or the entire Fighting Tigers Pee Wee Team ?”
Author’s Note. This story is based on the episode Krishna and His Army, found in the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata. In this episode, the Pandavas have just been freed from their twelve year exile and are preparing for the inevitable battle with the Kausavas. As it has been demonstrated through various points in the epic, Arjuna has an immense adoration for Krishna and so seeks his help for the pending battle. However, Durydohana has the same thoughts so he seeks his help too. Ultimately, Arjuna makes the shocking decision to take Krishna over an army of one hundred million soldiers. This is even more shocking because Krishna declares he will not fight in the battle himself. So, both Durydohana and Arjuna go home from the deal content with their pickings. However, as the story develops you begin to see how Arjuna made the right decision. I chose this story because I think it demonstrates that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. I thought of the idea for the ESPN adaptation after reading Heather’s story written as a TV show review. I thought it was a cool twist so I tried to imitate that a little bit.
I’m Skip Bayles, and we have a very interesting show for you tonight. As we all know, this year’s draft just came to a close. As always, it was full of surprises. With Tebow returning to the Denver Broncos, Ray Lewis returning for a victory lap with the Baltimore Ravens, and the “out-of-left-field” drafting of OU’s Baker Mayfield to the Houston Texans, there is a lot to talk about.
BUT...what really has everybody buzzing is the shocking pickup of Shri Krishna by Arjuna of the Pandavas.
Recently returning from a 12-month suspension for foul play, the Pandavas were looking to bounce back with force. With this resurgence, everyone had figured that they would make a beeline for Krishna. But they weren’t the only ones who had their eye on the prize.
Duryodhana of the Kauravas pursued Krishna with the same tenacity. The rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas goes back for decades and can arguably be considered the most heated rivalry in the world of sports. However, that is not the end to our story here. If you recall, it was the Kauravas who were responsible for the 12-month suspension of the Pandavas. So, folks, as you can see, there is a lot on the line here.
Now, Arjuna had always had Krishna on his radar. Since he was a young'un, Arjuna had always admired and respected Krishna above any other player in the game. In his eyes, victory was inherent with the help of Krishna. Facing the Kauravas in their first game back from suspension, Arjuna hastened to Krishna in preparation for war. Little did he know, Duryodhana had beaten him to the chase.
Surprisingly enough, this didn’t affect Krishna’s decision. The constant nagging and pompous attitude of Duryodhana rubbed Krishna the wrong way. For this reason, he gave Arjuna the first pick.
The choice was simple-Krishna or an entire roster of players. BUT, to spice things up even more, Krishna had announced to the men that he would retire from play. Now, with any rational thought one can basically rule out Krishna as useless. However, Arjuna’s lifelong devotion to Krishna held true and he chose him without a second thought. Even Krishna was surprised.
Durydohana, like the rest of us, basically took Krishna out of the picture once he learned that he would not suit up. So he was elated when he was essentially handed a full roster of fresh players eager to prove themselves.
After the deals were done and the papers were signed, Krishna and Arjuna met to talk things over. Luckily, Arjuna somehow managed to convince Krishna that he would be useful as an offensive coordinator. If he couldn’t play, he could at least help guide Arjuna through the game. Now, this folks, could turn out to be a huge game-changer. Krishna’s wisdom and presence is unmatched by any.
We spoke with Arjuna this afternoon about the whole ordeal and asked why in the world he was so optimistic about his new draft pick and he simply replied, “If you were going into the Super Bowl, would you rather have Tom Brady or the entire Fighting Tigers Pee Wee Team ?”
Skip Bayles on ESPN's First Take: Wiki Commons
Author’s Note. This story is based on the episode Krishna and His Army, found in the Public Domain Edition Mahabharata. In this episode, the Pandavas have just been freed from their twelve year exile and are preparing for the inevitable battle with the Kausavas. As it has been demonstrated through various points in the epic, Arjuna has an immense adoration for Krishna and so seeks his help for the pending battle. However, Durydohana has the same thoughts so he seeks his help too. Ultimately, Arjuna makes the shocking decision to take Krishna over an army of one hundred million soldiers. This is even more shocking because Krishna declares he will not fight in the battle himself. So, both Durydohana and Arjuna go home from the deal content with their pickings. However, as the story develops you begin to see how Arjuna made the right decision. I chose this story because I think it demonstrates that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. I thought of the idea for the ESPN adaptation after reading Heather’s story written as a TV show review. I thought it was a cool twist so I tried to imitate that a little bit.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Reading Diary B: PDE Mahabharata
- Pandavas go undergo an exile similar to Rama's
- Bhima and Draupadi unleash their angers on the eldest brother, but he remains faithful to his exile and to the will of the gods.
- Arjuna goes off to gain celestial weapons that will come in handy later.
- Bhima encounters Hanuman in exile
- Duryodhana and Karna go to spy on the Pandavas and are stopped by celestial spirits who would not allow it. A war followed, and the Kausavas were defeated.
- Karna deserted
- Duryodhana and much of his court was captured
- Bhima and Arjuna fight and get the prisoners released?
- humbled/embarrassed Duryodhana
- Karna vows to kill Arjuna
- A secret messenger comes and tells the Pandavas of this news
- Indra, Arjuna's father, takes away Karna armour and earrings in exchange for a celestial dart.
- The Pandavas come to a lake and all but Yudhishthira die from drinking after ignoring questions asked by a voice. It turns out the voice is Dharma, god of wisdom and justice. He grants Yudhishthira two wishes-That they should be restored to life and go unrecognized for a year. (their last year of exile is to be in hiding and they have to do another 12 years of Kausavas find them)
- They return to INSIDE THE CITY and take up various roles
- Yudhishthira-teaches playing dice (so he can practice)
- Bhima-cook
- Arjuna-teaches dance
- All became loved by the monarch
- Bhima secretly kills King Kichaka for attempting to rap Draupadi. This causes the Kausavas to raid his kingdom. The raid conveniently falls on the last day of the exile, so the Pandavas turn on the Kausavas and were taken as prisoners of Kichaka's son
- Both Duryodhana and Arjuna go to Krishna, but Krishna gets first pick because he was humbly bowing while Duryodhana pompously sat on his bed. Arjuna choses Krishna over an entire army.
- Duryodhana tries to capture Krishna, but it only angers Krishna and he takes his godly form
- The battle seems equal sided, but it is clear who will win.
Bima fights Bakasura: Wiki Commons
Reading Diary A: PDE Mahabharata
- Prince Duryodhana planned to burn down a palace where the Pandavas and Kunti were staying. The palace was all wood and covered in oil.
- Vidura
- King Pandu and King Dhritarashtra brother
- Wisest of the brothers, his mother was slave so he had no power
- Vidura notices the signs of the plot and orders a tunnel to be dug to save his family. While they escape, a peasant family there begging for food dies and everyone thinks they it is the royal family. Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana think their plan has succeeded.
- In the woods the Pandavas come across some rakshasas. The sister tries to save them, but Bhima is noble and wont leave his family's side. He fights the bad rakshasa, even drags him into the forest so he wont wake up his family.
- Bhima and the sister of the bad rakshasa actually falls in love with Bhima and they live a happy life together
- Give birth to a son-Ghatotkacha
- The Pandavas and Kunti find refuge in a town that is ruled by Baka, who eats people in return for protecting the city. Kunti hails Bhima and he comes and kills Baka.
- Drapuda, friend who betrayed Drona (guru who trained Pandavas)
- His payment for training them was avenging Drapuda
- Nalayani, daughter of Drapuda, was married to all 5 Pandavas
- This was the result of Karma for her actions in her previous life
- Arjuna breaks a deal of the marriage of the Panadavas to Draupadi. While his brother tells him to let it slide, he remains truthful to his oath and exiles for 12 years. During his ecile he meets Ulupi, daughter of the nagas King, the same character who gave Bhima his powers. Here he gains the power to become invisible in water and has a son, Iravat. He then uses this power to rescue 5 water nymphs who were cursed to take the form of alligators
- good Karma
- The Pandavas burn a forest and it return a god Maya builds them a palace unmatched by anything on earth. As they become more powerful, Duryodhana becomes even more bitter.
- Yudhishthira loses all of the riches and lands of the Pandavas, including their wife Draupdi, who becomes a slave
- This results in a ferocious proclamation of revenge by Bhima.
- The Pandavas are exiled after losing another gambling match
Vysa tell Drapuda about Draupadi's past life: PDE Mahabharata
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Week 5 Review
I know I might be a little early, but there is already a lot of stuff I like about the Daily Announcements for this week. First, is this just because it's funny
Taco Cat : Daily Announcements
I also am glad I saw the "You really can call me Laura!" announcement. Sometime professors are weird about what you call them, so it is nice to be able to be on a first name basis. It gives the class a relaxed feel to it.
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