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 

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.

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's Sermon in the Deer Park : Wiki Commons