A blog about books, experiences and class

2019 Books in review

Dalai Lama et al. The Book of Joy: “Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. Penguin Random House” LLC, 2016.

• I read this book when I joined in English writing 300 of Professor Ford. She is nice and generous that helps me learn some basic knowledge of writing. She thinks this book can help her students practice critical thinking and nourish a beautiful soul through this book. To me, I really appreciate her to introduce it. The book teaches something about the life and how to live in a peaceful life with others. The thing I remember most is mental immunity. “Mental immunity”, the Dalai Lama explained, “is just learning to avoid the destructive emotions and to develop the positive ones.” (Dalai Lama et al 83) I think he means that mental immunity is not able to deny the negative thoughts but people are able to observe, accept and overcome. It also means mental immunity is an ability to react to the pain and recover the emotion, which helps them to rediscover happiness.

"The book of Joy" book by Dalai Lama,etc, July 31, 2018
https://www.paulist.org/the-conversation/book-review-the-book-of-joy/

Twenge, Jean M.Generation Me: Why Todays Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable than Ever Before.Atria, 2014.

• This book is for reading class that mentioned many different aspects between Millennials (named GenMe) and Baby Boomers such as characteristics, values and belief. Twenge provided many evidences to prove her opinions why there are many differences in Baby Boomers’ and GenMe’s cognition, behaviors and belief. This book is quite fun and helpful to understand myself and others. Personally, it looks like s psychological survey report.

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. 5th ed., Pearson. 2013.

• This book focuses on India, China, and Japan, while showing the relationships that exist between Eastern and Western traditions. Patrick Bresnan consistently links the past to the present, that helps us easily understand what are the differences and ancient Eastern origins, are living traditions and relevant to modern times. To me, I learn something new about tradition of some countries in the book. It’s quite clear and easy to read if someone want to learn about history.

Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. 7^thed. 1996

Siddhartha- Hermann Hesse

• I read this book on this summer. This is my second times. I realize the differences when I read it at high school and on this summer. I have a new awareness of enlightenment. When I first read it, I had concerns about the deliverance that the driver had mentioned such as what enlightenment is, how to find it. Now I realize it comes from the heart. It is the tranquility when people experience profound events in life like Siddhartha.

 What did you like best about the project? My research project is about the significant of religion on learning history. I really enjoy this subject. To me, the religion is a special aspect of a country. No country does not have religion because it serves as a spiritual teacher. Our team paid a lot attentions on this project. Personally, I think I spend around 10 hours to do this project. 

 I was excited to apply for this humanities class to learn the history of some countries in Asia, especially China and Japan. I thought this class will had many thing for me to search for. I think the knowledge is various, so I cannot learn all things about it during a short time. It needs a long time maybe 5 years, 10 years or even all life. My goals of this class is to know the way to learn history such as the website that I can use, the book that I can read, the eBook or reference that are good. My goal also is to learn the basic knowledge of history such as the period or stage of each countries. My goal also is learn some new skills such as communication skill, presentations skill and team work skills because I think these are the thing that I would learn in humanities class. Now, at the end of the semester, I mostly completed my goals but it is not enough. I have some sources that I can read but I did not finish some parts of it because of some reasons.

Since I was young, I have an interested in ancient Chinese and Japanese as well thorough the movies, and the music. I was curious how China can affect the Vietnamese thought several years and how they live during the ancient period. I remember the word when I learn history subject at secondary school is assimilation policy. Vietnam is a country that origins of the ancient China. However, what the ancient China come from was regularly existed in my mind. The thing that I was interested in this class is the knowledge that provided to me about the Chinese history.

The differences between Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen

According to the chapter 19 of the book “Awakening: An introduce to the history of Eastern thought”, we know some informations of the Zen Buddhism, one of the kind early Buddhism in Japan. In addition, it tells us the differences between Rinzai and Soto Zen through some three "The seeds of Zen would fall on extremely fertile ground in Japan and would repro- duce the two great schools already existing in China. In Japan, they would come to be known as Rinzai and Soto. We will examine these by looking at the contributions of three historically great figures: Eisai, Dogen, and Hakuin." (Bresnan 328) 

Zen Buddhism

Rinzai and Soto Zen are started from China and spread to Japan by Eisai and Dogen. They are different thinking to disseminate Buddhism in Japan. Therefore, the perspective of people who receive them is different .For example, Rinzai was the Zen of the aristocratic class, and Soto was the Zen more favored by common people. That is because “ Rinzai Zen monasteries became, among other things, the training grounds of the samurai. This is certainly not to say that that was the only function they served, but it definitely was an important one. Samurai families were typically associated with a particular Rinzai monastery, at which the men trained from time to time in the disciplines of Zen, especially when young.” ( Bresnan 431). In addition, Rinzai took a dynamic, energetic approach to Zen, whereas Soto was more contemplative. For example, "A person might join a Rinzai commu- nity for a short period, but the Soto monastery was more likely to attract the dedi- cated person who wished to make the way of the monk his life’s work" ( Bresnan 435). One thing that makes them different is some ritual habbits such as meditation. Both Soto and Rinzai held zazen in high regard, but Soto emphasized the practice of zazen to a far greater degree than did Rinzai. The author said "If we could enter his meditation hall we would see rows of monks dressed in the familiar black, loose-fitting monk’s robe. Unlike a Rinzai meditation hall, in which the monks sit facing inward, Dogen’s monks would be facing the wall." (Bresnan 432)

Meditation of Soto Zen Buddhism

If we give two kinds of Zen Buddhism in school, it create some different consequences. However, the goal is not coved and more and more be maintained and developed.

Rinzai zen is rather famous for being, as Alan Watts said, more gutsy than other schools. Get a koan wrong and you're likely to receive one-on-one instruction on beating as a means of focusing attention, to put it nicely. The Rinzai method seems twofold, it confronts the student with the futility of their desire to "make it" by setting up a more rigid and formal system of koans through which they must pass, and by filling it with material designed to confront their tendency to try to think their way out of it. It then pairs this with a willingness to get 'down & dirty' in bombastic elements. If there's a zen master shouting, beating students, trashing someone, etc etc, there's a higher chance it's a rinzai school master. This serves to jar the student right out of whatever comfort zone they think they might be developing. This goes on until they clearly understand the absurdity of their situation in a level more primal than high-minded logic.

Eisai

Soto is, again to quote Alan, more serene. You're apt to get less in the way of koans, but be prepared to spend considerably more time on your keester, since Soto zen still considers zazen to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Soto zen masters may not beat you... Unless they catch you sleeping when you should be meditating. You're also a bit more likely to end up with a Lao Tzu style answer than Rinzai's more Zhuangzi-like style, if that makes sense. Soto zen contents itself more with the ideas it's presenting than with direct confrontation with a student, even if discussion of the ideas is likely to be met with some consternation. If you see a description of zazen as "just sitting," Soto zen has really taken that and run with it. Soto is the more 'completed,' in that it doesn't really see much point in the bombastic elements of Rinzai. Ego dissolution is Soto's bread and butter, and everything else really doesn't get all that much attention from Soto.

Dogen Zenji

Works cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought

Landscape of House

"Landscape with house" by Qi Baishi

The work of art I selected is “Landscape with Houses” by Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864-1957). I was born in small village with the honest farmer ;and I also have a love about ancient house and landscapes. When I saw this art, I have a sense of belonging. This art reminds me of ancient people. I am curious about their lifestyle, customs, culture and whether these people are my ancestor or not, maybe yes. It makes me vague and have a mystical feeling.

      

Me and my friends

            Qi Baishi was born in 1864 to a poor peasant family in Hunan Province. It was not until he was 27 that he began painting. He started with paintings of gods and portraits, and over time he learned to paint landscapes, birds, flowers, and human figures. After touring the country numerous times to study the works of Xu Wei, Bada Shanren, Jin Nong, and other Ming and Qing artists, he eventually settled in Beijing in 1918. 

Qi Baishi's Landscape painting

 his rustic and unaffected style was not well received by most Beijing connoisseurs, Qi was encouraged by the painter Chen Shizeng to develop his own style rather than imitate masters. He dedicated himself to this and called it “carrying out reform at an advanced age.” The result of his “reform” was his iconic style, one which combined the populist-realist styles with that of the scholar-calligrapher. Qi’s style influenced subsequent generations of painters, such as his student Li Kuchan (1898–1983) and others, including Pan Tianshou (1897–1971) and Li Keran (1907–1989). 
As seen in Lychees and Grasshopper, Qi’s subjects were often seasonal, as one might expect of a careful observer of nature; this painting’s subject suggests late spring or early summer. Qi characteristically contrasts the expressive, boneless (mogu) technique he used on the basket, lychees, and leaves with the sensitively observed grasshopper rendered in the fine-line (bai-miao) technique. Relatively rare in Qi’s oeuvre are landscapes, which, as seen here at left, retain his characteristic charm and embrace the literati ideal of zhuo (awkward).

"Landscape with houses", is a laps cape painting with ink and color on paper, was made by Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1861-1957). It is a work art pf Croker Art Museum, gilf of The Chinese and collected by Sandra and Franklin Yee, 2005.94.7. This charming rural landscape is composed with single forms, allowing one to imagine life in the humble surrounding of a village. Small houses with titled roofs facing different directions are set amid clusters of tall trees, the leaves and branches of which no doubt provide cooling shade to unseen occupants within the dwellings. This may be the way that " Landscape with houses" is represent the era in which it was created. It is their life with the simple things, living in nature make the souls of ancient Chinese more light and peaceful.  There are no reference for this art work at all since it was collected. 

The photo of me and "Landscape with House" 

My ticket of Croker Art Museum on September 25, 2019

This is my second time of this year of visiting the Croker Art Museum. Last time, I went there by light trail but I drove to there by my car this time. Since I received the instruction, I invited my friend to accompany with me, and they agreed. I’m a new driver, this actually was the first time I drived to Downtown of Sacramento by myself. It was quite exciting and nervous. Luckily, we were safe there. I did not bring any 

My drawing of "Landscape with House" 

  so we had to spend time to manage it. Fortunately, our coins helped us to visit this museum 45 mins. I have a remind for new people like me that don't worry if you don't have coin, but remember bring your card because we can pay by card for parking fee. We were there around 4 pm; it was slow that day because of only us and 2 old ladies. We need the tickets to visit this museum; because we are the students, we paid for 8$ each person. The museum employees are quite kind and generous. We met a pretty woman that sell the tickets for us with a lovely smile and she asked us some 

Other work of arts

 like why we wanted to go there and we answered her. We also saw some man who is the security of this museum. They looked us with the serious faces, but I felt it is a grave atmosphere at there. We did visit there before, so this time, we just went directly to the Asian area. I did wear sandal which sound noisy but fortunately nobody is around that area. Although it was not the first time, I felt like this is really strange and special. I wonder how the epigrapher can discovery these products and how their journeys are. This is amazing and difficult. I really admire them. 

Works Cited

China Online Museum. https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/qi-baishi/

Croker Art Museum editor, "Landscape with Houses". 2015

The story of the Silk Road

        According to the video entitled: "The Silk Road: Where East Met West" and the chapter 16 of the book " An awakening", I realized the origin of something I have right now was taken a long time.In this extraordinary series, the journalist explores how the fortunes of the West were shaped by the East through visiting many countries. In the chapter 16 entitled " The Early of Buddhism China", the authors tell how the Buddhism traveled in China and how to form different categories of Buddhism.
       The book is to tell the information of early Buddhism in China such as Buddhism in the Tarim Basin, Tiantai Buddhism, Huayan Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism. I think the significant of these categories are different. I was impressed by there quotes from chapter 16. The author said "The “resonance,” though, went much deeper than simply a shared interest in meditation. Buddhism did not work a revolution in China; rather it helped to bring out and give clearer form to attitudes that were already inherent in Chinese philoso- phy. As Heinrich Dumoulin points out, “Buddhists were especially impressed by the Chinese rejection of the duality between being and non-being, and by their emphasis on the ineffability of reality'" (Bresnan 334). The Buddha's teachings have abstract meaning to people because of highly intensive enlightenment. Tiantai Buddha did develop in an own way. "Tiantai dissolves all conflicts within the Buddhist fold, most notably that between Theravada and Mahayana. Theravadins might not have appreciated being relegated to the most immature ground floor, but there weren’t really many Theravadins in China anyway; Mahayana had succeeded in claiming the field almost entirely for itself. The problem was not one of resolving difficulties with Theravadin groups, but with Theravadin sutras, the basic sutras of the Pali Canon. The Tiantai approach was an excellent solu- tion to this problem. All of the sutras had an important place, but in the most cher- ished place of all was the lordly Lotus Sutra. It became the bible of Tiantai Buddhism...The strength of hatred (and its fellow traveler, anger) is a perfect gauge of the strength of ego. And the ego, the illusion of a private self, is what Buddha held to be the greatest obstacle to liberation. It was for this reason that Zhiyi emphasized the nurturing of compassion in all things. Compassion and ha- tred cannot dwell together under the same roof. Hatred is rooted out by compassion. Here’s how Zhiyi put it:

To root out hatred brings happiness,
And gives freedom from anxiety. 
Hatred is poison’s root,
To destroy it brings moral excellence." (Brenan336)
Tiantai Buddhism explains a Buddhism concept of hatred and compassion. In addition, the pure land Buddhism is also formed in China and personally it's quite important to understand an aspect of Buddha. "Philosophically minded Buddhists have in all ages interpreted this matter of Pure Lands in a metaphorical way. The different Pure Lands represent the various aspects of enlightenment. That approach has been popular in Buddhist art, particularly in the use of mandalas to represent the totality of the Dharma. The mandala becomes like a great compass with the many Buddhas appropriately located...This range of interpretations is characteristic of Mahayana; everyone plugs in at his or her own level. Buddha’s teaching is for the whole lotus pond. It was in response to the active role of the common people in Mahayana, and their interest in the possibil- ity of rebirth in a Buddhist paradise, that Pure Land Buddhism took form." (Bresnan 338)

Tiantai Buddhism

         I am interesting in the method how ancient Chinese can invent silk and paper because that is so amazing. After searching them on the internet, I find some information about them. It is believed that the invention of this early form of paper was accidental after clothes, which were made of hemp, were left too long after washing, and a residue formed in the water which could then be pressed into a useful new material. The traditional date for the invention of more refined paper has long been 105 CE. Cai Lun, the director of the Imperial Workshops at Luoyang, is the one credited with creating paper by using soaked and then pressed plant fibers which were dried in sheets on wooden frames or screens. Cumbersome bamboo or wooden strips and expensive silk had been used for centuries as a surface for writing but, after much endeavor  a lighter and cheaper alternative had finally been found in the form of paper scrolls.

Ancient Chinese invention

Works Cited
Bresnan, Patrick. "Chapter 16" Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern
Thought. 5th ed., Pearson, 2013.
Culture trip. the History of the Tian Tan Buddha in 1 minute https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/the-history-of-the-tian-tan-buddha-in-1-minute/

Theravada and Mahayana

There are two major traditions of Buddhism such as Theravada and Mahayana. In Theravada Buddhism, the goal is to become an enlightened saint who has attained nirvana while Mahayana Buddhists hope to become bodhisattvas, altruistic enlightened saints who delay nirvana so they can help others attain it.

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada is one of the two major traditions of Buddhism: the other is Mahayana. Whereas Mahayana is sometimes referred to as Northern Buddhism, Theravada is called Southern Buddhism for its prominence in the more southern countries of Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, among others. The name comes from the Pali language and is translated as “doctrine of the elder monks.” Theravada claims to be the oldest school of Buddhism and the one that remains closest to the Buddha's original teachings, having descended from the Buddha's own disciples. According to the book, “The Pali Canon constitutes the definitive core of Theravada Buddhism. Theravada is the name of one, albeit a prominent one, of the schools of Buddhism that took form in India during the centuries following the death of Buddha in the early fifth century B.C.E.” (Bresnan 213)

There are some 

Mahayana Buddhism

different between Theravada and Mahayana. Unlike Theravada Buddhists whose goal is to become enlightened saints who have attained nirvana, Mahayana Buddhists hope to become bodhisattvas, altruistic enlightened saints who delay nirvana so they can help others attain it. Mahayana is one of the two main traditions of Buddhism, the other being Theravada. From Sanskrit, maha means “great” and yana means “vehicle.” The Mahayana tradition also teaches that even a layperson can attain enlightenment. The schools within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition differ in how to achieve this goal, but believe that enlightenment is attainable in a single lifetime. In my opinion, I think the thing that make two traditions is different is the goal, the belief and opinions.

Work Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Fifth ed., Pearson, 2013.

Hindu spiritual Pathway and Veda

 

Karma Yoga

According to the video "Hindu Spiritual Pathway", there are 4 yoga paths for the integral development of body, mind, and soul. First of all, Karma yoga is the path of action and suits people with active temperaments. Performing actions selflessly – without thinking of success or reward – purifies the heart and reduces the ego. Karma Yoga is the best way to prepare oneself for silent meditation. Second, Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion and is perfect for people who are emotional by nature. Through prayer, worship, and ritual, one comes to see the Divine as the embodiment of love. Chanting mantras is an essential part of Bhakti Yoga. Jnana Yoga is the yoga of wisdom or knowledge is most suitable for intellectual people. The philosophy of Vedanta teaches analytical self-inquiry into one’s own true nature, with the goal of recognizing the Supreme Self in oneself and in all beings. Raja Yoga is the science of controlling body and mind. The asanas (body postures) and pranayamas (breathing exercises) from Hatha Yoga are an integral part of this yoga path. The main practice of Raja Yoga is silent meditation, where bodily and mental energies are gradually transformed into spiritual energy. 

Raja Yoga

According to chapter 2 of the book " Awakening: An introduction to the History of Eastern Thought." The Vedas were organized into four great collections such as the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The author mentions Yajna- the Vedic Sacrifice. Moreover, the author also tells something about Soma, "the all-important ingredient to the Vedic priests is Soma- a major part in many of their sacred rituals. Soma was a drug, a very powerful drug that produced states of ecstasy and of wildly expanded consciousness." (23, Bresman)

Besides, the author also mentioned the Vedic Pantheon. there are some principal Gods of the Vedic Pantheon such as Agni, Indra, Varuna, Sarasvati, Surya, Ushas, Rudra, Yama,... The myth of Indra -- the favorite Vedic god -- is a further instance of that transition from the physical to spiritual meaning to which we have referred; though Indra is by no means so spiritual a being as Varuna. It is also a good instance of the fact that, as the comparative mythologists express it, the further back the myths are traced the more "atmospheric" do the gods become. First, of the merely physical Indra. His name is derived from Indu, drop-sap. He is thus the god of rain. The naParjanyanya means rain-bringer. Indra shatters the cloud with his bolt and releases the imprisoned waters. His purely physical origin is further indicated by the mythical expression that the clouds moved in Indra as the winds in Dyaus -- an expression implying that Indra was a name for the sky. VARUNA is also a sky-god: according to another account, a water-god. The name is derived from Var, to cover, or to overarch: and so far Varuna means the vault of heaven.

Works Cited

Pumpkin TV. “Hindu Spiritual Pathways.” Films On Demand, 2006.

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Fifth ed, Pearson, 2013.

The different sources in absorbing knowledge of humanity

Sources: the book "Bresnan Chapter 1: India Before the Vedas", the video "The Unvoiced Civilization"

The text and video are similar but different at the same time. Indus: The Unvoiced Civilization talk more in detail about the street in Mohenjo-daro, how it nine meters wide, and ran from north and south. Its explain the comprehensive water and drainage system, how there was a system to drain dirty water from the second story into the gutters = below, there were wells belonging to individual households. It also states that there is a belief of over 700 such wells in the city. The waters from the bath were used to flush the waste into the gutters. In effect, Mohenjo-daro was the first city to had a flush toilet system until the Roman. But they were very vague about what the bath was for as compare to the text. 

Mohenjo-daro

The text provides very thorough details of the Indus civilization geography, while the video is some detail but it is very brief. In the video it said that there were many merchants in the Indus. The merchants used the seals to identify and secure their goods, an early example of record keeping. In the video, it talks in very details about Dholavira the first Indus city of the Indus civilization. Dholavira was also well-equipped with a sophisticated water system. The water system runs both above and underground. 

Dholavira water management system

There is evidence of a reservoir (water tank), and there is believe that there 16 reservoirs around the city. There is evidence suggesting the people of Dholavira have constructed a dam. The water was dammed up and channeled through the aqueducts into the reservoirs. Even if the water flow over the side of the dam, the system was designed so that the water would be diverted into the reservoirs. The reservoirs were constructed using the natural bedrock as their base so that there was a gradual slope. The water fills up each reservoir in turn, starting with the highest reservoirs and ascending to those on the lower levels. This was how the people of Dholavira, despite the lack of rainfall, manage to save enough water to cultivate their crops and survive throughout the years. With all this reservoir full, Dholavira must have looked like a city floating on water.

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Fifth ed., Pearson, 2013.

Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm). Indus. [Videorecording] : The Unvoiced Civilization. Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 2003. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01047a&AN=lrois.b1278860&site=eds-live&scope=site.