Jessica Woo's Eightfold Path

While I was absent for three weeks during my IGCSE leave, I missed out on almost the whole Buddhism unit.  Therefore, I decided to create my own eightfold path to be engaged and learn more about the rituals of this religion. As a Christian, I decided to alter the purpose of the original eightfold path, to end unhappiness, by changing it to have a purpose of achieving joy not only by focusing on myself, but acting upon others as well.

1.  Right Views

To start this process of the eightfold path, I knew I had to first be fully engaged mentally. Immediately after waking up, I said a small prayer thanking God for the giving me life to experience the new day.  I had never prayed in the morning before, therefore it did feel a little strange. However, doing this actually allowed me to realize how grateful I was for everything that God had provided me- food, family, shelter, and the bed that had me rested every night.

2. Right Thought

 To perform right thoughts and intentions, I had to relieve all the stress and negative thoughts that were filling my brain from all the schoolwork and family drama. To do this, I went outside and walked around in the small garden in the back of my apartment. While walking, I took deep breaths of the fresh morning air and with every step and exhale, tried to release any negative thoughts, and rather focus on the clean air and the energy I was inhaling to get me through the day.

3. Right Speech

Usually towards my siblings, I tend to be a little bit sarcastic and mean. We don’t have the perfect sibling relationship; rather we often get very annoyed of each other and say jokingly mean comments towards each other. However, for the right speech, I decided to change my ordinary way of talking to my siblings and had quite a meaningful conversation full of compliments and love. It started out very awkward, as it was very unusual for us to be so kind and warm towards each other, however as time progressed, I found myself enjoying the conversation and hearing about my siblings’ day.  As the oldest of three, I gave them words of encouragement and motivation.

4. Right Conduct

For me, right conduct doesn’t only mean not killing, stealing, and abusing others. It also means being respectful and always doing the best in everything I do. To perform this, I attended every class with the mindset that I would try and excel in everything I did. With self-control activated on my computer, I prevented myself from procrastinating on social network sites and payed attention throughout all my classes. I knew that listening to my teachers meant respecting them and showing appreciation for their time and effort for my benefit in learning.

5. Right Livelihood

In the 10 commandments, it said that we must respect and honor our parents. For right livelihood, I thought it was important to help out to always show love and gratefulness towards my parents. When I got home from school, I decided that I would cook dinner and do the dishes to give my mom a break from her busy day. I cleaned up my dad’s office so that he didn’t have to stress out after his long day of work.

6. Right Effort

I chose to perform right effort by putting my effort into doing the good for others. Although it was a small act, I went to the orphanage the next day with my friends and helped out by cleaning up and just playing with the children. This took a bit of stress off the people that were taking care of the orphans.

7. Right Mindfulness

After finishing all my homework for the next day, I decided to present right mindfulness by thinking about plans for this summer. As a rising junior, I didn’t want to spend the whole summer lazing around just hanging out with my friends all day everyday, so I made a specific and detailed schedule to balance out my time spent on studying versus the time spent on having fun.

8. Peace

To end the day, I said a last prayer thanking God once again, but this time for all the wonderful things that happened that day. I reflected on all the good deeds that I had acted upon throughout the whole eightfold path, and cleared my mind of all the stress that I had dealt with the whole day. Then, I fell asleep.

By creating my own eightfold path, I realized how much more positive I had become just by following the few steps that originated from Buddhism. By doing my best in everything I do, and by helping others, I truly did fulfill my goal of reaching joy and gaining positive energy.  

Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

Throughout the movie, Gandhi keeps faithful to his words, that he will never use violence against the British. Even though the British had put him in jail six times, as well as tortured and killed many Hindus, he taught his followers to use love and the way of truth to overcome all challenges and obstacles. With his patience and perseverance, Gandhi eventually achieved his ultimate goal, of freeing India from British tyranny. In the movie, Gandhi has strictly shown what he wanted not by using weapons, but by fasting to express himself through actions. 

"I am a Muslim, and a Hindu, and a Christian and a Jew; and so are you."

In the movie, Gandhi achieves this quote when there was a breakout between the Muslims and the Hindus over their differences and lang. The Hindus had been protesting against the Muslims, and in response, Gandhi went on a hunger strike to stop the conflict. As a non-violent leader with honor and patience, he wanted all people to know that no matter what religion, everyone should act with honor towards each other. Through this quote, Gandhi wished for people all over the country to treat each others as brothers. He does not believe that religion should interfere with equality and understanding of each other. 

Through this movie, I learned a lot especially about the way of life that a Hindu seeks. Because I did not have a deep knowledge on Hinduism  it was really fascinating to see how Gandhi helped India achieve its goal through persistence and patience. I admire how Hinduism focuses on the right ways of living, rather than focusing on a certain religion and worship. I also learned that the best way to succeed, is not through violence, but by staying true to yourself, and by treating others to love you.  I think that religion affects the actions of a person. When Gandhi had first arrived in India, the Hindus were very determined to get what they wanted through violence and riots, just like any others would. However, once Gandhi  began to lead them through the lessons and acts of love, and the way of "treating others as you would be treated", his followers began to understand his ways and the positive effects. 

Easter Assembly

Easter is a celebration of second chances- to appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus, for the purpose to forgive us for our sins. God has showed us grace by saving our souls, accepting us, and forgiving us, no matter how awful our sins are. 

During the Easter assembly, I realised once again how merciful and graceful God is. While watching the video of the Skitguys, it made me think of the importance of Jesus' sacrifice for all our sins and wrongdoings. It made me wonder- how much would you have to love someone... to be willing to give up your one and only son? Because God wanted to create a relationship to be able to forgive our sins, he watched his son get crucified on the cross. I find it amazing how even when we deny God, when we mock him and blame him for our sins, that he is merciful enough to forgive all of it. 

One of the most enjoyable performances during the assembly was the skit with Reca and Isaac. At first, I was confused, as to why they kept ringing the bell, and repeating lines that they already had said. However, as the story continued, I realised that they were suggesting the theme of second chances. As each bell represented a second chance in that particular event, it was interesting to watch the different responses and conclusions for every ring. 

I feel like God's grace is something we all take for granted. We often feel that just because we know that he forgives all sins, we think we can keep sinning without thinking about the results and consequences. He has proven to us that he would do anything in his power to save us for our sins, and I believe that we should all do our part by putting in the effort to be better people. 

My Shema

1.

• Saving
• All powerful
• Listening 

2. Over five years ago, my great grandma had a stroke and was rushed off to the emergency room. For a few weeks, she was kept in the hospital with a breathing mask, laying still in bed. Every single one of my relatives and family members went to visit her and prayed beside her, with the belief that God would watch over her. Eventually after her slow recovery, was moved to a nursing home. Now, at nearly 100 years old, she lives with my grandparents. Although she has not fully recovered, and cannot move the way she used to, I am so thankful and grateful for another one of God's miracles.He has once again assured me that he has the power to change anything, and is indeed always watching over us, to listen to our prayers.

3. Every Sunday morning, I go to church with my family.

4. Shall we never forget that God is the one and only. Love him and pray to him, and respect all he has provided you with. Take time to worship him and to thank him for all. And he will listen and save you with his miracles. 

Sacred Poetry

Temple of Zeus

The temple of Zeus is the most important building in the Altis. Construction began 470 BC and was completed before 456 BC. This is a temple is a hexastyle with thirteen columns at the sides which are 10.43 meters high and 2.25 meters wide, made of shell-limestone. Inside the temple are different rectangular parts, one of where the victors were crowned. The Temple of Zeus in Olympia was originally built to honour the superiors of the gods. It is believed that the Temple of Hera was a place for worshipping Zeus and Hera, until the creation of a temple especially for Zeus. It is said that there is a story behind the establishment of the temple. In 470 BS, there was an argument between two powers in Olympia- Elean and Elis. Elean was defeated and as a consequence, the town supported the building of a grand temple right outside the stadium of Olympia. The entire building was built of limestone and covered with stucco, and the statues inside were made of parian marble. The most impressive statue is the statue of Zeus. At the far end was the chryselephantine statue of Zeus, one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. The statue depicted Zeus enthroned, and decorated with mythological scenes made of gold. After the abolition of the Olympic games, the statue was perished in fire in Constantinople.

My god, oh Zeus hear our prayers, have mercy on us all
We play in the Olympics to please only you
You gave us life, so we pay you back
Just give us the needs to survive.

Oh mighty Zeus we stand on our knees
To worship you and offer you gifts
Take our kills and souls and power
Just watch over us through day and night

In these great plains we struggle to keep,
the drought will arrive very soon
Zeus, we ask that you take away such harshness
And let us worship you in peace.


We give you this totem, knowing you are more grand
And ask for more days in life
Death is so near, but spare us indeed
Almighty, we beg for your hand

Religions Influence

Religious gay Muslim marriages held in the UK and USA

Daayiee Abdullah

Gay couple Asra and Sarah decided to get married on the day of their first date. They wanted to have a nikah- an Islamic marriage contract. Although they did not have to have an official Imam or Islamic cleric, they needed the help of someone knowledgable of the Qur'an to hold a ceremony. Afraid that they would be prejudiced by an official Imam, they held the wedding with a friend who was knowledgable enough to hold a ceremony. Both Asra and Sarah's parents do not completely accept the marriage, as Asra's parents do not accept her homosexuality while Sarah's parents want her to quit being a Muslim. In the US, Daayiee Abdullah performs many nikah ceremonies. 
“Since Islamic legal precedence does not allow same sexes to wed, Muslim societies make it a legal impossibility within Islam [but] by not allowing same-sex couples to wed, there is a direct attack on the Koran’s message that each person has a mate who is their ‘comfort and their cloak’.” - Abdullah

How did the universe become designed?

How did the universe become designed? When I read this question, it automatically made me wonder how everything originated. How were we created? Was this universe even created? Or was it always here since the very beginning of time?As a Christian, I do believe that God created everything, however I also know that the big bang theory is one that is also considered in the science world. 

This question leads me to wondering why we are the only known living creatures in this enormous space, and if there are other living organisms,  I wonder if we'll ever be able to describe it. I believe that everything happens for a particular reason, therefore I believe the universe was not just an accidental explosion. So if this universe was created for a reason, what was the purpose of the whole creation if we would only be exposed to such a microscopic part of it?