fandomhigh | Comparitive Religions

Balance and moderation? ~~(Not that I know anything about those...)~~

Yes, those are some of the concepts involved.

What else can we think of?

Rogue takes a seat in the front of the room, having rushed in like a whirlwind.

*smiles at her*

Glad you can make it...

"Sorry," she says breathlessly, "Girls night."

Hey Rogue. Where can I get a copy of those chants you brought in last week?

"I just checked them out from the library. There are a lot more, actually. From different sects of Hinduism as well." She looks at Marty. "Extra credit?" she asks, a little puzzled.

Marty gives her an "aw shucks" kind of grin.

"uh... no. I just liked the chants, that's all."

A little confused, Rogue tilts her head at him. "That's great. I never pictured you as the meditation-chant type. More of ... a Rolling Stones type." She smiles. "If you liked them, you might want to check out some of the other religious recordings in the library. The have everything from Gregorian chants to Sufi dhikr. I'd suggest listening to the Sufi ones--Arabic is a beautiful language."

Self centering...meaning centering of self, not being self centered. Calling on the resources from within...something like that?

Yes, but in Buddism, when you center yourself, you also lose yourself...
how does that work?

*Rubs his neck*

I...um. Pretty much a paradox.

You have to lose yourself in order to find yourself. You have to surrender to...yourself so you can know what you're really...made of.

*shakes his head slightly*

I don't know Buddhism.

Tell me then, what is the point of suffering?

Suffering...
I...
*looks down at the floor for a long moment*

Sometimes you have to understand the opposite of things. Without suffering you can't understand happiness. One means nothing without the other.

You mean learning the Four Noble Truths and following the path of enlightenment? Sorry, I find Buddhism fascinating--I see it as being very close to how I have been taught.

In Buddhism, they believe that life is unsatisfactory because of cravings--attachments to things. To make life better, you must cease your attachment to all things material.

This is very similar to Jedi beliefs, sir.

tell me about how the purpose of suffering plays into this, then...

~~Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.~~

Suffering is a reminder, I guess, that you're too attached to something or someone.

Um, there's the Four Noble Truths?

The first one is... life is suffering. Second, all suffering is caused by the nature of reality and the ignorance of craving and attachment. Third, suffering can be ended by overcoming that ignorance. Fourth, the way to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path consists of *pause* Right views, right intention, right contemplation, right action, right livelihood, right speech, right effort, and right... mindedness.

*looks around, wondering if he should continue*

Not all that 'basic', sorry. I just... it was part of my studies when I was growing up, so... *uneasy smile, bows*

Exellent, thank you...
now, do you wish to explain all of that? *fatherly chuckle*

*nervous*

One must... acknowledge suffering as a part of life, and understand what causes it, before they are able to overcome it. Overcoming suffering can be done by anyone. B-because they are temporary, attachment and the need to... to cling to people or places all cause pain. What should be done is trying to cease the attachment, and get rid of our ideas of how things should be and realize what is. This is where the Eightfold Path comes in... The parts of the Eightfold Path act as... guidelines? for obtaining enlightenment.

*deep breath, quickly continues*

Right views. Having an understanding of the Four Noble Truths.
Right intention. Act in love and compassion, b... because when you act in love and compassion, you become more loving and compassionate.
Right contemplation, refers to meditation exercises.
Right action means to not inflict harm of any kind on yourself and others. Five Precepts go along with this. They are abstinence from... killing living beings, taking which is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, and substances that inhibit the mind.
Right livelihood. Non-exploitation.
Right speech means... always do your best to speak in kind and compassionate words.
Right effort. Promote positive thoughts. Both to yourself, and to others.
Right mindedness means to develop awareness in all aspects of life.

*shifts from one foot to the other* I. Is that all right?

I thought Buddhism was about total abstinence. Putting yourself above any worldly desires and trying to reach a higher state of being through it.

Yes, that is part of it, but not all.

The founder of Buddism was actually removed from a monastary because he *wouldnt* do those things, once.

Wait. I saw the movie. Didn't Buddha try to first reach a higher good by completely forgetting about his body and then he realised he should actually seek out a balance between the two of them? You know, that 'healthy mind in a healthy body' thing you see in other cultures too?

Charlie passes up his homework.

"Well . . . I know nirvana is supposed to be the absence of desire . . . I don't know if that's a tennent of it, though."

quite good, Charlie, now tell me, how does lack of desire help us?

"Well, if you don't want anything . . . you're happy, because you're satisfied."

Alanna turns in her homework from last week. It's hastily written and quite a few things are scratched out.

"Um, what's Buddhism?"

Marty sits at the back class looking forlorn. His eyes are bloodshot and he hasn't shaved in several days. His usual neat appearance, is dissheveled.

He once killed a Buddhist. The research he did comes back to me. He rattles off the following to Gandalf:

Reverence of Life. No violence or killing.
Respect the property of others
Be conscious of others and loving, but not give in to lust.
Honor honesty and truth, do not deceive
Respect your health and self.

"Professor Gandalf, I turned in my homework last week."

exellent, thank You Marty, and stay after class to speak with me?

Yes, sir. I'd be happy to.

most exellent

[OOC: Are we going someplace else after class? Or can we do this now?]

going to bed, will continue tomorrow

Good evening, Sir. I turned in my homework last week. Those chants last week, were lovely by the way. Where could I get a CD of them?

Now thats something you will have to ask Rogue.. I dont have a clue *chuckles*

Uh... the basic tenennts of Buddhism - mostly seem to have to do with unselfishness and getting rid of desires, I think.

Sorry I'm a bit late, Sir.

I turned in both pieces of homework last week to Rogue.

As for Buddhism... I'm afraid I don't know much about it.

*shows up, very, very, very late* So sorry, professor. *fishes out homework and sets it on his desk*

*is already in the hall when he realises he's got to hand in his homework and quickly runs back in, setting it down on Gandalf's desk, grinning sheepishly* Sorry, sir.

Late late late, sorry sorry sorry.

Homework, Buddhism, yadda yadda.

((ooc: Writer has more fun action happening elsewhere in this school))

Comparitive Religions

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After class

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