A Letter from Buddha to his Disciple Free Essays

You have asked of me for help in how to heal your father of his sickness. I appreciate that your father is a good and righteous man and you are blessed to have had a good man for a father. But I cannot take away his pain. We will write a custom essay sample on A Letter from Buddha to his Disciple or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is something that no one can really do for if there is anything that is constant in every person’s life, it is suffering. Life is suffering. That is one of the noble truths. Learn this and it can just be the very thing that would bring you, your family, and even your father enlightenment. Also remember that sorcery and miracles promised by magicians will do you no good for it is against the Laws of Karma and can only bring harm. I have seen the suffering and ugliness caused by disease and the sadness caused by man’s mortality. (Moore-Brooder, 2005, p. 499) Truly if one would compare the life I led with my family one would say I am truly favored by the gods. When I was young I lived a life full of pleasures and worldly vices. But it can be a paradox on how one’s blessings are defined by pain and suffering. It was only after bearing witness to the many instances and forms of suffering, that I sought fulfillment of my existence and ultimately, enlightenment. Man’s life is incomplete without pain. Even from the time of birth both mother and child experience pain. But once one has transcended pain, he becomes a new man and thus, reborn. I give you my story of the mother Gotami-tissa whose son succumbed to disease. (Morgan, 1956, p. 23) She went from door to door seeking a miracle that would bring back her son’s life continually being told that such a thing was impossible. She came to me for help, wringing her hands and prostrating herself so that I may bring her son back to life. I asked her for mustard seeds. Not just any ordinary mustard seed, but she must collect seeds that came from homes that remained untouched by grief and death. Later on she came back to me and confessed that she was unable to get any seed for all the homes she visited have experienced death. Death is not a circumstance special to just one person. It is unavoidable and constant. By understanding this, she was cured of her grief and has been able to continue living as a new woman. In my teachings I have continually mentioned man’s mortality, his impermanence. Nothing on earth is permanent other than death. Its stealth is legendary and one never really knows when it will come. I urge you my son, to practice dharma in order that your life may be fulfilled and protected from bad karma. For if you do no wrong, why should there be consequences? Today we see many people doing everything within their power to attain their ambition. Some may perhaps reason out â€Å"it is not so wrong† but truly, if one would like to live on the side of right, one has to choose definitely between right or wrong without compromise. Live in freedom and self-mastery to fully enjoy the gift that is life. Bad things are constant. Suffering is constant. The only thing you can really control and gain mastery of is yourself. Learn to take the middle path in life for it is the way to happiness. Know that a life of extremes is bad and will ultimately bring more suffering. I exhort you to learn to look within yourself and develop an understanding and acceptance of what goes on around you. Aiming to change others can sometimes be a futile practice. I myself can teach what I have learned and woken up to realize, yet true enlightenment can only come from within a person himself. Some may perhaps say, I will seek enlightenment later or I have tried to understand life before but failed. But past failure is past and the future is uncertain in many ways. Indeed, it can happen that tomorrow or later in the day may be all of what remains of the future. Seek enlightenment now, and cherish the moment. So when death comes, you do not regret nor do you have fear of the next life for you die with knowledge of having lived not just a good life, but a righteous one. – Buddha References Morgan, K. W. (Ed. ). (1956). The Path of the Buddha Buddhism Interpreted by Buddhists. New York: Ronald Press. Retrieved September 23, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5883323 Moore-Bruder. (2005). Philosophy: The Power of Ideas, Sixth Edition Ohio: McGraw-Hill Carrithers, M. (2001). The Buddha: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Retrieved September 23, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=101647070 How to cite A Letter from Buddha to his Disciple, Papers

Wag Every Day free essay sample

â€Å"Mom died five minutes ago.† I looked up at my dad, understanding in that moment that our 15-month ordeal was over. My life could finally begin again. My mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2008. I spent my entire sophomore year with cancer as the first thing on my mind when I woke and the last when I went to sleep. My problems, my life, did not matter for over a year. My mom bravely fought the disease, surviving a year longer than doctors expected. I was there for every step of it. I watched as the radiation made her hair fall out, as the chemotherapy ate away at her. I sat by, helpless, as the cancer ravaged her body. After 15 months of this, the only thing I wanted for her was for it to end. Eight days after my sixteenth birthday, it did. Relief dulled every other emotion. We will write a custom essay sample on Wag Every Day or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was over, and I could finally live again. I felt alive for the first time in more than a year. Smiles could reach my eyes; my laugh became bubbly. A great weight had lifted from my shoulders. I could relax and focus on things other than cancer. I slowly began to regain everything I had lost during that year. Walking into school my first day of junior year was when it really hit me how different my life was now. Everyone stared at me, even my best friend, whom I had seen since my moms death. It was as though I was expected to be completely depressed and sad. There is a look that people give when something terrible has happened: a slight tilt of the head, pursing of the lips, arch of the eyebrows, and a soft sigh. My first few weeks back at school, this look followed me everywhere, from teachers and students alike. My moms favorite quote was â€Å"Wag your whole body every day.† In other words, live life to the fullest as if it were your last day. I refused to let my moms death take me down. I would not allow myself to spiral into depression. Life needs to be enjoyed to the fullest because it can be over quicker than expected. A day spent in a terrible mood is a day that has not been lived to the fullest. I take the awful and find a bright side. If I did not do this, I would not have made it through that year. After my mom died, I was able to live again. I was able to wake up in the morning and not think about doctors appointments and cancer. I felt lighter than I had that whole year. This happiness was not because my mom was gone, but because I had faced a tough situation and survived. I am not afraid for the future and what it will bring. I know that I can tackle any challenge that life gives me. I just remind myself to smile, relax, and always wag my whole body every day.

Motivation in the Workforce

Motivation in the Workforce The main question facing managers in an organization is motivation, how does it work, when to apply and to whom they should apply on. In today's organization, motivation plays an important role in determining whether a company will succeed or not. What is motivation? Motivation is the set of attitudes and values that predispose a person to act in a specific goal directed manner. It is an invisible inner state that energizes the human goal-directed behavior, which can be divided into two components which is the direction of a behavior working to reach a goal and the strength of the behavior. Within an organization the desired goals are often clearly defined. In motivation a manager normally seeks to change or maintain certain environmental factors so as to influence the inner drives which may change or sustain the behaviors of his subordinates.Motivation is different things to different people. It does not need to be a 'thing' that you do.English: Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs I tali...And if you see it as a culture rather than, 'We're doing Motivation today', it becomes a whole lot easier. In today's business environment, managers must employ an organizational culture, where motivation is the key to their mission as leaders.When studying motivation, the classic motivational theories of McGregor, Herzberg, and Maslow must not be forgotten, since they gives us a model to follow, that can be used in any situation. Either in the workplace or in our personal lives. For example, McGregor characterized people into two groups, labeled X and Y. Herzberg identified a two-factor theory regarding the motivation of employees. The motivation factors, when present, tend to create satisfaction or motivation in the minds of employees. The hygiene factors, when absent or perceived as inadequate, can create dissatisfied employees; yet, when present, do not add to satisfaction or...

Style Helper APA Formatting Software

Style Helper APA Formatting Software Wouldnt it be lovely if you could have your own personal editor, to ensure that your style is correct? With the wonders of modern technology, you virtually can. With programs based on the APA Style Guide and Chicago Manual of Style, you can acquire the style helper that youve always needed. Click Here For Our Recommended Style Helper Site! What Is a Style Helper? A style helper is a program that helps you format your text according to standard specifications. Whether youre writing an academic paper or business report, you can be sure that your citations are complete and your format is correct. With templates to help get you started, writers block becomes a thing of the past. Features of a Style Helper One of the best attributes of a piece of style software is its menu. In the best APA formatting software, for instance, you should be able to insert citations and update your table of contents with a few clicks of your mouse. In the best programs, you can even automatically sort your bibliography, for ease of completion. Some style helpers even offer instant creation of a list of tables or illustrations. You can also ensure that your chapter and sections headings are correct and complete with easy tools for insertion and formatting. Once youve used these programs, you wont want to go back to referenceless guesswork.

Animal Law Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Animal Law Research - Essay Example Legislative provisions in other countries of the world are below par when compared to Australia, however the question of rights for animals must also encompass a wider frame of reference rather than the alleviation of suffering. Therefore, from the perspective of animals used in scientific research, the question that is proposed to be examined is â€Å"Should animal rights be legally recognized and should the legislative provisions be modified to include this aspect?† Animals are routinely used as guinea pigs in experiments involving research on new drugs or behavioral research that may also cause pain and used as subjects in toxicity tests to assess the safety of consumer products.5 In this connection for example, the Draize Test6, which is legal in NSW, is one where rabbits with their inefficient tear ducts are tested for cosmetic eye products by placing them in stocks and immobilising them, while the substance to be tested is dropped into one eye.7 Drug testing carried on in animals is intended to examine the safety of these drugs prior to their use in humans, since human life is perceived as more precious as compared to an animal. Since animals undoubtedly suffer pain and discomfort during these experiments, are their rights being adversely affected? Gendin questions the value of scientific research on the basis that different species may react differently for different doses, likewise since animals cannot describe their experiences, nor can the provide information on symptoms such as giddiness or nausea. He also suggests various alternatives to using animals for research purposes, such as using lesser organisms like bacteria or fungi, the use of mathematical and/or computer modeling and more studies performed on humans under carefully regulated conditions. Gallistel on the other hand has advocated the unrestricted use

Minority Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Minority Discrimination - Essay Example I, being a Muslim, have faced it to an extent that I feel depressed and its not just about me, many of US Muslims face it regularly. There is always some reason behind the opposition and discrimination against a community, country or a person. After facing such bias and disgrace from others, I was forced to find out the reasons behind it. According to my research, I think that most of the population of US is against Muslims because of the wrongdoings of a portion of our community. They humiliate us and call us "terrorists" regardless of the fact that we're innocent and have not taken part in any such action. The discrimination that Muslims face is not limited to US but there is wide range of countries where Muslims face and bear it. The mayor of our region is of Asian Descent; hence we have relatively less troubles in coping up with our day to day life. People of our community strictly follow the rules made by the mayor, presented by the civilization or set by the religion. They follow the same way of dressing, language, cultural values and ethical principles. The people of our community are tied strongly in a loop where their brotherhood, peace, love and respect do not allow them to take any action against each other. I personally think that we are living a life of heaven in this age of discrimination and conflicts. ... However, one cannot deny the fact that, despite of the uphill struggle, people suffer. The reason of discrimination is basically the revenge of others who treat or treated us badly. This discrimination is, however, not conducted by our mayor but other officials. The issue of Police Officer Susan L. Purtee can be taken as an example. Officer Purtee and her sister, Barbara Gordon-Bell, were accused of making videos which were against Jews, Cubans, Blacks and a few other nations. They tried to convey a message that all the illegal immigrants, blacks and some other minorities are the cause of a number of social evils. This statement and humiliation was a clear-cut discrimination against minorities. The issue was raised because of the position Purtee held (Marx & Narciso, 2007). Such an action by a Police Officer, which may cause hatred, uproar and discipline disorders among the public, was hard to be absorbed. However, on the other hand, Mayor goes up against those videos and the statements of Officer Purtee and her sister. He says "I am personally offended by her racist and anti-Semitic comments, and I believe our citizens should be equally offended. As Mayor, I am highly concerned that this unacceptable conduct will reflect negatively on the entire Division and the City of Columbus. Clearly, Officer Purtee is not representative of our Division's many great Officers. While we respect the right of free speech, we also demand that every Officer meets the highest standard of conduct on and off the job. In my opinion, Officer Purtee's conduct falls far below this City's expectations (Text of Mayor Coleman's letter, 2007)". This clearly shows his despise of such an act from a Government Official. Islam is a religion of peace and justice. Our community

Undersatnding People Essay -- essays research papers

Different people see the world from different perspectives. In our society, there will always be misunderstandings between people and those people’s reactions will differ. Some choose to mope, groan, and even get angry about the way that themselves or others are treated while some decide to try and do something about it. Still, there are others who think to themselves that maybe the best way to deal with the issues among people is to try and comprehend what they mean and just live by them. As Benedict Spinoza put it, â€Å"I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.† Authors now try to understand actions that people make instead of ridiculing them. The following explains these authors and how they have been able to identify with others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Under the Influence† is an essay written by Scott Russell Sanders. In this writing he tells how he grew up with an alcoholic as a father. His life was not at all easy. He had to deal with issues that young children should not have to deal with. In this essay he makes the reader understand what an alcoholic is and how the actions of one person who has this disease can affect himself and so many other people. Sanders does this by explaining the horror that he and his family had to go through during the years of his father’s problem. The family was never sure whether they would be happy at the sight of the father or horrified by his presence. As a child, S...