Critical Thinking Assignment Buddhism Free Essays

1. The question of Origin- Those who follow Buddhism have faith that the universe and god are one and the same. (Weider Gutierrez, 201, 56) Buddhist turn to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha to live correct and at death escape the course of karma. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Thinking Assignment: Buddhism or any similar topic only for you Order Now After death, they trust they will become one with the universe. 2. The question of identity- The question of identity in Buddhism is answered in their belief that all living things are equal. They believe you must live according to the teachings of Buddha in order to escape karma and reincarnation after death. . The question of meaning/purpose- For Buddhist the primary goal is to reach Nirvana and end all personal suffering. In order to end suffering one must eliminate all fleshly desires and follow the teachings of Buddha which consists of the â€Å"Four Noble Truths† and the â€Å"Noble Eightfold Path†. 4. The question of morality- Because Buddhist believe everything is sacred they follow the †Ethical Code† instructed in the â€Å"Eightfold Path† which entails refrain from all forms of evil. The major points in the â€Å"ethical code† are; one must keep from taking a person’s life, stealing, immoral sexual behavior, lying and intoxication. 5. The question of destiny- Buddha rejected the idea Hindus hold about karma, which states that a person will continue to be reincarnated throughout time. He believed that one could escape through the denial of personal desires which lead to dissatisfaction because nothing in this world lasts. Buddha taught that everyone could reach Nirvana as long as they lived right. Once they reach Nirvana believers will live in a state where one feel neither hate nor love. Part 2: Compare and Contrast 1. The question of origin- Christians believe God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. Buddhist believers follow the idea that the universe and everything in it are one and the same. To the Buddhist everything has always existed unlike for Christians who believe there was a beginning which is explained in the book of Genesis. 2. The question of Identity-In Genesis 1:27 the bible states that we are created in the image of God. Just as we inherit traits from our parents we inherit traits from God. Buddhist believe humans and animals are one with the universe and both are equal in importance. 3. The question of meaning and purpose- For Christian’s the meaning and purpose of humans is found in John 17:3. John tells us that we are to know God through his Son Jesus Christ. We are to have a close intimate relationship with God. As ambassadors of Christ we are to go and communicate to the world what we know about Jesus, who makes this relationship with God possible. Buddhist do not believe in a personal God. They believe god is distant and does not become involved personally involved in people’s lives. The Buddhist believe their main purpose in to escape the karma and reach Nirvana where they will live without any desire. 4. The question of morality- Without God we are unable to determine what actions are right and wrong (Weider Gutierrez, 2011, p 61) Christian believers follow the word of God as a guide to live their live. The bible calls believers to love God and to love their neighbor as they love themselves. These two commandments keeps believers from sinning against their neighbor. Buddhist believer in Buddha’s â€Å"Four Noble Truths† and the â€Å"Eight Noble Truths†. Their â€Å"Ethical Conduct† section says a person should conduct himself with â€Å"right speech, right action, and right livelihood. † These codes will liberate a person from the cycle of karma. Unlike Christians Buddhist do not believe in forgiveness the way Jesus offers it. However both beliefs agree that respect is inevitable to live in peace. 5. The question of destiny- Christians believe in heaven and hell. The difference in where a person will go depends on their acceptance in Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Repentance of sin is followed by the forgiveness of Christ. A Christian will live for eternity in heaven if they accept the forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ. Buddhist believe â€Å"salvation† must be worked out. According to the teachings of Buddha anyone can reach Nirvana as long as the person works to behave â€Å"right† during their lifetime. How to cite Critical Thinking Assignment: Buddhism, Papers

UMTHELA WEZOBUCHWEPHESHE KWEZEMFUNDO Essays -

UMTHELA WEZOBUCHWEPHESHE KWEZEMFUNDO Isicelo ulwazi lwesayensi ngezihlozo ezingo koqobo , ikakhulukazi embonini. Imishini kanye nezicebo zisuka kulwazi lwesayenzi. Ubuchwepheshe bushintsha izindlela esikwenzayo nsuku zonke , isibonelo ; kusukela isikhathi zezincwadi kuma imeyili okusheshayo ; kusukela ukuhamba amabanga amade ukuba ngokushesha ukushayela kuphi noma nini futhi ngwane abuningi noma yinini kumakahlekhukwini. Ziningi izinhlobo zobuchwepheshe esikoleni. Kusukela kumakhalekhukwini kuze kuye ezimotweni . Ubuchwepheshe bukuyo indawo esikoleni. Emaklasini kukhona amakhompyutha asebenziswa otisha , kukhona nama i-Pad nomakhalekhukwini. Kukhona nama air-conditioner emaklasini asetshenziswa uma khushisa noma kubanda kakhulu. Ubuchwepheshe obuningi bukhona esikoleni. Ubuchwepheshe busisiza ngezindlela eziningi ezikoleni. Umakhalekhukwini usisiza ngokuxhumana nabangane bethu esikoleni nabanye othisha. Kuba khona iqembu ku-Whatsapp elisiza abafundi ukuthi kube lula ukuxhumana nabo uma umfundi efuna ukubuza imibuzo ngemisebenzi yesikole. I-khumpyutha isiza abafundi ukuthi benze ucwaningo uma uthisha esho njalo. Iyasiza naku iGoogle-Classroom uma uthisha efuna ukufoka umsebenzi wesikole ozokwenziwa abafundi. Uma sekufika isikhathi sezivivinyo , otisha bafaka imininingwane ku-Google-Classroom ukuze abafundi befundele izivivinyo kahle ukuze benze kahle ezimfundweni zabo. Kukhona namabhasi esikole asihambisa emakhaya aphinde asilethe nasesikoleni. Uma kakhona imidlalo eyenzekayo kwezinye izikele, abafundi bahamba ngama bhasi esikole beyodlala imidlalo. Ubuchwepheshe buyasisiza kakhulu kodwa buyasiphazamisa ngezindlela eziningi. Umakhalekhukwini uyasiphazamisa uma sifunda ekilasini ngoba utisha utschela abafundi badlala imidlalo noma bangene ku - Snapchat babuke amavidyo. Abanye bangena ku - Instagram bebuke izithombe zabantu. Umfundi uma enza ucwamingo kwikhompyutha unuma ku - Youtube bebuke izinto ezinganowo umsebenzi. Lokhu kuphozamisa izifundo nomsebenzi wabafundi. Izimpilo zabafundi zisizakele kakhulu ngenxa yobuchwepheshe. Kuningi esikwenzayo okudinga ubuchwepheshe. Noma bungaba kuhle kanga kaningi, kuzoba nezinto ezingalunganga abafundi ngenxa ubcuhwepheshe. Kubalulekile sibusebenzise ngendlela efanele. Ubuchwepheshe buyohlala bukhona ukwenza ngcono izimpilo zethu. [285]

The Triple Threat of Sures

The Triple Threat of Sures The Triple Threat of Sures The Triple Threat of Sures By Maeve Maddox Brad Stolzer wonders about ensure and insure: Am I the only one who struggles with these? Not at all. And while we’re at ensure/insure, let’s throw in assure. All three words are close in origin and meaning. Both assure and ensure came into English in the late 1300s, assure from Old French asseurer, â€Å"to reassure, calm, protect, to render sure, and ensure from Anglo-French enseurer, â€Å"to make sure.† The word insure appeared about 1440 as a variant of ensure. It took on the sense of â€Å"to make safe against loss by payment of premiums† in 1635. Before that, assure had that meaning. In modern usage, insure has won out as the word that has to do with compensation for financial loss. The violinist insured his hands with Lloyd’s. This use of insure applies on both sides of the Atlantic. The confusion that arises with insure vs ensure stems mainly from another definition: â€Å"to make certain that (something) will occur.† For example: We wish to ensure the safety of our passengers. Some speakers of American English would use the spelling â€Å"insure† in this context, but others might, like speakers of British English, write â€Å"ensure.† The AP Stylebook offers these guidelines: Use ensure to mean guarantee: Steps were taken to ensure accuracy. Use insure for references to insurance: The policy insures his life. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, â€Å"we ensure events and insure things. But we assure people that their concerns are being addressed.† Sources: The Associated Press Stylebook The Chicago Manual of Style The Online Etymology Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary The Penguin Writer’s Manual Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply with16 Misquoted QuotationsHow to Address Your Elders, Your Doctor, Young Children... and Your CEO

The History of Pinball and Pinball Machines

The History of Pinball and Pinball Machines Pinball is a coin-operated arcade game  where players score points by shooting metal balls on an inclined playfield, hitting special targets, and avoiding losing their balls.​ Montegue Redgrave Bagatelle In 1871, British inventor, Montegue Redgrave was granted US Patent #115,357 for his Improvements in Bagatelle. Bagatelle was an older game that used a table and balls. Redgraves patented changes to the game of Bagatelle included: adding a coiled spring and a plunger, making the game smaller, replacing the large bagatelle balls with marbles, and adding the inclined playfield. All common features of the later game of pinball. Pinball machines appeared in mass, during the early 1930s as countertop machines (without legs) and they featured the characteristics created by Montegue Redgrave. In 1932, manufacturers began adding legs to their games. First Pinball Games Bingo made by the Bingo Novelty Company was a countertop mechanical game released in 1931. It was also the first machine manufactured by D. Gottlieb Company, who were contracted to produce the game. Baffle Ball made by D. Gottlieb Company was a countertop mechanical game released in 1931. In 1935, Gottlieb released an electro-mechanical standing version of Baffle Ball with a  payout. Bally Hoo was a countertop mechanical game with optional legs released in 1931. Bally Hoo was the first coin-operated pinball game and was invented by the founder of the Bally Corporation, Raymond Maloney. The term pinball itself as a name for the arcade game was not seen until 1936. Tilt The tilt mechanism was invented in 1934 as a direct answer to the problem of players physically lifting and shaking the games. The tilt debuted in a game called Advance made by Harry Williams. Powered Machines The first battery operated machines appeared in 1933, Harry Williams made the first. By 1934, machines were redesigned to be used with electrical outlets allowing for new types of sounds, music, lights, lighted backglass, and other features. Bumpers, Flippers, and Scoreboards The pinball bumper was invented in 1937. The bumper debuted in a game called Bumper made by Bally Hoo. Harry Mabs invented the flipper in 1947. The flipper made its debut in a pinball game called Humpty Dumpty, made by D. Gottlieb Company. Humpty Dumpty used six flippers, three on each side. Pinball machines during the early 50s began to use separate lights behind the glass scoreboard to show scores. The 50s also introduced the first two player games. Steve Kordek Steve Kordek invented the drop target in 1962, debuting in Vagabond, and multiballs in 1963, debuting in Beat the Clock. He is also credited with repositioning the flippers to the bottom of the pinball playing field. The Future of Pinball In 1966, the first digital scoring pinball machine, Rally Girl was released Rally. In 1975, the first solid-state electronic pinball machine, the Spirit of 76, was released by Micro. In 1998, the first pinball machine with a video screen was released by Williams in their new Pinball 2000 series machines. Versions of pinball are now being sold that are completely software based.

Critical Business Issues And Self-Evaluation Essay

Critical Business Issues And Self-Evaluation - Essay Example The global business environment is constantly changing by the day, and these changes impose certain limitations and requirements on the present day organizations; the successful organizations are those that are able to make appropriate adjustments in response to the changes taking place around them. Inability to respond to these changes undermines organizational effectiveness, leading to utter losses and organizational failure accordingly; in this respect, excellent managers are able to make intelligent trade-offs in pursuit of performance and sustainability in the long term. In the current global system, therefore, adaptability or, the capacity to change in the face of increasing pressure in the highly competitive and complex global business environment, is a fundamental precursor to the successful business. As it stands, organizations today are increasingly facing new challenges, and the role of managers has changed drastically from the traditional one since they have to find new w ays of addressing new challenges that beset their organizations today. In this respect, one of the greatest challenges faced by organizations today is the establishment of the right kind of leadership that can yield new innovative approaches to addressing current organizational challenges. Organizational management has to ensure that organizational goals and objectives are met in the most efficient ways possible, even as it strives to steer the organization towards that desired future state, where performance and sustainability are guaranteed. Due to the changing global business environment, particularly as a result to the increased global interconnectedness that has emerged following globalization and technological pressures, organizations have inevitably found it hard to continue operating in their conventional ways. New situations at the workplace have demanded completely new approaches to solution finding and organizations have come under great test as they have been subjected t o rapid changes that have necessitated rapid responses. The highly dynamic and complex business environment today has, therefore, instigated the evolution of the role of managers and leaders today; the changing roles of managers is a function of the new order, which requires that managers adopt new approaches to addressing organizational challenges. Apart from the changing role of managers, the other theme of fundamental importance at the workplace today is teamwork; successful organizations are those that are able to leverage on the pooling of talents, skills, and knowledge of teams to accomplish their organizational objectives. Teams possess greater capabilities as opposed to single individuals working independently because they bring together individuals who are jointly working towards the achievement of common objectives through shared commitment and mutual sense of purpose. Leadership, is a great organizational challenge today, particularly because, organizations seeking to res tate their presence in the global business space need to adopt a new kind of leadership capability that can reframe challenges, interpret options, and provide direction by reforming organizational operations (Powell 2007, p.2). The challenge of leadership, especially in these turbulent times, is becoming real by the day since organizations cannot continue to rely on conventional approaches such as restructuring and reengineering alone.  

Management 4330 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management 4330 - Essay Example Kathryn eventually leads the team to acceptance of their difference and corrections or criticisms from their individuals. In fact, the final retreat or meeting reveals a team that openly corrects one another. They follow her decision to correct other egocentric employees like Mikey, who could not take criticism from her peers (Lencioni 64). Therefore, Kathryn used trustworthiness as a tool to do away with mistrust problems like backstabbing and lack of openness. Effective teams nurture others and encourage team work and the attribute was missing in the previous leadership at Decision Tech. The underlying assumption is that teams that encourage group work outperform than individuals working alone. The attribute was previously missing in Decision since the members had bad relationships and poor communication. All problems within the company are as a result of the team’s inability to communicate clearly. Kathryn inherited a team where individuals are more self-centered and put their ego before anything in the company. For instance, Mikey, the head of marketing, has trouble communicating what she feels about others in the company (Lencioni 20). Others like Jan, with her experience in finance management, looks down on others and also treat company money like hers. When firing the head of marketing, Kathryn confirms that the manner in which the marketing head behaves affects the morale of the team. The new CEO also complains that Mikey doe s not consider how her behavior might affect others. The previous team was so self-centered that the members could not event confront each other in meetings. At the group formation stage, the team always develops some norms where some are good while others are bad (Whetten and Cameron 498). At Decision Tech, Kathryn inherited a dysfunctional group with unique behavioral norms. One of the behavioral norms in the previous team was is the illusion of invulnerability. The team believed did past success and was

Relationship Between Consumption And The Self Essay

Relationship Between Consumption And The Self Essay Consumption has always been an important aspect of human society, in different ways at different times and in different places (Clarke 2003). The consumer revolution, the birth of which is a subject of debates (McKendrick claims to have discovered it in the eighteenth century England, Williams- in nineteenth century France, and Mukerji- in fifteenth and sixteenth century England), represents not just a change in tastes, preferences, and purchasing habits but a fundamental shift in the culture of the early modern and modern world. (McCracken 1988) The consumer revolution is seen to have changed Western concept of time, space, society, the individual, and the state. Western culture gradually became increasingly dependent on and integrated with the new consumer goods and practices, which appeared from the sixteenth century onwards; culture and consumption began to fashion their present relationship of deeply complicated mutuality.(McCracken 1988) In such a consumer culture, consumption has an important significance to the meaningful practices of peoples everyday life. That is, they not only make their consumption choices from the products utilities but also from their symbolic meanings. Basically, consumption is employed not only to create and sustain self but to locate people in society as well. However, from a critical point of view, seeking to create the self through symbolic consumption can also contribute to the enslavement of individuals in the deceptive world of consumption. The following paper seeks to explore the theoretical approaches regarding the relationship between consumption and the self. {In the postmodern world} Our Identity is moulded as consumers. (Sarup 1996, p.120) Living life to the full became increasingly synonymous with consumption. (Gabriel and Lang 1995, p.7) The construction of self in modern society is considered to be invariably linked to consumption. The modern society undoubtedly represents a consumer culture, where peoples life functions in the scope of consumption. (Firat and Venkatesh 1995) It is, peoples social arrangement in which the relation between lived culture and social resources, between meaningful ways of life and the symbolic and material resources on which they depend, is mediated trough markets .(Slater 1997, p.8) Hence consumption is of great importance to the allusive practice of individuals everyday life. Along with the creation and maintenance of the self, consumption is also employed in order to locate different individuals in society (Elliott 1994a). The various material goods that people buy, the ideals and beliefs they held show who they actually are and whom they identify with. Indeed, people consume various things not only for satisfaction of personal needs but also for creation of their self-creation projec ts (i.e. for sense of significance in their pursuit of being ), which may be achieved symbolically through mundane consumption. The validity of this is confirmed by a considerable amount of literature. Lang and Gabriel argue that whether one is looking for happiness, identity, beauty, love , et cetera, there is a commodity somewhere which guarantees to prove it. In McCracken point of view, different products embody qualities that reach beyond their attributes or commercial value, which means, they are capable of carrying and accommodating cultural meanings. Symbolically, people use these meanings in order to create cultural idea of the self, to obtain and maintain lifestyles, to represent social connections and to promote changes in society and the self. (McCracken 1988) In other words, people consume these cultural ideas in order to exist in this culturally composing world. McCracken (1988a, p. Xi) confirms the latter point: without consumer goods, certain acts of self-definition a nd collective definition in this culture would be impossible. Shopping is not merely the acquisition of things: it is the buying of identity. (Clammer 1992, p. 223) Sartre (1998) argues that The bond of possessions is an internal bond of being. (p. 588) He emphasizes on the idea that people come to know who they are trough what they possess. By actually observing their material possessions they structure and sustain a notion of existential self. The idea of seeing is of vital importance, because as Sartre states to see it is already to possess it. In itself it is already apprehended by sight as a symbol of being . Thus, when see a superb landscape, people are capable of obtaining a notion of possessing the given landscape, and then associating it with their sense of being . This idea illustrates how people acquire a feeling of existing trough window shopping alone. To have is to be concept is also asserted by Belk (1988) and Dittmar (1992). Dittmar (1992, p. 204-06) argues: Material possessions have socially constructed meanings this symbolic dimension of material objects plays an important role for the owner s identity. This suggests that material social reality in an integral, pervasive aspect of everyday social life, of constructing ourselves and others. Belk (1988) in his examination of the connection between having and being , states that it is a two-fold process working in both directions respectively. Not only do people place their self-identities into their possession but they also integrate the latter into their identities; that is mirrored in the so called self-extensions process (i.e. the extended self). As extension of the self, peoples possessions not only enable them to find their actual characters but to achieve or adjust their sense of continuity from the past. Thus, material possessions act as a capacity to manage individual s life in its current course. As stated above to have is to be but to have also means to belong . Richins (1994, p. 523) states, Possessions are part of the social communication system and are sometimes actively used to communicate aspects of the self. Undoubtedly, when obtain personal possession that expresses peoples individual sense of identity and their sense of belonging to a group and collective identity. Material things encompass symbolic meanings, trough which a bridging of the self to others in society is possible. Dittmar (1992, p. 11) states: The notion that we express our identity trough our material possessions, and make inferences about the identity of others, on the basis of what they possess, means that there must be socially material objects as symbolic manifestation of identity. Nowadays, people are able to use consumption symbolically in order to gain a considerable sense of belonging to various imagined communities (Anderson 1983) or different neo-tribes (Maffesoli 1988). Thus, people consume different products that add to the symbolic means of identification of the self, trough which they associate themselves emotionally with those sharing their lifestyles. (Gabriel and Lang 1995) Consumption, as it has been stated in the above paragraphs, provides people with symbolic meanings to construct their self and identity, but it also can imprison them to the superficial sense of self and the enduring consumption. Therefore, from a critical perspective, to have means to be enslaved. If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I? (Fromm 1976, p. 76) According to Fromm, seeking to obtain a sense of being trough having hides a risk of losing it since having may not stay permanently. Contrary, he raises the idea that people realize the self by giving and sharing practices, et cetera. To have contributes to peoples enslavement of their own possessions. (Fromm 1976) People become slaves (i.e. commodities) in the realm of goods (Giddens 1991). Faurschou (1987, p. 82) argues: {Postmodernity is} no longer an age in which bodies produce commodities, but where commodities produce bodies: bodies for aerobic, bodies for sport cars, bodies for vacations, bodies for Pepsi, for Coke, and of course bodies for fashion total bodies-a total look. The colonization of the body as its own production/consumption machine in late capitalism is a fundamental theme of contemporary civilization. The belief that people are capable of exercising their freedom through certain choices seems unrealistic. Actually, we all not only follow lifestyles, but in an important sense are forced to do so-we have no choice but to choose (Gidddens 1991, p. 8). Also, Elliot (1994b) states that the pleasure, more specifically the immediate one derived from numerous consumption practices may imprison people in the scope of addictive consumption. Gergen (1991, p. 74-5) shows some apprehension over freedom of consumption: Yet this same freedom ironically leads to a form of enslavement. Each new desire places its demands and reduces one s liberties. Liberation becomes a swirling vertigo of demands. Daily life has become a sea of drowning demands, and there is no shore in sigh. The will and eagerness to be more, to grow more, to accumulate more and more, and more results in suffering and self-destruction of the individual. The only possible way of letting go this degenerated cycle is to accept the idea that to be is merely an illusion. Consequently, people should let go of their will to be , leave alone the desire to have . Considering all that has been stated above in the current paper about relationship between self and consumption strongly confirms their cooperative coexisting within and in developed societies of the contemporary world. The consumer is seen as caught in a cultural project (McCracken 1988), which main purpose is to achieve a full completion of the self. The consumer machine provides individuals with the necessary cultural materials in order to rationalise their varying ideas about themselves and their social roles in society. All of their cultural notions are embodied in the symbolic nature of goods, and it is through their possession and practices that individual understands the meaning in his own life. As Kavanaugh states, individuals in a society create themselves or define themselves culturally through the objectification of {a culture s} conceptual models in centrally prescribed phenomenal forms (McCracken 1988). It is through the systematic endowing of the meaningful properties of objects/goods that individual satisfied the opportunity and responsibility of self-definition. The logic and directions of this process of self and world construction through the nature of goods has been increasingly understudied and since recently it has been drawn accurate exploration. But which still needs further examination.