Reading Notes: EC Buddhist Jatakas

The Lion and the Doe
A sad love story for the lion. If you think about it, if the lion was not labeled as "the king of the jungle" no one would care about his sinful affection for a doe. If the lion was an average joe animal, like a gazelle, no one would be so concerned. But the Jataka has relevance in modern day. It is similar to the lion and the lamb story. Love can make people do just about anything. An unquestioned trust can lead to an unfortunate ending as well. I think in this story, the plan to kill the lion was by using his biggest weakness and vulnerability, his lover. This plot can be seen in many movies. For example, super heroes are hesitant to love someone in fear their lover will be harmed.

One of the statements at the end of the Jataka, I am still trying to decipher:

             "Trust not the trusted, nor th’ untrusted trust;

             Trust kills; through trust the lion bit the dust."

I think it means to not be so trusting in others. For if you do, it could be your greatest down fall.

(The Lion and Lamb - Image Source)

Bibliography: "The Lion and the Doe." by Robert Chalmers. Web Source

Reading Notes: Jatakas Stories

Two Turtle Jatakas

The Turtle and the King 
The main characters in this story was a turtle, king, and boys. In the story, the king placed some fish within a lake along with a turtle. Since the young princes of the village had never seen a turtle before, they assumed he was a demon. When the turtle was ordered to be killed, the king felt that the best punishment would be something that the king, himself, was afraid of. He suggested to throw the turtle into a river. The turtle acted horrified at the thought. However, after the punishment was done, the turtle was safe and sound.

One of the greatest weaknesses of the king was ignorance. If he had learned and known that the water was a safe place for turtles, he would have been able to successfully kill it. The king assumed that his great fear was shared among others. Assumptions can lead to false truths.

The Turtle and the Geese
This tale was about the geese offering to take the turtle where they were going to migrate. The only stipulation was that the turtle could not tell anyone about the agreement. When the geese were ready to take the turtle flying, they brought a stick so he could bite and ride with them. As they were soaring over a village, some kids were talking about how ridiculous a flying turtle was. Instead of keeping his mouth shut, the turtle replied back and fell to his death.

There were several character flaws with the turtle. One, the turtle did not keep his promise that he would keep his mouth shut. The second, the turtle could not help but reply back to the villagers. Sometimes in life, when people talk about someone behind their back, it is best to ignore what others are saying. The only person who gets hurt when retorting back is yourself.

(Jataka Tales - Image Source)

Bibliography:"The Turtle and the King." and "The Turtle and the Geese." from Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt. Web Source

Explored Reading Options

A particular story that caught my eye was Shiva Parvati. I am a fan of romantic stories. The story seemed like Shiva was interested in Parvati, but needed a little push. Shiva and Parvati would be the definition of power couple, perhaps the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pre-divorce.


(Shiva, Parvati, and Family - OUOCBlog)

Another reading option that caught my eye was Buddha: He Lit the Path. I find it interesting because before Buddha was Buddha, in the sense of Buddhism, he was a Prince named Siddhartha and a part of Hinduism. I think it would be interesting to read more about his possible journey to Enlightenment. Buddhism has always intrigued me because of my family's cultural ties with the religion.


(Prince Siddhartha - OUOCBlog)

A person that has always intrigued me in Hinduism is Ganesha. I think it would be nice to learn more about the interesting person. Ganesha is a mysterious entity that makes you want to know more and seek more. I find it hard to imagine a person with an elephant like face.


(Ganesha - Wikimedia)

Although there are many stories within the Indian culture, these are the three topics that intrigued me the most. I feel as if Indian epics are similar to Greek mythology, but different. It is different from the Greek, because the epics do not seemed as focused on the reason on how something came to be like many mythological stories of the gods or goddesses (for example, Demeter with seasons, Hades with Hell, and Zeus with lightening). The epics seem to be stories just of the gods themselves and who they are.

Time Strategies... Implemented over Time...

To be honest, I can always use more advice on time management. I have reviewed my study schedule for this class and I think it remains a good schedule. However, if I am feeling bored on the other days, I could always get ahead on assignments. As for the rest of my classes this semester, there is going to be a steep learning curve on how much time to allocate to each class. I chose these articles because it when I read the titles, it resonated with me. These are the problem areas that I recognize I have. 

How to Beat Procrastination - This was a very helpful article on procrastination. It approaches procrastination like typical problems. The first step is to identify. The second step is to start and provide a small reward. The final steps are to finish. This article was very useful in putting everything in perspective. 

The Important Habit of Just Starting - I used to have this habit during high school, then it disappeared when I discovered naps. Based on my past experiences in my classes, this will be one of the most important habits to gain again. It is easy to determine a future failure without starting a project. I have prepped myself too much for failure, that perhaps I am afraid to succeed. This semester, I am going to start and finish. 

On the Field Guide of Procrastinators, I am probably either the napper, sidetracked, or snacker... 

I think my biggest challenge this semester is to implement the strategies and habits, but I am prepared for the challenge!

(Procrastination - Cheezburger)

Technology

I would not say that I am tech savvy, however I have heard of the tools such as Google Docs, Canvas, and the other sites. There is so much technology out there that allows people to connect with each other. The tools and sites are endless. I think they are also very useful. I am excited to be able to practice and use more of the technology tools that are available. 

(Technology - Loma Linda University)

First Impression: Assignments

My first impression for most of my classes is the workload is overwhelming. However, in this course, I feel more at ease. I am intrigued by the extra credit options because there are so many choices to choose from. I think it is a good way for me to explore and dive into subjects more thoughtfully. One extra credit opportunity that caught my attention was the Growth Mindset. I would like to learn more about the ideal. Unlike other classes, all the work is available to do at any time. Theoretically, I could finish the class early. I like the idea of finishing the class early. From the get-go, I was intrigued by this class and the format. I still remain eager. 

(First Impression - Giphy)

Attempting Growth Mindset

Prior to this, I have not heard of Carol Dweck or the idea of Growth Mindset. From exploring this topic, I have realized that I am between the Now and the Yet. I possibly lean more towards the Now but I am trying to make my way to Yet. Recently, I learned how to snowboard. The mindset that I had to develop was to challenge myself in aspects that were not normally exercised. I had the mentality of, "I have not yet learned this activity, but I will." The challenges I have at OU is that I know that I can do better within my classes. I have difficulty in placing more effort within my studies. Every semester, I have a school years resolution to improve my ways of studying and deepen my well of knowledge.

I would personally like to learn more about the Growth Mindset and hopefully implement it within my daily life. My learning goals for this semester is to not allow my difficult classes intimidate me, but to allow it to motivate me. Another goals is to not underestimate the classes that seem easy and treat it under the same caliber as my other subjects. Growth Mindset is a journey I intend to embark on.



(cheezburger)