my pets

Reflective essay

The Sacred Words of Buddhism

I was only about 8 the first time I have ever heard the sacred words of Buddhism. I can still distinctly remember running out from my bedroom as I was getting ready for bed when I heard my dad’s voice speaking in language of unfamiliarity. I watched him bewilderedly as he stood there facing the Alter that he had made with his bare hands, he continued chanting “Nam Mô A Yi Đa Phât” in a rhythmic and steady pace. The Alter resembled that of a book stand; except it had much fewer shelves, only two shelves to be exact. On the very top center of the Alter was a Buddha deity; it is something my family have worshipped for generations. On the first shelve was a Buddhist text that was laid open. The second shelve however, was empty. For the years to come, the ritual became his daily routine. My dad would stand in front of the Alter every night and chant the same words. I later learned that these unfamiliar words were not of a different language, it was my native language—Vietnamese. That didn’t make much of a difference however; I still couldn’t comprehend what it meant. It wasn’t the normal everyday speech I was accustomed to hearing at home and that as I later learned was because it was the sacred words of Buddhism.

Thirteen years after my first encounter of the Buddhist ritual, I found myself once again in bewilderment as I stood in the enormous Alter room of a Buddhist temple. This Alter was a lot different from the one in my parents’ house in many different ways. The Alter consisted of three levels in a shape similar to a pyramid, the top level had a golden deity of Buddha, and it had to be at least four times my size. The golden color of the deity intensified as the glistening sunlight started to set through the windows. The sunlight reflection off the deity gave the whole room a beautiful golden glow giving the room its lively sensation. On the second level of the Alter was at least ten vibrant vases filled with flowers. The vases were evenly distributed around the deity in a half circle. On the third level of the Alter was even more flowers.

Dozens of Buddhist have come to participate in the Sunday Mass. As the ritual began, I found myself once again lost in the words of unfamiliarity although it was in Vietnamese. Even though I have heard and witnessed my dad performed similar ritual, there were many phrases that were being chanting that I have never heard my dad chant before. In addition to chanting the familiar words: “Nam Mô A Yi Đa Phât” they also chanted “Bôn Su Thích Ca Mô A Yi Đa Phât Quán Té Âm Bô Thát”. I have came to an understanding that these religious terminologies are really only understood by those who were taught the meanings by the monk.

During the ritual I noticed many things being performed that I have never seen my dad done. They had incense burning. The aroma of the incense lightly burned my nostril each time I breathe through my nose. Within time however, I slowly adapted to the burning sensation of the aroma and by half way through ritual, the burning sensation dissipated. In addition to the burning of incense I noticed the practice of bells and drums. Throughout the ritual, the drum followed the same rhythmic as the chanting. At the end of each chanting phrases, the bell was rung. Each time the bell rung, it echoed throughout the room.

Once again my attention swayed away from the ritual to the Alter. I was still so astonished on how beautiful the Alter was. Its beauty can not even be compared to the Alter my parents have set at their house. The Buddha deity on this Alter was enormous, its golden coating even much more mesmerizing. The Buddha deity was surrounded by dozens of vibrant flowers. As my eyes gazed upon the vases that held the flowers, I astound by the intricate artwork on vases. A dragon was carved onto the surface of the vase, its body wrapped around the vase as though it was protecting it. To my knowledge, dragons are very popular in Buddhism because it is one of few sacred animals they worship for reasons that dragons symbolized power and strength.

Once the ritual ended, I remained in my place as everyone departed from the room. Within minutes the room was cleared of people but aroma from the burning incense remained. As I stood in the room alone I came to a realization that I didn’t really understand who I was in terms of religion. In my attempt to participate in the ritual, I ended up lost and confused. I tried to come to an understanding of what all that chanting meant. What was the underlying message? What kind of significant meaning does the ritual have? Why do some people choose to become Buddhist? How does becoming Buddhism change your life? Am I considered Buddhist because my parents are Buddhist? Do I have to understand the Buddhist sacred text to be a Buddhist? All these unanswered questions brought me to a new conquest in finding myself and this was how the search of my religious identity began.

Blog Free write: A New Addtion to the Family

A week ago from yesterday I brought home a new addition to the family, a French bulldog name Lilo. Her name originated from the movie Lilo and Stitch. Lilo is two-and-half months, weighs approximately 5 pounds and is 85% house broken. She is black and white with freckles on her paw. She has only been with me for a week now and she is already attached to us. One major reason my boyfriend and I decided to get her was for our Boston Terrier, Pua, who gets pretty lonely when no is home because we’re so occupied with school and work. Pua was jealous at first when she first met Lilo, but now they are started to get along really well. However, Pua does not know the extent of her strength and plays too aggressively. I hope within time she will acknowledge that Lilo is just a puppy and realize that she needs to be gentle with her. Hopefully they will become best of pals.

As for me however, things have been a little tough. Lilo looks up to me as her mother figure, and has become really attached to be. I too have become attached to her. She refuses to sleep in her kennel and will continue to whimper throughout the whole night until you let her sleep on the bed with you. The problem with this is that as a puppy nature calls frequently so I’m always getting up in the middle of the night to take her to go potty. After she does her business, she wants to stay up for about half-an-hour to play. Well, this is tough on me because I have to wake up early and get ready for school. For this past week, I have been getting about 6 hours of sleep in a night. I guess it’s what I sign up for when I decided to get a puppy right? Well I can say one thing for sure the joy she brings us I worth it! I wouldn’t trade her for anything.

Blog Caption of image: sewing machine

The first sewing machine invented was in 1970 by a man by the name of Thomas Sur Singer. Named after its inventor, this first innovative sewing machine is called Singer. Similar to that of the sewing machines utilize in today’s world, this sewing machine uses a needle to which a thread can be attached to one end. With a push of a button, this machine runs about a quarter a mile per minute. As seen on the image above, in front of the machine in a large knob that can be turn a clockwise direction to adjust desired patterns, length and width of each stitch. This machine is made of steel and weighs about 30 pounds. It can be detached from its wooden stand for easy storage. A small bobby thread of any color can be used and setting it to the sewing machine can be done in three easy steps: first the bobby is place in a small vertical pole on top of the machine, second is goes around the next notch right above the needle and last, it goes in the hole of the needle. To the left of sewing machine is large rechargeable battery. This 12 volt battery lasts approximately 2 hours. As shown, this first invented machine is particularly used for thick and heavy durable fabric that is usually otherwise difficult to be sewn and stitched by hand. This machine allows for the existence of luxurious materials such as window curtains, blue jeans, comforters, and coats.

Blog: Best blog of 2006--The History of Buttons

The blog ‘History of the Button’ is exactly as the title states: it is a blog about the use of buttons throughout history. The first blog posted recognizes the use of buttons on ovens that were used in 1950. The oven had various button that lit in different colors depending on how high the temperature was set. The author of this post talks about how a push button oven is still working and still in god conditions after 60 years! The next post was about how the use of buttons on washer and dryer machine came about after the radio. Specifically it states about how the ‘Play pause icon merges, evolve, and migrate’. The ‘play pause’ button was first seen on the radio and as it evolved, it has migrate onto washing machine. This can be seen on the new LG washing machines. As with the older washing machines, ‘start’ and ‘stop’ buttons were used. The next post states all the different kinds of Start and Stop icon from various multifunction printers. Most of which had a diamond image with a vertical line down the center on the start button; whereas a circle with an inverted triangle in it was used in indicate Stop. This proves different manufactures all adopt the same images to indicate Start and Stop. All the post after that include buttons such as ones from recorders, industrial buttons used for jet-ways and airplanes, navi button from multi function photo printer, Sony clock, pinball game machine, phones, and toys. The point made here is that buttons are universal, they are everywhere, and they used daily without much acknowledgement. Buttons are something that was invented before most of our parents were even born and they continue to thrive as of today.

The author of this blog uses similar conventions of many other blogs including mine. In this blog, pictures and hyperlinks were used. In addition, just as in mine, to each post there is a date and time in which the post was posted. To the right of the blog is column that is basically a table of contents for all the different posts of buttons; these were done through the use of hyperlinks. The second set of hyperlinks is important years in which buttons came about. The third set of hyperlinks are of categories in which button are used—examples are such as keyboard, kids, kitchen, Kodak, etc. To the left of the blog are conventions made so audience and readers like us can us the contact the author. In this column there is a hyperlink to contact the author through email. The color that the author used for the blog is a neutral blue color. The text color used is black for easy and comfortable reading. This blog is different from mine in that this blog talks only about button and there is no information about the author, whereas my blog is about all different kind of things depending on our assigned assignment. In addition my blog has a profile link to which my audience can learn more about me.

observational essay: The Ceremony Room

It was near noon and I was near to missing the beginning of the Buddhist ceremony that was to be taken place at a Temple located in the Denver Metro area on Federal Street and Iliff Avenue. As I drove into the enormous and crowded parking lot, I realized that today’s Mass was going to be nothing but a full or crowed room. I thought to myself Damn, I forgot it is Sunday. I hope ceremony room does not get too crowded. I quickly parked my car at the far end of the parking lot for all other parking space was already taken. The parking lot was divided into two sections that were separated by a row of trees whose branches seemed to be withering from the weeks of snow storm to which it had withstood.

To the left of the pathway that led to the main entrance was a small building. As I glanced inside, I noticed children from age five to fifteen sitting cross-legged on the bright red carpet staring up at a large overhead. I assumed they are in Class. As I continued to anxiously walk up the pathway towards the main entrance, I noticed the delicate architect of the temple. It was similar to one of those temples in Thailand that I had seen on the Discovery Channel. Each corner of the bright yellow building was arched upward similar to the shape of a crescent moon. As I pulled on the heavy doors I felt a slight breeze from the cool air that was circulating inside. The entry area was very spacious; to the front was a row of shoes that were neatly lined up in rows in front of the steps the led to the ceremony room. I hastily walked toward the step, took off my shoes, and made my entrance into the ceremony room. I remained standing in the back of the room trying not to disturb the ceremony that had already begun.

The room was enormous, much bigger than the entry level. To the front of the room, was an Alter made out of what seemed to be Maple Oak. The Alter consisted of three levels in a shape similar to a pyramid, the top level had a golden deity of Buddha, and it had to be at least four times my size. The golden color of the deity intensified as the glistening sunlight started to set through the windows. The sunlight reflection off the deity gave the whole room a beautiful golden glow giving the room its lively sensation. On the second level of the Alter was at least ten vibrant vases filled with flowers. The vases were evenly distributed around the deity in a half circle. On the third level of the Alter was even more flowers. To the left, however, was a medal metallic bowl which was used as a bell, to the right was a hollow wooden bowl which was used as a drum. In the center was small golden bowl with handles in a shape of a dragon attached to the sides. In the golden bowl were three incense sticks. The incense sticks were lit and as it slowly burned, it released a distinctive aroma throughout the room. Visible smoke could be seen moving away from the burning incense sticks. On each side of the Alter were two smaller Alters. Each of the smaller Alter had approximately 25 x 25 small picture frames hanging from it. In the picture frames were pictures of deceased Buddhists that had past away within the recent years.

The crowd was segregated: women were to stand on the left half of the room and men were to stand on the right half of the room. Everyone was chanting sacred words that were unfamiliar to my ears. The chanting followed the same rhythm as the drum that was echoing through out the room. The chanting was guided by one man, the monk. The monk stood in front of the crowd facing the Alter. A microphone was attached to the yellow robe that gracefully draped over his body. Every single inch of his skin from the neck down except for his hand was covered by the robe. As the sun shined on his head and as the room started to get humid from all the breathing, sweat began running down his head. His head that had some new hair growth sprouting from it since the last time he has shaved it.

An hour have past, the pace of the chanting continued at a steady pace. The majority of the crowd seemed to be getting exhausted. Their posture started to decline as they started to slouch. The room had large tightly sealed windows that allowed the sun to shine in but did not allow fresh air to flow freely in and out to circulate the room. The confined room was making the crowd sweat, their face showed signs of relinquish. The children who came along with their parents have already given up. They were no longer following the praying procedure, they were no longer chanting; instead they were sitting on the ground restlessly waiting for the prayer session to end.

Another half-an-hour past and the sounds of the drum started to slow down. As the drum began to slow down, the chanting slowed down with it. Within minutes the sounds of the drum came to a complete halt along with the chanting. The ceremony also came to an end. The crowd then turned around and calmly exited the room. As people cleared out from the room, the humid air also cleared out with them. Standing there alone I was bewildered. I couldn’t believe what I have just witnessed; I have never seen anything like it. The room was now empty although the aroma from the incense burning was still present and the smell still potent. And there in front of me, the golden deity continued to glow throughout the room as the sunshine continued to reflect its light against it.

Blog 1 for wk 4: Uncreative Interlude

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