asian studies discussion question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.
Discussion 1
Notes
Assignment Focus: You are encouraged to cite comments from authorities briefly. Talk more about your understanding of, experience with, and opinions on the topics.
Late Initial Replies: Late submission of the initial reply will result in a 6% deduction from the overall assignment grade. The initial reply must be submitted within 4 days of the due date. Otherwise, it won’t be accepted. If you submit late, please notify your instructor for an updated grade.
Late Replies to Classmates: Late submission of replies to classmates will not be accepted.
Submissions and Their Requirements
An initial reply to the discussion
Follow Steps 1-7 in the directions below.
Fully address both topics.
Write a minimum of 750 words. State the total word count (e.g. Total word count: 845 words) at the top of your initial reply.
Three or more replies to classmates
Follow Step 8 in the directions below.
Write a minimum of 200 words total. It is not necessary to state the word count in any of your replies to classmates.
Directions
Make an initial reply to the discussion and fully address both major topics (Steps 1-7 below). Then make three or more replies to your classmates (Step 8 below).
INITIAL REPLY
TOTAL WORD COUNT
Write the total word count (e.g. Total word count: 845 words) at the top of your initial reply.
Note: A word count will appear near the bottom-right corner of the text box.
TOPIC 1
Draw excerpts from Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu scriptures.
Provide interpretations of the excerpts.
Use a personal experience or a historical event to illuminate what the excerpts mean to you.
TOPIC 2
Select a news report or article about religions, literature, science, medicine, business, education, etc. related to India. Provide its title, source (BBC, Economist, New York Times, etc.), web link/attached file, and publication date. It must have been published within the last 4 years.
Summarize the news report or article.
Talk about your opinions on the subject matter and provide supporting evidence.
Make connections with your study of India. Provide passages and page numbers from the textbook or the online readings.
THREE REPLIES TO CLASSMATES
Make three or more replies to your classmates. Your replies should be substantive and relevant to the discussion.
Note: As you look for classmates to reply to, please count the number of replies that each person has already received. If a person has already received three replies, find a different classmate to reply to.
Grading
Your discussion contributions will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, timeliness, and replies to classmates. For more information, see the Discussion Rubric. Go to: Options icon (3-dot button) > Show Rubric.
Important###Finish the initial reply as the instruction say, and I will give three of my classmate work in the following so you can do the reply. Remember you can take a look at their answer and think about yours but DO NOT imitate or copy any of their work or it will be plagirism. The following are three classmates’ reply:(Remember to include their name above each of your reply so I know who is this reply for.)##
1,
Justin Thomas Moore
Total Word Count: 774
Topic 1:
The Dhammapada is the most esteemed text in the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. From chapter 17 of the Dhammapada called Anger, there is an excerpt that says “let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!” This means that no matter what an individual comes across in life, there is always an answer. Situations, or emotions, will come up whenever you are doing something or something is being done upon you. These things could be good, or they can be bad. When they are bad, you must know that no matter what, there will be a solution. The part of the excerpt that I can personally connect with is “let him overcome the greedy by liberality”. This occurred when I was in the Marine Corps quite often. There is this idea that having selfishness is what gets you far or promoted. While we would do certain work, individuals that were already of higher ranking would do everything in their power to claim the work that was done, leaving the lower ranking individuals who did the work to earn little to no benefits or recognition. I held a position that was two ranks above the rank I held. So, when it was time to show or report the work we have done, I went out of my way to ensure that all the lower rank individuals’ names were reported on the work to claim full credit. When I would discuss with the higher ranking officials the achievements that our department obtained, I would effectively communicate to them that while the higher ranking marines would sign off on the work, the low ranking individuals were the ones with the ideas and the execution of the efficient and proper work.
Topic 2:
“Why the Religious Fast for Ramadan, Lent and Other Holy Days”, U.S. News by Associated Press, https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-03-23/why-the-religious-fast-for-ramadan-lent-and-other-holy-daysLinks to an external site., published March, 23, 2023.
What this article is doing is explaining, in simple terms, why certain religions do these fasting periods. It goes on to talk about Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, and Sikhism. The article gives a brief explanation as to why each of those religions do these fasts and what they are supposed to mean or their symbolism to that specific religion. I would not consider myself a religious individual. However, I can fully understand and support these religious fasts that certain types of religions do. I believe that it all revolves around faith. Faith is important in everyday life as it is when it comes to religion. Faith itself helps us to navigate life in a way that makes it more purposeful and understanding. It is supposed to frame who we are, our existence, our values, our hopes, and our dreams. Having faith, regardless of religion or beliefs, is shown differently across the world, across cultures, and across individuals. This is something that everyone should be able to come together with and understand about each other. That regardless of what the others believe, they believe, and have faith just as you do.
The connection I am making comes from Sen, Amartya “China and India”, The Argumentative Indian. On page 164, it says “It is certainly correct to see religion as a major reason for the historical closeness of China and India, and to appreciate the central role of Buddhism in initiating the movement of people and ideas between the two countries.” While it goes on to say that religion was not the only thing that the Indian scholars brought with them, faith is integrated in all aspects of the religion and the professionals of astronomers and mathematics. Every individual that participated in the conjunction had some sort of faith in their beliefs or facts that helped influence the way they communicated and the information that they shared. On page 173 of the same reading, it says “That attitude did receive a challenge from Buddhist universalism and from the fact that Indians became, for many centuries, closely linked to other people through the common bond of a shared religion.” Referring to them forbidding any connection with anyone who did not belong to them. This counters that idea due to the idea that while someone may not be from the same country or culture, they can share many things that make them similar like religion and faith. This alone should be enough to show that no matter what people believe or practice, that everyone has some sort of faith mechanism within them and that we are all able to come together and effectively communicate.
2,
Jade Otterstedt
Word Count: 780
Topic 1: Buddhist
An excerpt from a Buddhist scripture that I found interesting is from the “Four Noble Truths” in our L05 canvas reading, the scripture claims that “Suffering should cease if desiring ends”. I interpret this to mean that once your passion for something ends, you shouldn’t suffer and continue doing that thing that brings you so much misery. It isn’t worth it to continue doing something you’ve lost enjoyment in engaging in. In order to destroy suffering, you must figure out what the cause is. Many people do things that they find no enjoyment in, this can include jobs, relationships, and even school. It isn’t fair to you or the people around you to continue doing these things if your desire has truly run out. An example could be a relationship you aren’t truly excited about or happy to be in. It would end both you and the other person’s suffering to end that relationship. The ideal in this scripture is something I wouldn’t have really thought about before reading.
A personal example I have with this is figure skating. I was a figure skater for over six years and it had been my only desire for a long time. After an injury, I wasn’t able to skate as well as I could before and the cold air put pressure on my injury and was extremely painful. I no longer had the desire to skate, even if it were just for fun. I skated for another year before I decided that I had no more passion or happiness for the sport and finally quit skating forever. My suffering from skating ceased when I figured out that my desire for skating had ended. After quitting skating, I realized how much I had wanted to quit earlier and that my desire had truly disappeared.
Topic 2:
News Article: ti, P. (2023, May 25). Govt seeks to address the issue of chemists forcing consumers to buy entire strips of tablets. India Retailing.
https://www.indiaretailing.com/2023/05/25/govt-seeks-to-address-issue-of-chemists-forcing-consumers-to-buy-entire-strip-of-tabletsLinks to an external site.
This news article is about the Indian Government’s desire to address an issue that is very prominent in India, chemists forcing consumers to buy entire strips of tablets, which leads to medical waste. This article was published on May 25, 2023, and is very recent. This issue is currently occurring in India, and many citizens of India have been complaining about the waste of medical products for years. I agree with the Government’s choice to address the issue, and think that wasting medical products can cost the Government unnecessary money each year. According to the article, “There are cases where the prescription is only for a day or two and the consumer is forced to buy the entire strip. In some cases, consumers buy medicines in small quantities because they cannot afford to buy for the entire week,” (PTI). This issue is costing consumers of the medicine to spend unnecessary money and even go broke. The Government must fix this issue in order to satisfy the citizens of India and chemists. This related to the class reading in L05 about Social Power and Authority. In Indian society, those with money and resources are at the top of the social hierarchy and that includes the Government and doctors. This issue relates to people at the top of the social hierarchy and they are the only ones who are able to fix this issue. Ordinary people and patients do not have an influence over this matter and cannot change it themselves. I think that it is unfair of the doctors to make the patient pay for an entire prescription when the patient only needs to take the medication for a couple of days. This can lead to the doctors abusing their power and the Government needs to step in immediately. This is a tricky issue though, because if the doctors feel like the Government is against them, they can refuse to listen or even stop working. The power that both the Government and doctors have over the citizens of India is crucial in making the final decision regarding the prescription issue. The Government already suggested “new packing technology for medicines,” (PTI). The citizens of India did not feel like this suggestion would fix the current situation and demanded a better plan. I agree with the citizens and think that new packing techniques wouldn’t really stop doctors from over prescribing medicine. Now, the Government is working to create a plan that will benefit both the patients and the doctors. I hope that the Government doesn’t abuse its power and puts the interest of the people into their minds and not just the doctors.
3,
Zhen Ma
Total Word Count: 1045
Topic 1
As I start to practice yoga recently, I found an attractive excerpt, “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” It is a Hindu scripture extracted from Bhagavad Gita chapter 6, verse 20. It highlights the essence of yoga as a means of self-realization and self-discovery. It emphasizes that yoga is not just a physical practice but a path to unite the individual self with the universal self. Through yoga, one can attain a deeper understanding of their true nature and cultivate a harmonious relationship between mind, body, and spirit.
My current yoga practice fully resonates with the above teachings. Through the daily practice of yoga and meditation, I begin to experience a deep sense of inner peace and self-awareness. Especially during one meditation session, as I focused on my breath and observed the thoughts arising in my mind, I realized the profound truth behind the verse from Bhagavad Gita. The journey of self-discovery was unfolding within me, as I delved into the depths of my own consciousness. I recognized that the mind indeed acted as the precursor to all my actions. By cultivating a calm and focused mind, I could positively shape my thoughts, actions, and ultimately my life, immersing myself in the various spiritual traditions.
Besides, I was impressed by an influential figure in India’s history, Mahatma Gandhi. Another interesting excerpt comes to my mind, “Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.” It is a Buddhist scripture from Dhammapada 1:5. This verse, a fundamental Buddhist text, teaches the principle of non-hatred and the importance of cultivating compassion. It emphasizes that responding to hatred with further hatred only perpetuates the cycle of violence and suffering. Instead, by practicing non-hatred and responding to hatred with love and understanding, individuals can break this cycle and promote peace and harmony in the world.
To illustrate the significance of this excerpt, we can turn to the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or “Ahimsa,” was deeply inspired by Buddhist principles. He believed that hatred and violence could only be overcome by practicing love, forgiveness, and compassion. Through his leadership in India’s struggle for independence, Gandhi demonstrated the power of nonviolence as a means to bring about social and political change.
Topic 2
Link to the news from The Times of India:
https://www.iea.org/commentaries/india-s-clean-energy-transition-is-rapidly-underway-benefiting-the-entire-world Links to an external site.published on January 10, 2022
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/on-track-for-2070-net-zero-target-indias-clean-energy-transition-is-rapidly-underway-benefiting-the-entire-world/ Links to an external site.published on January 9, 2022
The commentary, “India’s clean energy transition is rapidly underway, benefiting the entire world”, discusses India’s significant progress in the field of renewable energy. It highlights India’s ambitious plans and efforts according to the country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to a greener and more sustainable future. India has made substantial investments in renewable energy infrastructure sources such as the growth of solar energy and wind power, leading to a significant increase in their contribution to the country’s energy mix. Several initiatives and policies implemented by the Indian government to promote renewable energy adoption. This article also explores the potential economic benefits of India’s renewable energy push, including job creation and attracting foreign investment.
India’s renewable energy revolution is a commendable endeavor that aligns with the country’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation. The shift towards cleaner energy sources not only helps combat climate change but also promotes energy security and economic growth. By reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and embracing clean energy alternatives, India is not only mitigating the adverse effects of climate change but also positioning itself as a global leader in renewable energy innovation. This aligns with India’s historical and cultural commitment to environmental stewardship, as seen in practices like reverence for nature in Hinduism and the principle of non-harming, “Ahimsa,” in Buddhism.
In the textbook “India: A History” by John Keay (page 543), it is highlighted that India has a long history of embracing renewable energy practices, such as harnessing wind power and using solar energy for cooking and heating. The recent focus on renewable energy is a continuation of India’s traditional wisdom in utilizing sustainable resources. Furthermore, the commentary also mentions the positive impact of renewable energy on rural communities, providing them with access to electricity and improving their quality of life. This aligns with the concept of “dharma” discussed in the textbook “An Introduction to Indian Philosophy” by Roy W. Perrett (page 28), which emphasizes the ethical responsibility of individuals and societies to contribute to the welfare of others. Moreover, the textbook “India: A Cultural Perspective” by Nandini Bhattacharya explores the country’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. It emphasizes the interconnectedness between Indian religious beliefs and environmental consciousness, highlighting the reverence for nature and the concept of natural elements, “Prakriti,” in Hinduism. This connection strengthens the argument that India’s push for renewable energy is not only a strategic economic move but also rooted in its cultural and philosophical values.
The study of India has shed light on its rich spiritual heritage and the interplay between philosophy, religion, and everyday life. The excerpts from the Hindu and Buddhist scriptures provided earlier reflect the timeless wisdom imparted by these traditions. Additionally, the commentary on India’s renewable energy revolution shows how the country is incorporating sustainable practices into its modern development. This aligns with the concept of “dharma” and the notion of responsible stewardship of the environment, as discussed in various texts on Indian philosophy and spirituality. By connecting these teachings with real-world developments, we can appreciate how India’s cultural and philosophical traditions continue to shape its path toward a more sustainable and harmonious future.
In conclusion, drawing excerpts from Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu scriptures provides valuable insights into the pursuit of inner peace, the power of compassion, and the importance of environmental stewardship. Personal experience and historical events exemplify the relevance and impact of these scriptures in practical life. The connection between these teachings and real-life events, such as India’s renewable energy revolution, illustrates the relevance of ancient wisdom in addressing contemporary challenges. Moreover, the commentary on India’s push for renewable energy aligns with India’s cultural ethos and presents a positive step toward sustainable development. The connections made with our study of India further highlight the interconnectedness between the religious, cultural, and environmental aspects of the country.
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