Buddhism

The spread of Buddhism throughout China sparked diverse responses from many individuals. Scholars from varying backgrounds and religions had differing opinions about Buddhism and multiple factors influenced their viewpoint. Factors such as what class they are from, what religion they are, and what events are happening at the time. Documents 2 and 3 are written by Chinese scholars who are in support of Buddhism and seem to be trying to inform others of the positives of Buddhism. The authors of Documents 4 and 6 are Confucian and part of the Tang court, and because of that they are against Buddhism. Documents 1 and 5 come from Buddhists (Document 1 is supposedly the first sermon preached by the Buddha himself) who are in favor of Buddhism. Chinese scholars are intelligent and literate, causing their viewpoint to be held in high regard. Because of this, Chinese scholars may have been able to influence others opinions. This is evident in Document 2, where Chinese scholar Zhi Dun tried to calm the people of the nation down and stick to their religion even when times are hard (Asian Nomads invaded Northern China during his period). Zhi Dun may have been trying to soothe the people by emphasizing on the spiritual side of Buddhism because he didn’t want the peasants to rebel. Similar to Document 2, Document 3 features an anonymous Chinese scholar who was defending Buddhism and trying to convince people to convert. In the form of a Qamp;A session, this Chinese scholar defends Buddhism and provides answers to difficult questions such as why Buddhism was never practiced by the sages of the past and Confucius. Both Documents 2 and 3 has authors that support Buddhism and gone out of their way to promote the religion. Documents 4 and 5, in my opinion, are clearly written by biased authors who are anti-Buddhism. Han You, a leading Confucian scholar and official and the Tang imperial court, mentioned that since Buddha’s sayings contain nothing about the ancient kinds and did not follow Confucian tradition, it is an evil and later generations should be spared from this â€Å"evil†. Tang Emperor Wu in Document 6 basically reiterated on this statement. Both authors believe that the spread of Buddhism is corrupt and that it is damaging to the public. However, both authors are part of the Tang court are also Confucian, so perhaps they are trying to resist Buddhism so that the new religion won’t overpower their authority. By speaking badly of Buddhism, they might convince the public to remain with Confucianism. Documents 1 and 5 are both very interesting. In fact, Document 1 contains the first sermon preached by the Buddha himself. Document 5 is written by a Buddhist scholar who is also favored by the Tang imperial household, which is quite distinctive. These two authors are unique individuals, and both support Buddhism. However, while Zong Mi supports Buddhism, he is also open-minded and respects both Confucius and the Buddha. He refers to them as perfect sages since their teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society. He differs from the rest of scholars in that he is basically neutral and doesn’t side with one religion over another. But even though these two authors are pro-Buddhism, there is a certain â€Å"voice† missing. I think a Buddhist peasant could contribute his opinion. Since he is from a lower class, he has the perspective of the religion from a poor person’s point of view and could have different feelings about it compared to higher class people such as Zong Mi and the Buddha.

Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder Essay

Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder - Essay Example Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity)† (par. 1). Doctors Phillips and Mersch identifies it as a â€Å"chronic biobehavioral disorder that initially manifests in childhood and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention† (Phillips and Mersch, 2011, p. 1). Types There were specifically three types of the disorder, to wit: (1) the inattentive type; (2) the hyperactive impulsive type; and (3) a combination of the inattentive and hyperactive impulsive types (Kids Health, 2011). As the terms suggests, the inattentive type exhibits the following signs and symptoms: unable to pay attention or focus on details, manifests apparent listening dilemmas, easily distracted, forgetful, avoids mental tasks. The hyperactive impulsive type, on the other hand, manifests symptoms of being on the go at all times; excessive talking, climbing or running; difficulty waiting, rema ining seated, and playing quietly; tendencies to interrupt; and fidgeting, among others. The third type, the combination of the two, exhibits a combination of the signs and symptoms above mentioned. Causes There are diverse theories that try to explain the root cause of the disorder. According to NIMH (2010), the actual cause could not be determined, but genetics could play a significant role in its manifestations. Other factors that could be attributed to preponderance to the disorder are environmental factors, injuries in the brain, and nutrition or some food elements in the diet, among others. A research conducted by Shaw et al. (2007) revealed that â€Å"children with ADHD who carry a particular version of a certain gene have thinner brain tissue in the areas of the brain associated with attention. This NIMH research showed that the difference was not permanent, however, and as children with this gene grew up, the brain developed to a normal level of thickness. Their ADHD sympt oms also improved† (Shaw et al., 2007, cited by NIMH: Causes, 2010, par. 3). In terms of environmental factors, studies have proven that parents who have been drinking alcohol and smoking have direct links to having children with ADHD (Linnet et al., 2003; Mick et al., 2002). Further, children at preschool levels found to have presumably been exposed to lead of high levels (through paint or plumbing fixtures) exhibited symptoms of the disorder (Braun et al., 2006). In terms of food additives, the research conducted by McCann (2007) aimed to establish a direct link between food with preservatives or artificial colors. Future researches are still required to validate this contention. Statistics The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following relevant statistics on children with ADHD: ? Approximately 9.5% or 5.4 million children 4-17 years of age have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2007. ? The percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD dia gnosis increased by 22% between 2003 and 2007. Boys (13.2%) were more likely than girls (5.6%) to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. (CDC, n.d., 1). The information that boys were more likely to be afflicted with the disorder than girls have been supported in other studies such as the Phillips and Mersch (2011) who indicated â€Å"ADHD occurs two to four times more commonly in boys than girls (male to female ratio 4:1 for the predominantly hyperactive type vs. 2:1 for the predomi

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 55

Reflection - Essay Example Language is important resource which also serves as critical tool for disseminating information. Effectiveness of teaching and learning is indeed a constant effort which teachers apply by testing new approaches with learners. Thus methods of teaching need to be looked from new perspective of bonding with learners which can address their learning capabilities and make teaching and learning effective. I strongly agree with the writer that ELT has gradually lost its relevance as the basic purpose of ELT has been overridden by the researchers who believe that semantics of the language is more important. Language is important tool of communication and ELT becomes relevant for foreign students in English speaking nations. The fundamental aim of ELT was to ensure that foreign students were better equipped to assimilate within mainstream population and communicate effectively. But now ELT has evolved into important method of teaching to foreign students and become controversial as its theoretical aspects obstruct learners’ ability to communicate in the real world which actually defeats the very purpose of the language! Theories become effective only when their efficacy is tested in real world. Consequently, practice should be the basis of evolving theories. (words: