-
Essay / My Understanding of Taoism, Jainism, and Sikhism
I came into this course with a curiosity about other religions. I knew the basic concepts of the major religions and, due to my childhood, I have a fairly in-depth knowledge of Christianity. This semester I also took a world history course, so it was interesting to see how these two courses intersected. One thing I appreciated most about some of the religions we discussed this semester was the interconnectedness with others as well as their surroundings. That people experience God in so many ways is fascinating. Although I still have no interest in following any specific religion and my version of God is more of an idea than an omnipresent being, I have a deeper understanding of these religions and can relate to some of their fundamental values – particularly those of Taoism. Jainism and Sikhism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay The concept of wu wei, or "not doing", in Taoism means following the natural flow of things and letting them happen produce. I was drawn to the river analogy and not fighting against the flow. I struggle with anxiety and it can be difficult for me to let things go and sometimes my anxiety manifests as an extreme need to be in control. I've been working on this and I believe I can live a much happier life if I can accept it. While Jains strive to follow the three basic principles of Jainism: non-violence, non-attachment and being. open-minded – at a level that can be extreme, I think these are excellent values to respect. I think there are cases where violence may be necessary, but I also believe that other solutions should be explored first if possible. Materialism is something I also try to avoid in my life, but I think it's okay to have things that make you happy as long as you don't put those things above people. However, the principle I found most interesting was that of anekantwad. As someone working with young children – some with special academic, social or behavioral needs – it is imperative that I be open-minded, non-judgmental, control my emotions and look at a situation from multiple perspectives . I have worked with children for over a decade and am pursuing a degree in early childhood education. I know that in the situations I will face as a teacher, this will be essential in developing plans to help my students succeed. The three central teachings of Sikhism are to work hard, be charitable and worship God. As someone who chose to self-isolate, I have spent the last year consciously seeking opportunities to integrate into my community. I feel like I have always been a charitable person, but I strive to establish more connection and kindness with others. As someone who was very active in a Christian church into early adulthood, I sometimes miss that feeling of fellowship within the church. There was something very comforting to me about belonging to a group of people who shared a common belief or passion, and I see this present in langar, the shared community meals where everyone is expected to be equal and with a sense of belonging. Keep in mind: This is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay I plan to implement some of these principles into my life and continue those..