Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk

Religion is sought for many different reasons. For some, religion is an answer to all the questions left unexplained by science. It can be used as an acceptable explanation for why things happen the way they do. When something bad occurs, this can be justified in some ways through religion. For example, Hinduism believes in karma - the idea that what goes around comes around. If something bad happens to you, it is only making up for the wrong that you have done in your life. Sometimes people just want an answer to the baffling questions in life and those answers can be provided by religion, whether it be faith in a higher being or just belief in letting things play out the "natural way", a Taoist concept. It's this desire to understand which may prompt humans to dedicate their lives to seek religious truth. 


On the nature walk I realized how rare it is for me to be outdoors simply for the sake of appreciating nature. I believe that it is the beauty of the world, the wonder of how everything on this planet came to be, that lead me to seek religion. In my eyes, there are far too many miracles that occur and amazing creations of life for all of this to have happened on its own. 

Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation

This meditation experience was a fun and relaxing way for me to take a break from my regular hectic schedule and just focus on myself for 20 minutes. I had picked a spot in the corner of my room near the window, where the sun shines in and the cool breeze blows through the screen. Sitting cross legged on a cushion I straightened my back and closed my eyes. The first thing that struck me was the sounds in my room - or rather, the lack of them. I never realized how overwhelmingly silent the house was without the muffled voices from the TV, the clacking of keyboards or the shuffle of feet on the wooden floor. The first five minutes were hardest, just trying to clear my mind of all stressful thoughts. I could feel my mind wandering to homework, friends, volleyball and other significant parts of my life. Occasionally I'd open my eyes a peek to glance at the clock, checking to see how much longer of this I had. However, after constantly reminding myself to concentrate on deep breathing, I felt a sense of calmness in my mind and body. This experience made me more aware of what thoughts enter my mind, and helped me keep only the positive ones. I'm sure that each time I meditate is one step closer to reaching life's truths, or at least finding inspiration and peace of mind.