Essay about Buddhist Religion Experience Personal Narrative

I was always fascinated in the Buddhist religion and this class assignment was a great opportunity for me to take advantage of my curiosity. I decided I would visit a Buddhist center. With the company of my mother, I went to the Diamond Way Buddhist Center in Miami. According to my interview with the Buddhist that instructed the meditation service, every Monday and Friday they have a meditation service for the 16th Karmapa meditation from 8:00pm to 8:30pm. This center is part of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism (Anonymous). Upon arriving, I realized that it was in someone’s home. Many Buddhist offer their homes for Buddhist centers and are unpaid for their services. However, they do accept donations. Before entering the house,†¦show more content†¦The Buddhist instructor informed us that Buddha was just a title given to those that reached enlightenment. He also clarified that the statue in the center was of Chenrezig Buddha. Chenrezig Buddha is known as the Buddha of compassion. Under that statue was the Vajrapani statue, which is the protector of Buddha. This statue looks very fierce in nature in order to show the strength and power of Buddha. To the right was the picture of the founder of Diamond Way Buddhism centers, Lama Ole Nydahl, and the founder’s wife who had passed away. The instructor explained to us that Nydahl was a very inspirational and motivational Buddhist who was currently on tour all over the world for Buddhist teaching purposes (Anonymous). We waited a little while to see if others would arrive to the service since it had just been me and my mother present at this service. The instructor explained to us that Monday nights were not as popular as Friday nights. After 15 minutes where no one arrived, the instructor decided to commence the service. Being the only two at the service was quite beneficial because we got one on one attention from the Buddhist instructors, which gave us more time for questions. Before we began our meditation, I informed the Buddhist teacher that I was there for a religious studies course assignment. He then gave me a quick review on Buddhism and Buddhist practices. He explained to me that Buddhist don’t find Buddhism to be a religion because they doShow MoreRelatedBuddhism and the seven dimensions2538 Words   |  11 Pagesinstitutionalised religions. In order to gain an understanding of the word religion, we need to fully analyse and compare the components of religions in order to gain a more cultivated understanding of this enigmatic term. An extremely valuable way of classifying religion and its many aspects is through the Seven Dimensions, developed by Ninian Smart. (See Appendix 1) These dimensions explore the many aspects of religion in a systematic and logical way. 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Online Learning The APUS Way Free Essays

Today’s generation is one where competition in the workforce is stiff and where academic degrees oftentimes put an individual a cut above the rest. The constantly changing employment opportunities and work requirements push people to use whatever available resources they have just to gain the upper hand from a flock of aspiring applicants for several job positions. Experience and education can come in handy during rare occasions when good employment opportunities come knocking at one’s door. We will write a custom essay sample on Online Learning: The APUS Way or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is especially true in today’s time where America is facing one of the most troubling economic crises in history, a crisis which is spreading in the different parts of the world and, thus, causing job losses on a massive scale (Landler, 2008). I am attending college so that I can be able to harvest the rewards of having an academic degree aside from experience that I already have. While APUS is something entirely new on my part, I think of my situation as a chance to broaden my horizons. I think of my future experiences in APUS as events in my life that can help enlighten my understanding of the world and the ways to handle ordinary to complex situations in this modern time. I think of myself as a child eager to learn and comprehend the things that are yet to be known. What greater source of delight, satisfaction and wonder can there be than a learning institution willing to teach individuals the things that matter to them in this highly competitive world? In the coming months, I hope to gain new insights with regard to my chosen field. This is a point in my life where I am more than willing and more open than ever before to new knowledge. Part of my hopes also include my desire to communicate with other people more effectively because I view human interaction through whatever means necessary as an indispensable tool in shaping the course of our lives. The person living in deep isolation and allergic towards new information can only go as far as the limits of his shallow understanding of the world. Like the prisoners in Plato’s cave allegory, people should step out of their comfort zones and explore the world filled with new knowledge that need to be learned (Kanazawa, 2003). Through APUS, I am anticipating personal discoveries that I never knew are parcels of who I am. Of course, the answer to the question of who I am roughly depends in context. Nevertheless, I know myself as a person who is computer literate and who is able to easily grasp the many different sides to modern technology. Studying in a technological age will require some of the interests which I hold—my interests in the usefulness of the internet, in the advantages made possible by online learning and in the benefits of acquiring a degree that other people can hardly attain. Gone are the days of typewriters and snail mail; this is the age of information technology, and what better thing to do than to seek the best information through the modern learning tools provided by APUS. In order to be successful in my academic endeavor in APUS, I have to maintain my high level of interest apart from the fact that I need to keep-up with the pace of online learning. Since distance is no longer a critical issue in online learning, all I need to do to further attain my personal success with my academic pursuit is to allocate time and resources to my new experiences in APUS. Like any other task, my studies in APUS will certainly involve several challenges along the way. One challenge is the idea that I may face certain learning modules that I barely know which I am prompted to familiarize myself with. Despite such challenge, I know that I can overcome that ordeal because I will not let my drive to learn to reach a low point. Unfamiliar lessons and modules may come in my way, but these things are just forks in the road which I need to accept as parts of the learning process. References Kanazawa, S. (2003). Reading Shadows in Plato’s Cave Wall. American Sociological Review, 68(1), 160. Landler, M. (2008). The U.S. Financial Crisis Is Spreading to Europe.  Ã‚   Retrieved February 2, 2009, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/worldbusiness/01global.html?_r=1scp=8sq=financial%20crisisst=cse How to cite Online Learning: The APUS Way, Papers

Third Cubicle On The Right Essays - , Term Papers

Third Cubicle on the Right The doors open, you step off the elevator. You pass the vending machines, coffee makers and a box of glazed donuts. Veering to the left, you enter the array of cubicles from wall to wall. Something catches your eye. He's young, really young and he has his own desk here at Bell Helicopter Textron. No way you think to yourself, he must be somebody's kid playing on the computer. To be sure, you approach him and introduce yourself. As the two of you converse he tells you that he is an intern and will start at Texas AHe also mentions that this is his cubicle and he actually helps design certain parts of the helicopters on the CAD (Computer Aided Design) system. You sit down as curiosity takes over. The conversation continues, describing how he got the job and internship. He states, how in high school, he filled out an application. As you listen to his testimony, a question starts to form subconsciously in your head. In the middle of his sentence you ask, ?How do you know mechanical engine ering is right for you He jokingly answers that it was the research paper. You take another sip of cappuccino and a small bite of the donut you snagged on your way in. For the next twenty-five minutes you drink your drink and eat your eats as this boy described the pathway for his future. It sounded something like this. Determining if this is the future for me or not is a difficult decision, due to the fact that this is the rest of my life we're talking about. I have contacted a few Bell employees and some that are not associated with the Bell program. During these interviews, I collected information from various databases including those off the Internet. Three I intervewed gave me both odds and ends of mechanical engineering (M.E.). Each of the three works in a different type or division of M.E. One orders necessary materials for every part of an aircraft. Another designs and constructs medical equipment. The third, tests materials under stress for the helicopters at Bell. The first of these interviews was with Mr. Jeff Moorse. Mr. Moorse is a Senior Engineer at Abbott Laboratories in Irving. Mr. Moorse is one of the head designers of medical equipment. Mr. Moorse was the easiest to talk to. He has great communication skills. He answered every question and left nothing unanswered. He stated that communication is the essential factor in his line of business. When you design something, you cannot make it perfect by yourself. You need outside input to help complete a design. The only way that is possible is through communication. If you cannot complete an idea or explain what you are looking for you will never have a completed project. Mr. Moorse also included another important element in success, education. Mr. Moorse received a bachelor's degree in M.E. from Buffalo University in New York. He then moved to Irving and received a Masters in Business Administration at University of Dallas at night. The CAD system currently at Abbott Labs is a different ve rsion than that of Bell's. Mr. Moorse was very enjoyable to talk to. I interviewed him at a cross-country meet so the interview was not set in a business setting. It was a very comfortable setting and atmosphere. The interview went quite well from my point of view. The next engineer was Mr. James Foster of Northrop Grumman. He is also an M.E. and his title is Staff Engineer. He's the guy who orders and researches every single material or product used on an airplane. Mr. Foster gave me a negative look at M.E. since he seemed unhappy. The interview was a telephone interview, which made me feel uncomfortable because I feel like I do not have the person's full attention. This was especially the case with Mr. Foster. He seemed unpleased with his schooling in that he feels that the university concentrated on subjects unneeded in his work force. He went on about UTA, where he received a bachelor's degree, implying that they emphasized only mechanics instead

How to Support Physically Handicapped Students

How to Support Physically Handicapped Students For students with physical handicaps, self-image is extremely important. Teachers need to ensure that the childs self-image is positive. Physically handicapped students are aware of the fact that they are physically different than most others and that there are certain things they cannot do. Peers can be cruel to other children with physical handicaps and become involved in teasing, casting insulting remarks and excluding physically handicapped children from games and group type activities. Physically handicapped children want to succeed and participate as much as they can and this needs to be encouraged and fostered by the teacher. The focus needs to be on what the child CAN do - not cant do. Strategies That Can Help Students Physically handicapped children long to be normal and be seen as normal as much as possible. Focus on what they can do at all times.Find out what the childs strengths are and capitalize on them. These children need to feel as successful too!Keep your expectations of the physically handicapped child high. This child is capable of achieving.Never accept rude remarks, name calling or teasing from other children. Sometimes other children need to be taught about physical disabilities to develop respect and acceptance.Compliment appearance from time to time. (For example, notice new hair barrettes or a new outfit).Make adjustments and accommodations whenever possible to enable this child to participate.Never pity the physically handicapped child, they do not want your pity.Take the opportunity when the child is absent to teach the rest of the class about physical handicaps, this will help foster understanding and acceptance.Take frequent 1-to-1 time with the child to make sure that he/she is aware that youre there to help when needed. I hope these insights will help you to maximize the learning opportunities for the physically handicapped child.

The Best Currency Exchange Methods for Every Situation

The Best Currency Exchange Methods for Every Situation SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re planning a trip to another country, you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about the airline you’ll fly, the hotel or AirBnB you’ll stay in, the food you’ll eat, and the fun new things you’ll get to experience. You might not, on the other hand, have thought too much about how you’ll get money on your trip. Despite the fact that currency conversion is a decidedly less interesting travel topic than the best place to go zip-lining, it’s important to understand the costs associated with changing money. Currency exchange requires some time and effort, so it’s necessary to plan ahead or you risk getting stuck with heavy fees. In this article, I’ll cover the basics of how currency exchange works and what you should consider when deciding where and how to change money. How Currency Conversion Works If you’re traveling, sending money to another country, or buying, selling, or trading foreign currency, you’ll need to change your money from one currency to another in a transaction called a currency exchange. Currency exchange tells you what one country’s money is worth in terms of another country’s money. All currencies have different values, which change daily based on different factors like inflation, economic stability, and interest rates. When you exchange currency, you’re trading in a certain amount of money in one currency for the equivalent amount of money in another currency. Currency exchange rates aren’t fixed. Rather, they’re constantly changing. The rate at which you exchange two currencies one day may be different than the rate at which you exchange the same two currencies the next day. Because currency exchange rates change so often, it’s important to understand the best ways to buy, sell, and trade currencies so you get the best deal. Factors to Consider for Currency Exchange There are a lot of fees associated with currency conversion. Read on to learn the three factors that affect currency exchange fees so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal. #1: Explicit Fees Most methods that you’ll use to exchange money will come with a set, explicit fee. You can think about this fee as the cost of doing the business of currency exchange. For instance, you may have to pay a $30 fee to wire money from your bank to a foreign bank. Or, you may be charged a 1% fee to convert your currency at an airport currency exchange teller. Consider these fees when deciding where to exchange your money. A 1% fee may sound more attractive than a flat dollar amount, but could add up to more if you’re exchanging large amounts of money. #2: Conversion Rate Conversion rates almost always differ from the wholesale currency exchange rate. So, for instance, if the wholesale market is charging $1.10 USD per one euro, a bank or currency exchange company like Travelex may charge $1.105 or $1.110 USD per one euro. Again, while this deviation in conversion rate may seem small, it adds up, particularly if you’re exchanging a large amount of money. #3: Convenience The idea of convenience is more nebulous than conversion rates or explicit fees. Convenience is basically the value of your time and effort to exchange money. For instance, if your current bank charges $1.110 USD per one euro, and a different bank charges $1.105 per one euro, it’s probably not worth it to go to the different bank just to save $0.005. Similarly, you need to consider how accessible currency exchange is where you live. If your local bank will exchange currency, that's a solid option. However, if you need to travel three hours out of your way to find a bank that'll change your money, you may just want to wait to change money at the airport. You’ll want to weigh the value of comfort, ease, and convenience versus actual monetary savings. Best Currency Conversion Options In this section, I’ll detail the top currency exchange options for a number of different situations. Best Foreign Exchange Options While Traveling If you’re traveling, you’ll want to make sure changing currency is cheap and convenient. The best option is to withdraw cash as you go on your trip from ATMs. In this section, I’ll describe the most common currency exchange options for travelers. ATMs The most cost efficient way to exchange money in a foreign country is to withdraw money from an ATM. If you have a commonly accepted ATM card, like a Visa or Mastercard, you can likely withdraw money from a foreign ATM while traveling. ATMs are highly prevalent throughout the world and any country that receives even a small number of foreign tourists will have ATMs at least in the airport that you can withdraw cash from. However, there are some downsides to withdrawing from a foreign ATM. First, you can be slapped with fees if you withdraw from a foreign ATM. In addition to a small flat fee for using the ATM in the first place, you’ll likely have a foreign transaction fee that adds between 1-5% to the total amount of your withdrawal. Consider opening an account at a bank like Charles Schwab, for instance, that doesn't charge international transaction fees. Second, it can be difficult to find ATMs that accept U.S. debit cards in some places. While the vast majority of countries with tourists have numerous options for withdrawing cash, some rural or less well-traveled areas may not have cash readily available. You may want to bring some with you, just in case, or withdraw a larger amount when you do visit an ATM so you don't get stuck. Airport Kiosks Airport kiosks are convenient, ubiquitous, and, often, a huge ripoff. Airport kiosks often offer poor exchange rates and high fees for exchanging cash. However, you can use them as a last resort if you need cash on hand when you enter a country. Normally, you can either bring cash to exchange or withdraw cash from your ATM debit or credit card. If you have your ATM card with you, I'd recommend visiting an ATM rather than withdrawing from an airport kiosk. Credit Cards Credit cards are a solid option for paying for things you buy abroad without cash. There are tons of travel credit cards out there that don't charge international transaction fees, so if you can get one of those, I'd recommend using your credit card as much as possible. You can also commonly withdraw cash as a cash advance from your credit card. However, most credit cards charge cash advance fees and higher interest rates on cash withdrawals. If you decide to use your credit card abroad, I'd stick to using it on credit card transactions and withdraw money with your debit card instead. Cash Conversion Banks and credit unions often offer the most favorable conversion rates and limited to no fees if you exchange with a teller. Banks and credit unions, however, often exchange only widely used and popular currencies, such as the peso or the euro. If you’re looking for a less common currency, you might not be able to conduct a currency exchange at your bank. Before going to your bank, be sure to look up their currency exchange policies online or speak to a representative over the phone. You want to confirm that your branch a) actually offers currency conversion services, and b) carries the currency you need. Best Foreign Exchange Options for Sending Money to a Foreign Country Sending money to a foreign country can be expensive, with lots of hidden fees. In general, your best options are wire or online transfers, which often have flat fees. You can also use PayPal or Western Union if you have to, which charge a percentage fee. Wire/Online Transfers Wire transfers, which you can make in person or over the phone at a bank, or online transfers, which you can make using your online banking account, are the best options for sending money abroad. Most banks and credit unions only charge a small flat fee for wire transfers (typically between $15 - $30), so if you’re moving a large amount of money, you’ll save on fees by transferring directly from your bank. Wire and online transfers also allow you to transfer more money at one time than using a third party service like PayPal or Western Union. If you’re sending money to a foreign bank, you’ll need information from the recipient, including the name and address of their financial institution, as well as a SWIFT or IBAN number. PayPal PayPal is a solid option for transferring money to foreign accounts, but does come with more fees than most wire or online transfers. For transactions under $3,000, you’ll pay a 2.9% fee, plus a $0.30 per transaction charge. Larger transfers incur less of a fee, but are more restricted. If you want to make a larger transaction, you’ll have to go through additional identity verification steps. Western Union Western Union charges a flat rate for transferring money to another account. Their fees are typically higher than those at most banks and credit unions. You’ll also be charged an exchange rate on transfers made on international funds. Unfortunately, most Western Union foreign transactions don’t receive a favorable exchange rate. Best Foreign Exchange Options for Currency Trading Currency trading is a complicated, fast-paced business. If you’re looking for a forex broker, consider one of the following options. Oanda Oanda is a strong trading platform that offers a large selection of currency pairs (90+). Oanda is friendly to newer traders, as it has a $0 account minimum and no requirements for minimum trade lot. Oanda also had the lowest spread markup on commissions across the seven major currency pairs. Ameritrade TD Ameritrade is the leader in currency exchange, with an unmatched selection of currency pairs and lots of tools for investors. Trades will be subject to commissions, however, and TD Ameritrade has an account minimum of $2,000. Best Options for Buying and Selling Foreign Cash in the US Back from your trip with lots of foreign cash still in hand? Consider these methods for buying and selling foreign currency in the United States. Your Bank Banks will likely offer you the best deal on buying back currency, but may not buy back all types of currency. Airport Kiosks If your bank won’t buy back your money, airport kiosks will buy almost all types of currency. But, you probably won’t get a great exchange rate, but at least you won’t be stuck with cash you can’t use! Current Currency Exchange Rates Check out the chart below for current currency exchange rates, as well as the current currency exchange rate at Travelex. Note, rates are constantly changing. I included these so you could see how the Travelex rate differs from the stated daily exchange rate. Currency Exchange Rate ($1 USD =) Travelex Rate Canadian Dollar 1.3274 1.1757 Mexican Peso 18.00027 15.9987 European Euro 0.8934 0.8146 British Pound 0.7814 0.7141 Chinese Yuan 6.84 6.0283 Japanese Yen 111.28 98.9324 Australian Dollar 1.32 1.1639 Russian Ruble 59.45 49.9108 Swiss Franc 0.9693 0.8741 South African Rand 12.91 11.1990 In Summary Changing money can be a complicated, but necessary process. If you’re exchanging your currency, you’ve got a number of different options, depending on how much money you need and which currency you’re exchanging. Be sure to do your research or risk getting saddled with unexpected and hefty extra fees.

Eng Blog rev..JB Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Eng Blog rev..JB - Essay Example Being a firm believer in the power of play he believes that everything should not just be educational and erudite in nature. The blog reveals that the boys have been having fun with ginormous cardboard box made of a space ship, race car, and sailboat, animal shelter among other rough and rugged toys. The blog also reveals an observation by the blogger that ‘girl’ toys, on the other hand, are rupturing with unicorns, spectra, sparkles, charms, toothy smiles, tulle and fluff. The ‘girl’ toys in the blog are reflected as having that nauseating pink too. Greatest things in life are cultured at a tender age. Play forms a greater premise for learning these behaviors that influence how an individual will take to challenges in life. The blog reflects a scenario where girls are relegated to the kitchen and boys nurtured through dirt and noise. â€Å"The toys geared towards boys are so jacked up with testosterone, and I find myself putting out my chest in a semblance of manliness,† says the blogger in description of boy toys. He again defends the clear gender delineation by say that kitchen stuff is all pink and shiny. From the commentary, it is manifest that the community has defied the real change intended through gender equality campaigns by failing to consider the real seeds of gender inequality. Much should, for this reason, be done to incorporate our actual take of the girl and boy child through play if we have to achieve real gender

Summary of reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summary of reading - Essay Example Whereas traditional marriage gets support from majority of the people, whether other forms like Gay and Homosexual marriages deserve discrimination and should be deprived of their fundamental right to marry and beget children as per the procedure they choose? Dent, though a strong supporter of the traditional marriage acknowledges their fundamental right and freedom to choose their life-partner and above all the freedom to love the individual of their choice. If one is to summarize the article in a few sentences, this is an important observation by George Dent. He argues, â€Å"If the government treats traditional marriage as the norm, citizens are also more likely to view it that way than they would if government treats traditional marriage as but one of many equally valid choices" (p. 421). Deviation from the joint family and nuclear family has socially turned out to be disastrous all over the world, particularly in America. That the divorce rate has crossed 50% is the grim indication and the worst scenario that has engulfed the American society. At the same time, there is a section of the society and the leadership that favors gay marriages. Historically the same sex marriages have been resented and they think it is a "caricature of the real thing...an insult to a relationship that they consider to have a sacred as well as a legal dimension" (p. 425). What is the ground reality related to such marriages? Homosexual couples will not b e able to procreate, and they cannot have the marriage ceremonies performed as per cultural and traditional standards, it is at the most a social or a club event. With no emotional commitment, the agenda behind such marriages is to get some financial benefits. But the paradox is they can have the benefits through other fair alternatives. One of the prime objectives of the institution of marriage is to beget children. That is not possible for the homosexual