Frances Tracy C.

Pasicolan

BS Management- I

Hist 2- B (MTh 10:30am-12:00 pm)

A Trip into the Heart of Asia

The first time I learned that we would have a temple hopping activity I was excited and thrilled. I have never been to other temples and monasteries just the usual Catholic Church that we Catholics have been attending to. I have always wanted to visit, to see, and to experience the customs and traditions that other religions have. In such way, Ill be able to know and to understand more of who they are, of who I am, and who truly God is. Sometimes, I think that I want to be a Hindu plus a Muslim just like Pi Patel from Yann Martels book Life of Pi. Pi was actually a Hindu first. Then Vishnu introduced him to God. And lastly, Jesus Christ introduced him to Allah. Perhaps, it is impossible to practice three religion at the same timeHinduism, Roman Catholic and Islam. For all religions may be different in some ways (i.e. language, customs, traditions, belief), but all are the same in one thingfaith. Almost all religions have faith in a Supreme Being, the greatest force beyond imagination and realitythe sole truth. It is the Divine Providence who encompasses the whole universethe creator and the destroyerbut lives within us as well in every creature in the whole world. Perhaps, it is true and impossible to believe in and to practice three religions all the same, but Pi made it possible because of his love to God. Science may have an in-depth treatment of the universe and of humanitytheoretical and scientific. But religionour faith and beliefis what is in heart. Religion certainly is the origin and center of Asia. The first stop of the temple hopping activity was the Heavenly Taoist Temple (Tzu Ai) of Charity. Before we enter the whole premise, we passed into a pagoda structure gate with dragons at the top. The pagoda structure represents a pine cone structure that connotes imitation and importance of nature for Chinese especially in the religion of Taoism. The dragons, for Chinese, are not an evil and destructive creature, but a benevolent, sacred, and water deity. Dragons lived in heaven and its warmth

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breath is believed to be a blessinga rain essential for the cultivation and nourishment of the agriculture and of the whole biodiversity. Entering the gates signifies entering to a sacred and divine place. Before we could enter the temple, we bowed first to the heaven at the East as a tribute or respect to heaven as sacred and highest. Also because China believed that their land is a sacred place, directly below the heaven. Emperor Shih Huang Ti, known as the yellow emperor, occupies the center cabinet. Emperor Shih Huang Ti is the first historical emperor of China, though believed to be cruel but was an efficient ruler. Taoism made him a god because an emperor was believed to be divine as a god, also showing the loyalty and respect to the emperor as the father of the whole country. Amidst the divinity and powers of an emperor, heaven is still the highest of all. The temple had also included a left cabinet for the Mother Buddha, and a right cabinet for Confucianism containing the Book of Analects of Confucius, a wise and great philosopher. Taoism came from the word tao which means way. Taoism believed that life is a cycle, a continuous cycle like a flowing river and stirring wind. The sacred temple has the colors of red, green, and yellow signifying life and nature for Chinese. On the wall there was an image of the Moon Goddess into the immortal landthe search for immortality. Actually in later Taoism, there was a development of pharmaceuticals herbsthe balance of the body with nature so as to attain immortality. The book Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu, the proprietor of Taoism, showed the reflections of Lao Tzu from living in the forestas basis of Taoism. First, man must live in simplicity and in harmony with nature. Second, man must not interfere with nature, for intervention will result to calamity and problems. And lastly, man must align himself in harmony and in peace with natureto let nature take him wherever he should be just like a flowing river. The oracle bones or oracle bamboo is part and parcel of Chinese culture. For instance, Feng Shui is not only a superstition but knowing mans true nature and aligning himself with nature. Basically, man must know his very nature (i.e. want he wants) in order for him to flow with nature (to act for his dreams and aspirations). Mans thought and actions are manifested in nature. Man is nature and nature is maneverything is one so we should act as one. The second stop was in the Sikh-Hindu Temple. Sikhism had originated in Indiaa combination of what is best from Hinduism and Islam. Unlike other religions, Sikhism do not worship idols or gods

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but instead a Holy Book which contains mantrasa way of bringing people closer to the Lord. They have adapted some customs in Hinduism and Islam, but modified into something as their own just like Japan. For instance, if Hinduism follows the caste system of India, well Sikhism do not. In Hinduism, a Brahmin and a slave cannot eat together but in Sikhism, the kitchen is open and everyone is free to eat together. If Catholics have priests, if Buddhists have monks, they have gurus. Gurus are not gods, they are teachersteachers that read mantras. The gurus serve as a mediator between the divine and the people. Though Arabs have importance to women by giving them protection, it actually constraints women a virtual prison. But in Sikhism, women can be a guru. What I liked about Sikhism is that they broke the divisions and separations caused by discriminations which is prevalent in other religions. The throne or altar where the Holy Book is kept and read, at some point, has this Mongolian-Persian style. The temple was actually small, but amazed because both Sikhism and Hinduism share a space in the said temple. Despite of the differences, it is interesting and amazing perhaps because they have managed to settle their differences and to pay respect to one another. I wondered what if both Catholics and Muslims share in one place of worship or Jews sharing one place of worship with Muslims. What will happen? The Sikhs gave us some delicacies they have that tastes like a Filipino malagkit. They also sang a song that has a beautiful melody and rhythm with all the accompaniments, as if uplifting your soul and going into a trance. The third stop was in Buddha Light Tibetan Temple. Just like any other Chinese temple, its temple was also painted in red and yellow and also has the pagoda structure. Buddhism originated first in India and through the crossroads of civilizations and of cultures, Buddhism was practiced in China. The Tibetan Buddhism as stated by the Nepalese monks is a combination of Indian-Tibetan Buddhism. Unlike the usual bronze Buddha, the Tibetan Buddhism has different Buddhasa particular color pertains to a specific purpose or task (e.g. the Blue Buddha is the medicine Buddha). Unlike the usual red, yellow, and green color of the Chinese temples main prayer hall, the main prayer hall of the Buddha Light Tibetan Temple has vibrant and more colors. In the main prayer hall, there are pictures of the different companions of the Buddhas hanged on the wall. Unlike the usual laughing and big-bellied Buddhas of

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Chinese, the Tibetan Buddhism have an image showing a wrathful Buddhas. The wrathful Buddhas depicts the importance of balancing the peaceful and theoretical aspect of men. Wrath like any emotion is normal but it should not eat us. It must always be in the right place, right time, and with right reason. One of the monks showed the offerings given to the Buddhaswater, flower, incense, butter lamp, water, and food. There was also a mandara or mandala showing how the universe looks like with all the colors and at the top portion showing the nirvanathe true and eternal happiness. The temple also had a room for the ancestral tablets showing the importance of filial pietyrespect, precedence, deference to our parents, to our elders and most especially to our elders. Basically, China values family as one of the asset and basic foundation of ones identity and of the whole country. And lastly, I learned about the two fundamentals of Buddhismto live fully and to learn how to hold one and to let go especially of the past and of the things that we cannot change. And our last stop was in the Chu Un Temple for the yoga class. I was thrilled when I found that we are going to do yoga because it is one of the things I needed to relieve from the stress and depressions I have especially that hell week is fast approaching. Yoga is not only an exercise (i.e. for the improvement and development of flexibility, stability, power, posture and strength), but also a relaxation of mind, body and soul that is why lots of people enrolled in its classes. As what Amii Tabaa, the spiritual name of the yoga teacher, said, Yoga not only increases the physical, mental, and spiritual capacity but also the physical, mental, and spiritual potentiality. Before we did the yoga proper, Sir Henry Francis Espiritu introduced as to namastea traditional of greeting in Indiawe slightly bowed to the teacher to show of respect of the divinity of the teacher. Yoga was truly a moment for me, though an hour wasnt enough. I felt relieved from stress and from all the baggages I carry. I felt enlighten and good afterwards as if hakuna matatano worries. Yoga taught me to be powerful and to gain inner-strength that I have the power in my hands and I control the universe and my life. Yoga is like the Law of Attraction, the law of positive thinkingfocuses on positive things. If you focus on positive things, then it will be manifested in you and in the whole universe. Lastly, yoga thought me of controlling the things that I can,

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to let go of the things that I cannot, and to let God lead me to the right path because He knows what is truly best for me. As what I have learned in History 2Ancient Asian Civilization, religion is the origin of all Asian civilization. The search for meaning, of identity, and of importance led to the establishment of religion. Religion is not only a belief but also of a way of livinga culture. Belief or faith in a Divine Being is vital in the establishment and formation of culture and lastly, of the civilization. All Ancient Asian civilization has their own distinct religion which gave them self-identity. Religion is part and parcel of the nature of ones identityto know ones nature is to flow with the universe like the flowing river. Some may disagree that religion is unnecessary (i.e. the cause of our decline and fall) but without religion, there is no identity. To have no unique and distinct identity is like a blank linelacking and empty. Also, to have no religion is to have no order and no balance, full of corruption and evil. Basically, it was through religion that paved way for Asia to grow as a nation amidst the differences and intricacies. Religion gave us identity, stability, peace, and order. Again, all religions may be different in some ways (i.e. language, customs, traditions, belief), but all are the same in one thingfaith. Almost all religions have this faith in a Supreme Being, the greatest force beyond imagination and realitythe sole truth. It is the Divine Providence who encompasses the whole universethe creator and the destroyerbut lives within us as well in every creature in the whole world. Science may have an in-depth treatment of the universe and of humanitytheoretical and scientific. But religionour belief, nature, and identityis what encompasses our mind, heart, body, and soul. Therefore, religion cannot be separated and removed in Asia because it is who we arereligion in the heart of Asia.

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