Story 1: The Songbird's Fate
This story elaborates on the life of the little songbird in the opening of Buck's Ramayana.
Story 2: Chatterbox's Worst Day EVER
A story of a manipulative brother and a poor gullible little girl.
Story 3: Loving A Crazy Lady
Santanu's thoughts, ideas (and maybe a few regrets) about marrying that crazy lady Ganga.
Story 4: The Fate Of The Disobedient
We all disobey our parents from time to time, right? But this time, for Ferra, things end tragically in her world.
Epics Of India
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
College Writing Review
Writing has
always been a strange thing for me. I was an absolutely box-minded, horrible
writer when I was younger until I was inspired by a teacher of mine in 5th
grade (see “Writing Review Week” post during Week 8). Since, I have had no real trouble with it, that
is, until recently. This past semester I have written more than I have in over
two years. This class, as well as my Law & Society class, has forced me out
of my comfort zone of technical writing into a more creative realm I hadn’t
visited in quite some time. Writing without the strict constraints of “hypothesis, steps, justification, etc.” has been incredibly difficult for me to get
used to. Many would argue that there is no “wrong” writing, and anyone who has
written a technical report would quickly refute that: hence my struggle. Many
times I sat down with my fingers resting on my keyboard and no idea what to do.
I didn’t have an outline. I didn’t have a set goal. I was just supposed to
write. And I did, and more often than not, beauty fell out.
Writing,
especially in a college setting, always seems to have so many constraints
placed upon it. “Make sure it’s five pages. Have an obvious thesis. Stay on
topic. Follow this format.” and so on and so on. I always sit there with a rubric
in my hands, holding back a little scream and all of my creativity. It’s a
little backwards. If I can adequately convey my point in four and a half pages,
why must it be five? What if my thesis isn’t blatantly stated by design? It’s a
big no-no to cross the rubric in collegiate writing, and granted the
constraints are there to weed out the excuses, but is completely restricting my
thinking better than half a page of babble? I’m not sure I know that answer but
to that I say:
I am SO
incredibly thankful that I ended up taking this course. While it may have been
stressful at times to think of a story and execute it with proper grammar and
punctuation, it re-opened my thought processes and my love of literature and
prose. I am really excited to finally have time to read over the summer for the
first time in months. I’ve even decided to start a blog of some sort for me to
babble about my struggles and successes, at least through the summer. Hopefully
throughout the rest of my college experience as well. I have a feeling that blog is going to be a
lot like me: confusing, random, ridiculous and overly sarcastic… but that’s beside
the point. “Epics of India” was much
more than just another class to get through, but an eye opener to culture,
stories, writing…creativity! I would have thought I would enjoy something like
this as much as I did and I am so glad that a strange series of events led me
to this rekindling of such a wonderful thing.
Image which reads "Find your voice. Express yourself. Creative Writing" Provided by Wikipedia Commons |
Monday, April 13, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Week 12 Essay: The Life of Buddha
This
week, I explored The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold translated by
Paul C. Blum. The original text was written in French but the translation by
Blum was seamless. The story flowed very well, and gave enough background
information within the story itself to keep confusion at bay. Each chapter was relatively
short, but incredibly descriptive and entertaining. It is obvious that this
book was well thought out, and each word was placed with intention.
The Life
of Buddha was my favorite Un-Textbook story I have read. The simple, modern English
made the reading so much easier than a couple others I have come across. The
only issue with the available text was a lack of PDF. I often close everything
out, without thinking and found myself having to re- find the website and
re-find my place in the book. Not a huge deal, but enough of an ordeal for me
to think of it as a hassle.
I have always
been somewhat acquainted with the story of Buddha, but told from the Asian
point of view which, believe it or not, is different. Every piece of
information I gathered from Buddha throughout my life focused almost exclusively on him after his revelations. Learning the story of Buddha from birth was so
informational.
My
favorite story from the reading was Siddhartha’s trips into the city in Gopa’s
Dream and Siddhartha is Eager to Know the Great Truths. Siddhartha was shocked
to discover pain and suffering. So much so that he completely changed his
entire life path toward seeking the end of these terrible pains. These two
stories took me by surprise not because of their content but the message. We so
often brush off the pain of the world and accept that sickness and age and
death are inevitable, and while that is true and should be remembered it is all
too often a justification. To see that Siddhartha was so incredibly inconsolable,
reminded me that suffering is not mundane. Life is not mundane. The parallels
between the story of Jesus and Siddhartha was also a little unexpected. I have
always been aware of the principle of universal history but these two stories
were much more similar than I had originally realized.
I
absolutely loved The Life of Buddha. It is one of those things that I feel was
unjustly excluded from being a classic. The religious aspects aside Siddhartha’s
story is such a good “Food for Thought” provoking story. This story has
inspired me to re-kindle my exploration of the Greek, Roman, and now Eastern
classics.
Image of Buddha Meditating Provided by Wikipedia |
Bibliography: The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922)
Translated by Paul C. Blum (1927)
Mentioned Stories: Gopa's Dream & Siddhartha is Eager to Know the Great Truths
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Week 12 Storytelling: Siddhartha's Diary
Hey, Diary!
I have exciting news! Dad finally decided to let me leave the
palace! It’s so exciting I've been waiting to do this for years. I’m
glad he realizes that I’m mature enough handle what’s out there.
I am so excited!
Siddhartha
Dear Diary,
I know it’s been a while since I've talked to
you. I've just been so heart-broken. It’s been hard to figure
out what to say. Dad finally let me leave the palace about a couple weeks ago
and explore the city. I know it should have been fun and exciting but the
things I saw….. I will never be the same…
Let me explain. So you know that I've lived a pretty
sheltered life. I know that Dad just wants to protect me and keep me
innocent but so much exposure all at once… It scared me.
Each trip started out great. The guards opened the gates and off
we went into the streets of the city. It was so cool to see the land that we
rule. We traveled down the road seamlessly until I saw this weird looking- man
and turns out he’s sick. Not only is he sick, but anyone can become sick.
Anyone can suddenly be stricken with complete disaster.
I got over it the first time. I just accepted that there is
sickness out in the world and took another trip into the city. That trip
started out well until I saw a beggar and the next trip an old man. I put my
disappointment and pain aside and took another trip into the city today and
this time someone was DEAD. People DIE. I just don’t understand how everyone
can go on about their life knowing that it’s all for nothing. Why are we living
if we are just going to die? Why am I living if I’m just going to die?
Until next time,
Siddhartha
Hi, Diary,
I know I promised I would talk to you again, but I have been so
busy trying to figure out what to do. There is just so much despair in the
world and here I am living a lavish life in the palace. I have to do something
about it. I can’t just sit back and live my life without purpose. I have to
find the end of death and suffering. I have to.
Siddhartha
Diary,
Today is the day. Today is the day I've figured out what
to do to end the world’s pain. I have to leave the palace. I know Dad and Gopa are
going to be so heart -broken, and Rahula is going to grow up without a
father, but I just can’t take it anymore. I have to leave and find the
answer to my questions. I’m not sure where I’m going, and I’m not sure what I’m
going to encounter but I have to go. I have to leave tonight. Gopa and Rahula
are asleep. The chariot is ready. I have to go now.
I hope to be able to talk soon, Diary.
Siddhartha
Image of Siddhartha Leaving His
Family
Provided by Imgarcade |
Author's Note: I wrote this story based
off of The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold Translated by Paul C. Blum.
In this story, Siddhartha is finally able to leave the palace but because of
his sheltered life, he is completely shocked by the pain that exists in the
world. He cannot believe that everyone continues to live knowing that sickness
and age and death are just around the corner, ready to truncate life
at any moment. Siddhartha becomes convicted of his lavish life and goes on a
pilgrimage to find "True Knowledge" and end the world's suffering. In
this story, I took the thoughts expressed in the book and elaborated into a
further detailed narrative of what is going through Siddhartha's Mind.
Bibliography: The Life of Buddha
by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922) Translated by Paul C. Blum (1927)
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Week 12 Reading Diary B: The Life of Buddha
Siddhartha
is so distraught from the discovery of age and sickness and death decides to
leave the kings palace to commence his quest for good. *tear*
He reaches a forest full of hermits and here he decides is the place he will begin to find a way to destroy old age and death.
This quote on page 63 is really great“Unhappiness is born of desire; that man is to be pitied who is a slave to his passions. When a man dies, there are always heirs to his fortune, but heirs to his virtues are rarely found, are never found.”
And this one
“…the practice of virtue is never untimely.”
When Gopa and Suddhodana find out Siddhartha is gone they are in complete despair.
Siddhartha meditates for many years eating nearly nothing, exposing his bones
Siddhartha is beginning to collect disciples, beginning with five, who leave him calling him crazy because he has yet to gain true knowledge.
He has several crazy dreams and upon awakening he realizes that he has gained the true knowledge- he is ready to become Buddha.
He reaches a forest full of hermits and here he decides is the place he will begin to find a way to destroy old age and death.
This quote on page 63 is really great“Unhappiness is born of desire; that man is to be pitied who is a slave to his passions. When a man dies, there are always heirs to his fortune, but heirs to his virtues are rarely found, are never found.”
And this one
“…the practice of virtue is never untimely.”
When Gopa and Suddhodana find out Siddhartha is gone they are in complete despair.
Siddhartha meditates for many years eating nearly nothing, exposing his bones
Image of Siddhartha Meditating Provided by Wikipedia Commons |
Siddhartha is beginning to collect disciples, beginning with five, who leave him calling him crazy because he has yet to gain true knowledge.
He has several crazy dreams and upon awakening he realizes that he has gained the true knowledge- he is ready to become Buddha.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Week 12 Reading Diary A: The Life of Buddha- His Birth
The beginning
of The Life of Buddha has been quite interesting. His mother, Maya is the Queen
to Suddhodana. She gives up her “worldly” evil desires for a life of good, virtue
and abstinence. She heads to an apartment to act out her creed.
While she is
away she has a dream that she becomes pregnant with a white elephant with many
tusks and the Gods praise her and her good deed. When she woke up, she was
overjoyed and wanted to speak to the King, her husband.
He agrees to
meet her and as he is approaching her, he feels a sense of weakness and
uneasiness. Shortly, a voice from above tells him that his wife, Queen Maya, is
going to carry this wonderful son of the Gods, Buddha. He is overjoyed by the
knowledge of having this son.
Months
passed and the time came for Maya to give birth to Buddha. She goes to give birth in the garden to allow
Buddha to begin his life surrounded by the innocent purity of the flowers. When
she entered the forest, she saw a beautiful tree full of flowers and suddenly
and easily, she gave birth to Buddha. The Earth was full of joy. Every creature
rejoiced as this wonderful child came to be born on earth.
The Birth of Buddha Provided by Wikimedia Commons |
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