...Figure 1: Shukongojin, 12th/14th century Japan. It is composed of wood with traces of polychromy. The sculpture is from Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, 1958. The information is from the Art Institute of Chicago. The image is taken from a sketch over a photograph from an LG camera phone. Lester Leong ASST/AH 219 February 9, 2013 Visual Analysis: Shukongojin The Art Institute’s Shukongojin is a Japanese free standing wooden sculpture that is 91 cm tall with traces of red pigment, and was created approximately during the 12th-14th century. Shukongojin is also known as the Thunderbolt Deity that has the power to pierce ignorance with wisdom and defeat evil. The deity is a protector of Buddhist law and is usually placed at gateways of Buddhist temples. The Art Institute created a perfect setting for the sculpture. It was placed on top of a pedestal under a soft yellow light, which gave it a divine appearance. Complimented with the solemn silence at the time and other Buddhist deities on pedestals nearby, the experience was similar to that of a sacred temple. Shukongojin is composed of shapes and direction of the lines that give the sculpture a menacing appearance. The sculpture has three distinct shapes: the head, right arm, and base. The head’s primary noticeable feature is the hair. The hair has a general angular shape that appears like a cone composed of smaller cones. Also the hair has a wavy style which gives it a flame like image. The heads’ secondary feature...
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...explores the relationship between humans and nature. He asserts that the beauty of nature can be understood by people only when one is in solitude. The true understanding of significance of nature is hindered by the hustle and bustle of daily life. Emerson is of the view that we take nature for granted. For example, we take the stars for granted because we know that they will always be there. However, although they are “accessible” in that they are visible to us, they are also inaccessible due to the distance between us. We can never physically touch them. However, there is an inter-connectedness among the nature, soul and the divine that we miss. “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” He feels that we must view nature from the eyes of a child. A child sees things in new an unbiased ways, untainted by any previous judgments. Emerson then rejects the analysis of the ancient historians and ancient theories. He suggests that divinity is in all of nature. Nature is never “mean” or unpleasant in any way. Like the Stoics, Emerson believed that Nature could be the basis of moral principles as well as well-being. But, humans in their present state do not really “see” nature. He...
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...The Aeneid: Analysis Essay In the Aeneid, many Gods play a role in the story. The king of all deities, Jupiter, the divine antagonist of the destiny of Aeneas, and Venus, his main protector and his mother are the main Gods. Lesser Gods such as Mercury, Neptune, and Aeolus serve as instruments for the main Gods to interfere with during the story. The role of the Gods in The Aeneid play a major part in intervening in certain events and delaying Aeneas journey, but nothing can change what Jupiter has decreed will happen, although they alter the way the events transpire. In book one, the interactions of Gods is clear when Juno is angry that the Trojans are prophesized to destroy her favored city, Carthage. Already having hatred toward the Trojans, to keep Aeneas and his crew from reaching their destiny in return for the most beautiful nymph, Juno calls on Aeolus to let loose “brawling winds and howling storms”(Book 1). However, God of the ocean, Neptune calms the storms down because he does not appreciate this, and says this of Aeolus, “He is not the one who has jurisdiction over the sea or holds the trident that knows no pity. That is my responsibility, given to me by my lot”(Book 1). This shows that even Gods with higher power (Aeolus and Juno in this case) cannot just order anything to happen or have power over other Gods because they must treat them equally. This also indicates that lesser Gods can cancel out orders from even the Queen of Gods. ‘Pious Aeneas’ is what they...
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...The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Summary & Analysis The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam presents an interesting challenge to any reader trying to sort through its heavy symbolism and not-so-obvious theme. Not only does the poem provide us with a compelling surface story, but a second look at the text can reveal a rich collection of seperate meanings hidden in the poem’s objective descriptions and sprawling narrative-which in the space of a few pages includes such disparate characters as the Moon, God, the Snake (and his traditional Christian neighborhood, Paradise), the “Balm of Life”, not to mention nearly every animal and sexual symbol the human mind can come up with. Obviously, on one level, the poem can present itself in a fairly straightforward manner in the vein of CARPE DIEM. In the third stanza, theauthor writes, “‘Open then the Door!/ You know how little while we have to stay,/ And, once departed, may return no more.” There’s several refrains to this throughout the poem, first in the seventh stanza: “Come, fill the cup. . ./ The Bird of Time has but a little way/ To flutter-and the bird is on the Wing.” The entire ninth stanza describes the summer month “that brings the Rose” taking “Jamshyd and Kaikobad away”, and so forth and so on ad nauseum. Again, in the fifty-third stanza: “You gaze To-Day, while You are You-how then/ Tomorrow, You when shall be You no more?” The poet seems to be in an incredible hurry to get this life going before some cosmic deadline comes due, and...
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...Ancient Literature Essay Ancient literature includes many themes that are relevant today. Many of these stories include a hero, villain, and epic battle or journey that leads to a resolve. Often, you can see similar characteristics among these ancient writings. These ancient peoples were not much different than we are today, and that is depicted by the themes that continue to be relevant in the Common Era. An analysis of the two ancient writings The Aeneid and Agamemnon show many similar themes and blatant differences apparent in each story. By examining these two stories in detail, a greater understanding and appreciation of ancient literature can be acquired. Since man first began engaging in religious practices, stories with religious elements and themes have resulted. These two stories are no exception. Ancient Greek and Roman religious themes are present in both The Aeneid and Agamemnon. Both stories revolve around the philosophy that what we do with our lives is controlled by the Gods and to disrespect and dishonor the Gods is blasphemy, which will automatically lead to punishment. Both stories are similar in that the Gods are the beholders of the ultimate supreme power and the deciders of our hero’s fates. In other words, if it is not written by the Gods, then it is not the will of the Gods, and is therefore not to be done. It is also apparent in both stories that pleasing the Gods is everything to the characters and ultimately a deciding factor in their roles...
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...Introduction The consumer need for wellness products and various services have continued to evolve in India as the income levels are growing along with it awareness is rising. The lifestyle of a consumer is an important part and with every passing day each and every consumer is getting known to this. Health/wellness which was recently considered as a niche concept has managed to gather a mainstream audience in today’s time. Consumers today want to have total control about their look, how they feel and this is driving purchase decision across major categories like food, beverages , personal care and services. In response to this marketers have launched major products and even services that contribute round 600 billion INR to the wellness market in India .This industry is continuing to grow and it still remains a fraction which is about 4 % or less of the overall consumer expenditure in India. Indian consumers have shown a wide display of behaviour characteristics right from passive where demand of such wellness products is very less to believers for whom wellness is an integral part. Thus it is very important for the wellness players to identify their target segment or core consumer target, so that they can align their value proposition with specific needs of this segment. The scope in the wellness market in India is immense–even a 1% increase in consumer expenditure can potentially create an additional opportunity of six billion INR for wellness players. Today’s young consumers...
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...poetry. To do this, he feels he must first address the nature of the poet, to which end, he must first address the nature of man. “What are Poets?” 3.The Mind: the minds of humans are comparable to an aeolian harp. There are two main “classes of mental action” (516) or faculties: conscious thoughts, produced by the ‘reason’ (what Locke terms the ‘understanding’?), are comparable to a melody or sequence or combination of notes: man is an “instrument over which a series of external and internal impressions are driven, like the alternation of an ever-changing wind over an Aeolian lyre, which move it by their motion to ever changing melody” (516). The reason is the “mind contemplating the relations borne by one thought to another, however produced” (516) and is expressed in logical discourse (e.g. scientific treatises). The reason “respects . . . differences” (516) and is thus particularly given to “analysis” (516). Another part of the mind, the ‘Imagination,’ has the capacity to add harmony to these thought-‘melodies’: there is a “principle within the human being, and perhaps all sentient beings, which acts otherwise than in the lyre, and produces not melody alone, but harmony, by an internal adjustment of the sounds or motions thus excited to the impressions which excite them” (516). The Imagination is “mind acting upon those thoughts [produced by the...
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...the area due to prohibiting costs and public sentiment. WIT scientists have found evidence of language in so-called “junk DNA.” Sequences of genes on certain strands of transposons and retrotransposons are identical to text in ancient Aramaic and, when read, borrow heavily from the bible (DasMeerungheuer). It is clear that the sequencing of DNA, a very lofty subject that we do not fully understand, is understood by a divine presence who exercises complete control over it. The first law of thermodynamics states that heat and energy cannot be created or destroyed by humans. If this is true, then no energy could exist, as we cannot create energy from nothing, indicating that there must have been a supernatural force that initially created all the energy in the universe. If there was no supernatural creator, then the law would not be true (Pack). Since it is obvious that the first law of thermodynamic is true, as proven by everyday experiences, we must also acknowledge that there must have been a creator. The second law of thermodynamics states that everything winds down to a state of entropy, or loses energy over time. This directly goes against the theory of evolution, which states that animals naturally evolve to a state of higher order (Pack). Since it is also obvious that the second law of thermodynamics is true, we must assume that the theory of evolution is false. All this evidence shows that the existence of God and Heaven is essential to our beginning and our current existence...
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...Craig Reflection Paper Carlette Douglas Oklahoma Wesleyan University Apologetics An apology, as the term is used here, is not saying "I'm sorry." Rather, it means a ready defense; "offered in defense or vindication, especially of the divine origin and authority of Christianity." Thus an apology is a defense of what you believe to be true. An apologist is a person who makes the defense. And apologetics is a "systematic argumentative discourse in defense." (All quotes in this paragraph taken from Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. The reason I should defend my faith as First Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." When non-Christians ask tough questions about the Christian faith, I will be able to give a solid and logical response. If not, there is an opportunity lost to spread God's Word. Worse, the Christian who has a weak foundation for his faith can be easily shaken by the doubts of non-believers. Though not everything in the Bible can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is far more proof than most people Christian or non-Christian are aware of. As apologists for my faith, it is my job to line up the available evidence, base my decisions upon it, and present the evidence to others to help give them an intelligent foundation for their decisions. "An intelligent Christian ought to be able to point up the flaws in a non-Christian position and to present facts and arguments...
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...Ruth Boro Professor Hernandez ENGL 1302-71701 30 Nov. 2016 Literary Analysis of a Good Man is Hard to Find. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a short story written by Flannery O’Connor. The exposition of the story is a family from Atlanta preparing to travel to Florida for three days. The grandmother does not want to go to Florida because there is a criminal, the Misfit, aloose from the Federal Pen heading to Florida and she thinks that it is dangerous to for the family to head to Florida. The Grandmother tries to manipulate the son, Bailey to change the destination, and she prefers Tennes-see because she has connections there. The central purpose of the story is to show the rivalry between good and evil. According to an article by Alex Link,...
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...Tablet I Summary The story begins with a prologue introducing us to the main character, Gilgamesh, the Priest-King of Uruk. Gilgamesh’s mother is Ninsun, sometimes referred to as the Lady Wildcow Ninsun. She was a goddess, endowing Gilgamesh with a semi-divine nature. Lugulbanda, a priest, was his father. Gilgamesh constructed the great city of Uruk along the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia, and surrounded it intricately decorated walls. He also built a temple for the goddess Ishtar, the goddess of love, and her fatherAnu, the father of the gods. Gilgamesh is credited with opening passages through the mountains. He traveled to the Nether World and beyond it, where he met Utnapishtim, the sole survivor of the great flood that almost ended the world, the one who had been given immortality. When he returned to Uruk, he wrote everything down on a tablet of lapis lazuli and locked it in a copper chest. As the story begins, Gilgamesh is a tyrannical leader who shows little regard for his people. He takes what he wants from them and works them to death constructing the walls of Uruk. He sleeps with brides on their wedding night, before their husbands. It is said that no one can resist his power. The old men of Uruk complain and appeal to the gods for help. The gods hear their cries and instruct Aruru, the goddess of creation, to make someone strong enough to act as a counterforce to Gilgamesh. Aruru takes some clay, moistens it with her spit, and forms another man, namedEnkidu. Enkidu...
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...THE ASSISI DECLARATIONS Messages on Humanity and Nature from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam & Judaism BASILICA DI S. FRANCESCO ASSISI -‐ ITALY WWF 25TH ANNIVERSARY, 29 September 1986 THE BUDDHIST DECLARATION ON NATURE THE CHRISTIAN DECLARATION ON NATURE THE HINDU DECLARATION ON NATURE THE MUSLIM DECLARATION ON NATURE THE JEWISH DECLARATION ON NATURE LINKS TO THE WINDSOR STATEMENTS 3 5 8 10 12 15 These are the five original Faith Declarations on Nature which were created in 1986, at a meeting held in Assisi by WWF-Internationa. The meeting stemmed from an idea by HRH the Prince Philip,Duke of Edinburgh at which five leaders of the five major world religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism – were invited to come and discuss how their faiths could and should help save the natural world. By 1995 when the Alliance of Religions and Conservation was formed, the five initial faiths had issued more detailed statements, and six other significant world faiths had also made their statements about the environment. Links to the book, Faith in Conservation, published by the World Bank, in which all these eleven statements were published together for the first time, can be found at the end of...
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...returning to the position that I now hold, I am convinced that this issue is basic to all other issues in the church. The destiny of our church depends on how its members regard the revelation and authority of the Bible. In the following pages I have summarized the biblical self-testimony on its revelation and authority. The major focus of the paper is biblical authority, but a short statement concerning revelation-inspiration-illumination introduces the subject, and other biblical testimony on the nature of revelation is subsumed under the discussion of biblical authority. The paper also includes a brief historical treatment of the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment understandings of biblical revelation/authority and an analysis and critique of their basic presuppositions in light of Scripture. Following the conclusion, a selected bibliography of sources cited and other useful books and articles on the subject is provided. Appendices include: (1) a chart schematizing the two major modern approaches to the Bible's revelation and authority (Appendix I, A-D); (2) some of Ellen White's insights on biblical revelation/authority (Appendix I, E); (3) the Methods of Bible Study Committee statement on the historical-critical method (Appendix I, F); and (4) a...
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...Scripture and then returning to the position that I now hold, I am convinced that this issue is basic to all other issues in the church. The destiny of our church depends on how its members regard the revelation and authority of the Bible. In the following pages I have summarized the biblical self-testimony on its revelation and authority. The major focus of the paper is biblical authority, but a short statement concerning revelation-inspiration-illumination introduces the subject, and other biblical testimony on the nature of revelation is subsumed under the discussion of biblical authority. The paper also includes a brief historical treatment of the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment understandings of biblical revelation/authority and an analysis and critique of their basic presuppositions in light of Scripture. Following the conclusion, a selected bibliography of sources cited and other useful books and articles on the subject is provided. Appendices include: (1) a chart schematizing the two major modern approaches to the Bible's revelation and authority (Appendix I, A-D); (2) some of Ellen White's insights on biblical revelation/authority (Appendix I, E); (3) the Methods of Bible Study Committee statement on the historical-critical method (Appendix I, F); and (4) a compilation of Ellen White references to "higher criticism" (Appendix II). A. Revelation-Inspiration-Illumination:...
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...The poems quoted from this volume are entitled : "Thy Rose," "I saw the Winter weaving," " " Love sounds the Music of the Spheres," The " The Beloved All in Souls Love-moved," and All the other translations from the lyrical All." poetry of Jalalu'd-Din Rumi are by Mr. R. A. me Nicholson. To these gentlemen, 7 and to those 8 I have left PREFACE unnamed, I tender my warmest thanks my for their help, sympathy, and interest in " attempt to popularise the wisest of the Persian Stiffs." F. LONDON, January 22, 1907. HADLANB DAVIS. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. 11 . . . ORIGIN OF SUFHSM. .11 14 II. III. IV. V. THE EARLY SUFIS THE NATURE OF SUFIISM THE INFLUENCE OF SUFIISM ANALYSIS OF THE RELIGION OF LOVE . . . . -20 .27 . . 31 THE LIFE AND WORK OF JALILU'D-DIN KtiMf 34 I. LIFE SHAMSI TABRIZ . . II. . . 34 36 III. IV. THE STORIES OP AL-AFLAKI AND THE DEATH OF JALALU'D-DIN...
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