religious exploration through Buddhism
Joel Lopez
05/25/2014
Person Interviewed: Sanit Songphrawas
Wat Buddharangsi Theravada
Religious Exploration through Buddhism
There are over 7 billion people on this world and over four-fifths of these people identify with a religion in one way or another (Livingston). Upon the hundreds of religions on Earth it is difficult to even begin to comprehend all their most basic beliefs, their scriptures, or even to whom they worship. The least any person can do is to learn about one of them and understand their belief system. During an assignment for school I was required to immerse my-self in a totally different religious belief system in order to acquire a greater knowledge of what it is like for humans to have religion and to have a deeper understanding of the belief system of another religion. I personally have always wanted to understand Buddhism and what it was like to be Buddhist. For my research I chose to go to the Wat Buddharangsi of Miami where I chose to take a meditation class which was open to the public and was the only ceremony outside from being a monk that I was allowed to witness and participate in. Before I took the meditation class I spoke with one of the monks that reside at this temple who allowed me full disclosure to any questions I was curious about. I learned so much during my visit that I found a greater respect for religion and its many groups of people who reside in each and every one of them. During my initial drive by the temple all I can gaze upon was the exotic architecture that truly memorized me. The initial temple had stone pillars uniquely built in the front, with the color gold giving it a beautiful detailing to how sacred this temple really is. One thing I found disconcerting were the many spider webs wreaking havoc in the walk ways of the temple. Apparently the monks who reside there have a great respect to all life even the spider webs that build their homes there. PhrasmuhSanit Songphra was the monk who I interviewed.
05/25/2014
Person Interviewed: Sanit Songphrawas
Wat Buddharangsi Theravada
Religious Exploration through Buddhism
There are over 7 billion people on this world and over four-fifths of these people identify with a religion in one way or another (Livingston). Upon the hundreds of religions on Earth it is difficult to even begin to comprehend all their most basic beliefs, their scriptures, or even to whom they worship. The least any person can do is to learn about one of them and understand their belief system. During an assignment for school I was required to immerse my-self in a totally different religious belief system in order to acquire a greater knowledge of what it is like for humans to have religion and to have a deeper understanding of the belief system of another religion. I personally have always wanted to understand Buddhism and what it was like to be Buddhist. For my research I chose to go to the Wat Buddharangsi of Miami where I chose to take a meditation class which was open to the public and was the only ceremony outside from being a monk that I was allowed to witness and participate in. Before I took the meditation class I spoke with one of the monks that reside at this temple who allowed me full disclosure to any questions I was curious about. I learned so much during my visit that I found a greater respect for religion and its many groups of people who reside in each and every one of them. During my initial drive by the temple all I can gaze upon was the exotic architecture that truly memorized me. The initial temple had stone pillars uniquely built in the front, with the color gold giving it a beautiful detailing to how sacred this temple really is. One thing I found disconcerting were the many spider webs wreaking havoc in the walk ways of the temple. Apparently the monks who reside there have a great respect to all life even the spider webs that build their homes there. PhrasmuhSanit Songphra was the monk who I interviewed.
Cited: Page Livingston, James C. Anatomy of the Sacred: An Introduction to Religion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. Songphra, Sanit. "Monk Interview." Personal interview. Phrasiridhammavidhet, Abbot. "Monk Interview." Personal interview.