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Vanessa Menendez
Professor Robert Kane
English 115 MW
29 September 2018

Groups interacting E1.1

Groups of people are able to come together and interact productively together for the

following. It’s actually pretty simple how a group can come together because that forms unity,

and if they all believe in the same thing then that creates same morals and beliefs. When there is

an idea and people began to agree it leads to being a group.When we are brought into the world

we all perceive life in our own way at first. As life goes on we began to be exposed to new ideas

and perspectives. We can one day have a certain mentality, and a different one the next. It’s all

about what you experience in life and what we witness. This can determine how we perceive life

on a daily basis. In the story, “The Allegory Of The Cave” from Plato’s The Republic it

questioned saying, “he can see and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things

which are now being shown to him?”. This meaning the man who left the cave has a different

experience once he sought out into the light. This lead to him seeing something else rather than

the dark and shadows he had seen for so long. When he was in the cave he had seen only what

was shown, but when he left the cave he was exposed to a whole new setting. In life we see

things in a certain way from past experiences, but through present experiences we can start to

have a different mindset on how we view life. For example I have always liked a certain type of

music. Whether it be R&B or alternative it has always been a favorite of mine, but as I get older I

have began to listen to other genres of music and it has truly changed and expanded my taste in

music. There are many variety of music I have not yet heard, and as I explore the different types
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of music I begin to have new likings. Lyrics usually play a big part in my personal taste and

through the words it also can determine my mood and how I feel. Different genres of music has

opened my eyes truly to different beats, words, and creativity. This wouldn’t have happened if I

didn’t explore the wide mass of music. As I tell others of the new music I’ve discovered i start to

make connections with others who listen to it as well. Another example I have found was in the

article, “It's Buddha's turn; America the contemplative” by The Economist it states, “These days

many Americans of assorted religious views seem happy to experiment with Buddhist-inspired

practices. Attendance at Buddhist retreat centres is growing, as people talk about their need for

spiritual fulfilment.” This statement from this article proves how a religious group had expanded

its religion and has had new people join and practice their beliefs. They are enjoying the idea of

this religion and depend on this gratification that’s spiritual. In another article it relates to the

same idea, it called, “Why so many American think Buddhism is just a philosophy”, by Pamela

Winfield it states, “the Buddhist masters favorably presented their meditative tradition to modern

America only as a practical philosophy, not a religion. This perception of Buddhism persists in

America to this day.” This basically meaning that Buddhism’s traditions has slowly changed

throughout time and is perceived differently. Although Americans don’t fully get the original and

authentic idea of the religion they do in a way get a similar version of it. From the looks of it, it

also seems that people who rely on Buddhism for their religion are okay with changing a few

things. This leading to more people joining this group and sharing it’s beliefs and morals. Not

only do they take part of it, they also gain new perspectives and experiences from being a part of

something sacred. This is just another reason how people come together and interact for the

good. Also is people coming together and forming unity, is another way of being proactive and
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productive. In an article called, “ One Way to Nirvana”, by authors Donald S. Lopez, Jr., and

Robert E. Buswell, Jr. It states in the text, “Liberation from rebirth was impossible with any other

Buddhist philosophical view. This raised the problem of how to understand the spiritual

attainments of great Indian masters such as Asanga, who had taught different philosophical

systems…” In this section of the article it explains how there were certain contradictions within

the religion. This left a lot of questioning about the religion of Buddhism, but with more

understanding and open minded masters, there were new and different philosophical

arrangements. Another way this certain group came together and worked productivity with

having new propositions. Lastly in this article,”Life of Shakyamuni Buddhism”, by Dr.

Alexander Berzin, it states, “King Bimbisara suggested that Buddha could adopt some customs

from other mendicant spiritual groups, such as the Jains, who held quarter-monthly assemblies.

According to this custom, members of the spiritual community would assemble at the start of

each quarter phase of the moon to discuss the teachings. Buddha agreed, showing that he was

open to suggestions to follow the customs of the times, and he ended up modelling many aspects

of his spiritual communities and the structure of his teachings…”. Here in this text it says how

Buddha adopted other characteristics from other spiritual communities and consider other

teachings. Expanding knowledge and practicing new ideas lead to more exposure to the idea of

this religion. . Here in this text it says how Buddha adopted other characteristics from other

spiritual communities and consider other teachings. Expanding knowledge and practicing new

ideas lead to more exposure to the idea of this religion. As you can see how groups of individuals

coming together and connecting in a positive way. This results to a form of unity and

confederation that has created a path of new ideas and self expression.
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Work Cited

Berzin, Alexander. “Life of Shakyamuni Buddha.” - Study Buddhism, Berzin Archives E.V.,

studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/spiritual-teachers/shakyamuni-buddha/life-of-

shakyamuni-buddha.

“Buddhism in the West.” Compassionate Killing or Conflict Resolution? The Murder of King

Langdarma According to Tibetan Buddhist Sources by Jens Schlieter, info-buddhism.com/

Buddhism_in_the_West_Jay_Garfield.html.

It's Buddha's turn; America the contemplative.(The spread of American Buddhism)(Brief Article)

(Statistical Data Included). (2001). The Economist (US), The Economist (US), August 18, 2001.

Lopez, Donald S. “One Way to Nirvana.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, 20 Mar. 2018,

tricycle.org/trikedaily/buddhist-view-other-religions/.

Winfield, Pamela. “Why so Many Americans Think Buddhism Is Just a Philosophy.” The

Conversation, The Conversation, 19 Sept. 2018, theconversation.com/why-so-many-americans-

think-buddhism-is-just-a-philosophy-89488.