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Vanessa Menendez

Professor Robert Kane

English 115 MW

29 October 2018

Groups Interacting E1.2:

When we are brought into the world, we all perceive life in our own way at first. As life

goes on, we begin 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 we experience in life and what we

witness. This can determine how we perceive life on a daily basis. Groups of people are able to

come together and interact productively together because a group that can come together forms a

unity, and if it’s members all believe in the same thing, then that creates the same morals and

beliefs among them. This doesn’t mean groups will believe everything that they are told, I am

sure there will be disagreements. Therefore in my opinion I do agree that everyone does view

reality differently, even if it’s slightly different. We all live life differently, so how can we view

reality the exact same way as others. When there is an idea and people begin to agree, it leads to

their being a group.

The idea of reality being perceived differently to others was given in a story with men in

a cave. In the story, “The Allegory Of The Cave” from Plato’s The Republic, the storyteller

describes how’’ when any one of [the prisoners in the cave] is liberated and compelled suddenly

to stand up….and someone [says] to him that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now,

when… his eye turned toward real existence, he has a clearer vision”. The man who left the cave

has a different experience once he ventured out into the light. This leads to him seeing something
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else rather than the dark and shadows he had seen for so long. When he was in the cave, he had

seen only what little things was to see, but when he was led by others outside 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 with the help of others, we can start to have a different mindset on

how to view life.

Another way that people today perceive life in their perspective is through music.

Everyone has a taste in music, and that alone already puts you in a group due to your likings.

People can relate to the content in the music, and come together as fans. For example, I have

always liked a certain type of music. Whether it be R&B,alternative, Pop, Indie, etc.,but as I get

older I have begun to listen to other genres of music and it has truly changed and expanded my

taste in music. There are many varieties of music I have not yet heard, and as I explore the

different types 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 have 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. Music

always conveys a message, and that message can be perceived differently to many people. Music

can make you sad, angry, joyful, and a ton of other emotions.people take what they hear and

could possibly get influenced and inspired.

Another example I have found people coming together as a group is through religion. 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-
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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’s 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 leads to more people joining this group and

sharing it’s beliefs and morals. Not only do they take part in 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 another way people come together is through forming unity, which is a way of being

proactive and productive to be effective they must come together for a purpose to fulfill some

good. In an article called, “ One Way to Nirvana,”. By authors Donald S. Lopez, Jr., and Robert

E. Buswell, Jr., it states that, “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
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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, and another way this

certain group came together and worked productivity with having new propositions.

Lastly, in the 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 considered other teachings. Expanding

knowledge and practicing new ideas lead to more exposure to the idea of this religion. Groups of

individuals coming together and connecting in a positive way. Results to form a 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.

Schlieter, Jens. “Buddhism in the West.” Compassionate Killing or Conflict Resolution? The

Murder of King Langdarma According to Tibetan Buddhist Sources, info-buddhism.com/

Buddhism_in_the_West_Jay_Garfield.html.

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

Economist (US) 2001, 18 Aug. 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, 19 Sept. 2018, theconversation.com/why-so-many-americans-think-buddhism-is-

just-a-philosophy-89488.

Plato. ‘‘Allegory of the Cave.” The Republic.

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