Buddhism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Buddhism - Assignment Example Moreover, the tradition accepts suffering as a component of human life (BBC). The four noble truths laid out by the Buddha enable believers to overcome obstacles that hinder them from understanding their real nature. Buddhism lays its foundation on the four truths. They are also rare among other religions in the world and focus on strengthening the faith of the believers rather than their warrior acts. Buddhists never use four noble truths to justify the warrior culture or any form of military actions and exploitations. The four truths ascribed to Buddhism are herein mentioned: Life is suffering: this is the first noble truth in Buddhism. It argues that the existence of the human nature is painful. In addition, suffering does not end with death due to the cyclic nature of life. Believers should focus on strengthening their faith and promoting peaceful coexistence between themselves as well as with nature rather than lament on the painful situations they encounter in life. There is a source of suffering: the second noble truth expounds on the cause of suffering among humans. It explains that suffering results from individual clinging and craving. In addition, suffering has links with human ignorance of reality. The desire held by people to satisfy their immediate interests is the main source of suffering in life (BBC). Individuals can overcome craving: the third noble truth establishes the cure for suffering among believers. The truth argues that a person can end his/her suffering by overcoming the need to satisfy their personal desires selfishly. Once an individual overcomes selfish craving, they enter into a state alluded to as Nirvana and that their suffering diminishes. In this state, an individual attains perfect happiness and peace as is the case of heaven. In Buddhism, it is the highest achievable state. The fourth noble truth provides believers with a criterion for overcoming selfish cravings. The process involves eight steps, which

Mirror Neurons and Motor Memory Formation Essay -- Biology

WHAT ARE MIRROR NEURONS? Mirror neurons have been hailed by scientists as the most significant finding in neurology in the past decade, the key to understanding the secrets of human interaction and learning, and as significant to psychology as DNA is to biology. Mirror neurons are a newly-discovered structure of the brain responsible for the firing of neurons during both physical movement and the observation of physical movement. It is these firings during observation of movements that has scientists excited about their relation to learning and interaction. While mirror neurons have been found in both primates and humans, their role in terms of learning and perfecting motor skills is still unclear. The discovery of mirror neurons: The discovery of mirror neurons in macaque monkey was actually an accident during research on the monkeys. It was found that when placing peanuts in front of a monkey, a neuron would be fired whenever the monkey would reach for a peanut. This was to be expected: neurons are fired as signals to muscles to perform the movement. However, when a researcher grabbed a peanut while the monkey was simply watching, the neurons were still fired, implying a neurological link between physical movement and observation. While it is believed that mirror neurons are imperative for monkeys to understand what other monkeys are doing, the believed function of mirror neurons in human brains is much more extensive. Discovery of possible neuron mirror systems in the human brain have been found by the fact that areas in motor cortex become excited when a person observes another do an action. This same motor cortex is responsible for our physical movements, thus offering support that we too contain mirror... ...eversed and reinforced results. The ObsPract Towards data shows that repeated viewing of a movement reinforcing one's baseline does, in fact, translate to a reinforcement of the physical baseline. However, the ObsPract Opposite results show that viewing, and not merely practicing (as in PhysPract) a movement that contradicts one's baseline can affect that baseline. After viewing the contradictory film, the ObsPract Opposite subject's baseline was clearly altered, as now half of his involuntary movements followed the film rather than his previously-established baseline. Though not a complete change of the neural pathway, this clearly demonstrates that viewing an activity can affect one's brain, as was hypothesized. Sources Stefan, Katja et al. October 2005. Formation of a Motor Memory by Action Observation. The Journal of Neuroscience: Vol. 25, issue 41.

Enron’s Questionable Accounting Practices

Enron used multiple strategic partners to help cover up their accounting schemes. Houston law firm Vinson ; Elkins’ top client was Enron. The law firm wrote opinion letters supporting the legality of the deals Enron was making even though they were illegal. Additionally, Arthur Andersen LLP was Enron’s auditor. More than 100 employees at Arthur Andersen were dedicated to Enron’s account. The firm was a major business partner of Enron and some Arthur Andersen executives accepted jobs with Enron. Some believe there was a conflict of interest.It is also believed Andersen was influenced to destroy auditing documents because of the large consulting fees Enron paid them. Also, Merrill Lynch, one of the largest investment banking firms, was also a contributor. They reportedly helped in a scheme of Enron’s to improperly record their earnings in 1999 through the sale of Nigerian Barges. Andrew Fastow, Enron’s Chief Financial Officer, is believed to be the ma stermind behind the partnerships used to hide the $1 billion debt that led to Enron’s bankruptcy.He defrauded Enron and its shareholders to make Enron look more profitable than it really was (â€Å"Castalar Articles†,  2005). Castalar Articles (2005) says, â€Å"People have described the organizational culture of Enron as being arrogant. Enron’s compensation plans seemed less concerned with generating profits for shareholders than with enriching officer wealth. Enron’s corporate culture reportedly encouraged flouting or even breaking the rules. Enron's focus shifted from working hard and being successful, to taking short cuts to stay successful.Former CEO Jeffrey Skilling is seen as the mastermind behind Enron’s fraudulent accounting. Skilling has been quoted as saying Enron could make â€Å"a kazillion dollars† in a new accounting scheme. He is also reported dumping 39 percent of his Enron stock before the company disclosed its financial troubles. † I think it is easy to say what we would have done in this situation. We would all like to believe we would have done the right thing and report the company and its CEO as well as the CFO. I know that I would have not stayed with a company I thought was acting unethically.If I had been hired to audit Enron, I would certainly not have swept things under the rug, destroyed documents or accepted bribes. I do not believe this behavior helps anyone in the end. If there would have been some honest reporting and accounting the company would have most likely been successful. However, due to greed and selfishness the company was driven into collapse. Source: Castalar articles. (2005). Retrieved from http://articles. castelarhost. com/enron_questionable_accounting_leads_to_collapse. htm

Persuasive Essay Existence Of God - 1148 Words

Persuasive Essay: Existence of God The debate on the existence of a god has been a popular topic among philosophers. Thomas Aquinas, a famous Italian philosopher, provided a set of arguments that he believed proved the existence of a god, who brought the world into existence. These arguments provide a sound reasoning behind the existence of god upon the basis that there are a series of events and these events are somehow caused into being. Aquinas explains this uncaused first cause to be god. The first proof he makes in order to prove the existence of God, is in regard to the motion of the world. Aquinas observes that everything in the world changes and that, â€Å"everything that changes is made to change by something else,† (Perry pg. 44). This statement is often refuted by the view that there may be an infinite chain of change that has been going on forever. In refutation to this, it can be said that we would not be able to account for the change/motion that we see in the w orld if there was an infinite amount of causation. If you trace back the causes of motion to their causes of motion and so on, you can relate it to looking at a line segment labeled from A to B. If you did this with the causes of objects you would find an infinite amount of causes and you would never get to A but you know A exists because there is a line segment. If there was not a first cause or starting point then we would not be able to account for the motion that we see around us. Some may make theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Free Will648 Words   |  3 PagesFree Will A definition of free will, as we have seen, can be misunderstood and easily distorted. For the purpose of this essay free will, will be defined as the ability to chose, express ones feelings, emotions, or actions unconditionally. From the first time I understood the meaning of what free will was, I believed in it 100%. I had the right and ability to choose what ever I liked. Not only did I believe that I had free will but if I ever heard otherwise I felt that the other personRead MoreValidity And Effectiveness Of Anselm s Ontological Argument On The Existence Of God1095 Words   |  5 PagesTyler Skeen Essay 1 Assignment Phil 141 Fall 2016 Frank In this philosophical paper I will be examining the validity and effectiveness of Anselm s Ontological Argument on the existence of God. I will begin by presenting Anselm’s Ontological Argument from the ground up. This includes the argument, basic idea, initial assumptions, Anselm’s definition of god, and Anselm s distinctions which are needed to completely understand the nature of my argument. Furthermore, I will present concepts of logicRead MoreAnalysis of Hollow at the Core - Deconstructing Yann Martel’s Life of Pi1063 Words   |  5 Pagesnot persuasive in making all its readers believe in God. It will, however, justify the beliefs of those who do believe in God. She states, â€Å"He [Martel] is not out to prove the existence of God, but rather to justify a belief in God’s existence† (Stratton, 3). Stratton quotes Peter Whittaker, â€Å"This wonderful book did not make me believe in God but it did reinforce my faith in the considerable r edemptive powers of fiction† (3). Stratton puts a huge emphasis from the beginning of her essay on storytellingRead MoreThe Role of God in Descartes Epistemology1356 Words   |  5 Pages The presence of God, and more so the role god plays in our lives, has forever troubled philosophers. Some completely neglect the existence of god, others toy with the idea, and some use religion as the basis of their epistemology. Throughout this essay, I aim to critically examine the role of God in Descartes’ epistemology. Renà © Descartes’ epistemological contribution to western philosophy attempted to inaugurate a coherent method of questioning whereby knowledge of the world is attained independentlyRead More Suffering and The Book of Job Essay1690 Words   |  7 Pagesabout a righteous, God-fearing man named Job. Job has been blessed with many children, and great material wealth. But all of that soon comes to an end as Satan and God begin their debate on whether or not Job would keep his piety in the face of adversity.    Satan is allowed, by God, to test Job, once by taking away his family and wealth, and a second time, by afflicting him with sickness and sores. In the first test, Job holds fast to his conviction and never blames God for his misfortunesRead More Essay on Owen Meany928 Words   |  4 Pages Essay On: â€Å"A Prayer For Owen Meany† In the novel â€Å"A Prayer For Owen Meany,† John Irving creates the character of Owen as a foil to John, the protagonist. Owen Meany embodies the qualities of a true leader while John grows more like his father: doubtful and lost. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the beginning of the novel, immediately there is a clear difference between Owen and Johnny. There is the field of academics; Owen is the head of his class while he helps John not to fail in his studiesRead MoreEssay on Why God Doesnt Exist: An Atheists Argument2720 Words   |  11 PagesThe belief in Gods has always existed throughout human’s recored history. Whether it be the Greek Gods: Apollo, and Zeus, or the Judeo-Christian God, believed by Christians in modern day society. The belief of God has always existed among humans, however, assuming God does not exist, what explains the cultural evolution of such a false belief, namely religion? I shall argue that the reason this false belief is successful is because it manipulates human nature better than any other belief by theseRead MorePhil 101. Lizhi Xing, Netid: Lxing3. The Falsehood Of Determinism.3570 Words   |  15 Pagesresponsibilities. Our physical universe and our mental world are neither deterministic because of two special existence, randomness among the entire universe and free will of human kinds. Like many terms, randomness and free will have various definitions. To resolve possible confusions about these two terms, we need to point out the specific meanings of the two terms related to this essay. Randomness discussed here means that the quality of state lacks a pattern or principle of organization (Randomness-OxfordRead MoreDishonesty In The Ways We Lie By Langston Hughes1368 Words   |  6 Pagesappeal along with logic. The purpose of this essay is to encourage people to abstain from dishonesty. For illustration, the author states,†I cannot seem to escape the voice deep inside me that tells me when someone lies, someone loses...We must consider the meaning of our actions.† In contrast, Hughes’s essay is entirely personal. He describes a time during his childhood that he felt pressured into accepting a â€Å"lie† regarding Christianity and Jesus. The essay declared,† I was saved from sin when I wasRead MoreDo You Believe? God? Essay2362 Words   |  10 Pagesin God? Do you believe in a higher power that cannot be touched or seen? Some people believe that there is a higher power known as â€Å"God† and others do not believe that someone can exist that cannot be seen or touched. God is known to be â€Å"Infinitely good† according to philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas, but other philosophers such as Fredrik Bendz’ do not believe that a God can exist because it simply is not logical. Everyone has their own reasons to why or why not God exists, but in this essay I am