Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk: "After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, Bongwonsa and attempting to see nature as a Taoist, answer this question: What is it about creation,..."

Bongwonsa Temple Reflection

Many people follow a religion because that’s all they’ve known since being born. An individuals mind is filled with the same ideas over and over again because of another one belief. Does this mean that their belief is not truly genuine? No, of course not, but it does mean that ones is influenced by another. That other however, did truly believe in the religion enough to pass it onto to others. So, what made that other devotes his/her life to such a religion? Being that there is no physical benefit to believing in a religion, other than the common moral that ones acceptance into some societies involved belief.

Believing in a certain religions may allow you to believe certain things throughout your life; worshipping a superhuman god, ideas between science and religion, and beliefs about life after death. All of these aspects bring an individual closer to the true meaning of their religion; whether that is nirvana, enlightenment, or happiness.

In Buddhism, individuals meditate to bring themselves closer to a “true self”. They belief that by meditating, following an eight fold path, and the four noble truths, that they can reach a form of enlightenment, and finally reaching nirvana. This is a small example out of the Buddhist religion as to why one might devote them to a religion. However, all religions give individuals reasons to follow them.