Culture Clash Essays - Buddhist Holidays, Firecracker, Fireworks

Culture Clash THE CULTURE CLASH Western human progress has for the most part advanced along the way of thinking and a mission for outer certainties and realities. As opposed to this, the way of life of eastern human advancements have left along an increasingly profound and enchanted course. Eastern human progress has formed into a totally unique culture that depends vigorously on interior investigations, fellowship with nature, and supernatural notions. I had the option to watch these distinctions firsthand when I visited a Buddhist sanctuary downtown on Chinese New Year. Buddhism is the confidence in Buddha and his lessons and precepts. The word Buddha itself implies edified and that is the word I would decide to portray my experience after entering the domain of this support of eastern convictions. The sanctuary was a perfect, splendid red roofed structure incorporated by a high block divider. Two substantial metal entryways, upheld by massive wooden columns on each side, provided the main access to the sanctuary. Two extraordinary brilliant lions remained on the entryway, glaring menacingly, as though to alarm off undesirable interlopers to the sanctuary. After entering the entryways, I was educated that I was not to step onto the raised wooden stride that stumbled into the passageway through the door. It would have been discourteous and insolent to do so in light of the fact that it implied you put yourself at a level over that of the priests in the sanctuary. As I passed the entryways onto the grounds of the sanctuary, I was welcomed by the stunn ing hints of several fireworks being set off as one. As the smoke from the fireworks cleared and I trusted that my ears will quit ringing, a lovely sight welcomed me. The scene inside the sanctuary was a blend of tranquility and serenity laced with a sentiment of celebration and festivity. As my eyes crossed over the excellent structure prompting the sanctuary itself, I was awed at the sights around me. There were delightfully masterminded trees and bushes developing agreeably with the environmental factors. The trees and bushes, of bonsai design, seemed as though a many-sided bit of a glorious figure masterminded by some radiant hand. In spite of the fact that overwhelmed by many individuals, the sanctuary apparently mixed into the encompassing as though to shape some perfect image of congruity. The individuals were an extraordinary wonder to see. Educated by my companions that it was a custom to get new garments, new shoes, another hair style, etc, for the Chinese New Year, I had anticipated that individuals should be spruced up, however I was gotten surprising by a portion of the individuals around me. A few young ladies wore gently woven Chinese dresses, engraved with lovely plans of blossoms, mythical serpents, phoenixes, feathered creatures, and other point by point figures. The men were separated into two primary classes; the more youthful young men wearing fresh out of the plastic new suits and decorating recently trim hair, while the more seasoned men wore the conventional Chinese covers and jeans. The entire scene was one of extraordinary celebration and happiness. Individuals were cheering and moving, with an infrequent prankster shooting off another sparkler. My companions instructed me to get use to the sound of the fireworks throughout the night, for however the sparkler had been initially used to drive away undesirable spirits, it had now come to represent a period of incredible bliss and success for the Chinese individuals. My experience was not completely complete till I strolled into the primary love corridor of the sanctuary. The room was filled surrounding me with splendid gold models of Buddha and other Chinese gods. Every wa set on a richly brightened table, decorated with a grouping of engaging nourishments. The smell of the food was counterbalanced by what appeared to be enjoyed a large number of incense in a rice filled pot situated at each table. The incense let off an emanation of serenity and peacefulness that I had never felt. I was informed that the food and incense were a contribution to the divine beings just as a tribute to dead predecessors. Likewise found in leader of the room was a huge, bronze figure of Buddha resting under a bodhi tree. Legitimately before the figure was an old, bare priest that was reciting some unusual words to the beat of a drum-like instrument (I later found