Eastern Thought in the Works of Kerouac and Ginsberg Essay -- Biograph

Eastern Thought in the Works of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's, a fascination with Eastern thought developed, concentrating on Zen Buddhism and Daoism. This attraction can be explained in part by the complete strangeness of these thought forms to Western ideals. Buddhism's denial of reality and Daoism's wu-wei or flowing with life were revolutionary ideas to the people of the late '50's who had been brought up with consumerism, patriotism, Christianity, and suburbia. As people began rebelling from this cookie-cutter society, Eastern thought became a tool for the revolution, denying previously indubitable truths such as reality, attachment and God. This polar opposite belief-system, though it worked well as a slap in the face for conservative America, had difficulty being accepted in it's purest totality. Many aspects were too strict, too foreign and even too conservative to fit properly with the atmosphere of revolution and freedom. Thus began the process of "domestication". In order for these belief-systems to be embraced by the revolutionaries, a sort of depurification had to take place. Writers like Kerouac and Ginsberg combined Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and forms of Tibetan mysticism with parts of Western religions to create a medley of traditions much more liberal in practice than any of it's component belief systems. This "corruption" of Eastern thought began with the inclusion of sex, drugs and even facets of Christianity and other modes of Western thought to produce a hybrid of spirituality, and ended as an accepted mode of belief among the revolutionaries in a way the purest forms of these religions never could have. Jack Kerouac in his book, The Dharma Bums, and Allen... ...beliefs with their own, or tracing the traditions to their purest roots and taking the religion from there. It was a long road, but the sincerity of the Dharma Bums and the other poets and writers of the 1960's left a legacy of religious freedom, breaking out of the barriers of middle-American Christianity and setting out for the new frontier. Kerouac muses over this in The Dharma Bums, "'Yes, Coughlin, it's a shining now-ness and we've done it, carried America like a shining blanket into that brighter nowhere Already'" (138).    Works Cited Allen, Donald ed. The New American Poetry 1945-1960. Berkeley: U of CA, 1999. Ginsberg, Allen. "Kaddish". Allen, pp. 194-201 Ginsberg, Allen. "Sunflower Sutra". Allen, pp. 179-180. Ginsberg, Allen. "A Supermarket in California". Allen pp. 181-182. Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York: Penguin, 1986.

Final Reflection Essay

During week one, my initial definition of learning was listening to an instruction, studying and then rehearsing that information in my mind, or categorizing it in a way so I could remember most of what was taught in the course. The class has opened a new dimension for me in the learning process; from understanding how I process information to deciphering which learning processes I use in intentional learning or metacognition. Understanding my learning patterns form dynamic learning relationship is a key element to my view of how and why I process the learning experience, even relating it to every day life. Since discovering my learning patterns by administering the Learning Connections Inventory or LCI assessment, I have discovered my aptitude for using Sequence (20), Precision (23), Technical Reasoning (35) and Confluence (29) learning patterns. My â€Å"use first† patterns of Technical Reasoning and Confluence are now self-evident and shed light on why my career took the path it did, leading me to this point in life. Confronting each task as a Dynamic Learner, I subconsciously used my Technical Reasoning and Confluence learning patterns first and as needed used my Precision and Sequential learning patterns. Throughout my career in the Navy, Technical Reasoning was pronounced which led me to choosing a mechanical trade; then in the construction industry, using my hands as a carpenter to renew or erect buildings. Sequential and Precision patterns were used on an as needed basis when specific tasks required a structured approach like developing designs or repairing equipment. Throughout this course, different quizzes took Sequential learning to complete. I found it difficult to only use this pattern and my strong Technical Reasoning pattern was evident by my moving from question to question if I did not immediately know the answer; then going back to answer the questions I skipped using Precision learning pattern. Reading assignments were a struggle as well; I was accustomed to using Technical Reasoning, briefly reading through the chapter to pick out phrases I knew were important. The critical reading process drew me back to basics by redirecting my use of Sequence and Precision learning patterns to become the predominant patterns used. Sequence learning pattern was needed in the  completion of discussions; I needed to focus, not only on discussions but completing all my work and submitting it on time. Having high technical reasoning and confluence learning patterns are what shaped decisions and tendencies in this class; procrastinating and being late with assignments started early in the course. Learning how to â€Å"FIT† my patterns together is a new concept which was difficult to introduce not only in my college course but in my daily life as well. Forging, Intensifying or Tethering my learning patterns are a continual activity and now that I have begun to understand how to decode a task, it will enable me to recognize the learning patterns to use, strengthen and reduce. This course was extremely interesting to me; discovering the four different learning patterns, how they influence college coursework and my career path. I appreciated looking at the inter-working of how I learn and what I can do to enhance my learning capabilities. As the weeks went by, the on-line experience with Ashford University became easier to schedule; I used sequential and precision learning patterns to regulate my time, turning in assignments when they were due. In the past, on-line learning was tedious and difficult to manage. Ashford’s approach with an introductory course in personal learning is eye opening; understanding how and why I learn will carry over into future courses. The overall online college experience will be what I make of it. Interacting with instructors and peers is an aspect in my control. Challenging classes will be met with a different attitude and perspective, knowing the how’s and why’s of my learning patterns is key to being successful.

European Influence on Japan & China Essay

The European arrival had an effect on both China and Japan. China and Japan had some similar and different reactions to the arrival of the Europeans. In China and Japan, the European arrival affected the technologies and economies of both societies similarly, whereas the reason of isolation differed in these societies. The technology of the European’s following their arrival penetrated both the Japanese and Chinese societies. In China, in order to gain the elites interest in the Christian religion, the Jesuit missionaries introduced the technology of cannons and clocks. In Japan during the 1950s, the Portuguese technology of clock and gun making, influenced society strongly. The Japanese and Chinese both openly accepted the new European technologies because they felt they needed to accept the technologies to keep up with the Europeans, who seemed more technologically advanced. In both China and Japan, people were being converted to Christianity. They were being converted from top to bottom. Once a year, China and Japan, were able to trade with the Europeans. They isolated themselves and traded with each other. Japan and China also had some different reactions to the European arrival. They had different reasons for isolating. After Zheng He died, the Chinese government decided to close the ports, except two. The Chinese and the Europeans exchanged goods once a year for the next 400 years. China agreed with the isolation because the scholar gentry saw the voyages as a waste of resources. They rather spend the money on defending China. Japan grew doubts with the European intentions, that both merchants and missionaries might subvert the existing social order. This led to official measures to restrict foreign activities in Japan. Under Ieyasu and his successors, the persecution of the Christians increased to isolate Japan from outside influences. In the 1630s, all the Japanese ships were forbidden to trade or even sail overseas. By the mid-17th century, Japan’s retreat into almost total isolation was complete. A major difference was after Japan isolated themselves, an elite group still remained interested in the Europeans. Unlike the Chinese who looked down on the Europeans and ignored what they had to offer and stay isolated with them. The Chinese and Japanese had similar and different reactions to the arrival of the Europeans. Both of these societies had a technology advancement. Also, they both isolated themselves from the Europeans and instead they traded with each other. They had different reasons for isolating. Also, an important difference was that in Japan, a group remained interested in the Europeans. This differed from the Chinese because after they isolated, they didn’t want anything to do with the Europeans.

In the Heart of the Sea In 1819 Essays

In the Heart of the Sea In 1819 Essays In the Heart of the Sea In 1819 Essay In the Heart of the Sea In 1819 Essay Essay Topic: The Heart Goes Last In the Heart of the Sea In 1819, The whale ship, Essex, set its sails and departed from Nantucket, Massachusetts on a voyage to the Pacific Ocean to hunt and kill sperm whales and retrieve the abundance of oil the whales possess, which became a crucial component in 19th century industry [2]. The island of Nantucket had been one of the most important oil businesses for quite some time. For the crew of the whale ships, harvesting whales was a tough assignment; when a whale was spotted, the crew would approach it, harpoon it, and then try to kill it. Once a whale was killed, its blubber was peeled from the corpse and then boiled for the high quality oil. On this particular journey the crew faced even more difficulties than just the killing of the whales. As sperm whales can reach upwards of sixty tons [1], they had the potential to destroy a whaling boat, as the crew of the Essex unfortunately learned. The whale ship goes through a huge storm, was attacked by a large sperm whale, became shipwrecked and was forced to navigate the sea with limited supplies in very small whaleboats, leading to starvation, dehydration, cannibalism, and even death. The story of the Essex is an important part of history, as it demonstrated not only the importance of the whaling industry upon 19th century citizens, but how such a tragic event played an important role on a community such as Nantucket. Soon after arriving in the Pacific, the crew made several stops along the coast of South America, slaughtering many whales along the way. George Pollard, the captain, then charted a course for another area near the coast of South America, which had come to be known as a hot spot for hunting whales. The crew of the Essex had never ventured into these waters and the whalers were unfortunately unaware of the dangers that awaited them in this uncharted territory. The tides turn on the whalers on November 20, 1820; the lookout crew spotted a pod of whales and immediately the harpoon crew boarded the whaleboat to pursue the whales. As the captain ordered Lawrence to get even closer to the whale, the harpoon hit the whale, forcing it to panic and whip the boat with its tail, gouging out a hole in the side of the boat. After one of their whaleboats had been damaged days before, another boat became severely damaged. As the harpooners limped back to the Essex, a massive sperm whale appeared off the bow, acting in a very suspicious manner. The whale then swam vigorously towards the vessel, ramming the side of the Essex, which led to the capsizing of the whale ship. The blunt, square shaped head of a sperm whale is what allowed it to ram the vessel without causing damage to the animal, not to mention they weigh upwards of thirty-five to forty-five tons [1]. This instance became the first documented whale attack on any type of ship. Perhaps the brutality of the slaughters enraged the large whale to attack. Whales are excellent communicators and the dying whales could have sent a distress signal that prompted the attack. Clearly the decision by Captain Chase to get closer to the whale that damaged the smaller ship led to even more unfortunate events. Philbrick discusses different ideas about why the attack took place. Some speculate that the attack could have just been accidental. Others contribute the attack due to the natural aggressiveness of male sperm whales. The cause will never be known, but the effects of the attack soon took a devastating toll to the entire crew of the Essex, and many decisions were made shortly thereafter the whales attack had ultimate importance. Many would have fought to keep the wounded alive; others would seek to quickly move on and leave the wounded to die. The most significant decision made came from Captain Pollard, who wanted to choose what would have been the better option, but listened to the other officers and decided to sail a different route to South America, rather than go west, which would have been a shorter distance to the safety of shore. The mens speculations about the unknown contributed to their fear to sail for other islands in that area. Another costly decision. Soon thereafter the negative consequences began to reek havoc on the crew. Hunger, thirst, weather and even another attack from a whale added unneeded side effects. The saltwater burned their open wounds, their skins were severely sun burnt, not to mention toll that the loneliness played on the crew’s ability to mentally withhold the circumstances. The difficult decisions they made ultimately led to situations and experiences that the crew would hope to forget. On the other hand, they were able to make some smart choices. They made sails for their smaller boats from the damaged Essex, and raised the sides of the boats to prevent waves from crashing aboard. Soon after all the abuse their bodies took, they reached the Henderson Islands. The days spent there provided the shipmates with slightly sufficient quantities of water, and a good supply of food. Although the Henderson Islands were not enough, the crew was still reassured and somewhat recuperated for what lied ahead. Two died shortly after departure from the islands and were buried at sea. But as the journey progresses, the dead could not be so easily let go. The irony stemming from this was that cannibalism was the reason they took such an indirect route, and eventually allowed members of the crew to stay alive. So many life-threatening choices were made, some costly, some life saving. Either way, decision making led to climactic brutal experiences that had an effect on the Nantucket community, as well as the history of the whaling industry. Only five remained alive after the ordeal despite their starvation, exhaustion and severe dehydration, they were all desperately anxious to tell of their experiences to their community. Towards the 18th century, colonists began to form what they called, whale fisheries [2]. â€Å"Islanders from Nantucket, who had taken to whaling because their soil was too poor for farming, killed their first sperm whale in 1712. † [2]. Sperm whales were among the most highly prized of the whales. Sperm whales had a rich abundance of blubber and bone that was very useful, and they also contained a rare material called â€Å"spermaceti†, a waxy oil found inside an organ in the whales’ bodies [2]. Spermaceti was used in candles and was widely viewed as being crucial to making the very best candles. So why was whaling so important in this time period? Oil was a necessary commodity for machinery, and was beginning to become limited, â€Å"a 19th century whaler regarded a whale as a swimming oil well. † [2]. At this point in time, machines were being more widely used, and the oil from whales greatly attributed to the industrial revolution [2]. Finding well paying jobs was difficult, as the nation was still developing. Even despite the difficulties and dangers of serving on a whale ship, large numbers of men were drawn to the monetary benefits, and even just the anticipation of a thrilling adventure. Returning from the long voyages safely, with a good supply of killed whales, was utterly essential and yielded important profits for colonies, especially Nantucket. So for such a tragedy like the Essex, one can imagine the negative consequences brought about by their misfortune. The fear of the unknown was amplified, the loss in profits surely was not accepted well, and the sheer torment the crew dealt with struck fear in the eyes of those in the whaling industry. Captain Pollard was viewed as insane, and ended up forfeiting his whaling career later on. Perhaps the most damaging consequences of the catastrophe were the fact that the five surviving sailors had to live with the memories of their journey. I cannot fathom how a sailor can be able to fully mentally recover from such a calamity. Sure the physical consequences of the long struggle were difficult to recover from, but being shipwrecked at sea can be one of the most mentally challenging experiences. The severe dehydration surely led to hallucinations, which could impair decision making and give the sailors false hope. The lack of food forced the sailors into the most desperate of measures. Obviously, resulting to cannibalism was the last thing any person would want to do, but proved to be life saving. I am sure the surviving whalers are faced with some hard memories, such as the whale attack and the loss of shipmates, but all definitely lived with the memories of eating their deceased crew members. The long term effects of such a devastating event had an impact on the future of whaling and industry in the colonies. The story of the Essex was very significant in the progression of industry, became central for the future of whaling, had a drastic impact on community of Nantucket and became an important part of American history. 1. acsonline. org/factpack/spermwhl. htm 2. http://history1800s. about. com/od/whaling/a/histwhaling. htm

5 Helpful Study Tips for Visual Learners

5 Helpful Study Tips for Visual Learners All of us have a preferred learning style. This just means that your mind is specifically suited to one mode of informational input – hearing things (auditory learners), experiencing things (kinesthetic learners), or seeing things (visual learners) – more than another. No one is only suited to one mode of input, but most people have a clear preference and one of the inputs will be stronger than others. If you prefer being shown something to simply being told, you might be a visual learner. The problem with studying for visual learners is that most (bad) teachers will only use one style – its most likely to be the one they prefer themselves. And if youre in the latter years of your education, auditory input – lectures – is what youre mostly going to get. Try not to be discouraged, however. All types of learners face their own unique challenges. Instead, understand that you should simply adapt your study habits to suit your learning style. Heres how you do it: Use Video Lessons Use resources like Khan Academy that have created videos specifically with visual learners in mind. Everything is written down before your eyes by the instructor, and explained in-depth with lots and lots of examples. They utilize pictures and slides to explain everything from algebra to art history, and a visual learner will do well by watching them. If your professors teaching is not suited to your preferred learning style, use these visual lessons to catch up on any material you might have missed. Flashcards Flashcards are absolutely essential for visual learners. Use them in tandem with another visual learner and you can pick up on things at the same pace. These will be put to use when youre preparing for multiple-choice tests or when you have to memorize lots of facts rapidly. When making flashcards, try and aim for succinct descriptions and answers – those work best. Visual learners should try using different pens and markers to color-code prompts from different categories. Try adding a picture, so that you can associate an answer with a visual. Flowcharts, Graphs and Infographics Visual learners need a visual input to associate with a fact, and flowcharts, graphs and infographics are the best ways to do that. If youre reading your notes and cant make sense of them or youre getting lost, look up an inforgraphic to learn it more quickly and retain more information. Chances are, someone on the Internet has made one for whatever subject or topic you need. Slideshare.net and reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful are great resources to use if you havent found one through your preferred search engine. Use Diagrams and Drawings to Visualize Your Notes In class, when youre trying to retain lots of information, it might be easier for you to draw a quick graph or diagram for future reference – for visual learners, this might be the part of the notes they will remember best. So, in history class, if there is a timeline of events, draw a line with branches coming from it and write short notes on the date and what happened for maximum retention. Start doing this, and youll find that most information can be broken down and systematized into a list or chart. If the instructor is using any drawings or diagrams in the PowerPoint, make sure to copy them down. Use Highlighters Lots of visual learners, interestingly, struggle with reading information from a book. If youre reading something and come to find that you havent been paying attention, try and read with a highlighter in your hand, noting important information. Firstly, this will force you to read more carefully. Secondly, you will retain more information by creating a visual marker for it. However, try to highlight as little as possible – if youre highlighting everything, its as if youre not highlighting anything at all. Hopefully, youll be putting these tips to good use. Most importantly, a blanket rule for visual learners should be to try to visualize all the information they receive. Train your mind to create an image to match what youre hearing – for instance, if someone is giving you directions, try and create a map in your mind. This will train your brain to retain information from other inputs better and become the best learner you can be.

Vomiting Reflex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vomiting Reflex - Essay Example This means that it can receive direct emetogenic stimulation from the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The CTZ sends impulses to the vomiting impulses to the vomiting centre. The process of vomiting includes the retching and the expulsive phase. In the retching phase, the vomiting centre transmits motor efferent impulses to the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm resulting in increased intra-abdominal pressure. It also results in anti-peristalsis forces that can go all the way to the duodenum and ileum. Gastric content accumulates in the stomach resulting in relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (John, 2010). This is accompanied by hypersalivation, increased heart rate and sweating through the parasympathetic outflow. The hyoid bone and the larynx are elevated so as to open the upper esophageal sphincter. This is followed by the closure of the glottis. The increased intra-abdominal pressure and anti-peristalsis forces results in the expulsion of the abdominal contents. The following is a flow chart demonstrating the vomiting reflex. The contents and color of the vomitus may be used to diagnosis the cause of vomiting. Bleeding from the esophagus is showed by the presence of fresh blood in the vomitus. When the blood originates from the stomach, for example, perforated peptic ulcer, the vomitus has coffee ground appearance. This is because the acid found in the stomach reacts with the iron found in hemoglobin. Presence of bile in the vomitus indicates that the pyloric valve is open. This means that there is massive contraction of the duodenum leading to expulsion of bile (John, 2010). Fecal content in the vomitus indicates a gastrocolic fistula or intestinal obstruction. In case of intestinal obstruction, the vomiting relieves the associated abdominal pain and distension. These features are used to determine the origin of pathology in the gastrointestinal

The problem with evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The problem with evil - Essay Example Just as strong the God is, the existence of evil is also strong because the world is imperfect. God only permitted the best possible world so that creation could be improved. According to the Natural Law Theodicy by Bruce Reichenbach, God created a world in accordance with the natural laws to achieve higher good even if there are moral and natural evil (Evans, 11). Argument from the natural evil states that evil exist as a punishment for our sin; thus, this proves the existence of God as evil is necessary for certain types of goodness to occur. Swinburne claimed that God allow the existence of evil as an omnipotent being (can do anything possible logically) because he wanted to bring out the logically necessary condition of goodness such as compassion and bravery (Sovik, 23; Frances, 9). On the other hand, argument from moral evil states that man is created by God with freedom. The existence of evil does not disproves the existence of God as evil actions were the result of man’s abused of freedom (Sovik, 23). Lastly, the argument from unbelief supports the existence of God by using the concept of Divine hiddenness and faith as valuable tool. Evans supported this argument from unbelief stating that atheist does not believe in the existence of God not because of the lack of evidence but the inability and unwillingness to appreciate the evidence (74). To sum it up, God is an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfectly good God because He allowed evil in an imperfect world to bring out the goodness among people or to remind people of their sins through punishments and to bring out faith from Divine