Blog Post #2

Family Discourse: A

 As a child, I grew up in a Buddhist family that went to temple pretty much every Sunday. A strong memory I have of my childhood were the trips we took to temple every week. On Sunday mornings, everyone would wake up early to get ready and prepare bento boxes filled with asian cuisine that consisted of Jasmine rice, vegetables, various meat dishes, and sweets for dessert. The meals would then be served to the monks at the temple later that day around noon. The purpose of doing this is to gain merit through serving the monks who symbolize Buddha and his teachings. After years of doing this with my family, I believe that the time I spent learning about my culture, and the teachings of my religion really shaped me into who I am today. Unlike religions that have a god to worship, Buddhism does not because it’s more of a ‘way of life’ or philosophy. It has taught me to be mindful of my thoughts and actions, and to lead a moral life. Through my practice of meditation, I have become more patient and focused on my everyday tasks and it definitely shows during golf practice. I’m able to focus more on the range and course which helps me improve quicker. The qualities I have attained from Buddhism absolutely has shaped my emotional, physical, working, and social life. I continue to live by these values and try to become a better person everyday because of my extremely supporting family.