Trapped in "happiness"

People are programmed by the influences and situations in their life. A small percentage of these people are masked throughout their childhood of the pain, sorrow, and misfortune others feel on a daily basis. Siddhartha Guatama (also known as Buddha, or "the enlightened one") had a invisible cloak upon the outside world for the beginning 30% of his life. He saw luxury, he learned nothing while being trapped inside the walls around his home. Once he wandered outside the gates, he found that he knew nothing. This affected him so much that he decided to give his life of carelessness, and learn the true nature of human existence. This is called the Great Rununciation.

Meditation is a great tool. People meditate to find happiness, their spirt guides, knowledge, peace, and so much more. Buddha used meditation to find the true nature of human existence. From meditation, Buddha learned that the key to reach nirvana is to take control of one's thoughts and actions, and to cease to participate in behavior that had "bad effects". The Four Noble Truths are based upon Buddha's teachings. Within the Four Noble Truths, Buddha gives a set of eight behaviors to follow in order to reach enlightenment. Buddha had a long-lived, full-filling life that created a religion that has influenced millions.

The Epic Journey Through Enlightenment

One struggles to find the true meaning in life; the true value and worth of the soul. They dwell in their own pity. Their spirit, their self, lacks the capability to find control. Chasing wants and desires to find their ideal lifestyle. Not even taking a second to view what they portray to the outer world, but stuck narrow-mindlessly in their inner realm. Lack of education is stamped on their forehead. "Why can't I have that, why not me, why must I suffer", is stampeding through their inner realm. Such noise masks their true meaning in life. Their "free" soul has been quieted. They are taken over by their emotions, rather than their instincts and real purpose.

Stop! Focus on yourself and find the road to enlightment. Through whatever path one must take, there will always be that path to find. Listen and trust your instincts, these are which will tell you your true purpose. To be humble, to be true. Walking every step as it were your last, and making the most of every experience, good or bad, in which it is encountered. Renounce your hurt, and think of the good in which comes out of it. Why does one walk such a shaken path, when one can so easily give it up. Life is about choice. Your choice to learn or your choice to dwell. If one dwells, he will therefore be losing that much more knowledge to find true inner and outer peace.

Only Daughter

Kyle Umbarger

English 110

Goldenwest College

Post #3

Sandra Cisneros portrays her own life in her short story "Only Daughter" to credit the writer and person she is today. Using her own life as a framework, she can then easily talk about how she constantly has struggled throughout her life to get her father's approval. She was the only daughter in a family of 9, which made her go through her childhood very alone. Her father was a hard-working man, who was trying to create better opportunities in life for his family. He had his beliefs though that women should only be going to college to find a smarter man. He never respected Sandra's own beliefs on her future, which caused Sandra's drive grow stronger. She worked harder and harder to become known as a professional writer. A child is influenced by the people who surround their life. Therefore, when Sandra's father would tell people that he had 7 sons, it made Sandra try to impress him more and more. This caused Sandra to eventually write "Only Daughter" in spanish, which caused her father to finally be proud of her.

Allegory of the Cave

Kyle Umbarger

English 110

Goldenwest College

Post #2

"Allegory of the Cave" uses symbolism to express the unseen truth to the story. The "cave" plato is talking about is a person's subconscious. People are trapped in a cave within themselves that creates their hurt and grief. Plato uses chained prisoners in his representation of a cave. These chained prisoners in a cave represent the vast majority of people in the world which are misguided in seeing the truth towards enlightenment. Breaking free of your cave is the way towards the sun. The "sun" is our end result; the truth people realize throughout their life. Plato uses Socrates as an example of somebody who is already traveled far through that road towards enlightenment. Glaucon on the other hand, represents somebody who is just finding his journey toward the sun. He does this by showing clearly the power Socrates has over Glaucon. Socrates acts as a teacher, where Glucon acts as his student. Plato could therefore be trying to tell us to follow what socrates has to say about enlightenment.