Monthly Archives: August 2014

What Did Buddha Look Like?

Philosophy, Religion,

We see images of the Buddha represented in various places, and when we think of him, we may call to mind an image.

DSC03898 Perhaps of a kindly, rotund man, such as this one inch tall statue which I probably received in my stocking at Christmas.  I love it.

This kind of image evolved from this earlier imagery which I found in Wikipedia when I google

Buddha's appearance, AUG 17, 2014 220px-Gandhara_Buddha_(tnm) This image was from about the year 200 CE (=AD).

Very interesting, is that Buddha is considered to have been born in the 5th century BCE, which stands for before common era (=BC).  Images were not initially made of him because that was apparently considered to be improper, until about  100 or 200 CE (=AD).

You can read a list of 32 major physical characteristics of Buddha, and 80 minor physical characteristics of Buddha if you google “the physical characteristics of Buddha”.   Then you will get a  Wikipedia article on the subject.  They are all complimentary.

The truth is that we have no way of knowing what Buddha looked like.

 

A Graduation Speech

Education, Words, ,

Recently, I had the privilege of attending  the graduation of several kinds of  medically related Bachelor’s, Masters, and Doctoral Degree students where the address was given by Cecilia Graham, PT, PhD.

DSC03894 She quoted Maya Angelou’s song that “Happiness Is Truth”.  Dr. Graham considers that happiness involves the elements of Connection, Awareness, Respect, and Engagement, encoded by the word CARE.   A special comment about awareness is that it can be achieved by looking at the face of the person in front of you;  and about engagement she said that it can be accomplished by getting involved.

I like graduation speeches, and find that they provide food for thought.

We do strive to be happy.

A Waste, Comments On a Small Vacuum

Cleaning, Environment, Words,

This small vacuum cleaner was useful sometimes.DSC03893 We got this after Hurricane Ike, so that we could vacuum our temporary apartment, so we would get our deposit back.  I used it a little after we got home.  It was handy and lightweight, and picked up dirt in proportion to its ease of use.  Recently, the little dirt cup snap holder broke off, so I could not use it.  I identified the model online, and it seems that it is no longer available.  Also, I could not replace the dirt cup, so with it being worth $39 new, we are going to take it for recycling, if they will take it.

Though it is too bad that we need to discard the complete vacuum because its vacuum cup cannot be attached,  it will make less cleaning equipment to store at home.  This sure is built-in-obsolescence, which is bad for our environment.  And our other cleaning equipment will suffice.