Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk: "After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, Bongwonsa and attempting to see nature as a Taoist, answer this question: What is it about creation,..."
Although I spent most of the hike up the mountain socializing with people from our classes, I took some time out every few minutes to just look around and appreciate Mother Nature’s creations. It dawned on me that nature prompts people to seek out religion because we can see it live and die, thus arousing a curiosity in us wondering about the fate of our own lives. Being the one thing that isn’t man-made, driven by technology, or simply fake, nature remains as the only exemplar of life besides humanity. Walking to and through the Zen Buddhist Temple and Bongwonsa, some of the questions I had regarding the Eastern religions we’ve been studying in class were answered. Like myself, everyone has inquiries concerning the idea of religion as a whole. To me, I believe that people spend their lives seeking out religious truth, nurturing faith, or worshipping creation because they hope that the answers to their questions lie in the hands of certain religions. The reason is because life entails mysteries and enigmas that we are forced to confront, but certainly cannot confront on our own. Whether Taoists worship nature, Shintoists follow their four steps to worship, or Buddhists commit their lives to reaching Nirvana, people turn to religion in hopes of finding the answers to their questions and the true meaning of life.
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