Final Reflection (Unit 3)
The final guided reflection has essentially the same structure as the previous two with one exception: you will chose and compare an Asian practice from Unit 1-2 to a different practice from either Unit 3 or the course introduction, and then further compare those two to your own daily practice. In this case, the goal of this exploration is to advise the person described in the scenario for the Application Exercise that considered your Unit 3 or introduction practice.
Step 1: Worksheet
Choose one Asian practices listed in one of the two reading guides for Unit 3 or the introduction, which you feel you could use to make a case for the corresponding contemporary practice in the relevant scenario. Then consult the categories below (which are also included in the final Application Exercise scenario) to choose a practice from Unit 1 or 2 that is in the same category as your chosen Unit 3 or introduction practice:
A. CONSTRUCTION of objects & structures to gather around, reflect about and celebrate
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Akbar's construction of Fatehpur, Jahangir's collections, Tipu's tiger organ & other symbols, public display of Song dynasty landscape paintings, Chinese imperial city planning, planning & construction of Angkor Wat, making & collecting Korean tea bowls
B. habitually DIRECTING ATTENTION inward through worship and/or outward towards nature
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Korean shamans channeling Changun, Caitanya Vaishnavite kirtana, recitation of Nanak's hymns, Zhu Xi's seasonal sacrifice to ancestors, meditation & daily life in the Chan "Great Assembly," viewing & painting nature landscapes, Chinese spirit writing, Tibetan fasting ritual, Pali chanting during the Thai image consecration, the Japanense tea ceremony
C. written, oral and/or interactive STORYTELLING:
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: the Mongolia Tsam festival, telling the story of Haridasa, telling life stories of Guru Nanak,writing & reading The Financial Expert, ritual, stories & prayers to Mother Ten, collecting, reading & reproducing "Illustrated Explanations of the Tract of the Most Exalted," writing & reading The Diaries of Lao Ts'an, telling the Buddha's story at a Thai image conscecration, writing & reading "The Moon on the Water"
NOTE: The practice from Unit 1 or 2 can be the one that you already considered in an earlier reflection, or it can be something new.
***IMPORTANT: as before, the contemporary practice for which you are making a case to the City Repair staff should be labeled with the same letter in the same scenario.***
Again, make sure that the Asian practices you choose are described in the appropriate unit (one from either India or China, and the other from Unit 3); and that those practices are adequately described in one or more of the readings assigned or recommended in the syllabus, including include **ASSIGNED** EB articles, PPTs, videos linked to the schedule as well as those viewed in class. Ideally, at least one of the chosen Asian practices will have something in common with your own daily practice, although that Asian practice will most likely also be quite different from what you are doing each day.
Once you have chosen your story, complete all three parts of the Final GRW (download PDF or MS Word), which asks you to address the same three points as before, with the following changes:
- compare the TWO Asian practices in #1;
- in #2, for EACH of the two practices, consider one term listed in BLUE for reflection ("[r]" and one for social web ("[s]") on the relevant reading guide page (still a TOTAL of FOUR);
- in #3, compare the contemporary practice proposed in the relevant scenario to your own daily practice.
REPEATED CAUTION: by now you most likely understand the amount of time and focus it takes to formulate and then fully respond to all questions on the GRW, especially given that this is only the first stage of the assignment, so remember to budget your time accordingly.
A completed worksheet will still receive 25 out of the total number of points for the assignment. No partial credit will be given; incomplete forms will be returned for completion.