Influence of Music in the Major Religions of Asia

Influence of Music in the Major Religions of Asia Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Music gives us the capacity to express the deepest feelings of the human soul.† Worldwide, music has an important and varied range of application in religious practice. In the major religions of Asia, music is an especially vital part of theology and worship. In India and China, the most prominent religions are Hinduism, Daoism and Buddhism. Hindu religious chant and music are firmly rooted in theological principles of sacred sound. Taoist music is commonly used in the form of simple melodies and peaceful songs to aid in recitations and rituals. In Buddhism, sutras sung as hymns and other songs praising the virtues of the Buddhas have attracted and helped purify the hearts of countless disciples. With such large sects of the continent being members of these religions, it can be determined that music is used in worship and religious settings may affect the way music is played and listened to in the secular world. What does each religion bring to the table in its influence on the music of Asia? Hinduism is the major religion in India. Hindus make up approximately 85 % of the population in India. In Hinduism, music is recognized as a divine art that awards all four aims of human life to both the performer and the listener. These four aims are dharma, artha, Kama, and moksha. Dharma is the aim of righteousness. Artha is the aim of wealth and prosperity. Kama is the aim of enjoyment and moksha is liberation of the ways of the world. Music in Hinduism, from the earliest times was a source of not only moral but also spiritual achievement. The process of learning to play music is comparable to traditional Hindu spiritual discipline. There are 3 key elements to spiritual discipline that relate to music. First is the guru or disciple succession, meaning that one becomes a disciple of what he is learning. Second is vinaya or humility. Third is regular and disciplined practice. Hindu music is called sangeet and is associated with heavenly singers called Ghandharvas. The oldest Hindu musical texts were called Sana Veda, which had melodies that were used to in reciting hymns. Today music in Hindu worship consists of bhajan (hymns) and kirtan (chanting of mantras). Instruments used commonly in Hindu worship are drums (tabla and mridangas), the manjira (small hand cymbals), and the harmonium. Flute, vina, and sitar are also used in worship music. Predominantly, music heard on radios in India is â€Å"cine music†, or Indian pop music. A majority of these songs are from hit movies, and most movies in India are musicals. Songs from these musicals are a bizarre blend of eastern and western music. Characteristically, they involve choppy, hyperactive melodies, built around oriental scales, with a nasal singer. The rhythms sometimes are Latin, and the accompaniment can include trap set, organs, guitars, violins, bongos, traditional sitar and tabla, bamboo flute, and xylophones. Folk musicians and street performers play music that can be traditional folk music, like snake charmers using punjis or a gourd and reed bagpipe, or, it can have a slight western influence, using western instruments and ideas. Generally, all other music is connected with forms of worship. Seemingly, Indian music for worship and popular music doesn’t overlap. Principally, Hindu beliefs disagree with some forms of modern and popular music, esp ecially where western music is concerned. Daoism, or Taoism, is commonly practiced in China, and usually, if one is not Buddhist, then he is likely to be Taoist. Music in Daoism is said to reflect the pursuit of longevity and noninterference, which are two important principles of the Taoist belief. Melodies are solemn and peaceful, as well as seclusive and serene, as to exaggerate the religious atmosphere. Mostly Taoist music is calming and sets the mood and mindset for worship. Each day there are drum calls for morning and evening rituals. Music that is performed in both the morning and evening ritual is called pure and clear tune. It is performed to accompany recitation of scriptures. Its purpose is to purify the mind in preparation for cultivation of the scriptures. Other than everyday ritual, music is primarily used in Taoist worship for the praise of immortals and gods, praying for the blessing of the gods, releasing purgatory of the departed and practicing ascetics. Taoist music has undergone much change over the centuries. Music in Daoism was first utilized in the Southern and Northern Dynasties of China (420-589 CE). Original percussion used in worship included an L-shaped musical stone, bells, and drums. By the Five Dynasties period (907-1279 CE), wind and plucked instruments were added to the mix. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) string music was added to worship. With the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644 CE), Taoist music was standardized by imperial orders. Generally Taoist music today consists of two parts: vocal music and instrumental music. Vocal music can include vocal solos as well as unison singing. Instrumental music includes solo instruments as well as group playing. Both vocal and instrumental music is used as accompaniment to recitations as well as rituals and calls to worship. Buddhism is the largest religious sect of not only China but a large number of India’s population also practices Buddhism. Music is a large part of Buddhist teaching. In the Amitabha Sutra, nature sings its own melodies and harmonies with the breeze, and heavenly singing and chanting can be heard day and night. Buddhists believe that when one hears these sounds they become mindful of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. In Buddhism, sutras are sing as hymns and other songs are sung to praise the virtues of the Buddhas. Seemingly these songs have brought forth and purified many disciples of the Buddha. Buddhist believe that beautiful music will soften people’s hearts and in return, their minds are more receptive and easier to educate and transform. Therefore, music has been brought forth as a type of ceremonial offering made to the Buddha. Also, music is used in various forms for ceremonies including weddings and funerals. Buddhist music has undergone much development as it spread throughout Asia. From earliest times in India, Buddhist music began to include copper gongs, drums, flutes, conch horns and harps in its ceremonial music. When Buddhism was first introduced in China, focus was mainly on the translation between languages. This hindered the use of traditional hymns of India Buddhism. Consequently, monastics recomposed and adapted folk songs and court songs for royalty to create a Chinese Buddhist musical tradition. Today, traditional Buddhist hymns are performed alongside traditional Chinese music, as well as popular and western types of music like orchestras and small ensembles. China is the most populous country on the Earth with 1.3 billion people. For most of its history, China has been ruled by dynasties. Music has been regarded as an important part of political life, as it can be used to reflect and influence their ideals on Chinese order. When China came under the Nationalist Party, music was a key component of the reformation of Chinese social and cultural life. Mostly China has a kept a clear line between yayue, which is refined and elegant art music of the court and rituals, and suyue, common entertainment and folk music. Religious music, however, has proponents of each type of music, which makes it a common bond between the two aspects of Chinese music. Generally religious music does not affect the way mainstream music is played and listened to. Rather, the Buddhists and Taoists use influences of modern and mainstream music in their religious practice and rituals to attract and appeal new believers. Venerable Master Taixu of the Buddhist religion once said â€Å"Music gives the people of a society a means by which they can better communicate their moods and feelings with each other†¦For society to achieve some degree of integration, it is essential to be able to communicate and understand each other’s moods and feelings and as a result establish a sense of unity. This is one of the important functions of music.† Music today, either in religious or secular settings, undoubtedly influences the way people live their lives in Asia. Many achieve a balance between music of both worlds and, in return, reap the benefits of entertainment and spiritual comforts. Music is an important means by which Indian and Chinese peoples convey thoughts, beliefs, principles and feelings. Master Taixu also said â€Å"The capacity of music to capture people’s attention, touch then deeply, and tug at their heartstrings makes it one of the most beautiful forms of human expressions.† Research Papers on Influence of Music in the Major Religions of AsiaHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementGenetic EngineeringRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsBringing Democracy to Africa

Standard State Conditions of Temperature and Pressure

Standard State Conditions of Temperature and Pressure Values of thermodynamic quantities are commonly expressed for standard state conditions, so it is a good idea to understand what the standard state conditions are. A superscript circle is used to denote a thermodynamic quantity that is under standard state conditions: ΔH ΔH °ÃŽâ€S ΔS °ÃŽâ€G ΔG ° Standard State Conditions Certain assumptions apply to standard state conditions. Standard temperature and pressure commonly is abbreviated as STP. The standard state temperature is 25 °C (298 K). It is possible to calculate standard state values for other temperatures.All liquids are pure.The concentration of all solutions is 1 M (1 molar).All gases are pure.All gases are at 1 atm pressure.The energy of formation of an element in its normal state is defined as zero. Sources International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (1982). Notation for states and processes, significance of the word standard in chemical thermodynamics, and remarks on commonly tabulated forms of thermodynamic functions. Pure Appl. Chem. 54 (6): 1239–50. doi:10.1351/pac198254061239UPAC–IUB–IUPAB Interunion Commission of Biothermodynamics (1976). Recommendations for measurement and presentation of biochemical equilibrium data. J. Biol. Chem. 251 (22): 6879–85.

Trip to Mexico Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Trip to Mexico - Research Paper Example The researcher states that Mexico is widely known as a suitable destination for those who want to immerse in ancient civilization, relax in pristine beaches, and indulge in its rich history. As a tourist, the researcher desire to know Mexico through its culture, history, music, food, and art, so he decided to visit Guadalaraja, Jalisco and Yucatan. The researcher plans to first visit Guadalajara, Jalisco, which features Mexico’s prominent traditions such as the mariachi music, tequila, and charros (â€Å"Guadalajara†). The researcher wants to roam around Guadalajara’s cathedral, which houses the mural of Bartolome Esteban Murrillo entitled â€Å"The Assumption of the blessed Virgin† and the second largest organ in the argon (â€Å"Guadalajara†). As an architecture enthusiast, it would be very exciting for me to witness the mix architectural styles in the Guadalajara’s Cathedral. The presence of numerous museums and theaters in the city will s urely enable me to grasp the history of the country. The researcher’s second destination would be the Chichen-Itza in Yucatan. Mexico boasts rich culture and tradition even before the Spaniards came into the country. Chichen-Itza is deemed by many as the most significant archaeological remnant of Maya-Toltex civilization. The researcher wants to walk in the cobblestone once walked by Toltecs and Putun Maya. I desire to witness the temples and ruins, which are the masterpieces of the Mesoamerican architecture. Then, the researcher plans to relax in the pristine beach of Maya Riviera. His trip to Mexico would not be complete without indulging its natural wonders. I plan to visit Mexico on May 5 to 10 as it’s a period suitable for tourists who want low accommodation prices and discounts as low season begins after Easter and ends at mid-December (â€Å"When to Go†). I found a website named explor-guadalajara.com that tackles the must-see places in Guadalajara such a s the cathedral, Teotro Degollado and the like. Meanwhile, whs.unesco.org presents information about the city of Chichen-Itza. Works Cited Baird, David. Frommer’s Cancus, Conzumel, and the Yucatan 2010. New Jersey: Frommer’s, 2009. Print. Guadalajara. Wiki travel. Web. 2012. When to Go to Mexico. Dummies.com. Web. 2012. 2.0 Annotated Bibliography Baird, David. Frommer’s Cancus, Conzumel, and the Yucatan 2010. New Jersey: Frommer’s, 2009. Print. The author has lived in various parts of Mexico for several years. Thus, he possesses an extensive knowledge about historical places in Mexico and its must-see places. A part of the book has tackled on the ruins of the Chichen-Itza. It highlights the monuments, temples, and plazas that will greet modern day visitors. In addition, it briefly tackled on dwellers of the ancient sites. It offers information that helps me appreciate the Chichen-Itza, the ancient civilization, and Mexico. This book, which is available at google books, caters to needs of tourists and college students. It provides relevant and current information; thus, I will give it a CRAAP score of 7. Chichen-Itza. National Geographic. Web. 2012. National Geographic is a database, which presents numerous articles about different topics. It provided information about the history of Chichen Itza. It specifically presented interesting information on the importance and accuracy of Mayan astronomy. The ancient Mayan exhibited its advanced astronomical skills through accurately predicting solar eclipses. In addition, the article highlighted the ancient tradition of sacrificing young women to the Mayan rain god. This article presents interesting information that makes me more excited in visiting Chichen Itza. This article can be found through google search. It provides helpful information for tourist, college students, and lay-person. Thus, I will give it 7 CRAAP score for its relevance and accuracy. Howells, John, and Don Merwin. Choose Mexico for Retirement: Information For Travel, Retirement, Investment, and Affordable Living. US: Globe Pequot, 2007. Print. John Howells has co-authored and authored nine travel-retirement books. He is residing at Pacific

Vodafone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Vodafone - Essay Example Vodafone is a mobile system operator whose headquarter is in Newbury, England. It has been credited for being the biggest telecommunications network company all over the world with a market worth of close to hundred billion pounds. Currently, this company has equity benefit in twenty-five countries and associate network in forty-one countries. Vodafone’s current strategy in business is to develop through geographic extension, maintenance of present customers, attainment of fresh customers, and increase usage through technological innovation (McLoughlin and Aaker, 2010: 111). Vodafone’s results presented by the CEO on 19th May 2009 left everyone unimpressed. Before this report, it had been expected that the group would see free cash flow, increases in revenue, and adjusted profits (McLoughlin and Aaker, 2010: 111). Colao had been appointed as the CEO in July 2008with the intention that the company’s performance would boost significantly. Colao is currently employing strategies to improve Vodafone’s performance in the future. He intends to reduce costs by 1 billion dollars by the end of 2011. One of the current strategic issues is a revenue-boosting factor. This shall be guided by a push indented to convince more customers to purchase mobiles competent of linking to the internet (McLoughlin and Aaker, 2010: 111). A further strategy by the CEO is to trade telecoms services to other companies. There is a further strategy involving expansion of services to other countries. A resource based analysis of Vodafone involves an investigation of the capabilities and resources that results to its strengths and weaknesses. For a careful analysis of Vodafone’s current strategy, some essential issues affecting the company both externally and internally need to be examined. Some of these issues include political factors, infrastructure, economic factors, social-cultural factors,

US Electoral Process Essay Example for Free

US Electoral Process Essay One may be surprised to realize that in the elections of 1876, 1888 and 2000, the candidates who won the nationwide popular vote went on to lose the United States Presidential vote. This may cause one to doubt whether the electoral process is indeed democratic. ‘Democracy’ was derived from the Greek word ‘demos’ defined basically as the government in which the supreme power is vested in the people or simply as President Abraham Lincoln defined it; the government of the people, by the people, for the people. Therefore, if popular candidates are forced by the system to be the losers, the electoral process of the United States undermines democracy. Mayors, Senators and members of the House of Representatives are voted in directly by the people; but the problem arises in the presidential elections where the people vote for the ‘elector’ who has pledged to represent a certain candidate. Each state chooses a number of representatives that are referred to as the Electoral College; the number being stated in the constitution and determined by the population of each state. A good example is California that has 55 electoral votes while Utah has only five. In many States, if one wins the popular vote, he or she is assigned all the delegates even though he has worn by only one vote. This is ridiculous! However, few states allocate delegates to presidential candidates proportional to the popular vote that they get. This means that a presidential candidate can win in many of the smaller States but get less votes than the winning candidate in the States with more delegates. Therefore, in the overall count he or she will lose. This explains why Al Gore lost to President George Walker Bush though the former had won the popular vote in the year 2000. When a Gallup poll was conducted later, 83% of those interviewed said that they never accepted Bush as the legitimate president. The other short fall with the process is that while the President and the Vice President rule for four years, Congressmen serve for two years and Senators for six. This means that much money and time is lost in the election period. The President and the Vice President, just like the other leaders should be voted in directly by the people . The candidate who gets the majority votes becomes the President with his or her running mate becoming the Vice president. The terms of service for all the political leaders should expire after the same duration. This would mean that elections are held on the same day, saving much money used for the purchase ballot materials and the hiring of election officers every time the elections are held. Time used in voting will also be saved, as people will vote for all leaders at the same time.

An Analysis of Lilith (Bodys Beauty) :: Lilith Essays

An Analysis of Lilith (Body's Beauty) First published in 1868 in Swinburne's pamphlet-review, "Notes on the Royal Academy Exhibition," the sonnet entitled "Lilith" was written to accompany the painting "Lady Lilith." The poem and picture appeared alongside Rossetti's painting "Sibylla Palmifera" and the sonnet "Soul's Beauty," which was written for it. In 1870, both of these poems were published among the "Sonnets for Pictures" section of Rossetti's Poems. In 1881, however, "it occurred to Rossetti to contrast the two as representatives of fleshly and spiritual beauty," and thus he transferred them to "The House of Life" (Baum 181). The Lilith sonnet was then renamed "Body's Beauty" in order to highlight the contrast between it and "Soul's Beauty," and the two were placed sequentially in "The House of Life" (sonnets number 77 and 78). Because Rossetti originally named the sonnet "Lilith" and only changed the name to highlight the contrast between it and "Soul's Beauty," this study will refer to it by its original name. "Lilith" reads as follows: Of Adam's first wife, Lilith, it is told (The witch he loved before the gift of Eve,) That, ere the snake's, her sweet tongue could deceive, And her enchanted hair was the first gold. And still she sits, young while the earth is old, And, subtly of herself contemplative, Draws men to watch the bright web she can weave, Till heart and body and life are in its hold. The rose and poppy are her flower; for where Is he not found, O Lilith, whom shed scent And soft-shed kisses and soft sleep shall snare? Lo! as that youth's eyes burned at thine, so went Thy spell through him, and left his straight neck bent And round his heart one strangling golden hair. (Collected Works, 216). Much like "Lady Lilith," "Lilith" celebrates the pleasures of physicality. As an enchantress, she "draws men to watch the bright web she can weave," but she does not invite them to be mere voyeurs of her charms (line 7). Instead, she invites them to her and then ensnares them in her "web" of physical beauty, ultimately causing their death (line 8). "Subtly of herself contemplative," a phrase echoing Pater's famous description of the "Mona Lisa," highlights Lilith's attitude of "voluptuous self applause," an attitude which was so visually apparent in Rossetti's painting (Baum 185).

An Argument on Education Essay

Abstract Education is important to have with today’s economy in the shape that it is in. However, there are different ways that people define education. Some people believe that to be considered well educated they need to have the top education in the United States, the highest GPA, and the highest standardized testing scores! I firmly believe that your knowledge first comes from the Lord and that he will bless you in whatever area he has for you! There are many examples that we can use to see both sides and not just judging someone as well educated only through grades ad excellence in school. An Argument on Education Education is important for everyone to have growing up if they want to make it by in today’s modern world. However, everyone seems to determine how well educated someone else is in a different ways such as: their test scores, papers that they write, their grade point average, and their knowledge of knowing how to do things. In Alfrie Kohn’s Article (2003), â€Å"What does it mean to be well –educated† he cites a quote from an Alred Whitehead stating, â€Å"A merely well-informed man is the most useless bore on God’s earth. . .  . Scraps of information† are only worth something if they are put to use, or at least â€Å"thrown into fresh combinations. † There are parts of this quote that I agree and disagree on. I agree with Alred saying that men on this earth that just have bits and pieces of information are useless unless it can relate to their job that gets them by. Acquiring knowledge isn’t a bad thing, its just not always needed. I only disagree because I believe that if someone does know a large amount that it is not pointless, it just should not determine whether or not they are educated or not. Throughout the years I have had the chance to be in school I have learned and observed much through my own personal experiences as well as being surrounded by my peers at school and at home. Personally, I am one of those students who can learn the material I am asked to learn but when it comes to taking tests I freeze up and get extremely anxious, which allows me to do poorly on the tests. I had extremely low SAT scores and low-test scores from any big test, but I was also an honor graduate and gradated in the top one hundred out of six hundred students. Many people would consider me uneducated just because of low standardized tests when they do not think of other factors that could reason for why I get low scores. High-test scores alone and high GPA’s cannot determine whether or not someone is well educated. At the beginning of Alfrie Kohn’s article he gives a superior example of this by telling us that his wife who went to Harvard and does not even know her math or English well. â€Å"She will, however, freeze up if you ask her what 8 times 7 is, because she never learned the multiplication table. And forget about grammar (â€Å"Me and him went over her house today† is fairly typical) or literature (â€Å"Who’s Faulkner? †). Harvard is known as One of the top prestigious school in America, and because of that most people would assume that who ever goes to that school is well educated. This is example is similar to how it is with anything but what people do not realize is some of the world’s well-educated people did not even graduate from high school. I believe that being well educated means being able to put what you know to use and being able to use that knowledge to glorify the one who created me. As a strong believer in Christ, I believe my relationship with God and spreading his word is more important than knowledge. However, that does not mean that I believe a person should be uneducated. I believe that if given the opportunity to learn we should not take it for granted and that we should bring glory to God through it. I just believe that at the end of your days that God does not care about what degree you have in your hand but he cares about how you lived your life for him. â€Å"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life† (Proverbs 9:10-11). Our good lord explains that education is first gained through God himself and that your purpose is to live solely for him. Gaining knowledge in Christ is the most important first and he will Bless you in every other area in your life that he feels you need. However, I do believe that getting a degree in something that God is calling you to do. For me, God is calling me to be a missionary Nurse overseas. I know in order to do that I have to get an education on how to be a Nurse in order to carryout God’s will for my life. Most people believe that you need to go to a good school to be considered well educated. I was going to a community college back at home and was learning much when people were questioning why I was going to a community college and that I could get a better education at a different college or university that was away from home. Alfrie Kohn’s wife attended Harvard and still did not know her multiplication tables and wasn’t good at grammar or literature. I believe this is a good example to my previous statement about how it shouldn’t matter what school you go to and that it should not determine how well educated he or she is just because of the title the school has. Everyone has his or her own view on what they believe is a well-educated person, but I feel as if not everyone looks at every viewpoint. They just go off what they know and what first comes to mind. Today because of the way our economy is set up people believe that the only way someone can be considered well educated is if they go to a college to further their degree. There are other ways that someone can get jobs such as enlisting in the military or even through taking over a family-owned business. Determining whether or not someone is educated through tests, and by what schools he or she attended is absurd. You can see that from taking a glance at the people in the world that are huge successes to back that statement up. If we determined whether or not someone was well educated by whether or not he or she graduated college than something is wrong. Bill Gates is a wonderful example because if it were not for him then a lot of today’s popular gadgets such as the Mac Books, iPhones, and iPods would not exist today. He is an intelligent man and has brought on huge changes in todays society. It is not our place to judge who is and who is not educated based on these assumptions References Kohn, Alfie. â€Å"What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?. † Alfie Kohn author teacher lecturer www. alfiekohn. org. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. . â€Å"Proverbs 9:10-11 ESV – The fear of the LORD is the beginning – Bible Gateway. † BibleGateway. com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.. N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. . Outline 1. What does it mean to be well educated? * Definition * Articles definition * Personal definition 2. Test scores * Personal grades to back up statement * Quote insert from article * Wife from Harvard 3. Educated * Other ways to be educated 4. Knowledge thru Christ * Proverbs 9:10-11 * Living for Christ first * Honoring his will for out lives 5. Well-educated. * Bill Gates (Did not graduate high school and was still successful) Thesis Education is important for everyone to have growing up if they want to make it by in today’s modern world. However, everyone seems to determine how well educated someone else is in a different ways such as: their test scores, papers that they write, their grade point average, and their overall knowledge of knowing how to do things. In Alfrie Kohn’s Article (2003), â€Å"What does it mean to be well –educated† he cites a quote from a Alred Whitehead stating, â€Å"A merely well-informed man is the most useless bore on.