MANILA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

ASIAN LITERATURE OP12

3rd cycle MWF, FIRST SEMESTER

AYSYNCRHONOUS LONG TEST

Name: Platilla, Catherine May C. Date: 01/24/2022

1. Discuss one lesson learned from a particular poem/story in Asian Literature that
made an impact on you as a College Student. What specific verse/event in the
story can be related to a real-life situation in Philippine Society. (Approximately
460-500 words = 25 points)

One lesson that made impact to me is the poem titled “Rubaiyat by Omar
Khayyam”. Today, hedonism is connected with 'YOLO' binge-drinking, drug overdoses,
and a bucket-list attitude to life that prioritizes transient novelty and thrill-seeking above
all else. The history of the Rubaiyat, on the other hand, serves as a reminder that we may
strive to find the hidden benefits of hedonism. It might serve as an antidote to modern
happiness thinking's developing puritanical strain, which threatens to make us into self-
controlled moderation junkies who rarely exhibit a genuine thirst for life. Pick up a self-
help book and it is doubtful that it would tell you to cope with your troubles by smoking a
joint under the stars or downing a few tequila slammers in an all-night bar and it can really
relate to the real-life situation in the Philippine society now a days. On the other side, the
Rubaiyat-inspired hedonism can assist to reconnect us with the qualities of direct
experience in our age of mediation, where so much of our everyday lives are filtered
through the double technological flickers on a smart device. We seem to become
watchers of life rather than participants, engrossed in a digital spectacle culture. We
should learn a thing or two from the Victorians: keep a copy of the Rubaiyat in our pockets
alongside the phone, and remember the wise Khayyam's words: 'While you live, drink!' -
for once dead, you will never return.’

I can relate also the quote that says “Don’t worry. Be happy” because individuals
would rather concentrate on what is wrong, something they lack, or what people believe
would make them feel good than with the present time as well as what genuinely makes
them happy I'm not out to proclaim that there is still a magical 'off' key for worrying;
instead, I'm here just to contend that we could create a practice of enjoyment which can
help insulate us all from the stressful and having to worry situations. We will be lured to
happier interests if we focus on what makes us happy rather than what irritates us, which
takes work. You need to figure out what makes you happy. Therefore, my suggestion to
oneself is to get a sheet of paper and a pen, and afterwards allotted two minutes to write
down as many things that make you happy as you possibly can. Proceed till you get a
long list with at least ten items. I'm interested how many of them you'll be able to do in the
following week while you move down your list; I'm betting quite a few. In the next weeks
and months, my advice to you is to complete as many of the items on your happy list as
possible, and you may find that your worries begin to diminish and you are better
equipped to cope with them if a problem develops.

2. Tabulate three points of comparison between the teachings of Christianity and

Buddhism / Islamic philosophies. How can these teachings be applied to the
Filipino culture? Cite sources of information. (Approximately 460-500 words =
25 points)

Both Christianity and Buddhism believe in love and peace. Buddhism and
Christianity are two distinct religions that are also very similar. One of the most evident
distinctions between them is the presence of God. According to the Christian Bible, God
created the world in seven days. This creation came from nothing, as described in the
book of Genesis. God created humans as well as all other living creatures on the planet.
Every day, Christians believe that they should try to be more like God. Buddhism makes
no mention of a beginning. Buddhism's traditional teachings include no mention of God
or any other superior deity. They can, however, become a Buddha. Buddha is someone
who has overcome all of their flaws, repaired all of their faults, and at all of their potential.
Every Buddha began as ordinary beings suffering repeating hardships in life as a result
of misunderstanding about reality and false projections. They saw that their obstinate
projections did not match to reality, and with a great will to be free of their misery, they
gradually ceased believing in the delusions their brains projected. (Everyone Can
Become a Buddha) The doctrines of Christianity and Buddhism are quite similar. Crosses,
incense, and ceremonies are used in Buddhism and Christianity to worship. Personal
confessions, kneeling before sacred icons, and mediations are how Buddhists and
Christians pray. Buddhists practice Samskara rites, whereas Christians practice holy
communion, which includes bread and wine. In both religions, Samskara and holy
communion perform comparable functions. Buddhism also makes no indication of where
everlasting life is lived, but Christianity says eternal life is located in Heaven and is for
those who obtain salvation and repent of their sins before death. In Christianity, salvation
is received as a gift for accepting Jesus into one's life. It is a gift from God through Christ
Jesus. It is believed that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the salvation of Christians.
Buddhists believe in the presence of several gods who fulfill certain functions, such as
the god of love, the goddess of fertility, and the god of harvest. Christians, on the other
hand, believe in a single supreme Good who fulfills a range of obligations such as loving
His followers, caring for them, and providing them with both spiritual and material
necessities.
 In conclusion, while Buddhism and Christianity are two distinct religions, their
teachings on reaching certain goals are consistent. A single individual taught both
religions. People who follow these faiths follow Christ and Buddha's teachings of the same
moral code and the same value of life, whether it's everlasting life in Heaven or hell for
Christians or a life of enlightenment and rebirth for Buddhists. Despite the differences in
worship and religious traditions, Buddhism and Christianity discover a method to come
closer to God or the spiritual side. Steering away from Christ's or Buddha's path is never
an option for their followers. These teaching be applied to Filipino culture and some
Filipinos I know are Christian and I can say that these teaching is what we’re experiencing
now.

References:

Christianity and Buddhism: Similarities and Differences

Compare and Contrast the spread of Christianity and Buddhism