*"Samsara" in Buddhism and The Matrix*

Shima Limbu

Eng 101

                                                                “Samsara” in Buddhism

                Samsara in Buddhist terms relates with the concept of the cycle of life, and the movement of continuous flowing within our daily lives; however it is said that this long cycle can only be stopped through nirvana, or by being enlightened.  It seems as though this form of cycle isn’t about being stopped but rather to escape this, one has to face nirvana and become enlightened.  This “samsara“believe in Buddhism was derived by the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, who came about this idea from the Hindu believe of reincarnation.  The term “samsara” has also become translated as endless suffering, cyclic existence, perpetual wandering etc…

                These vague definitions of the term “samsara” in Buddhism could becomes relative to the whole idea from the concept of; The Matrix. Well, there are a lot of reasons that these two concepts can be relative, however the main fact being that the term “samsara” in Buddhism is believed by a certain amount of individuals, while The Matrix, is just another science-fiction movie.  The Matrix, somehow relates with every individuals thoughts because the idea of “samsara” comes along,because there are many that believe in the term “samsara” or basically the fact that there are many budhhist believers. It is the clear fact that relating something of reality strikes every mind, and makes every human being relate with reality and their own life. And that is the main factor in the story of; The Matrix.  The fact that it triggers everyone’s mind is basically because it questions many individuals about the whole system of life, and its whole system of existence. This relates with the term”;samsara”, due to the fact that it is said to be a whole cyclic existence, just a cycle of human beings being born and death coming along , seems like a whole computer generated system. Thus, when a human being becomes old, their energy in the batteries run out and then death comes along to get rid of all the retired batteries.

                The climax of the movie, The Matrix, is the question whether human beings want to become awaken form the “matrix” world, kind of like the only escape in the matrix is for one to accept and awaken form their long sleep. Thus, the term “samsara”, plays a part due to the fact that the Buddhist believes that the only escape form “samsara” is for one to reach nirvana, or become enlightened.  Including the fact that one has to get rid of all their wild desires, as comparison to the movie, the matrix, when the characters have nothing luxurious to eat, but just nutrients to keep them alive. The irony is astounding as much as the similarities, between the whole concept of “samsara” in Buddhism and the movie, The Matrix.

*The Picture of Dorain Gray~ First Draft~*

Shima Limbu

                                                 The Picture of Dorian Gray Draft

The main theme that we have to connect with the novel, the picture of Dorian Gray, is imagination. The word imagination is referred to something that is out of human reach, possibly something that is all in the mind, external objects that do not cohesive with our senses and our reality, and lastly the ability for our mind to become creative through the process of imagining.

            The novel, the picture of Dorian gray could possibly have a connection with imagination and the basic object is the title itself, the picture of Dorian gray. In the novel, Dorian simply grows to become obsessed with image, and that being his own. Thus, due to the assistance of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian goes through the journey of imagining his life as he reads the fictional novel recommended by his dear friend Lord Henry Wotton.

            Thus, Dorian’s imagination starts to grow as much as him, he believes himself to be the “hero” of every act, possibly Romeo to every Juliet, and that causes Sibyl Vane’s death to be just an act of sacrifice for the love of the handsomest man alive, Dorian. His imaginations leads him to believe that certain people are meant to make sacrifices for a man that deserves it all, and that all because of his image, the picture of Dorian Gray.

            Thus, the imagination of Dorian’s mind, leads him to make sinful deeds and become a vulgar individual. This also plays with the part of influence, Lord Henry Wotton enters Dorian’s innocent life and makes it open up to poisonous things, however, Dorian sticks to Lord Henry because of his very own understanding that he craves and is hungry for the things uttered out of Lord Henry’s mind. This plays into the character of Dorian Gray and his mindset; he always imagined to have the life that he never had, and wanted to make it reality. However, it is the basic fact that imagination cannot become reality, and if your imagination becomes poisonous, then there is no escape to run away from the dangers of the mind.

            Thus, Dorian becomes as poisonous as his mindset, maybe something that he always wanted to hide. Dorian’s mindset can also relate with the fact that he wanted to maintain his “good boy” image, something that he knew that he was not, deep inside his soul. His innocence from his looks could hide the devil in him. And meeting Lord Henry Wotton, he became the person that he always wanted to be, a devious human being. Imagination plays a huge role in part of Dorian’s imagination that actually turned into reality. The pros and cons of society is the fact that a character like Dorian would not be judged for any sins committed because one thing; His image.

            This leads to the painting of Dorian Gray, It could have also been the mere fact that Dorian’s sins could not actually be shown in the painting, but it is just Dorian that sights his sins from the painting itself. And his sins could be revealed to others because he wants his sins to be shown only through the painting, but not through him, and his body.  The painting could be a metaphor as something of a diary, something that is meant to be hidden but can still be seen by others if it is shown. Just like the ending chapters, when Dorian decides to show Basil his sins, it became shown all throughout the painting. It might have been just Dorian’s imagination that became reality through the painting. Maybe the painting never changed, it could be the mere fact that Dorian somehow wanted to throw all his sins into the painting of himself, thus, it actually became reality, and revealed. His imagination became reality, thus, causing his very own life.

              

~*Right Brained*~

<table border=1><tr><td>
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    <td colspan=2 align=center><b>Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz</b></td>
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    <td colspan=2 align=left>The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life.  Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.</td>
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   <tr nowrap><td valign=top align=right>Left Brain Dominance: </td><td align=left><img src="http://www.intelliscript.net/test_area/questionnaire/bar_graph.gif" width=24 height=12 alt="4">(4)</td></tr><tr nowrap><td valign=top align=right>Right Brain Dominance: </td><td align=left><img src="http://www.intelliscript.net/test_area/questionnaire/bar_graph.gif" width=66 height=12 alt="11">(11)</td></tr>
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    <td colspan=2 align=center><font size=1><a href="http://www.intelliscript.net/test_area/questionnaire/questionnaire.cgi?q=questionnaire_ini">Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz</a></font></td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  </td></tr></table>

~*~"All Sorts of Pitfalls and Surprises": Competing Views of idealized girldhood in Lewis Carroll's Alice Books* By: Jennifer geer*~

 The article is basically views the vision of Alice's childhood verses Alice as a young lady. The Author : Jennifer Geer first starts her introduction by describing the main book: Adventure of Alice in wonderland and its sequel; Through the Looking-Glass. 
 The author's main point seems to revolve around the main themes that concludes in both the basis story of Alice in Wonderland. The fact that its viewers can be both adults and children is a significant factor to the author's point of view.
 The article's main point also revolves around how children and adults want power in their own best forms, however, they also want comfort at the same time.  However, you can compare and contrast Alice's sister and her dreams about Alice, it also sets out to remind Alice of her own happy childhood memories.
 Thus, the article basically compares and contrast between Alice as a child to Alice as a women. And the story of contrasts between the ideals of fairytale and femininity and the irony of it all.thus, it makes one wonder whether Alice in Wonderland and its whole concept is meant to be deeper or not. However, the fact that this story invites both adult readers and children as well makes it a classic in its best form.

*Self-Review*

1) My first paragraph is moderately clear, however, it seems quite confusing.
2) The thesis statement should be explain with more evidence,there isnt enough evidence
3) Organization seems to be clear enough, however, the main concepts do not seem relevent with the main idea of the whole thesis statement.
4)There are a few grammatical errors, and the tone of the essay seems moderately formal.
5) I think more source are needed for the essay to become more interesting and informational,there are no quotations in the essay
6) The paper's greatest strength is probably staying on the main concept of the thesis statement, but there is a lack in evidences.

*The psychology of Alice in Wonderland, 1st Draft*

Shima Limbu

The psychology of Alice in Wonderland

1st Draft 

            The story of Alice in wonderland has relative connection of the psychoanalysis of psychology, solely based on the main character, Alice. There are many reasons for this statement, due to the fact that the evidence lies in the main character, Alice herself. The main character has certain characteristics that gives evidences to the ideas and has comparative functions within the topic of psychoanalysis.

Based on the ideas of Sigmund Freud, Psychoanalysis is basically the study of human behavior and child development. There are three methods that functions within the subject, the basis of the three methods refer to the mind, the way one thinks and investigates , the theories of human behavior and the treatments for its emotional illness.

Psychoanalysis also states about the child development stages that include the unconscious mind and its functions. It states that the unconscious mind includes the ideas of fantasies and dreams, and how a person with the illness creates conflicts within his or her own unconscious mind. Thus, this gives the point that individuals with this illness unconsciously become their own worst enemies. The study of psychoanalysis and its three different components can be relative to the main character from Alice in Wonderland.

Psychoanalysis also includes the different components of an individual’s structure of the mind. These include the Id, Ego and Superego. The Id refers to the instinct desires that every individual is born with, the Ego refers to the development in infancy, and lastly the superego develops during the third stage of development, which occurs both consciously and unconsciously.

 The first evidence that proves that Alice is applicable to have a psychoanalysis form of mindset, is because to her dreams. Alice dreaming about a whole new world, with all these different characters, gives evidence to the fact that she has the illness. This also includes the basic fact that she even creates conflicts among the characters within her dreams.

 Most of the characters within the story somehow have personality disorders, just as much as Alice does. The first introduction of the White Rabbit proves an individual with a cowardice mindset, however with a temper.  When Alice seems lost and asks for some help, the white rabbit scurries off because Alice seems intimidating, and scary.  That proves that the White Rabbit is a fearful character and not a friendly one.

However, since Alice is just dreaming of such a character, it makes one think about the mindset of Alice.  The fact that when Alice changes into a  bigger form of herself, the White Rabbit somehow fears her physic, however, when she becomes as tiny as a mouse, the White Rabbit mistakes her for his housemaid and orders her right away.  

When Alice becomes large, she feels empowered and the other characters sense it, however, when she becomes tiny, she feels lost and confused.  The other characters are all the fantasy of Alice’s dreams, proving to the fact that she creates so many conflicts among the different characters, giving evidences to the mindset of Alice, and how she fantasizes about all these different characters having all these different problems amongst each other.

This leads to the character of the Queen, a fearless mind without a heart. Due to the fact that the queen beheads anybody and everyone that tempers her, However, ironically Alice does not get beheaded at all. In the story, Alice somehow starts her introduction with the queen without fearing her at all, when the entire characters bow to the queen in her presence, Alice does not do so.  Her behavior proves the superego of child development.

The superego within an individual is the third stage of child development, and it occurs both unconsciously and consciously.  Although, the superego stage of child development occurs at a younger age of human beings, it is still relevant to the fact that individuals have that superego within them while they are growing up.  Alice’s personality and her mindset prove the exact point of a child with an ego, and developing further more into the Superego stage of mind.

Though, we are all aware that the main character is just dreaming of all these events, these basic evidence becomes applicable to the point that the fantasies of all these different events occurring in Alice’s head is basically psychoanalysis coming into play,  especially, the idea of wonderland itself.   The structure of Alice’s mind and how she dreams of such a world to exist is the most significant proof of her psychoanalysis structure of thinking.

There are more evidences to the point of her mindset of fantasies. As her dream proceeds on, her dream becomes intriguing as she meets two more characters along her journey, the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle. These two characters are the only lively ones so far, they tend to make Alice more attentive about their experiences within their stories, As the Mock turtle fancies upon telling her his nice tales about their journeys and the Lobster Quadrille, which is a form of dance.    Alice somehow becomes less angry about things and starts to change into a more attentive character, unlike her rude behavior within the story as she journeys throughout wonderland.

Alice is the main Character in the story, however, she does not have the ideal behavior of a good little girl, she is a rude character who cannot control her dark emotions. Her character is realistic and thus, gives us evidence that she somehow has a form of disorder within her own mind. However, this also proves that she is going through the stages of psychoanalysis because of her unconscious mind that dreams and fantasizes in a world that does not exist, which is wonderland. And all the characters formed in her dream are somehow like her own mindset, her own self divided amongst many others.  And it is only within her dream that she can fully see her different characteristics of herself within all the characters in the story.

For example, Alice’s characteristics have little but significant connections with some of the other characters. Such as, the Queen’s temper, the White Rabbit’s fearfulness, and The Hatter’s clever wits. Some of these characters prove about the development of Alice’s mindset, she has a fantasy world that has characters which resemble her own characteristics and behavior. Thus, proving the statement that, The story of Alice in wonderland has relative connection of the psychoanalysis of psychology, solely based on the main character, Alice.

Alice in Wonderland (intro)

    I believe that Alice in Wonderland is mainly about the perception of the mind. Her perception of  the posssiblities of the impossible. The idea could also lead to the consiousness of her mindset, but one does wonder what Alice's perception is all about. As the story keeps on unfolding, her perception of what happens to her can change. Somehow, it connects to the psychology of Alice's mindset and the possibilities of her perception unfolding and changing.