Chapter 9 Reflection

        One of the things that immediately interested me and caught my attention while reading these documents was this quote: "Behold, those who sinfully devour the possessions of orphans but fill their bellies with fire: for [in the life to come] they will have to endure a blazing flame!" (445). There are a lot of things that come to mind while reading this symbolic language, but I believe this quote means that those who pray on the weak or take advantage of others are only filling themselves (soul?) with "fire" or negative energy and they will pay the price when judgment comes. Is that what you guys are getting from this quote?

       Continuing with document 9.3, one of the laws mentioned was paying Zakat. Zakat (from my understanding) is a mandatory donation to the poor from able persons. Anyone who does not comply with this can either be fined and sentenced depending on the judge or be put to death if the person denies their obligation to pay the Zakat in the first place. Talk about social justice but is this the way?

     When it comes to the role of men and women this is definitely not egalitarian. Men are allowed to marry up to four women if they are free and two women if they are a slave man. It didn't say anything about how many people a women can marry so I assume it is limited to one person. The book also stated that women should be obedient to their husbands and if not he is allowed to make her sleep in another room and/or beat her but lightly!...Lightly? It's like me getting into a fight and saying "I going to punch you...lightly though". sounds like an oxymoron to me. On the other hand, women are allowed to do one thing a man can't and that is wear silk and pray less if they are menstruating or recovery from birth.

Chapter 7 Reflection

          From the section about Xuanzang , the Buddhist monk from China visiting India, the part that interested me the most was the fact that based on your family and how many classes you are able to explain from the book Vinaya Discourses will determine your caste. The people that are able to fully explain all six classes has reached a high distinction where they call an assembly and judge the inferior and superior based on their discussion. The person analyzes the others good and bad point in their discussion and opinion. After the assembly, that person is then carried onto an elephant with precious jewels. If the assembly goes wrong or the person who ordered the assembly speaks faulty they are chased and they cover his/her body with dirt and paint and they are left in a deserted place. Even though china also has a caste system, this might have shocked Xuanzang due to the severity of the measures taken.