My Understanding of Daoism, Jainism, and Sikhism

I came into this course with a curiosity of other religions. I knew the basic concepts of the major religions, and because of my childhood, have a fairly in-depth knowledge of Christianity. This semester, I also took a World History course, so it has been interesting seeing how these two courses intersected one another. One thing that I enjoyed most about some of the religions we discussed this semester, was the interconnectedness with others as well as their surroundings. That people experience God in so many ways is fascinating. While I still have no interest in following a specific religion and my version of God is more of an idea than an omnipresent being, I have a deeper understanding of these religions, and can relate to some of their core values – particularly some within Daoism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

The concept of wu wei, or “not doing”, in Daoism means going with the natural flow of things and letting them happen. I was drawn to the analogy of the river and not fighting the current. I struggle with anxiety and it can be difficult for me to let things go and sometimes my anxiety manifests as an extreme need to be in control. I’ve been working on this and believe that I will be able to lead a much happier life if I am able to embrace this.

While Jains strive to follow the three basic principles of Jainism – non-violence, non-attachment, and being open-minded – at what may be an extreme level, I feel these are excellent values to live by. I believe there are instances where violence may be necessary, but I also believe that other solutions should be explored first if possible. Materialism is something I try to avoid in my life as well, but I think it is okay to have things that make you happy so long as you do not put those things above people. However, the principle that I found most engaging, was the principle of anekantwad. As a person who works with young children – some with special academic, social, or behavioral needs – it is imperative that I be open-minded, non-judgmental, control my emotions, and look at a situation from many angles. I’ve worked with children for over a decade and am pursuing a degree in early childhood education. I know that in situations I will deal with as a teacher, this will be vital in devising plans to help my students achieve success.

The three central teachings of Sikhism are work hard, be charitable, and worship God. As a person who chooses to isolate herself, I have spent the last year consciously seeking opportunities to integrate into my community. I feel that I have always been a charitable person, but I’m striving for more connection and kindness with others. As somebody who was very active in a Christian church until early adulthood, I do sometimes miss that sense of fellowship within the church. There was something very comforting to me about belonging to a group of people with a common belief or passion, and I see that present in langar, the shared community meals where everybody is meant to be equal and given a sense of belonging.

I plan to implement some of these principles in my life and continue those that I already practice. I believe that letting go of the need to be in control will help me to be happier in my personal and professional lives. Being able to step back and view an issue from all angles is something that I hope will be useful in parenting as we embark on the teen years. I know it is beneficial within the classroom in dealing with issues with students. I’ve also been encouraged to seek our opportunities to get to know new people or rekindle old, but meaningful, relationships.