Category Archives: Asian Cultures

The Art Of Bonsai

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Photo: John Naka, Wikipedia

Many people the world over have seen Bonsai, maybe on movies such as Karate Kid, or at their local conservatories. Maybe even some people have friends, or relatives who raise the tree’s, or they have seen Bonsai in a garden center. These stunted trees have a very long history that goes back thousands of years to ancient China and Japan.

The word Bonsai derived from the Chinese word Penzai (盆栽) which means potted plant. During the Tang Dynasty Penzai was at its stylistic height. The stunted trees were favored by Buddhist monks, scholars and royalty. The trees were planted in shallow trays and decorated scholars rooms, temples and courtyards. It was common to display your tree for guests, especially if it were of flowering or fruiting variety. Bonsai were sometimes put on both sides of Buddhist statues as well. These little trees were found in nature by scholars who enjoyed the beauty of what nature can create. These scholars would travel risking their lives many times, to collect trees from the wild which had great potential to become a piece of living art. These wild pieces of art are extremely rare, they are rare because of the conditions needed to create them. Hundreds of years of wind cutting the tree back, storms, lack of nutrition in mountain soil, and roots restricted by rock can sculpt a tree into a beautiful piece of art that scholars prized and named literati.

Japanese scholars and Buddhist monks fell in love with the Chinese Penzai and brought them back to Japan where they were then pronounced as Bonsai (盆栽). Over many years the Japanese refined the art form and were inspired by the nature and organic perfection of pine trees. In 1950 John Naka (better known as the father of American Bonsai by Bonsai enthusiasts) and his friends established the California Bonsai society, which became an important vehicle for the birth of Bonsai in the United States. Master Naka was known for his work with forest plantings and conifers, and he used mostly native variety of trees in his projects. In 1976 Japan gifted 53 Bonsai to the United States which then eventually led to the founding of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington D.C.

Photo: Asian Media Access

These little trees depict natural scenes, forests, and can even look like distant mountains with rivers and fog when created and maintained by a professional Bonsai artist. Have a look at the photo below, notice the illusion of distance in the planting. Such small trees can have a big artistic impact on the viewer.

Photo: Asian Media Access

The Chinese are famous for their masterful rock and tree plantings. The plantings range in size from less than a foot to well over 4 feet. One can say that it was the scholars visions of China’s great mountains that led to this style of this art today. In Japan the rock plantings are also popular, at one point they were much smaller than the Chinese plantings however Bonsai expert Masahiko Kimura totally went bold and created large masterful rock and tree plantings.

Photo: Alejandro Sartori

Photo: Alejandro Sartori

Today we are so lucky to be able to witness this incredible art of sculpting beauty with living wood. We can see the vision of the Bonsai or Penzai artist, we can see the distant mountains, forests and streams through their eye. If we can silence our inner-selves and allow the magnificent beauty of these trees to speak, we will be able to appreciate and be moved by these living works of art.

Jarrelle

Music Theory And White Supremacy

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Heavenly music is interpreted differently by everyone.

Chinese proverb

Any music student, regardless of skill, will most likely have to learn western music theory. What is music theory?, well, Wikipedia says “Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music.”~ Wikipedia. Across the globe civilizations have been playing some form of music for quite a long time. Music has been a part of human evolution since the start, was it called music at that time? probably not. But, this does not mean that humans did not relax to the sounds of song, instrument, or percussion. Music can be found in every culture, sometimes it takes form in ceremonies, or it may have been enjoyed for leisure, whatever the case we can say for certain that music does exist in all cultures.

As an African American Guzheng performer, instructor and composer I often meet many musicians, some who are quite skilled in their music, and very knowledgeable in music theory. My training on the Guzheng was quite traditional, I did not learn Western music theory (which is forced on every musician today), I learned Chinese music theory. China has a very long musical tradition which has been documented and practiced for thousands of years. For example, the Guzheng 古筝 has existed for around 2500 years, the Guqin or 古琴 around three thousand years old, and the bronze bells 编钟 around 3,600 years old, and the Se or 瑟 of the Zhou dynasty 1045–771 BC. The list of ancient instruments in China is long, and notations for these instruments have been documented. Unlike the Western European music theory which uses a staff and dots to read, the Chinese developed an ancient thousands of years old numeric musical notation called Gong Che or 工尺 which is still used among the very small group of traditional musicians today. With modern westernization, traditional arts are transforming, some traditions are also dying. We must think about the importance of cultural arts, and not allow the modern world to kill what has held nations together, influenced identity, and promoted the respect of nature.

Here are some pictures of traditional Chinese instruments of the past that still exist today:

The original uploader was Zzjgbc at Chinese Wikipedia. – Transferred from zh.wikipedia to Commons. From the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, dated 433 BC, during the interregnum between the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period of ancient China.

The original uploader was CharlieHuang at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Shizhao using CommonsHelper.”Jiuxiao Huanpei” 《九霄環佩/九霄环佩》€‹, the famous Tang Dynasty qin in the Fuxi form by qin maker Lei Wei. Image from a photograph from a friend in China.

Original photograph by: Christopher Hsia – Cropped from the original photograph: Flickr: Even more Guzhengs (古箏) Guzheng instruments on display.

A comparative table of Gongche notation and other notations, from a book published in Kyoto in 1909. In Japan, Gongche notation became widespread to a certain extent.

Yale University Art Museum – https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/92412. A Se (Chinese zither) from the 5th-3rd century BC with four pegs. Red and dark lacquer with carved textures. The strings have decayed.

Many Western European musicians do not consider Chinese music real music, some have even considered Chinese instruments quite easy to learn because of the Wu Yin 五音 or Pentatonic scale consisting of 5 notes. Some of the musicians I spoke to even went as far as saying that Chinese music lacks harmony and so on. These enthusiasts and musicians lack knowledge, and are ignorant to the facts, and ignorant to what it takes to be able to even create a beautiful sound on an instrument. Piano is made easier with keys, but when playing masterfully on an instrument like Er Hu 二胡 (Chinese fiddle), it can take years and years to master the techniques of just 2 strings. The Guzheng 古筝 is also incredibly difficult to master, it can take years to refine the many very complicated techniques on the instrument. If Music theory is the study of practices and possibilities of music, we should also include the practices and possibilities of non European music.

Jarrelle

Black Urban Buddhist Hermit: The Journey Into Stillness Part 2

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Photo: Yulin Cave 10, Western Xia, (1036-1227 C.E.), Wikimedia ( Apsara plays the zheng)

Going to temple every week was always quite exciting. The bells, the incense, the chanting and the strong community all together brought an incredibly warm and spiritual experience. I’ve always thought of ordaining as a buddhist monk, but the opportunities to ordain are not easy to come by. To ordain as a monk takes commitment, devotion and hard work, and is certainly not an easy life. There are many paths into a deeper stricter practice, the practice of studying buddhist literature, the practice of studying ones mind, studying ceremonies etc. These different practices can take us deeper into our spiritual journey. For me, learning the guzheng has brought me closer to my spiritual journey, in a very interesting way it has also brought me closer to my ancestors as well, and the same is true for my buddhist practice. Each time I give an offering I think of my ancestors and relatives, the world and everything and everyone. Giving offerings with a pure heart, with ones mind on those who experienced injustices can be a powerful way of healing from the generational traumas of slavery and white supremacy.

After nearly 10 years of inquiring to the abbots, monks, nuns and the Buddhist community about ordination, I was finally accepted into 4 monasteries. It was super exciting, I felt happy and peaceful however still a part of my heart was telling me to stay in Minnesota. I had an opportunity to study with a high ranking Lama in a Tibetan monastery, a couple of Zen masters in Vietnam and also with the monks in California and Kentucky. Through the intense studying, reciting scriptures and meditation, I’ve found even more of myself and what I needed for my practice in this lifetime, and that was mostly solitude. Without leaving behind my faithfulness to the Buddhist monastic tradition, I decided that I needed to meditate and practice in such a way that I can also benefit the Black community in the present moment and in the future. Talking with others about the black buddhist experience is always interesting, many people do not believe we actually exist, or they think its a “trendy phase”. No, we do exist, and our experiences, and perspectives are also valid. We exist in every lineage, in every language, in the north, in the east, south and west. However small the percentage of black Buddhist practitioners may be we will still hold together through love and the black buddhist experience. No matter the distance, or distance in time, it is our hearts and the goals we have that will bring us together in a community of love.

Through this journey into stillness I have understood silence, and it was in this silence that I realized music is also quite sacred, and the Guzheng is just that. Focused, with a heart of love, if your art calls to you, listen. Art is what brings all walks of life together, it is healing, it is emotion, it is history and it is the key that unlocks many gaps, distance, borders and barriers. I hope my new original compositions that are in the works bring a moment of stillness, peace and beauty to anyone who listens. I hope that these compositions will also build a strong basis of material for the African American Guzheng musicians of the future. The world may not see you yet, but I, Jarrelle Barton do.

Jarrelle

Black Urban Buddhist Hermit: The Journey Into Stillness Part 1

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I have always been fascinated by the mystics and sages who sought peace in the forests, caves, and mountains. They felt in their hearts a need, an urgency for some time alone. Some may seek solitude to be closer to god, some may seek solitude for meditation and others may seek solitude as a lifestyle. Sometimes these reasons may mend together, and it may be a stillness that we all could benefit from at times. Our lives in the modern world are incredibly busy, and we may not always have time to even make lunch, sweep the floor, or even bake our favorite homemade desserts that we enjoy! We push our needs aside at times, always watching the clock, to stay on top of life, and all the while something within us says ” I need a break” or “I need a retreat”.

When I was about 13 years old my grandmother gave me a book called A Garden of Chinese Serenity, Reflections of a Zen Buddhist. The book has many short Zen, Tao and Buddhist poems written by the 17th century Chinese author Hong Zicheng in 1590. One of the poems that really intrigued me was about flowers and bamboo. Here is the poem written by Hong Zicheng.

Flowers display their beauty to the bright spring. But when they are pounded by a downpour of rain and a gust of wind, they are hastened back to dust. Bamboos persist in the integrity of their elegance. Even though they are beaten by frost one morning and snow another, they remain true to their green jade hue.

~ Hong zicheng

It was poems like this, Zen poems and Tao poems that would eventually inspire my musical expressions on the Guzheng. As an urban kid, never having left the USA, the only real bamboo I saw was the bamboo at Wal-mart, my mind could only imagine how great a forest of timber bamboo would be. How beautiful it would be to see with my own eyes the beauty of their green jade hue, and to hear the wind blowing through the bamboos leaves. I feel that in order to truly play the Guzheng one must truly learn from nature first. When I studied with my teacher ( Laoshi) Master Li Jiaxiang, he told me to go outside and listen to nature. It was difficult to hear the stillness of nature in a suburb with cars and horns honking. However, I did find a gazebo on the lake where I would practice and listen to the little bit of nature that was there.

Some years later a new Vietnamese Buddhist monastery was built in my neighborhood, a Vietnamese Buddhist friend of mine knew that I was a practicing Buddhist and he suggested I go check it out. It was perfect timing actually, because there was a big event there, the Jade Buddha was traveling to all the temples across the world and it was a lucky day to visit a Buddhist monastery and see the jade Buddha for the first time. I was welcomed there, and eventually became friends with the monks, nuns and the community. Over the years I learned a lot about Vietnamese Buddhism. I learned how to chant some of the sutras and mantras, Vietnamese Buddhist customs and cultural traditions and how to prepare yummy traditional An Chay or Vietnamese vegetarian foods. These beautiful moments shared with a community that still practices the Buddhist way of life truly brought me a sense of happiness. We can all learn so much by taking time to learn with people from other cultures.

Jarrelle

Sharing Culture

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Art by Nick Slater

Without culture what would our world be like? It’s hard to imagine isn’t it?. Perhaps it’s hard to imagine a world without culture because a world with culture is essential. Our cultures are all very colorful, woven into our human experiences as a fabric, and very much important to us as human beings.

“Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” 

Malcolm Bradbury

Culture is an important aspect of human life, and it plays a crucial role in how we shape our individual and collective identities. Culture provides us with a sense of belonging, purpose and meaning, as it embodies the values, customs, beliefs and practices that are shared within a community. Culture can also serve as a medium for expression and communication through shared experiences, and also influences our society in many ways. Our communities and ourselves as individuals are also shaped by culture, hence culture is very important.

Sharing our cultures can reward us with many benefits that can improve how we better understand others with cultural backgrounds different than our own. By sharing our cultures we inspire new ways of expression and appreciation, and we learn to accept differences in traditions and different ways of life. When cultures are shared, horizons become broader, and more understanding and less conflict is created. When we share culture, new ideas are also born, new music and arts are created, and different perspectives are also shared. Sharing cultures creates paths and opens doors for many sincere hearts to learn, study and practice traditional arts, revitalize traditional arts and keep alive ancient customs, languages and traditions.

There are different ways of understanding, and by sharing culture we learn this. Our way may look like its the only way, however we must step back sometimes and simply listen and observe other ways that are different than our own, we may even find a lot in common. We can break down racist stereotypes, and end discrimination by sharing cultural family stories, and educating people about our cultural history. We are all living on this planet together, as one family under the sky and clouds, let us live happily, colorfully and beautifully unique.

Jarrelle

Intercultural Communication

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Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.” Also: “Intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Robert Alan Aurthur

Our world is vast, our experiences, identities and ways of expression vary from individual to individual and sometimes it can be difficult for people to communicate with each other. There are verbal and non verbal ways of communication, and at times we greet others with a handshake or with a bow, depending on how and where we were raised. It can be easy to offend someone, or totally lose communication, or other opportunities all by that first greeting gesture and this is why learning about intercultural communication is important.

Interculturality refers to the interaction and exchange between different cultures with the goal of promoting mutual understanding, respect and appreciation. It recognizes the complexity of cultural diversity and the importance of creating inclusive environments that value and celebrate different cultures. Interculturality is something that goes beyond tolerance and aims at creating a space where individuals from different cultures can learn together and work together in shared goals. Now, when we speak of intercultural communication we are talking about how to communicate with others in or from different parts of the world who’s backgrounds may be greatly different than our own. Intercultural communication is about having respect for people who’s cultures are different than ours, having a curiosity about their cultures, and learning about other cultures and customs.

Ways that Intercultural communication benefit society:

  • Promoting mutual understanding and respect
  • Enhanced creativity
  • Enhanced personal and professional development
  • Stronger communication skills
  • Promotes social connectedness and shared identity among cultures
  • Breaks down barriers and unites with a common goal
  • Appreciation of differences
  • Gives us skills to handle complex issues regarding culture and communication

On our mission of creating a more equitable and just society we need to not forget how to listen. We must learn when to be silent, think, feel, process and understand before speaking, and this is especially helpful when discussing things like politics, race, identity etc. Many of our global problems are all caused by lack of understanding, lack of appreciation for each other. If we can flip the switch and learn how to communicate with each other, we would learn a lot about ourselves as well, and bring more love and peace into our world. If we can educate ourselves of different cultures, make the effort to actually learn, we would unlock more communication skills that can allow us to communicate more fluently with others as well. It would be incredibly beautiful to see a world who sees their neighbors as friends.

Jarrelle

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercultural_communication

Phases of The Moon

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Photo  Wikimedia Commons

In Asian Buddhist countries that follow the lunar calendar, those certain days depending on the phases of the moon are considered to be sacred and holy days. Those days are called Uposatha Observance Days. On Uposatha days we Buddhists practice even more seriously, even more intensely. We try to eat healthier, more mindfully eating and preparing food. We try to practice meditation with more focus, and also do more spiritual reading. We practice giving, and also compassion and selflessness. These moon phase days or ( Uposatha Days) are considered to be sacred because they relate to the Buddhas life achievements which were all on full moon days. The Birth of the Buddha was on a full moon day, his renunciation also took place on a full moon. He achieved Enlightenment on a full moon day, taught his first sermon and also passed away on full moon days. 

Slight is this perfume
of tagara and sandalwood,
best the perfume of the virtuous
blowing even to the devas.
The perfume of flowers does not go against
	the wind,
neither that of sandalwood, jasmine, or tagara:
but the perfume of the virtuous does go
	against the wind.
The good man suffuses all directions,
Sandalwood or tagara,
lotus or the jasmine great —
of these perfumes various,
virtue's perfume is unexcelled.
Buddha

Many Buddhists practitioners visit temples or monasteries on these sacred Uposatha days. They go to practice with the monastics who are also observing Uposatha more intensely, they also go to practice in a monastic way for a day. There are so many healthy benefits of observing sacred or holy days, practicing alone is good as well as practicing with a community. Some people need their space, and others do better and can study better with a community, however you practice though it doesn’t matter so as long as you practice working on the ( Inner Work), this is what’s important. The Buddhist Uposatha days are supposed to bring us peace of mind, joy, happiness, and less stress. I have found that by observing the practices, living more mindfully and eating vegetarian foods, one can achieve a certain inner peace.

Just like in practicing an art form or a skillful craft, practicing peace and compassion also rewards us with peace. When we can take time to focus on what brings us peace, whatever healthy practices we may have, not just Buddhist practices but any practice, we can come closer to that peace we seek in our lives. Turning this practice into a lifestyle practice reminds us to take time to focus on our mental health needs, to eat healthy and to have time to just breathe and relax. Even if someone doesn’t practice the Buddhist traditions, there is still so much beneficial material that can be applied into ones daily life.

Questions to contemplate

  • what hours of the day do I feel most relaxed?
  • What healthy foods do I enjoy eating that leave me feeling healthy and full?
  • How can I create a more relaxing and peaceful environment in my home?
  • What meditation practices bring me peace?
  • How can I practice in a way that liberates me and brings me peace?

You can read more about Buddhist practice here: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html

To read about Uposatha Observance check out this link: https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/217.htm

May each day be peaceful!

Jarrelle

The Guzheng

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Our purpose for living is to create the future.

– Author: Michael Krozer

Often times when I listen to music its usually Guzheng music. This ancient instrument has a history well over 2500 years and almost went extinct throughout its long period of transformation. This powerful instrument was once reserved for the imperial family now soothes our modern ears today with its silken sounds. The Guzheng is a zither harp like instrument with 21 strings, tuned pentatonic ( 5 notes that repeat over the 21 strings) and has moveable wooden bridges under each string. Each bridge is of a different height, shorter bridges for the thinnest strings and thicker taller bridges for the thickest strings. The Guzheng bridges are not fixed to the sound board, they can be easily moved to change key or to tune, they can be placed at different parts of the sound board for more avant- garde experimental sounds. The right side of the instrument is tuned, the left side is not tuned and its mostly used for creating those unique bending sounds or (vibrato) that we often hear and love.

Here is a picture of Guzheng legend Master Weishan Liu playing the Guzheng, notice the bridges holding the strings which allows for the musician to bend the sound which is a highlight of the instruments character.

You can check out a video of Master Weishan Liu playing the guzheng here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx3vAvRQjF4

The beautiful and profoundly soothing sound of this instrument has been the source of inspiration for poets and scholars for over two thousand years. Below is a poem I wrote in awe of this instrument.

The guzheng is very much like a dragon over the sea, peaceful and strong, associated with the qualities of water and spirituality, this instrument has certainly brought beauty to us in the USA. I hope that people will always continually be inspired to learn this incredible instrument and its history!. I will never forget the first time I heard my teacher play High Mountain Flowing Rivers 高山流水 (Gao Shan Liu Shui) it moved me to tears. Before me sat an expert Guzheng musician from China with 50 years experience playing the guzheng, with sound he painted a scene of ancient China, with mountains and rivers, trees and forest animals all majestically one with nature. I encourage you to check out the guzheng and read about its history, quite a cool instrument!

Jarrelle

In Harmony With Oneself

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“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.
When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world.” 

Confucius

Living in harmony with oneself is a practice, it is a lifestyle and it is a spiritual journey within oneself. It is a journey within the soul and heart, a journey into the entirety of the mind. When we can sit in total silence, witnessing each thought, each breath, breath by breath, present with our hearts beat, we are on the right step to inner peace and harmony. To live in harmony with oneself means to love oneself totally, completely satisfied with oneself, having compassion with oneself including accepting what we see as flaws or imperfections. Existence does not create mistakes, instead it simply creates. We are not flawed, we are alive, living and breathing beings that are all different from each other and yet so similar in many ways.

What does “Just be” mean to you?. I think that this is something we should all ponder in depth. For me, to “Just be” means to stand tall, in total confirmation, embracing yourself as you walk compassionately against the winds of an imperfect and oftentimes harsh world. It means to have such a great strength within yourself, a strength so strong that no matter the outer storms, the inner is peaceful and calm. You have arrived within yourself, you’ve found yourself, and you love yourself. This is what “Just be” means to me, and to live this way brings us harmony within ourselves, within our relationships with others and in our environments.

Here are some helpful steps that may guide you to achieving that inner harmony

  • Focus on keeping a balanced and healthy diet, they say that we are what we eat!
  • You are human, allow yourself to learn and be imperfect. Wisdom and harmony comes from accepting our little imperfections.
  • Prioritize self-care by taking care of physical and mental health.
  • Get plenty of sunlight and fresh air in nature
  • Keep a healthy social life, friends are important but so is YOU TIME.
  • Get enough sleep each night, our brains work better with sleep!
  • Get in touch with your inner artist, creativity births happiness and peace.
  • Dont be afraid to buy that bright yellow shirt with polka dots if it calls to you, wear it and rock it! Wearing what we like builds up confidence within ourselves.
  • Set aside time out of each day to practice sitting meditation, this helps us to balance ourselves in life and within our minds.
  • Get plenty of exercise
  • Stay hydrated and lower intoxicants like alcohol, lower caffeine as well. Water is our friend!

When we can live a healthy lifestyle, keep a positive self image and make healthy lifestyle choices we begin to live in harmony. We are more peaceful, less stressed out and quick tempered and able to quickly retreat to that zen space within if life starts to get a little crazy. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be, and let your beautiful light shine color and love into this world!.

Jarrelle

Expanding Worldview

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Before we get into discussing how to expand one’s worldview, let’s first take a look at what worldview means.

A worldview or a world-view or Weltanschauung is the fundamental cognitive orientation of an individual or society encompassing the whole of the individual’s or society’s knowledge, culture, and point of view.[1] A worldview can include natural philosophy; fundamental, existential, and normative postulates; or themes, values, emotions, and ethics.[2]

From Wikipedia

As you can see, our worldview’s are what shape how we experience, view, live and interact in our world. Having a bicultural worldview means that you live within more than two cultures, or participate and are exposed to many cultures. In these cultural experiences we open our eyes to different practices, beliefs and customs that may be quite different from our own. Learning about these differences builds tolerance and we learn to respect and appreciate other cultural customs, beliefs and views, and it’s through this lens that we begin to expand our own views.

Our bicultural worldview is important because it shapes our world and our interaction with our world. Living a bicultural lifestyle gives us a broader sense of reality. We are also able to understand different perspectives and solve more complex issues, and in doing so bring more togetherness and harmony into our world. The bicultural worldview allows us to approach challenges mindfully, create stronger and more unbiased communication skills and to solve conflicts wisely. Narrow and prejudiced worldview’s are grounds for racism, prejudice, discrimination and poor communication skills. Having such narrow views is certainly not beneficial for a peaceful and all encompassing world.

How is having a bicultural worldview beneficial for our world?

There are many ways having a bicultural worldview can be beneficial for our world. Here are just a few

  • Having the ability to see beyond your own cultural norms
  • Appreciation and understanding of different cultures
  • Having respect
  • Having tolerance
  • The ability to combine ideas and solve complex problems
  • The ability to live in harmony with the world

You can expand your own worldview by studying a new language, learning new recipes, learning new religions, teaching your friends and family about a cultural knowledge you’ve learned and practicing mindfulness. Our world is a big with many different perspectives, many of our conflicts come from lack of understanding or lack in communication skills, so by constantly learning and improving your abilities, you are able to live peacefully and harmoniously in a world of differences and complexities.

Jarrelle