Wednesday, November 6, 2013
What is Really Here?: #DalaiLama
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
One Must Focus the Lense: Finding Trends
This week I have discovered and will be examining three more
post on Instagram by users that have used the hash tag Dalai Lama. These three
users also, like the previous six users’ post that I have analyzed, vary in the
way they use this social media platform to convey their thoughts, beliefs, and
experiences surrounding the teaching of the leader of the Buddhist faith, the
Dalai Lama. These users represent different ways to live out religion by using
the teaching of the Dalai Lama. These users follow a trend of using Instagram
not only to post quotes and written interpretations of religious texts and
teachings, but also to share visual expressions of religious beliefs and
practices by use of personal images.
All of these individuals take advantage of this virtual medium on which
they profess their beliefs and display how their religion ties into their
everyday lives. Most users in this week’s and the previous weeks’ examples used
commentary of a religious leader to help better their personal lives. The
principal message is that one cannot profit from religion by only reading or
hearing religious knowledge; but that a person must also apply the acquired
religious knowledge to their life. These posts also serve as a teaching medium
and inspiration source for others that happen to view their pages.
Example #1
Time: 10/8/2013
User Name: pretty_outcasts
Picture: This picture consists a bracelet on a black
surface. The bracelet looks to be made out of yellow wooden beads and yellow
string.
Caption: "Never give up No matter what is going on
Never give up Develop the heart Too much energy in your country is spent
developing the mind instead of the heart Develop the heart Be compassionate Not
just to your friends but to everyone Work for peace and I say again Never give
up No matter what is happening No matter what is going on around you Never give
up" -His Holiness The XIVth Dalai Lama My mom sat in on some talks by the
Dalai Lama today and brought me back some hand made Tibetan monk prayer beads.
I couldn't love them
more. #dalailama #dalai #lama #prayerbeads #prayer#tibetan #monks #monk #tibetanmonks #buddah #Buddhism
Comments: NONE
Likes:5
The user pretty_outcasts’ post focuses on a bracelet that is
used in the religious practice of prayer. She relates these beads back to the
Dalai Lama by including a quote by this religious leader in the caption of her
post and acknowledges that her mother received these beads of prayer at an
event at which the Dalai Lama spoke. This photo and the information gained from
the caption suggest that the user lives out her religious beliefs by practicing
prayer rituals of this religion.
Example #2
Time: 10/8/2013
User Name: semperfigirlfriend20
Picture: This consists a girl sitting in a white and purple
hammock holding an open book. The girl is making what she calls a blowfish face
and seems to be wearing a blanket. She seems to be reading what is a copy of
“My Spiritual Journey” by the Dalai Lama.
Caption: #BlowfishFace #Reading #I'veAlwaysSecretlyLovedReading#ReadingIsMyGetAway #MySpritualJourney #TheDalaiLama#DalaiLama #Buddhism
Comments: None
Likes: 29
The user semperfigirlfriend20 is displays religious focused
text in her Instagram post. The book featured in her photo is written by the
head monk of Tibetan Buddhism who is the Dalai Lama. This photo suggests that
the user is taking a break from living out her religious beliefs by the
practice of reading and learning through secondary religious texts Other users
on this social media platform, like gabyduque9 from a previous blog, also post
pictures of books or themselves reading books that have been written by or
about the life and teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Example #3
Time: 10/8/2013
User Name: blastscott
Picture: This picture consists two abstract painting of
the face of the Dalai Lama from the nose upward. The background of one painting
is blue with the Dalai Lama’s face in pink and the other painting’s background
is pink with the Dalai Lama’s face in blue. These paintings are both resting
upwards on top of newspaper on a table. In the background of this photo there
seems to be another unrelated piece of artwork on the wall.
Caption: Lama for Miles & Lama for Lena #art #painting #dalailama #buddhism
Comments: none
Likes: 9
blastscott is using this post on their social media page to
display their artwork and to advertise a product that will allow others to
display their religious thoughts. This is the second user I have seen to use
this social media platform and the hash tag Dalai Lama in this manner,
pathoutfitters t-shirt picture, which is featured on a previous post, was the
first. The paintings give idolization to the religious leader and show his
followers that they can display their faith not only through actions but also
through religious artwork.
Each of these users chose different but similar ways to
display their narrative of and to live out religion by using the teaching of
the Dalai Lama. The nine examples selected and featured on this blog over the
past four weeks and the performance of religion by these Instagram users have
been examined. After analyzing similarities and contrasting them with the
idiosyncrasies in these posts, they all seem to follow a trend. The trend of
these examples studied are that the users share the central aim of displaying
to others how they are personally, and how other can, live out their religious
beliefs through practices. By reading and learning more form the religious
teachings of the Dalai Lama, displaying their belief and to encourage others to
openly display theirs also, and capturing moments living out their religion by
following a teaching of a religious leader. The common message from these users
continues to be to learn the teachings of the religious leader of Buddhism, the
Dalai Lama and to apply these learning’s to one’s life. While performing
religion in a various amount of ways, all the users seem to believe that
religion should be shown through some sort of action.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
#Trends:What's Happening Here?
Many Instagram users vary in the
way they use this social media platform to convey their thoughts, beliefs, and
experiences, and other users tend to be more alike. This trend is also the same
for Instagram users whom are inspired by and practice the teaching of the
leader of the Buddhist faith, the Dalai Lama.
When sampling posts hash tagged
with the words “Dalai Lama” it was found that each user choose different but
similar ways to display their narrative of and to live out religion by using
the teaching of the Dalai Lama. While analyzing the 6 examples selected and
featured on this blog over the past two weeks, the performance of religion by
these Instagram users will be examined. Similarities will be considered while
contrasting them with the idiosyncrasies in these posts.
The posts first are similar in the
way religious quotes, or teachings of the Dalai Lama are used. All but one of
the Instagram user posts being examined have used a quote or summarized a
teaching of the Dalai Lama to add narration to their photos or as the actual
picture it self. The users tomorrowsmoment and weallshineon_ both post pictures
of quotes by the Dalai Lama while laymoune02, breathinginyoga, and gabyduque9
use saying of the Buddhist religious leader in their captions to add
description to their photos. The only user not to include a teaching of the
Dalai Lama is pathoutfitters. Neither their photograph nor their caption
features a trace of a religious phrase.
While all
but one of the posts include religious sayings to narrate their photo, only 4
out of the 6 posts depict how the users live out religious in their lives. The
users laymoune02, breathinginyoga, gabyduque9, and pathoutfitters all display
how they live out religion on this social media site and give meaning to their
pictures by including a caption, but the performances of religion vary.
Two of the users are depicted
practicing religious acts.laymoune02’s picture and captions present performed
religion by showing the user practicing the religious teaching of traveling to
a new place once a year. breathinginyoga photo captures her in a yoga pose
which when paired with her caption presents the idea that she is practicing the
religious act of meditation.
Another user performs religion by
means of texts.gabyduque09 photo alludes to the act of relaxation with her tea
and hookah while further exploring the teaching of the Dalai Lama through
secondary religious texts.
While these three users all show
how they each individually live out religion, the last user’s post does not.
pathoutfitters displays in their photo and quote how others can live out their
religious views thought their wardrobe, with Dalai Lama tee shirts.
Over all, the common message
throughout these posts is to learn the teaching of the religious leader of
Buddhism, the Dalai Lama and to apply these learning’s to one’s life. All of
the users perform religion in different ways but they all believe that religion
should be shown through some type of action whether it be by following a quote
of the day to guide one’s daily actions, performing religious acts such as
meditating, or displaying how other believers can display their beliefs openly.
Due to these examples I will be answering the research
question:
How do the users of the posts on
Instagram containing a hash tag of Dalai Lama perform religion by acting out
the teaching of the Dalai Lama in their lives through religious acts, studying
religious texts, and promoting the practice of lived out religion to others?
Thursday, September 26, 2013
They Live It Out: More Investigation
Many Instagram users vary in the way they use this social
media platform to convey their thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. This tread
is also the same for Instagram users who are inspired by and practice the
teaching of the leader of the Buddhist faith, the Dalai Lama. When sampling
posts hash tagged with the words “Dalai Lama” I found that each user portraits
different ways to live out religion by using the teaching of the Dalai Lama.
Example #1
Time: 9/22/2013
User Name: gabyduque9
Picture: This picture consists of a close in focused
setting of a table. On the table, closer to the left side background of the
picture, is a hookah and hookah pipe, which are both on top of a circular
printed map. A purple and gold mug resting on a coaster containing the Eiffel
Tower is in the middle ground right side of the picture. The mugs looks as to
contain loose leaf tea and water. In the left side fore ground of the picture
lies two stacked books by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The top book being “The
Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Inner Peace: the Essential Life and Teachings”.
Caption: In the long run, causing others to suffer
and trampling on their rights to a peaceful and happy existence only leads to
one’s own anxiety, fear and doubt. #Buddha #Buddhism #dalailama #innerpeace
#compassion #spiritualguidance
Comments: NONE
Likes:13
Link: http://instagram.com/p/elrX3wTURi/
The user gabyduque9 her religious belief in her picture by
displaying religious focused texts. The two books featured in her photo are
both by the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama. This photo suggests
that the user lives out her religious beliefs by reading and learning through
secondary religious texts. Other users on this social media platform also post
pictures of books or themselves reading books that have been written by or
about the life and teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama. The visual
elements chosen to be present in this picture give the viewer the feeling that
the user is about to partake in an individual relaxing, religious study
session. The hookah, tea, and dim lighting help to create this calming mood in
the photo.
Example #2
Time: 9/24/13
User Name: pathoutfitters
Picture: This consists of a table with reddish
colored tee shirts. One of the shirts contains a black and white picture of the
Dalai Lama. There are three other styled shirts on the table next to this
shirt.
Caption: Pomegranate color #dalailama shop tees back
in stock – these tees are 100 percent #organiccotton Designed and printed with
love in #fayettevillearkansas !! #pathoutfitters #createyourown #cyo
Comments: huxinater_7_25_x__ : Ya
Raneyelizabeth @pathoutfitters how much?
goobycerra: Where are the tye dye shirts man. Slackin’
pathoutfitters: Patience @goobycerra – price is 25
@raneyelizabeth
pathrider23: I need one!
Gabes_notahipsta_either: I agree with @goobycerra
Likes: 39
Link: http://instagram.com/p/ep8jx9P-YW/
The user pathoutfitters is using this post on their social
media page to not only display religion thoughts but to also advertise a
product that will allow others to display their religious thoughts. This user
seems to be unique in its usage of this social media platform and the hash tag
Dalai Lama, from what I have seen. The message gives idolization to the
religious leader and shows his followers that they can display their faith not
only through actions but also through the purchase of a tee shirt.
Example #3
Time: 9/24/2013
User Name: laymoune02
Picture: This picture consists of a woman standing on
a beach. The background is blurry and contains rows beach chairs and umbrellas.
The woman has on a Hijab, sunglasses, a maroon cardigan, and an owl shirt. She
is smirking and is holding up the peace sign.
Caption: Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been
before – Dalai Lama #DalaiLama #quote #newplace #Thailand #tbt #island #summer
#missit #takemeback #beach #amazing #khaiisland #phuket #hijabi #nofilter
Comments: lamafakhoury: Waww
Laymourne02 : younek el waw <3 @lamafakhoury
Likes: 58
Links: http://instagram.com/p/eqUmOxj21i/
This user has used this post to tie a personal experience to
a teaching of the Dalai Lama. She does so by displaying a picture of her at a
beach, which the view can perceive, was taken at some time on a past trip. Her
caption includes the teaching from the religious leader and her action of
traveling exemplifies this teaching. The message from this post is that one
should not only learn religious beliefs but should also follow and practice
them.
The central aims of these examples studied are for the users
to display to others how they are personally, and how other can, live out their
religious beliefs through practices. The first users chose reading and learning
more form the religious teachings of the Dalai Lama while drinking tea and
smoking hookah as a way to display her belief. The second used a graphics tee
shirt to display their belief and to encourage others to openly display theirs
also. And the last user captured a moment living out her religion by following
a teaching of a religious leader. Each user promotes a different way to live
out religion by using the teaching of the Dalai Lama.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Mapping #DalaiLama
I will be looking at posts
on the social media site Instagram that have been hash-tagged Dalai Lama or
Tenzin Gyatso to examine how Buddhist and non-Buddhist followers of this
religious leader, react to, respond to, and exemplify his teachings and portrayal
of the Buddhist Religion. I have chosen to use Instagram instead of Pinterest
because Instagram users showed a tendency to give textual more feedback than
the users of Pinterest.
This social media
platform, which is being used as my case study, focuses on allowing its users
to share experiences, ideas, and beliefs through photos and short videos. Users
can post either pictures, videos, or photos of texts, add a captions, tag other
users, add the location of the post, and share posts on other social media
sites on Instagram. Another feature this site possesses is the capability of
linking information by the use of hash-tags, “a word or phrase preceded by a
hash mark (#), used within a message to identify a keyword topic or topic of
interest and facilitate a search for it”, as defined by Dictionary.com.
This context allows
religion to be expressed not only through quotes and written interpretations of
religious texts and teachings, but also through visual expressions of religious
beliefs and practices by use of personal images. Instagram gives its users a
virtual medium on which to profess their beliefs and display how their religion
ties into their everyday lives.
Each person in the chosen
examples used commentary of a religious leader to help better their personal
lives. The primary message is that one
cannot benefit from religion by only reading or hearing a religious knowledge;
a person must also apply the learned religious knowledge to their life. Their
posts also serve as a teaching medium and inspiration source for others that
happen to view their pages.
Example #1
Time: 1:30pm 9/18/2013
User Name: tomorrowsmoment
Picture: The picture
consists of a screen shot of a post on the social media site
Facebook. It reads as follows.
Quote of the day:
“All major religious traditions
carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion, and forgiveness the
important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.” –Dalai Lama
No matter who or what you believe in we share one
thing in common: love, compassion, and forgiveness.
We are all equal on this level and if we practice
those traits we can live in harmony regardless of beliefs or race or
preferences.
Caption:
#eatcleantraindirty #quoteoftheday
This comes from the #dalailama and I feel it’s the #truth
Most #religions share three things in common: #love,
#compassion, and #forgiveness
If this is so then we as #humans all share those three
traits as well.
No matter what you believe in believe in those three
things. Go out an spread them to the world and see how much #harmony and #joy
will follow your heart.
Comments:
tomorrowsmoment
: #dalai #lama #quote #quotes #quotesofig
#instaquote #inspiration #motivational
tomorrowsmoment:
#namaste
tomorrowsmoment:
#buddhism
Likes: veganstina13, ally_sambazon,
syndromida, want_a_shoutout_23k
Example #2
Time: 11:45am 9/18/2014
User Name: weallshineon_
Picture: The picture
consists of text on a wrinkles sheet of paper as the background. It reads as
follows.
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him the most
about humanity, answered:
“Man. Because he
sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to
recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does
not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or
the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never
really lived.”
Caption: I’ve posted this
several times in the past but it’s too #true, so a great reminder #slowdown
#dalailama #money #health #onebody #treatitwell #healthiswealth
Comments:
nuttywheat : Its true &
sad. How do we teach our children to live differently when it seems the whole
is set on the path of consumerism & self enrichment? There was a news story
today about a Spanish man who found a $6 million lottery ticket (the winning
one) & he handed it in. When interviewed he said he put himself in the
shoes of the person who had lost it & thought how they would feel having
lost their ticket. He said he couldnt sleep if he kept it. This was on a lot of
news broadcasts on the BBC this morning. How can an act of compassion &
selflessness be world news? Is it so unusual?
stargazer314 : First time I have seen it and I love it so much
I screenshot it
stargazer314 : thank you!!!!<33333
weallshineon_ : @nuttywheat no.
That should be the normal and unfortunately we have seen less and less of it. He's
a role model for the rest of us! Those acts should be recognized I suppose to
set the precedent for the rest. I say spread the good news, enough of the scare
tactics etc but no it should not be so rare ❤ to you
weallshineon_ : @stargazer314 great!!!!
<333 it's a great point !
Likes: 40 likes
Example #3
User Name: breathinginyoga
Picture: The picture
consists of a woman in a yoga position, in a handstand with one leg at a
ninety-degrre angle on a wooden table and the other leg straight up in the air.
The woman, who is wearing gray colored workout clothes, and the table are both
on a wooden, railed in deck. A beautiful landscape consisting of a body of
water, trees, and the horizon are in the background.
Caption: there is no need
for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. my brain and my heart are my
temples; my philosophy is kindness. – Dalai Lama XIV #dailypractice #dalailama
#kindness #heart #yogaeverydamnday #yoga #yogadaily #practicedaily #handstand
#quote #mindfulness #whidbey #amrita #yogajoy
Comments: kristenmwebb:
@breathinginyoga love this!
Likes: 13
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Case Study Proposal
My proposed case study will focus on the use of the social
media platform that works as a virtual photo album, Instagram. On this
site, I will investigate how the followers of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th
and current Dalai Lama, react to the teaching of this Buddhist Monk. I will
also examine how the followers of this religious figure express beliefs that
align with those of Buddhism.
The internet is an amazing resource for not only gaining
usable information, but for also connecting with other people throughout our
world. Sharing my experiences with others has always been more favorable to me than doing things alone,
so the social media sites, Instagram quick caught my attention and
became one of my favorite website that I use. This site not only allows you take and post pictures and videos of your experiences for your personal viewing purposes, but it also
allows others to search for specific subjects using hash-tags, view, and comment on the things you have
shared, while forming virtual
connections and relationships and expressing one’s likes, dislikes, and beliefs.
Anything that can be posted and found on this site more than likely has been, including fashion styles, tattoo ideas, do-it-yourself crafts, and funny memes. Religion is also a very prominent topic that is hash-tagged on this interactive user generated site. Many individuals that I follow post biblical scripture quotes and images of Christian religious symbols daily in a display of their beliefs.
For this case study I want to learn more about a religion whose practices are unfamiliar to me, but that I know some-what about. The Dalai Lama and his followers will work well as the focus of this case study, because it will allow me to learn more about another religion, Buddhism through the interactions of a religious leader and his followers.
Anything that can be posted and found on this site more than likely has been, including fashion styles, tattoo ideas, do-it-yourself crafts, and funny memes. Religion is also a very prominent topic that is hash-tagged on this interactive user generated site. Many individuals that I follow post biblical scripture quotes and images of Christian religious symbols daily in a display of their beliefs.
For this case study I want to learn more about a religion whose practices are unfamiliar to me, but that I know some-what about. The Dalai Lama and his followers will work well as the focus of this case study, because it will allow me to learn more about another religion, Buddhism through the interactions of a religious leader and his followers.
I would like to look at how Buddhist and non-Buddhist
followers of this religious leader, who is known of by many, react to, respond
to, and exemplify his teachings and portrayal of the Buddhist Religion. I will
do this by examining posts with hash-tags relating to Tenzin Gyatso and his teachings, tracking like and reading feedback comments by members of Instagram.
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