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 14^th 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.