Section 4: Non-Arguments, Horne pp 39-43
Task 1: Persuasive explanations are when someone is typically tries to answer “why” something
happened a particular way using an unflattering description of someone or something else.
Task 2: One of the most frequently asked queries is about Buddha statues. This is because not all
Buddha statues are the same; different Buddha statues have different shapes, sizes, different
gestures or mudras and styles of presentation. These variations are not just for the sake of
decorations but they hold certain meanings and origins as per the teachings of the Buddha.
Task 3: The writer uses persuasive explanation to answer the question to show that there is a
difference between the statutes. Therefore, they in different value and virtue in every statue. The
blogger persuades the reader into their way of thinking.
Task 1: We use stereotypes whenever we make groups based on a single feature, and then expect
the group members to all be the same.
Task 2: Many people who are very passionate about meditation are known to have owned at least
one Buddha statue as they look up to the Buddha as the source of inspiration to pursue their
meditation goals.
Task 3: The writer creates a stereotype that most Buddhist pray with a statue. Then it makes the
reader feel like they must buy one as well in order follow the norm that the blogger describes.
Task 1: A description is hyperbolic if it exaggerates.
Task 2: No wonder Buddha statues are some of the most gifted items around the world due to
their ability to motivate and inspire people in their quest for attaining inner peace and happiness.
Task 3: In this exert the writer is exaggerating the feelings toward the statue. For example to call
it the “most gifted item around the world” seems like quite a stretch especially since we live in a
materialistic time.
Website: https://www.burmese-art.com/blog/reasons-to-have-buddha-statue
Published: September 14, 2020
Reasons to Have Buddha Statue
Introduction
Buddhism is one of the most popular religions all over the world. Having originated in the Indian
subcontinent back in the 5th and 6th centuries BC by Gautam Buddha, Buddhism spread across
Asia and is a dominant religion in countries like Japan, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Tibet. The teachings of the Buddha have gained widespread popularity due to
globalization making it one of the major religions in the world.
The popularity of Buddhism has been one of the reasons for many queries and curiosity
regarding the Buddha. One of the most frequently asked queries is about Buddha statues. This is
because not all Buddha statues are the same; different Buddha statues have different shapes,
sizes, different gestures or mudras and styles of presentation. These variations are not just for the
sake of decorations but they hold certain meanings and origins as per the teachings of the
Buddha.
Why Buddha Statues?
Buddha statues and reason to have it
The Buddha statues or Buddha imagesare not only the physical representations or depiction of
how Buddha was physically but are the symbol of Buddha’s teachings, fortune, inner peace and
motivational factor for every human being. It is believed in the Buddhist world that chanting or
praying in front of the Buddha statue gives one some sort of inner satisfaction which in turn
gives peace to the mind, heart and soul. As Buddha is not just a name but a title, Buddha statues
represent how one can attain the full understanding of life in the deepest way possible.
A Buddha statue triggers and reminds one of his or her vows to preserver his or her spiritual as
well as meditation practice. At the same time, Buddha statues purify the mind, builds up the
serenity within oneself and motivates to overcome the negative emotions of fear, greed, jealousy
and hatred, hence uplifting the mind and focusing the attention on the reality of the materialistic
world. The followers of Buddhism have a strong belief about a Buddha statue as the most
important source of communicating self-discipline and peace of mind. Similarly, it is widely
believed that having a Buddha statue in and around the house helps a person to bring out the best
possible outcomes in terms of the spiritual journey as well as the positive aura among the ones
that are around the statue.
Buddha statues as a gift
Buddha statues also emulate the air of motivation among the meditation enthusiasts. Many
people who are very passionate about meditation are known to have owned at least one Buddha
statue as they look up to the Buddha as the source of inspiration to pursue their meditation goals.
It is believed that Buddha statues help one to be focused in meditation, ultimately helping him or
her to achieve the higher heights of meditation as the Buddha himself attained enlightenment by
practicing meditation.
“Buddha Statues as a gift”
Another reason for one to get Buddha statues is as an item of gifts for his or her loved ones who
are passionate about Buddhism, Buddha, antique statues or meditation. One cannot deny how
useful a Buddha statue can be as a decorative item in a living room or in a garden. No wonder
Buddha statues are some of the most gifted items around the world due to their ability to
motivate and inspire people in their quest for attaining inner peace and happiness. People all over
the world visit various Buddha statues galleries whether they be a physical gallery or online
Buddha statues gallery so as to search for the perfect Buddha status as a gift for their loved ones.
Task 1: A persuasive comparison makes a comparison between two things in order to cause to
you take a certain perspective regarding the thing compared.
Task 2: I couldn’t wait to meet other spiritual seekers who were just as loving, kind, and cheerful
as the authors of the books and blogs I read. That didn’t happen. Instead, almost every “spiritual”
person I met was cruel, manipulative, toxic, and narcissistic.
Task 3: In this case the blogger compared their online and offline interaction with religious
leaders. They used positive words such as “loving” and “cheerful” to describe the online
experiences then used words such as “cruel” and “toxic” to describe words that were meant for
the in-person experiences. They put both experiences side by side and created a drastically
differing comparison that persuades the reader into believing in what the blogger described.
Task 1: We use innuendo whenever we communicate something not by saying it, but by
implying it.
Task 2: Finally, I lived with another “spiritual seeker” for eight months who was narcissistic,
manipulative, and toxic but who insisted on being my “spiritual guru” simply because she liked
crystals and astrology. She constantly pushed her beliefs on the rest of the house, would cry
when something didn’t go her way, neglected her cat to the point where he passed away, and
would constantly manipulate people to clean and do chores for her (she would literally have
random people come over to do her chores without tell the rest of the house, which obviously
freaked us out). She made our lives a living hell every day until she moved out
Task 3: The blogger is using innuendo in order to imply that the majority of the current religion
leader are not good people. They go into great detail of how this leader abused their power and
gave nothing to other people. The writer is trying to imply that the current religion system is
