Buddhism
Some have critiqued Buddhism as a religion is “nihilistic” or deconstructive in a way that leads to nothingness. Using your understanding of the four noble truths, defend in a single paragraph from a Buddhist perspective that “nothingness” is actually a good thing and is the answer to fullness and unity rather than a problem.
watch the following short links that include a variety of ritual activities. Then, argue why or why not, these activities could also be seen as “calm meditation” or samatha in their own way. Specifically, are there connections between various forms of religious devotion and fixed or calm meditation?
washing the Buddha: http://youtu.be/5MvVbJ4BftA pilgrimage & prostrations: http://youtu.be/WGE_8flF93M relic ceremony: http://youtu.be/2HxaYPCgFB4