Volume 1, Issue 1
April 2015
Purdue University North Central
Philosophy-Interfaith-Ethics
Today’s Discourse
“
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:
T
R
A
N
Q
U
I
L
I
T
Y
”
T r a n q u i l i t y B e f o r e E x a m s
B y K e l l y A . H i l l
 Come to our meeting on April 27th
from 4:00 PM to
5:00 PM in Schwartz
215!
 Bring topic ideas for
future meetings
 Look out for an email questionnaire
on availability for
summer meetings—
and fill it out
 Consider joining a
committee
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
A Reflection on Hinduism
and Christianity
2
A Reflection on Plato’s
Allegory of the Cave
2
PNC P.I.E.. Club
Introduction
3
Defining P.I.E.
3
Student Art
3
Quotes
3
Upcoming Activities
And
New Members
4
Here we are, at the end of
another semester. That means
finals are just around the corner. For some of us, this is it,
our last finals week. For others, well, they’ve got a few
more to face. Either way, this
can be a very stressful time for
us all. Finals week means final
papers are due, final projects
must be completed, and studying for those dreaded finals is
inevitable. However, we don’t
have to be so stressed out.
With a little planning and some
relaxing, we can get through
these last weeks of the semester and come out on the other
side with our sanity and great
grades.
To be tranquil is to be free
from disturbance. While the
pressures of the semesters’
final weeks can cause great
disturbance, we can turn to
the wise words of Buddha,
“When one has the feeling of
dislike for evil, when one feels
tranquil, one finds pleasure in
listening to good teachings;
when one has these feelings
and appreciates them, one is
free of fear.” Facing several
final projects and tests can fill
us with confusion and ill feelings. But, if we take a deep
breath, relax and make a plan,
we can do our best and make
it through this nerve-racking
time. Focus on one thing at a
time. Make a list of what is
most pressing and go from
there. Keep your list handy
and check off the projects and
studying as they are completed. We can do this, and we
can do it well. Lucius Anneaus
Seneca once said, “Rid me of
these shadowy terrors; then
you will more easily deliver to
me the instruction for which I
have prepared myself. At our
birth nature made us teachable, and gave us reason, not
perfect, but capable of being
perfected. It is in us all to
learn.”
So, as we calmly welcome
finals week, ponder these
words of Robert Kennedy, “All
of us might wish at times that
we lived in a more tranquil
world but we don’t. And if our
times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging
and filled with opportunity.” A
whole world of opportunity is
out there just waiting for us.
Now, stay calm and study so
we can get out there and take
on the world.
Zeno–The Stoic
http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/linksuggestion/wpcd_2008-09_augmented/
images/860/86092.jpg
“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us to the tranquility
and happiness we all seek.” -Dalai Lama XIV
P a g e
2
P h i l o s o p h y - I n t e rf a i t h -
Philosophical thoughts from PNC Students
A Reflection on Hinduism and Christianity
By Kerin L. Jakubowski
The Hinduism Trinity is
comprised of God the creator
(Brahma), God the preserver
(Vishnu), and God the destroyer/
dissolver (Shiva). Although they represent different faces of the Divine
ultimately they are one and the same
God.
form and is everywhere. Jesus is the
Son of God but also the humanhistorical form of God that lived on
the earth. The Holy Spirit is the God
within a person considered part of
the soul. In Christianity the Trinity is
known as the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit. It is the destiny of
every Christian to enter into the life
In Christianity, God has
several faces. God is part of the Trini- of the Trinity, and to experience/
partake of the love that disperses
ty which includes God, the Son and
endlessly among the Father,
the Holy Spirit. Yet God also has no
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Advancement toward the goal should be a part
of every Christian's life. For only when
Christians move towards participation
in the Holy Trinity are they able to love
God with their whole heart and soul
and mind and their neighbors as themselves. Although Christianity does have
many branches and divisions, many of
the basic concepts of God are consistent.
The Holy Trinity in Hinduism
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/546894/Shiva/images-videos
Plato
A Reflection on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
By Ryan Q. Simpson
From once being forced into
misconception, to now being blinded
from the truth, in which all things exist
in beauty and nature I see myself for
the first time. Not only am I aware of
my natural being amongst others but I
am also aware of the beauty in life that
I see all around me. Free from restraint, yet wanting the feeling of certainty, since my surroundings are new
to me I am afraid. At the same time I
know my guide is near, I may not know
who he is, yet I am fortunate and hum-
ble in gratitude for freeing me from restraint. Now guided by the truth I have
escaped my past false realities and am
still thankful for what the past has
taught me.
conceptions of life, evil lies, fear,
and all that is untrue from the purest form of beauty, the absolute
divine. This wisdom is what brings
us as close to the divine as the wisdom of truth, and the divine will
Life itself, can be broken down,
allow us to see and to go, and theredivided by two, recreated, but never the
fore we are grateful. Just as I am
original for there is only one, which is
grateful for my guide who guided
life. That which is now, which is here,
me to the truth.
which is in this moment in time is the
only truth that is justified in the life we
live, despite where or when, that is life.
Wisdom is then what separates the mis-
V o l u m e
1 ,
I ss u e
1
P a g e
3
PNC P.I.E. Club Introduction
Welcome! The club would like to bring opportunities for philosophical discussions and events that illuminate
our core values. We encourage you to attend meetings, where we hope to foster contemplative thought in a
peer-driven format. We invite you to reflect upon your current views on philosophy, faith, and ethics and encourage you to open your mind to the views of others.
Defining P.I.E
Philosophy should not be solely approached in the classroom; it should be integrated into our societal ideals,
shaping the way we navigate through the world. Please enjoy this newsletter. It is another means by which the
club can share and communicate ideas.
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. . . It has no survival value;
rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” - C. S. Lewis
Student Art
We are continuously accepting works of art by PNC students to publish in our newsletter. Please turn
in your inspiring creations to any club officer listed on page 4.
Quotes
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” - Ralph Waldo
Emerson
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors
to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” - Henry David Thoreau
“Be happy in the moment—that’s enough. Each moment is all we need—not more.”
- Mother Teresa
“Tranquility means having a peace of mind. It means the elimination of doubt, fear,
stress, and hate, and the introduction of inner calmness.”
- Gwenevere Mueller
(PNC Student, P.I.E. President)
http://100habits.com/?p=454
WHO WE ARE
We are happy to provide you with this newsletter
and would like to thank the contributors that made
“ T R A N Q U I L I T Y ”
it possible.
Advisor: Dr. D. Majumdar
E-mail address: dmajumda@pnc.edu
If you would like to contribute to P.I.E.’s Today’s
Discourse please contact one of the Executive
President: Gwenevere Mueller
E-mail address: muellerg@pnc.edu
Officers or the advisor on the left. Thank you for
reading and supporting our club!
VP: Rachel Palmer
E-mail address: palmer42@pnc.edu
We ask that you not reproduce, duplicate, copy,
Secretary: Erika Hellman
E-mail address: ehellman@pnc.edu
sell, or exploit this content for any purpose.
Treasurer: Zachary Jakubowski
E-mail address: zjakubow@pnc.edu
Opinions expressed in this newsletter may not
represent the official views of Purdue University
Always Philosophical
North Central.
U p c o m i n g A c t i v i t i e s
A n d
N e w M e m b e r s
Upcoming Meetings:
Club Event ideas:
New Members:

May 2015 meeting information to be determined


Kelly Hill


Submit suggestions for upcoming meetings and topics
All of the officers! The club
was just made official on
4/14/15

If you are interested in becoming a member, we would love
to include you in our informational e-mails

According to the P.I.E. Constitution, membership consists
of attending one meeting per
semester


Philosophy slams, serviceoriented activity, guest speakers, movies and documentaries, nature walks
Visiting places of worship,
like monasteries, the Notre
Dame grotto, or Valparaiso
University Chapel
Picnics with Purdue Calumet’s
Philosophy Club