Prompt #7: #7

Baba Ram Das calls this section of his book, “Cookbook for a Sacred Life.” Is a “sacred life” the same thing as a wise life?

OR

Baba Ram Das calls this section of his book, “Cookbook for a Sacred Life.” Is this a reasonable metaphor? Can there really be a cookbook for a sacred life? For a wise life?

OR

Are you familiar with Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative: “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law”? (If this makes no sense to you, look up “categorical imperative” in the Wikipedia.) Now the question. . . . Baba Ram Das gives a lot of quotes in this section of his book. Do you think he treats them as maxims that he would have become universal laws?

Your paper should be no shorter than 500 words (about two pages).

I will not give you letter grades or extensive comments. If you want specific feedback on your short essays, come speak with me outside of class. I am more than happy to explain my assessment. Also in my office are copies of superior essays from the past. If you are uncertain about this assignment, I encourage you to stop by office and read several of those for inspiration.

For further guidance on this assignment, including the grading system, read, “The Think Piece: A Guide” online at http://profcohen.net/ltwl129/think.pdf

For examples of superior think pieces from previous classes, click here: http://profcohen.net/ltwl129/superior-tp.pdf

Remember, you have to write 4 think pieces by the end of the quarter. There will be approximately 17 prompts from which you may choose.