In Kurosawa’s film “Dreams”, “The Peach Orchard” demonstrates very clearly one of the three major beliefs in the Shinto religion. The first belief we learned about in class which was to be grateful to the Kami and their preservation. In the case of this movie there were Kami that represented the peach orchard. The clips I watched showed the outrage of disrespect from the Kami to the boy and his family. In Shinto the people believe that you can be punished by not continuing the religious rite’s to the Kami, which cutting down almost the entire orchard would be a blatant discontinuing to the spirits of the trees. One of the worse sin’s in Shinto are the sins against scared objects and places. So in return for the defilement of the orchard the Kami tell the boy they won’t ever visit his home again, which would have been a horrible punishment and disgrace to the family.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Pooh Way!
Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh was the easiest religious book I have ever had to read. He was very opinionated but not pushy like a lot of religious texts can be. His book had a very easy, worry free feel to it, which is very in sync with the Taoist way. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact he used a very American child icon as the teacher, cleverly nicknaming it “The Pooh Way”. After understanding the sort of guidelines that the book sets about Taoism, Pooh Bear seems absolutely perfect to be the mascot. That being said I doubt I could ever personally empty my mind of all worries and take life as it happens to unfold. Being born and raised in a very competitive world I don’t think it would be very wise decision to lay down my school books and just hang out in the forest listening to the birds with Pooh Bear.
Although the Idea of simply being and letting life happen sounds amazingly tempting, western society especially wouldn’t cope very well with it. This society is all about who can achieve the most worldly credit to their names the fastest. Who has the most degrees, cars, and the biggest homes. America is known for being full of doers and independent busy worker bees, or Busy Backsons as referred to multiple times in The Tao of Pooh.
With everyone searching for more knowledge and more power, more everything I feel like Benjamin Hoff had very accurate nicknames for the people in the world. We are defiantly in an abrasive society were a clever tongue, and mind is very useful, what Hoff would refer to as “Clever Rabbits”. Even “Knowledgeable Owls” plays a huge role in this world; people are ever seeking more information and knowledge. Although I definitely see that in excesses stressing ourselves out about every little detail isn’t the best way to enjoy life. We being “Busy Backsons” help give us cures for illnesses. It gives us teachers and philosophers; it actually makes learning about other religions even a possibility because if no one tried to further their education and persevere we wouldn’t have these options’ and successes.
Maybe Taoism could be the solution to slowing everyone down to metaphorically “stop and smell the roses” but I just don’t see it as happening anytime soon. It would completely unravel the way America functions. Not saying that it would be a bad Idea to start fresh especially seeing as America is in shambles with war and financial depression but the sit back and relax approach I feel could just make the issues worse by causeing to much confusion with our sudden inactivity.
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Sunday, March 6, 2011
Buddha
I believe this to be one of the most popular depictions of the westernized Buddha. He’s perceived as happy, carefree, and often very hefty. Westerners always imagine Buddha as a very spirited holy man who happens to always be caught mid laugh. We try and come up with our own opinions of what Enlightenment must be like by trying to make it easier to obtain. In Brad Warner’s book “Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate” he made reference that people back home in America were toying with the idea of using Psychedelic drugs to gain a dose of Buddhist insight. Americans seem to have a strong need for instant gratification, always wanting to speed along processes that take years of dedication.
Brad Warner explains certain scams aimed towards theses naïve type of people that promise a speedy enlightenment .They promise authentic kensho or satori experiences bringing you closer to your “True Nature” in just half a day. There are even some cases were people try and push themselves so hard and fast that it hurts them more than it helps them. For example the woman in Warner’s book who goes to Japan expecting enlightenment in weeks and almost drives herself insane. Many scams seem to be playing on the fact that people, Westerners specifically seem to stereotype to the point of ignorance. Everyone wants to have what the happy smiling Buddha seems to have in spades.
I’ve recently gained a better understanding of the Historical Buddha which has altered my idea of him drastically. In all actuality the Historical Buddha was never overweight; in fact he was a very skinny man. Eating in moderation and never after noon as is the sixth of the ten precepts of Buddhism. Siddhartha, which is Buddha’s birth name, could have lived a carefree happy life but he didn’t. Buddha chose a different path; he left his dancing girls and luxury, his life without worry and set off into the unknown. By westerners standards he would be considered a minimalist, never over indulgencing or acting out for fun, which isn’t at all like our culture. In this case the stereotype is more of the fairytale version of Buddha, minus all hard work and dedication, which in theory sounds fun but is very unrealistic.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Liberation
Senses fail , Rum is for drinking not burning,2004YouTube - Senses Fail - Rum Is for Drinking, Not for Burning (Acoustic)
Twisted sister, were not gonna take it,1984 YouTube - Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
Bruce springsteen, born to run ,1975 YouTube - Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
John Mayer, Free fallin (cover of Tom Petty) , 2009 ,YouTube - John Mayer - Free Fallin'
Worldly
Bruno mars, I wanna be a billionare,2010
T.I – Whatever you like
Lady Gaga , Fame, 2009
Ac/Dc, Money talks,
Rihanna , Rock star, 2010
My thoughts -
Although I know Worldly Possessions isn’t just about money and material things, it is also about what possessions you hold in value in your heart over others. It seems in this day and age the most natural train of thought would lead to money, which is a little more difficult to just have instantly, it requires a lot more work. Worldly Possessions was definitely a lot easier to find music for than Liberation, which I really had a tough timing doing.
I feel like although it wasn’t as easier to find music on Liberation the message the music sends is a lot more important. I n the music I picked it includes freedom from love, from life, from life’s restrictions. Hinduism has one main goal and that is to reach Liberation, Moksha, through good karma. It’s definitely the most important aim to have ultimately.
American Pop culture displays Liberation as mostly freedom from parents and authority which isn’t at all what it really means. A freedom from rules and routine is a petty inner freedom teenagers crave in this century. Liberation in Hinduism means no more Samsara , repetitions of the life cycle, and final release back into Brahma .There are less vast differences in the perceptions of worldly possessions between the two cultures.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Pleasure and Community Service
Pleasure was defiantly the prevalent aim to research for this first assignment. It wasn’t difficult neither surprising at all to find music based on pleasure or sex. I think it is because pleasure is more about instant gratification, getting to have what you want when you want it. On a positive level a person can find pleasure from sexual encounters, sweetly just holding hands, from just being loved or loving someone. But in most cases people think pleasure they think sex. Especially in the west people tend to flock toward music and movies and same such entertainment because it’s more forbidden and enticing. Although I do believe pleasure walks a fine line, if it’s excessive I feel like it could almost be a negative aim in life.
For instance if a person was so busy with their own personal pleasure and happiness they’d forget about their rightful duty to help others. Perhaps even turn their cheeks on others in need of just a little help. For example the third aim, Community service, which was a lot more challenging to find music for. I honestly believe everyone should get more involve and realize that even the smallest helping hand in a community could go a long way to inspiring happiness and maybe even pleasure into another person’s life, so in essence the aims could be interconnected.
I think American pop music almost makes theses aspects of life especially pleasure feel almost grimy or sleazy at times, but what about the pleasure in the simple things? I think that’s what people should think of first when their faced with idea of pleasure. These things are normal and innate in us, for us to fulfill our human urges. After reading up on some of the Hindu perspectives on such things, it’s almost an honor or a natural way of living there. It‘s excepted to live this way, to help your neighbor, and your family, to live in more of a kind of unity. To take pleasure in life and sensation, as if in doing so respecting your body the way it was meant to be.
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