Peach Orchard

I found it a very interesting expierence watching this video. I can see in many ways how it would relate to shinto. At first, I was a little confused and did not understand why this little boy was chasing this girl that apparently did not seem to exist to anyone else but himself. I now understand that the purpose of the girl was to lead him to the Kami I feel. In this scence, the Kami were standing on a hill scolding him and his family for cutting down the peach orchard. I feel that by the Kami scolding him, it shows what a big deal nature is to the Shinto religion. That everything is important, continuious, and that what the boy and his family did is practically a sin. And from my impression, it seems that the things that are considered sinful to Shinto are things such as destroying nature. This example of the peach field reminds me of the sin of the story told that a kami destroyed a rice field and was punished.Another aspect of Shinto seen here is that usually during shinto rites, drums are played and there is clapping and bowing. This could be seen in peach orchard, where the Kami was appearing to bow and almost seem as if they were dancing. One of the last scenes, of just showing the one peach tree, I feel that represents the kami and it's role in nature.

Taoism

I really enjoyed reading Benjamin Hoff’s Tao of Pooh. It was such an interesting book, and I thought the whole idea of it was completely fascinating. I had loved Winnie the Pooh as a child and it was because of the diverse personality of the characters. Although I’m not sure if the author Winnie the Pooh really wrote the story with Taoism in mind, I think Hoff did a great job relating the two.  I have always found Winnie the Pooh, and his simplicity I think is what made him so loveable.

" Not like Pooh, the most effortless Bear we've ever seen."
"Just How do you do it, Pooh?"
"Do What?" asked Pooh.
"Become so Effortless."
"I don't do much of anything," he said.
"But all those things of yours get done."
"They just sort of happen," he said (70)

I do agree with Hoff that Pooh has a very “go with the flow” way of thinking. He is never complaining, unlike his friend Eeyore, and things always do end up having for Pooh. The whole idea of thinking positively and things will happen I feel really does play in here a great deal. Since Pooh is so simple and has that perspective of seeing everything as positive, good things do come to him. Also Pooh has this ability to be loved by everyone. I feel that has to do with his simplicity and his positive way of thinking. However, looking at Eeyore and how much he complains, he reminds me a great deal of the “American way of thinking.” I thought it was very true what Hoff had said about the “culture of Busy Backsons.” I had first thought, well maybe the term shouldn’t be applied just to American culture, but instead to more developed nations, with fast paced economies, and heavy industrialization, however I do not think its true. There are several other western, developed countries in the world that aren’t subjected to the Busy Backson view of the world as much as Americans.  I think it is true that Americans do try to save their time all the time, but in the end, they are just using it up regardless, that there really is no such thing as saving time. So if that is the case, maybe we should all just take a step back and enjoy our lives. I think what Hoff is basically trying to teach is through his interesting examples of Winnie the Pooh and friends, is just that. By living a much simpler live, we can achieve the things we want. That we do not have to have crazy thought-processes for things to occur. "Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right." (21)  The way ‘things just happen’ to Pooh, Hoff is saying that things can happen to us as well, as long as we change our way of thinking. I do think that Taoism can act as a solution to the American problem; however I do not think that it is necessarily a realistic solution. I think it takes a great deal for people to change, and that we are to stuck in our American way of thinking for us to really be able to slow down. I think individual people changing won’t be enough to change a whole countries way of thinking. Maybe if there was a federal law that allowed people to take a siesta every day, or had other laws that allowed more built-in ‘down-time’ this could perhaps act as a catalyst to a more Taoist way of thinking.

Lisa Praying to Buddha



I decided to use this very short clip from the Simpson's. I had a little difficulty finding something that could really show a sterotype of buddhism, and although this clip is short, I feel that it does actually show the stereotype since she first states that she is aware that she should not be asking for anything. It is to give the idea that people are not meant to ask/want material things. I think this is a very common sterotype associated in Buddhism, and how it is important to detach ones self from material things. I feel that this is supported by what Brad Warner writes when he says " Right livelihood is not restricted to a certain set of approved ways of making a living" (12). I think this can relate to the short Simpson clip because I don't feel that there is necessarily one way to do things, and Lisa is just assuming that she is not suppose to want anything. I'm sure that the Simpson's was a common choice, but I definately feel that it is a good representation of Buddha in the media since it is a very popular show, and I feel that people who know very little about Buddhism would quickly assume that what Lisa is saying is the truth. " Plenty of folks still make a bundle by playing the role of the spiritual superman" (xii). I feel that by Lisa praying to Buddha directly, it shows that she is not relying on a spiritual teacher of any kind, but instead she is directly trying to establish a relationship with Buddha.  

Warner,Brad." Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate" New World Library, 2009

Buddhism Assignment #1

It was hard deciding which aim was more prevalent this week. I almost feel that in American culture, and American music both aims go hand in hand with each other. I feel that liberation from something is success, that one feels successful when they feel liberation. Therefore when I was choosing songs, sometimes it was hard for me to decide whether it would be considered liberation or if it would be considered success. For example, the song that I chose to display for liberation was "The World's Greatest, " by R.Kelly. When I first thought of the song, it made me think of success because it is about him being the world's greatest, but then I started to think about what liberation truly meant. Liberation is suppose to mean being released from the cycle, and in American culture this cycle can be anything, an abusive relationship or poverty. Whatever it may be, I feel that by R.Kelly saying that he was now the 'world's greatest' meant that he had accomplished and achieved whatever he was one struggling at. I also feel that liberation means being set free, therefore being comfortable with who you are, being yourself was also important so that's why I also included the song Video by India Arie, since it talks about being herself. I did not have trouble finding songs for success, however the problem is I feel that it is so far from the success aim that is discussed in Hinduism. The songs that I chose, the definition of success has to do with celebration mostly of having money. However, I feel that the success that Hinduism means is not only about materialistic things. And also when the songs discuss how they are successful with sex, money or obtaining drugs that Hinduism would considered these things successful as well.

Liberation

R.Kelly, " The World's Greatest." R&B, 2002

India Arie, " Video" Soul, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq86e4Fhja0

Kevin Rudolph, " I Made It" Rock, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWHH1Updhig

Mary J. Blige, "No More Drama" R&B, 2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em328ua_Lo8

Destiny's Child, "I'm a Survivor" R&B, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8fysvEFIck

Success

Drake, " Successful." Hip-Hop, 2009

Black Eyed Peas, "Imma Be" Pop, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdAj-dBNCi4

Birdman Ft. Lil Wayne, " Pop Bottles" Rap, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA1UpMMmV6A

50 Cent, " I Get Money" Rap, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO22Z0T3qPE

Danni Minogue, " Success" Dance, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaavqxbUFbo