Shinto Blog

For my Shinto Blog I watched the YouTube clips on "The Peach Orchard."  The dream begins with a young boy bringing a gift to his sister and her friends - who seemed to be having some sort of tea party.  He notices that one of the girls is missing.  His sister denies it, but he sees her.  The young boy follows the girl into the woods.  He chases her but is interrupted by a large group of costumed people- the Kami.  These people explain that they are the Kami and they will no longer visit his house because his family cut down the peach orchard that used to be there. They scold the young boy for crying that the peach grove is gone- "Because he likes peaches!" they laugh.
     The young boy responds, "No! Peaches can be bought.  But where can you buy a peach orchard in full bloom?"  This silences the personified Kami.  They decide to let the boy see the orchard one last time.  They do this through a long song and dance.  They reveal the grove and the young boy chases the girl into it- then just as fast as the grove appeared.  It's gone.
    This relates to Shinto in its emphasis on nature and the power of nature.  The boy is stopped directly in his tracks the power and size of the Kami as the peach orchard.  Shinto is very detailed in its creation myth on emphasis on Japan and its culture and nature- this also seen in the clip.  Also, even the idea of a personified humanistic depiction of a natural force (like a peach grove) is very Shinto- This relates that Kami and people and nature are not separate.  The Kami communicate how upset they are that the peach orchard was cut down and the boy also shares how upset he is.  The peach grove is more than just a place to get peaches - it is beauty it is the Kami.

Reaction to "The Tao of Pooh" -spoiler alert, I loved it.

       I think The Tao of Pooh is an interesting exploration of Taoism through the lens of the popular series Winnie the Pooh. This makes Taoism as a religion very relatable to those familiar with the series- it adds character and personality to what would be just mere concepts. 

             

      The first bit of the book that I found interesting was the painted analogy of the three masters standing around a vat of vinegar.  The three masters are K’ung Fu-tse (Confucius), Buddha, and Lao-tse.  Confucius tastes the vinegar and makes a sour face, the Buddha makes a bitter face, and Lao-tse smiles.  This sets up the rest of the novel and also compares Taoism to two other religions that we have studied in this class.  Hoff then goes on to explain why Lao-tse smiled despite the seemingly nasty vinegar taste, also he segments this with simple but enjoyable asides as if Pooh bear were sitting next to him reading as he wrote.

        This book’s asides are very unique and almost personal with their ‘oddities.’  This is proven when Hoff is talking about how to pronounce the term “P’u.”  “P’u, by the way, is pronounced sort of like Pooh, but without so much oo—like the sound you make when blowing a bug off your arm on a hot summer day (10).”  I love that explanation!

                        “From the Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from the interfering and unappreciative mind.  Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet.  That is the message of The Vinegar Tasters (6).” 

         It is also the ‘solution’ to the ‘problem’ of American culture.  Americans are always busy or “Busy Backsons,” we are always in a hurry, we are not spontaneous, we plan, and we do not taste sweetness when he dip our fingers in vinegar. 

         Each of the major characters is explained in the novel.  It’s made clear that Rabbit is clever and Owl is wise and Tigger is unwilling to admit limitations, and the issues with each of these is addressed.  However, Pooh is in touch with the Tao, he is the uncarved block.  I think that Americans who try to be wise or do not accept our limitations need to learn from these character’s flaws.

                        ‘“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has Brain.”

                        There was a long silence.

                        “I suppose,” said Pooh, “that that’s why he never understands                                                 anything.”’(15).

         One of the major concepts of Taoism was proven in Winnie the Pooh towards the end of one of the earlier chapters.  Hoff is talking about the ‘uncarved block’ and explaining the simple and spontaneous nature of Taoism when he explains why life works for Pooh.

            “From the state of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain.  Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work, odd as that may appear to others at times.  As Piglet put it in Winnie the Pooh, “Pooh hasn’t much Brain, but he never comes to any harm.  He does silly things and they turn out right.”’ (21). 

          I believe this is such a huge realization.  The idea of Pooh recognizing that he is not incredibly wise or bouncy like Tigger or clever like Rabbit, but he enjoys the simple, the natural, the plain.  He is spontaneous, and it works.  He never finds harm- it just works.  I think as a culture we could learn a ton from this concept!  To be silly, to be spontaneous – and things just work, that’s a lifestyle I could get on board with. 

Buddhist Practitioner Stereotype: Phil Jackson

This is Phil Jackson.  He is the coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, he also coached Michael Jordan in Chicago.  He’s won 11 NBA titles as a coach.  He’s known as the “Zen Master,” and supposedly uses his Buddhist philosophy to make him a better coach.  Regardless of your fan affiliation – the man is a good coach, 11 NBA titles speaks for itself.  Granted, Jackson also incorporates many Native American religious practices too, and his father was a fundamentalist Christian preacher.  However, for me – Zen Buddhism looks like Phil Jackson in this picture. 

            The man seems so centered.  I picture him eating dinner and then saying, “Let’s go for a walk on the beach.”  He dips his feet in, just up to his ankles – and the waves die down and stop.  He turns around and his shirt is completely unbuttoned.  Overall, he looks “Zenned out.”  It looks like he’s getting ready to begin his Tai Chi regiment. 

            Brad Warner, in his book “Zen Wrapped in Karma, Dipped in Chocolate,” discussed the stereotypes on Buddhist practitioners.  On page 26, Warner discussed the obvious ‘rip off’ Buddhists, “There were teachers who prattled on and on with cartoony sounding descriptions of heightened awareness that sounded like stuff from bad sixties acid-trip movies.”  Jackson usually talks about how basketball is such a spiritual game.  He’s very focused on a team being centered together as well – this would tide well with Buddhist stereotypes. 

            However, my next thought that would eliminate Phil Jackson from being a Buddhist practitioner stereotype is his salary (Jackson of course being a millionaire); however, Warner even discusses that.   He talks about how being a butcher was not a “Buddhist” job – because you had to kill things.  However, Warner quotes an interaction with a butcher where he puts down his cleaver, folds his hands and says to the patron, “‘Sir, do you see any meat in my shop that is not fresh?’  From this interaction the master learned that even a butcher can do his job in a Buddhist way, with attention, care, and respect” (12). 

            Jackson certainly fits this stereotype of being thorough and respectful – that is the Buddhist way. 

             Also, Phil Jackson was quoted with this little gem – whenever I’m in doubt, I always seek this advice: “If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball.”

photo credit: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Create-a-caption-Your-true-moment-of-Zen?urn=nba-184427

Success and Liberation Aims in Hinduism through Pop Culture

Liberation:

Eddie Vedder, "Society," Folk, 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRUGvArWXLk

U2, "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," Rock n' Roll, 1987.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb1XXs7e7ac&feature=related

Bob Dylan, "The Times They are a Changin'," Folk, 1964.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiRQypcldG8&feature=related

City High, "What Would You Do?" Hip Hop, 2001.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zLsbbafdgg

Queen, "I Want to Break Free," Rock. 1984.

Success:

Notorious B.I.G. "Mo Money, Mo Problems," Rap. 1987.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twkh0YiInPM

Jennifer Lopez, "Jenny From the Block," Hip Hop, 2002.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dly6p4Fu5TE

Kanye West, "Stronger," Hip Hop, 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsO6ZnUZI0g

Everclear, "Like a California King," Rock, 1992.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA1lWA-MpVA

Weezer, "The Greatest Man that Ever Lived," Rock, 2008.

I actually had a lot of fun looking for songs about liberation.  Of course the first song that I thought of was Queen's super hit "I want to Break Free."  The song is obvious in its focus on breaking free - breaking out of the cycle.  This is the intention in Hinduism.  Hindus want out of the wheel of Samsara - the repetitive cycle of death and rebirth and death and rebirth... reincarnation. 
Eddie Vedder's song from the movie "Into the Wild" spoke a lot about liberation.  Vedder's song talks about liberation from society - awesome song.  I thought about the idea of leaving society and thought, What are they looking for? 
Of course U2's hit popped into my mind... this song could be a bit of a stretch.  However, this also agrees with the Hindu philosophy found in the Upanishads where people would become ascetics and live in the woods.  Overall, I really enjoy all of these songs - the idea of getting away, or escape has always interested me.  Where do you find that escape?  How can you find liberation?  Are there situations that are too big for an escape? 

I also really enjoyed checking out songs about success.  I first thought about Muhammad Ali, saying "I AM THE GREATEST!"  That's success - being the greatest.  Kanye West samples Daft Punk's hit "Stronger."  Then, Jennifer Lopez talks about her success in her song "Jenny From the Block." 
However, success is not always about being the greatest or being the strongest or being the richest.  Sometimes it's about being the California King - where Everclear tears someone down to find their success and also questions what success is - "What makes you think you are so special?  What makes you think you are unique?" 
B.I.G. steps in and points out that success means, "Mo Money Mo Problems."  What a mentality... You think that money is the solution - it'll answer everything.  No, it's the problem.  I ended with the song, "I am the Greatest Man that Ever Lived."  Weezer takes a Protestant hymn and shakes it up with a variation and the lyrics - "I'm the best that you've ever had."  Success is a great thing in Hinduism, however, that's not the solution ultimately in Hinduism.  You will always want more.  It'll never be enough.  The ultimate success in Hinduism is liberation from samsara.

Pleasure and Community Service Aims in Hinduism through Pop Culture

Pleasure songs:
Kid Cudi, "Pursuit of Happines," Hip Hop, 2009.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z_Ys3BO_4M%3C/a%3E

Weezer, "We Are All on Drugs," Rock n' Roll, 2005.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0OVpyvey4U

Ke$ha, "Your Love is My Drug," Pop, 2010.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_qa3Ohwls

Kiss, "I want to Rock n' Roll All Night," Rock n' Roll, 1978.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAt7YbX0T9k


Darwin Deez, "Radar Detector," Rock n' Roll, 2009.

Community Service Songs:
Supertramp, "Give a Little Bit," Folk, 1977.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGI6qQHFlPk


The Beatles, "Help," Rock n' Roll, 1965.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGI6qQHFlPk


Jack Johnson, "Times Like These," 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54ybJ0pX9g


Cat Stevens, "Peace Train," Folk, 1976.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sjSHazjrWg


James Taylor, "Shower the People," 1976.

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            It seems in American pop culture that the aim of pleasure is much more popular in music than community service. 

            It was rather difficult finding songs that are about helping others.  Well, that’s not necessarily true... as you can see – I posted two videos from the same year.  James Taylor’s “Shower the People” and Cat Steven’s “Peace Train.”  Both songs were written in 1976.  They’re both folk songs in nature, and that genre tends to lean more towards helping others than towards personal pleasure.  Also, I included Supertramp’s “Give a Little Bit” from the following year.  That’s another popular folk song – made more famous to today’s era by the Goo Goo Doll’s cover.  In fact, Jack Johnson’s song “Times like these” is also a folk song.  The only “rock” song is the Beatle’s “Help.”  And that’s a bit of a stretch – that song’s more about needing help than giving help.   Does anyone write songs about community service other than folk musicians?  Absolutely, however, it was easiest for me to find songs in that genre.  Also, I debated including “Rocky Top,” because it’s Tennessee’s song – the Volunteer State; however, I'll spare you.

            It wasn’t difficult at all to find songs about pleasure.  It’s top 40 – I guess people want to hear it; however, I steered away from some of the easy targets “Black and Yellow” and Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling.”                 Fill up my cup - Mozoltov!

However, I did include Kid Cudi and Ke$ha.  These songs are fun, they’re shallow – but loads of fun.  I wanted to mix up the genres more with this assignment.  I picked two hip hop songs and three rock songs.  (Although I think I listed Ke$ha as pop I'm not sure how to define that...)  Of the three rock songs, Kiss’ “Rock and Roll all Night” was the first song I thought of.  The song is so pleasure based!  Let’s stay up all night and ROCK!  AND PARTY EVERYDAY!!!!  Pleasure, pleasure, pleasure.  Weezer’s “We are all on Drugs” was a little less obvious, however, it was about doing drugs – making it, in my opinion, pleasure based.  The last song by Darwin Deez is a simple pleasure based song.  It’s about starting a dating relationship – yes it’s about pleasure, but pleasure is not necessarily all drinking and partying until you die in a gutter.  It’s just pleasure. It's normal to want pleasure - but where do you find pleasure?

            In class we discussed how in Hinduism pleasure is embraced by their religion, because they understand that pleasure will not satisfy.  It will never be enough.  In American culture, I feel that pleasure is intended to satisfy and many will say that pleasure is enough – but it truly never is. 

            Community Service is of course featured in our society.  There are plenty of opportunities for it.  I volunteer and teach kids music at a church downtown on Sunday afternoons.  Some people donate a week of their life to help build a house or spend their summers building wells in Ghana.  However, in pop culture, their aren’t too many songs showing how awesome it is meeting people’s needs.  Songs about ending world hunger are awesome; however, it will never be a hit at the club.

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