Sunshine Through the Rain

          After watching Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams, Sunshine through the rain, I decided that this essentially is dealing with the relationships with the Kami and human beings.  The dream begins with a boy standing outside, observing the weather.  After seeing the weather outside, the mother tells her son to stay inside because the Fox’s like to have their weddings when the sun is shining through the rain.  The boy, being curious, goes out anyway and proceeds to see the wedding anyhow, which upsets the Fox’s.  Before the boy can even return home, a Fox has already stopped by giving the mother a knife for the boy to kill himself.  The boy must go ask for forgiveness before he is allowed to return home again.  We are left with the boy entering what looks like a mountain range which is covered by a rainbow, where it seems like he may or may not come back, we are not informed of what actually happens.  

            I think that these videos relate much to the relation with humans and Kami.  The Fox’s represent the Kami, and the boy dishonoring their wishes.  It is very clear how important the Kami are, after witnessing the mother’s reaction to the sons going out to see their weddings.  So important that she would even allow him to kill himself to meet the Fox’s wishes.  This only presses more how important it is to honor the Kami.  In Shinto the “Warrior-Knight Way,” which is an ethic for loyalty and honor, resembles a very good relation in this video.  Another relation to Shinto that was inherent was the place which the boy goes to to beg for forgiveness.  It seems to look much like the place where many the Kami supposedly live, which is in the beautiful mountains.  This video emphasizes how important harmony is at home, which is also a point in Shinto.  This is seen when the mother wouldn’t allow the boy to come home until the harmony was met again, or until he killed himself.  I think the way that this dream was portrayed was very beautifully, and well done.  It showed many Shinto points and ethics. 

The Tao of Pooh

Response to the Tao of Pooh:

                In the book, The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff, many different Taoist principles are pursued.  One major principle is P’u, which so happens to sound much like the main character Pooh.  It is also so likely that the P’u way collaborates with the character Pooh.  The P’u principle is things in their natural being, and not just things but people also. The author, Benjamin Hoff, tries to show all the characters in pooh having flaws, while Pooh simply just is, and is very good at just being.  I think this book was amazing, and I loved all of the comparisons that Benjamin seemed to make to prove his point.  Very early in the book Hoff says “ no matter how he may seem to others, especially to those fooled by appearances, Pooh, the Uncarved Block, is able to accomplish what he does because he is simpleminded”(page 12).  At first glance Pooh may seem lazy or stupid, but after reading this book, those who are not so aware of Taoist principles, may think otherwise.  Being simple is enjoying the simple things in life that may look plain to others.  I think Hoff did a wonderful job in portraying this image in the characters of Pooh.  I especially enjoy Benjamin’s comparison of Tiger to not understanding ones limits, and how powerful it can be in being able to work with your flaws.  Using the power in your flaws, Hoff might say.  I think his comparison in Owl being poohs opposite and Eeyore being a prime example of why many people are not happy did a great job in expressing Taoist principles. I especially like the idea of working with our Inner being and realizing our flaws to follow our Wu Wei.  It seems that the secret to being happy is to actually take a step back, relax, breath, and let things fall into place.  The secret to being happy lies within yourself, which Pooh seems to show many times throughout the book.  Overall I think this book did a wonderful job in portraying Taoism in a light that you wouldn’t put together normally. 

                I think Bisy Backsons is a great impression of how many of Americans work in todays culture.  I definitely agree with the critique of it and see Taoism as an absolute solution to the “busy” problem.  I feel most people are constantly on a “schedule” and if that schedule isn’t being followed, it seems their entire day is ruined.  I think the Taoist way pushes for a more relaxed, and go with the flow sort of way.  I think that definitely could be a solution to the problem of many people in todays culture, who seem to be constantly looking around the corner for the next milestone to accomplish and the next step to mark off their list.  Where, Taoism gives a relief in relaxing and lettings things fall into place, and in that relaxing and allowing, things will eventually fall and show your natural being. 

"Speak Without Talking"

The Darjeeling Limited, 2007 

Part 9 from the movie

           

           The video clip I have chosen to visualize a stereotype for a Buddhist practitioner, nun, is from the movie The Darjeeling Limited directed by Wes Anderson.  The movie portrays three brothers who haven’t spoken since their father died a year earlier.  The three brothers decide to come together for a “spiritual journey” on the Darjeeling Limited train throughout India.  The two younger brothers, Peter and Jack, aren’t aware of the oldest brothers, Francis, intentions of meeting their mother at the end of the trip at a convent in the Himalayan Mountains. Their mother is the stereotype I’m going to explain, though throughout the movie there are frequent examples of Buddhist traditions.  In the clip that I have posted (it’s a long clip but the stereotype starts at 4:15), their mother comes running out of the nunnery and is immediately surprised that the sons have shown up but asks that they stay.  I think throughout this whole scene their mother is portrayed as very spiritual, wholehearted, and uses many metaphors to put things into perspective for her sons about why she is now living at this convent and why she missed their father’s funeral a year earlier.  The 4 are sitting around reminiscing about their father’s funeral while the mother says “maybe we could express ourselves more fully if we say it without words.”  I think that quote alone develops a very spiritual grounding for the clip, and after she says that it seems the movie takes a turn for an almost “enlightenment feel” for the brothers state of affairs.  This creates a stereotype of what a Buddhist nun may be like, and what a Buddhist nun may offer with regards to moving on and letting the past go. I think though this stereotype is a positive one it may not be the most relevant, when comparing to Brad Warner’s writings.

            In Brad Warner’s book, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate, he speaks much about stereotypes in relation to the real things he has experienced and observed.  Brad explains that many people label studies of "Zen [as] hippie stuff"(p. 25).  In the chapter titled “Does Real Buddhism Exist in the West?” Brad speaks about instant enlightenment.  He explains that one of the people he came across pushed that, with his teachings, “you will have your [instant enlightenment] before lunchtime,” basically just like Buddha gained his enlightenment sitting under the Bodhi tree for many lifetimes (p. 27).  In The Darjeeling Limited, it seems that almost right after the mother introduces the “speak without talking” option in regards to their current situation, that the brothers are almost immediately enlightened about their circumstance.  This being said, Warner clearly states that "there is no way to get it (it being enlightenment) without years of practice [and] that's just the way it is"(p. 29).  Though this is a movie, one of which can't play for centuries to depict what Brad Warner would label a true enlightenment period, it does give the stereotype of “instant enlightenment” that Brad  also speaks about in his book.  Now, though the movie does not depict the brothers enlightenment as one that "you [...] file away with all your other cool experiences," it does fast-forward the situation slightly (p. 28).

          With comparisons of the stereotype in The Darjeeling Limited with Brad Warner's writings, I think that it is relevant to point out that the nun portrayed is not a negative typecast, but does hold some characteristics that Brad would claim are stereotypes.  Brad leaves us with a good message that because the "general public" doesn't hold a clear understanding of what exactly “enlightenment” funds, that they can turn just about anything into a type of enlightenment sensation and that a broad selection of the “general public” will consider it due to not only the popularity of pop-culture, but also the lack of those who haven’t studied the Buddhist belief themselves.

(649wc)

Worldy Sucess and Liberation Aims

     I believe that the more prevalent aim of the two was definitely worldly success.  I think so many songs are about money, in both modern and older songs.  I don't think it was hard to come across more than enough songs about money, especially in the rap/hip hop department.  However, liberation was a bit on the harder side..though the songs that I did find seemed to fit the category perfectly.  One of my favorite lines in "Ten Years Gone" by Led Zeppelin is "then as it was, then again it will be."  I think that lyric itself engulfs the Hindu belief in becoming part of the "glowing cosmic ocean" after liberation.  Another surprising point that I came across while doing this assignment (more so while listening in class) is how much the beatles (especially George Harrison) songs were of Hindu sorts.  Two of my liberation songs are from the Beatles and they basically outline what we've been talking about in class!  In "Inner Light" by the Beatles, one of the lines is "Arrive without traveling, See all without looking, Do all without doing."  Those lines definitely express the idea of looking within rather than what is around you to find liberation.  I think the songs about success were a bit easier to spot, whereas the songs about liberation were a bit harder to look into.  One of the songs I chose was by Bob Marley and the Wailers, called Concrete Jungle.  What drew me to this song was when he said "no chains around my feet, but I'm not free."  I believe that statement is so powerful and encompasses the idea of not being completely free until liberation after life.  Though the times have changed and modern day music engulfs a different sense of success in comparison to the Hindus ideas about success, I think the songs about liberation seem to expedite the same idea about liberation. 

Worldly Success (explicit)
 The Beatles, "Money, That's What I Want" 1965
 Iggy Pop, "Success" 1977
 Kanye West, "Flashing Lights" 2007
 Snoop Dog, "Gin and Juice" 1993
 Jay Z/Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" 2010

Liberation 

 The Beatles "Within You, Without You" 1965 

 Led Zeppelin "Ten Years Gone" 1975 **such a good video!!

 The Beatles "Inner Light" 1965 

 Bob Marley and the Wailers "Concrete Jungle" 1972 

 Jimi Hendrix "Freedom" 1968

Pleasure and Community Service Aims

     The aim pleasure, in the Hindu religion, suggests anything material that clearly brings  what could be short term happiness.  Ranging from drugs, alcohol, or sex, pleasure has a range of many attributes.  I believe the more prevalent aim was absolutely pleasure.  It can be seen in almost anything, except for the bare essentials(water, shelter, and food...though they too find a way of advertising those to bring extreme pleasure also).  Some may argue of what is actual for "pleasure", but close to many of the things we do are for pleasure, or to meet some standard that ultimately brings pleasure.  In many modern day advertisements and most of the popular music, pleasure is the skeleton to most of the purposes. One example is attempting to convince the common driver to pull over to the nearest fast food restaurant through billboards that almost convince you that you "need" the experience.  And I don't think you can listen to the radio without coming across a handful of songs that cover the topic of pleasure.  That is why I think this aim was most prevalent, due to its constant exposure to the naked eye.  Though community service is also quite popular, I think that pleasure overrides its popularity.  To being with, this is my favorite love song (and I wanted to introduce pleasure!)  My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison (who in fact was definitely interested in the Hindu religion)

    While doing this assignment I was surprise at how many songs that I thought were about pleasure, but after reading the lyrics I quickly realized that they were not exactly what I was looking for. Also, I was also suprised to find the handful of songs that were about pleasure and community service (mostly coming from the 60s, 70s, and some modern day music).  In fact, it was actually hard to decipher between all of the songs and pick the top best 5.  This just goes to prove even more that pleasure is almost anywhere and everywhere that we look.
    As the times have changed, the ideas that Hinduism had in mind with these aims are obviously different from our interpretation through modern day music.  I believe the amount of material things that can produce pleasure have increased dramatically over the times with technology and the freedoms that we have received.  American pop music definitely covers the aims, but in their own modern way.  Perhaps, without even knowing that they had the hindu view in mind.  
   The songs that I have chosen for this are as follows:

Pleasure:
1.  The Beatles, "Yes It Is" 1965
2.  Led Zeppelin, "Thank You," 1969
3.  Donovan, "Turquoise," 1965
4.  The Platters, "My Prayer," 1954
and the one with the best video is!!.....
5.  Bert Sommer, "Jennifer," 1969

Community Service/Duty:
1.  Bob Marley, "Redemption Songs," 1980
2.  The Beatles, "Revolution," 1968
3.  John Lennon, "Imagine" 1971
4.  Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth," 1967
5.  Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are-A Changing," 1965(no original version on youtube, this is a cover by Joan Baez)

and the best video for this one is!....