The Peach Orchard

       "The Peach Orchard" from Kurosawa's Dreams is a beautiful depiction of man's relationship with nature. According to Shinto belief, everything is spiritual and there is a deep connection between man, nature and the spirits/gods. Essentially, all physical entities also contain an element of the divine because spirit and matter are not divided; they are one in the same. This idea is apparent in this film as the little girl (humanity) is a physical manifestation of the last remaining peach tree (nature) and the peach trees are all represented by a Doll (spirits/gods). They are all interconnected.
       We also see an element of Shinto worship in "The Peach Orchard". When the little boy is confronted by the Dolls in the spot where the peach orchard used to be, they first scold him and laugh at him. When they see that the boy is being sincere and that he truly cared about the peach trees, they perform a ritual and allow him to see the trees in bloom one last time. The Dolls play drums, as well as other instruments, and they bow, as is often done in Shinto rites of worship. This is all done as a way of communicating with the kami and it also connects the young boy with the spirituality of the Dolls, who are one with the peach trees, in turn connecting the boy with the trees themselves. Once again, the interconnectedness of nature, humanity, and the spirits is apparent. Within Shinto, rites are often performed as a means of purification. Once the spirits realize that the boy is not to blame for the cutting down of the trees, they perform this ritual to cleanse him of any impurity left behind by means of association with his family. In effect, the Dolls are saying that they believe in his innocence.
       In my opinion, the central theme of "The Peach Orchard" deals with the Shinto belief that the gravest sin one can commit is a sin against a sacred object. Because all things are spiritual, the intentional and selfish desecration of anything might be considered a sin. In this case, the cutting down of the peach orchard was a careless, thoughtless act against spirituality. Instead of encouraging harmony among humanity, nature, and the gods, the boy's family stirred up a sense of discord and anger with the spirits. By destroying the peach trees, the family interrupted the continuity that unites all matter with the spiritual world. However, at the end of the film we see that the young girl has disappeared for good and that a young peach tree is alive where the orchard once stood. We can see that the young boy senses a connection with this new tree and we are left with the hope that balance has been restored and that, through him, nature, man, and spirituality are once again in alignment.

The Tao of Who? Oh, Pooh!

I actually read this book last semester in another one of Prof. Rasnic's classes and truly enjoyed it. It is an easy read and, though simple, is still very thought-provoking. I like that Benjamin Hoff uses a fictional character who we are all familiar with to help explain the principles of Taoism. I think that Hoff accurately describes western society, specifically American society, as one in which individuals are never satisfied with what they have. Much of our  focus is on the future as we constantly strive to "better" ourselves and reach goals that, as Hoff points out, are often unattainable. The American way of life, which says "Around the next corner, above the next step," goes against the natural order of things (p. 99). How can we ever be content with ourselves and our lives when we are conditioned to believe that there are bigger and better things ahead? As Pooh says, "It doesn't sound like much fun to me," (p. 99). This is part of what it means to be a Bisy Backson - some one who is constantly on the go. So many of the Bisy Backson's traits are characteristic of Americans in general. For instance, the Backson typically avoids trees and grass, preferring to walk or drive on the asphalt and concrete (p. 93). The Backson is also a workaholic, as many Americans are, and as Hoff puts it, "He works when he works, works when he exercises, and, more often than not, works when he plays," (p. 94). Americans are one of the most-worked people in the world, with comparatively little vacation time and long work days. Just consider how many marriages and families are torn apart because one of the spouses/parents cannot separate work time from family/home time. I completely agree with Hoff's critique of American society as one full of Bisy Backsons.

Though Taoism provides a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of American culture, I do not think it will ever become a widespread movement. Americans thrive off of their long work days and hope-for-the-future attitudes; it's what makes us tick... It's what makes us American. This country was founded on the principle of hard work and the idea that people have the power to shape their own tomorrows. Taoism completely undermines these principles. Whether right or wrong, I think that the majority of Americans do not see this Bisy Backson culture as a bad thing but rather as something that sets us apart from and makes us superior to other nations. Taoism has little power against the American ego.

Buddhism

 

       First of all, let me say that I realize this photo is highly distasteful and I apologize if it seriously offends anyone. I chose this particular image because of its blatant absurdity and misrepresentation of Buddhism. Additionally, I find it shocking how far some individuals will go to get a laugh without regard to how inappropriate their tactics may be. This picture warns us to be a "good person" or risk being reincarnated as an overweight person's staff, or cane. I think that so often Americans, and specifically American Christians, assume that all Eastern religions involve a component of reincarnation. Additionally, the assumption is that one can be "reborn" as anything - another human being, a beetle, a chair, or a blade of grass. This stereotype is certainly condescending - "Those people believe that some one could be reborn as a walking cane, how ridiculous! Everyone knows that there are only two possibilities after death: heaven or hell." ...Right? 
       This misconception has a detrimental flaw - Buddhists are not concerned with what is to come after death. When one preoccupies himself with the future, he is no longer living in the present. Furthermore, a true Buddhist would realize that it is impossible to know what happens when this life is over and, therefore, it is futile to worry about it. The image above is a warning (though a sarcastic one) - essentially, be a good person or your next life may be unpleasant. The point is to lead a "good" life now to prevent being punished in the next. This automatically takes the focus away from the present and tarnishes all good deeds as impure and selfish. If an individual is only leading a moral, admirable life in order to have a better one next time around, is that individual truly being a "good" person? Unfortunately, in America, Christianity teaches us to be a good neighbor in order to ultimately get to heaven. Would we still be kind to others if there was no threat of burning in hell for all eternity? Buddhism would tell us to.

  As I mentioned, one common misconception is that all Easterners believe in reincarnation or, as the above image suggests, that all Buddhists do. As Warner points out in the book Zen Wrapped in Karma, Dipped in Chocolate, not all Buddhists believe in rebirth - he doesn't. He does, however, explain the concept in a very interesting way - "Sometimes they'll say it's like using a lit candle to light another candle, then blowing out the first one. The new flame isn't really the same flame as the old one but it's not really completely different either," (p. 62). I think this is something that many Westerners simply are not aware of - upon being reborn, one is not completely separate from his former life/lives but is still connected to them. I think that many Americans, and more specifically Christians, find the whole concept of reincarnation to be rather silly and far-fetched. The truth is, however, that no one truly knows what happens when we die. Brad Warner addresses this in Chapter 8, "You wanted to know where people go when they die as told to you by a real live Zen master right here in a cheap-ass paperback book you bought on a whim because it had a funny title. Well, unfortunately, you seem to have me confused with someone dead. 'Cuz I don't know. And neither does anyone else who tells you they do, by the way," (p. 56). Ultimately, all we can do is live for the present and not concern ourselves with the "what-ifs" of the future. Whether an individual believes in heaven and hell or in reincarnation, worrying about what comes after death is a silly endeavor. After all, there is absolutely no way of knowing until it actually happens to us and by then, well, there isn't much sense in worrying about it anymore. Warner puts it very simply, "You won't understand life and death until you're ready to set aside any hope of understanding life and death and just live your life until you die," (p. 62).


Source for Image: http://www.motifake.com/buddhism-new-balance-sport-shoes-probably-for-her-3h-workout-demotivational-posters-98096.html

Success & Liberation

Success
The Pussycat Dolls, "When I Grow Up", Pop, 2008.
Kanye West, "The New Workout Plan", Hip-Hop, 2004.
Akon, "I'm So Paid", Hip-Hop/R&B, 2008.
Nelly, "Number One", Rap, 2001.
Montgomery Gentry, "Something to be Proud Of", Country, 2005.







Liberation
Yael Naim, "New Soul", Folk, 2008.
Zac Brown Band, "Free", Country, 2010.
Mae, "Release Me", Alternative, 2007.
Jay Sean (ft. Nicki Minaj), "2012", Pop, 2010.
Sugarland, "Something More", Country, 2005.

      I did not have an excessive amount of trouble finding songs for either of these two aims. It seems to me that there is a relatively equal number of songs about success and about freedom, probably because of how deeply engrained these ideas are in American culture and psyche. This country is built on the principles of liberty and freedom; for centuries, the United States has been a beacon of these ideals throughout the world. Americans love their freedoms and will fight to the death to ensure that they are not trampled upon. However great it may be, this concept of freedom has been the cause of much turmoil and disagreement throughout our nation's history. Is there a limit to our freedom? At what point does one person's liberty hinder another's? The principle of liberation can be applied to lots of different situations and its meaning differs for everyone. The song "Release Me" by Mae is about finding a love that will free you from the things in life that hold you back from happiness; it's about realizing what truly matters in life and the freedom that comes with that knowledge. In contrast, the song "2012" by Jay Sean is an anthem to partying and having a good time without a care in the world. If we can "live like it's the end of the world" then we are truly free from any other worries. Ultimately, both songs leave the listener feeling optimistic. I believe that the Hindu aim of liberation is meant to incite the same kind of emotion.
      Success is another key component of American society, measured most often in wealth and fame. In Hinduism, success is measured in much the same way. The difference is, however, that Hinduism recognizes the fleeting nature of success; it is a temporary thing and should be treated as such. It is when people think that their wealth, fame, and/or power will last forever that they encounter problems. The pursuit of happiness is a right bestowed upon all Americans that has become synonymous with the "American Dream". In this country, it seems that one is only successful if he or she has a white picket fence, 2.3 kids, and a silver Lexus. It is truly a shame that the scale of one's success is not measured in love, friendship, charity, or other such ideals. I was not surprised to find lots of songs about getting rich, being beautiful, and being famous. In the song "The New Workout Plan", Kanye West satirizes the female quest to be good-looking and in shape as a means of attracting men and using them for their money. Sadly, to some this is seen as "success". The principles of liberation and success are prevalent in American pop culture. Though I believe that our ideas of liberation are very similar, I don't think we understand or respect the concept of success to the extent that Hinduism does. If we recognized that it is a temporary thing, maybe our culture would not be so obsessed with it.

Pleasure & Community Service

Pleasure:
Akon, "I Wanna Love You", Hip Hop, 2008.
Billy Currington, "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer", Country, 2010.
Katy Perry, "Peacock", Pop, 2010.
Elton John, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight", Pop, 1997.
Christina Aguilera, "WooHoo", Pop, 2010.







Community Service:
Clay Walker, "The Chain of Love", Country, 2000.
Carrie Underwood, "Change", Country, 2009.
Tommy Shane Steiner, "What If She's an Angel", Country, 2001.
Martina McBride, "Love's the Only House", Country, 1999.
Young Artists for Haiti, "Wavin' Flag", Pop, 2010.

     I observed that the concept of pleasure is much more prevalent in American pop music than community service is. It took me no time to go through my iTunes library and find five songs about sex, drinking, love, and all things pleasurable. On the other hand, I had to think long and hard about songs that spoke to the subject of charity and good will. I knew that there were country songs that I had heard in the past that addressed this topic but I could not remember their titles or who sang them. I ended up having to do some Googling to find the songs. On the other hand, I could rattle off five songs about pleasure and happiness that I listen to regularly in just a few seconds. Of the five songs that I did find that are about community service, four are country songs. While I know that there are pop songs about charity and service, they are much less popular. I think that this has to do with the general audience of these two genres. Songs about angels and spreading love to others will probably be more openly embraced by a forty-year-old mother of two than an eighteen-year-old high school senior. Their priorities and life experience, in general, are simply very different. I realize, of course, that this is a very simplified generalization. However, the lack of songs about community service in Top 40 music must speak to something.

     I am not surprised that pleasure is a more popular topic in today's music than community service. In general, people want to hear songs that are light-hearted and fun, songs that make them want to dance and have a good time, and songs about enjoying life without taking things too seriously. For some, the way to enjoy life is to get drunk and party with friends, while for others it is all about sex, whether you're into the "Peacock" or the "WooHoo". (We don't discriminate!) In Hinduism, it is understood that pleasure is a temporary thing and that it must be attained in a moral, intelligent way. I am not sure that today's pop music, or pop culture for that matter, is too concerned with morality or intelligence. Compare a song like Elton John's "The Way You Look Tonight" to "I Wanna Love You" by Akon. While Elton John's is romantic, Akon's is degrading and rather immoral. Unfortunately, in this country sex sells and until that changes, pop music will continue to be about pleasure.