Extra Credit!!!

   Last Friday I attended Zen Meditation with one of my friends and it was an interesting a pleasant experience.  I didnt know what to expect when I walked into the temple.  I wasn't shocked when I walked in because I  was told before that it looks like a regular house, but I was expecting a little more Buddhist artwork in the main meditation area.  When I first arrived one of the regular attendees explained my classmates and I the best techniques of meditating.  He told us how to sit correctly while meditating.  He said that your legs are supposed to be folded but knees are supposed to be pointed downward.  He told us to sit up straight because good posture is very important while trying to stay focused.  He told us to focus on our breathing.  Or if we start to feel some sort of pain while in our meditating positions, focus on it and we will notice that it will probably start to move.
    After a few minutes of preparing us, we went into the main room and meditated with the rest of the group.  The meditation was about 30 minutes long.  For me, it was a peaceful time.  When I first started the noises outside disturbed me.  Then I realized, Im supposed to be focused on my breathing.  Next I thought, I wouldnt be able to focuse on the noise if I wasn't breathing so be thankful for the fact that I am able to breathe at all.  From that point on, I became peaceful.  The noise was not an issue and I felt untouchable and set apart from the chaotic world around me.  I can't believe how peaceful I felt.  It is definitely something I would do again.  It was a great experience.

Shinto...Sunshine through the Rain!!

The clip was very interesting.  The lady in the clip told her son that the procession of foxes take place in the rain and he should come inside.  Instead, he went into the woods to see what was taking place.   The boy witnessed a ceremony in the woods and his mother was so upset that she didnt let him back into the house until he apologized.  I interpreted this video as emphasizing the importance of harmony between the religious kami and the shinto followers.  The woman thought in order to live peacefully she could not let her son back into the house until he apologized because he interrupted a sacred ceremony.

The Tao of Pooh

I like the book because it explains Taoism as simple as possible and its east to understand. Interesting enough, I think I like the book more because its told through the journeys of Winnie the Pooh which draws my attention more. At the beginning of the book, when I first read that the author would explain Taoism that way I didn’t think that I would like the book. I thought it would be something that would not hold my attention but it was the complete opposite. There were two principles in the book that stood out to me the most and those were the “Uncarved Block” and the Taoist views on Knowledge. I liked those two principles the most because instantly I understood how they relate to my life and others.
The principle of the uncarved emphasizes things in their natural power and simplicity. A lot of people complain about the drama and confusion in their lives that they are dealing with regarding other people as well as materialistic things. This is a problem that I’ve seen with a lot of Americans. In my opinion, if we don’t stress things that would cause us to become upset or create a burden on us and be thankful for the things that are truly a blessing(such as the gift to live another day) it would help people. Similar to what the book says, you will realize that life is simple.
The other principle I liked was the Taoist views on knowledge. I liked this section because their view of teaching and knowledge coincides with what I’ve been told all my life. My uncle always told me “You live and you learn.” Taoist believe that people should learn fro direct experience because intellectual experience would only get you but so far. This can be applied to the people in America easily but for some reason when I think of direct experience business leaders come to mind. Business leaders have intellectual knowledge but they have to apply the principles they learn to whatever it is they want to do. Sometimes they may try repeatedly but never get the result they need. In the end, until they get the result they want they know what does not work and therefore they know not to try it again.

Buddhist Stereotype

             

               Buddhist believes that when one reaches enlightenment they have gotten rid of all suffering around them.  The understanding is when one has gotten rid of distractions in life such as lust, arrogance, ignorance and other elements mentioned as a part of the ten fetters which prevent enlightenment, one is enlightened.  The image above is usually what comes to mind when I think of Buddhist.  I imagine someone who is in a state of bliss most of the time and is attempting to become thoughtless.  I also think they are using meditation as a way to avoid the world around them.  Although enlightenment is the goal of meditation, it takes time to achieve it.  Therefore, I think meditation is used as a temporary escape route.

                In the picture above the man is emptying trash out of his head.  While one can temporarily take a moment to focus on the positive, I think the picture is giving the message that the way to enlightenment is to get rid of all thoughts and one would instantly become happy.  Brad Warner said in his book, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate that there is no instant way to enlightenment.  He contradicted the stereotype by saying “…No amount of enlightenment will eliminate stress and tension from your life…The only technique in Zen is learning how not to add to existing tension” (190).  I agree with Warner.  One cannot undo the event and make it not happen at all. As a result we should deal with it in the best way to make the situation better.   Some people may claim to reach enlightenment but at the end of the day if they still live a life that involves interacting with others and they will still experience things that may add tension in their life.  Warner enforces this stereotype by the experiences that happened in his life.  He lost his job, his mother and grandmother died and his marriage ended.  Although all of these things happened to him he did not try to escape the reality.  He dealt with it.  Warner even mentioned his grandfather’s death and said that he did not reincarnate or go to heaven or hell.  He said he still alive but only in his memories. 

source for the pic used!!

Liberation

Mary J. Blige, "Just Fine," R&B, 2008

Mary J. Blige, "No More Drama," R&B, 2001

Bob Marley, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Reggae, 1988n (sung by Bobby McFerrin)

Fantasia Barrino, "I'm Doin' Me," R&B, 2010

Jennifer Hudson, "I'm Changing," R&B, 2008

For the aims of liberation and worldy success I found it easier to find songs about wordly success.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, America is an individualistic society and people tend to be more focused on their own pleasures and success more than coming together as a whole to free each other from whatever may be holding us back from succeeding as a group.  What is not surprising to me but something I did notice is that most of the songs I found about liberation have something to do about one person being liberated from personal issues that may cause stress.  It was hard for me to find a song where an artist encouraged everyone else to liberate themselves as they may have done.  Eventually, I found Bob Marley’s song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” in which he encourages people to be happy no matter their situations.  In other words, free yourself from the daily situations that may bring you down and make you feel depressed and restrained.  By the way, the song is awesome. 

The Hindu and American belief in wordly success are almost the same except for one thing, Hindus acknowledge the fact that achievements are temporary.  I have noticed that in the songs I have found, most of the rappers talk about their achievements as if it makes them untouchable or as if they cannot ever lose all that they have achieved.  This is one of the reasons I selected Biggie Smalls song.  He acknowledged where he came from and tough times he had to endure which gave me the impression that he knows fame and wealth can come and go.  I also noticed within the American culture pleasure and wordly success is parallel.  Because a lot of Americans are materialistic, they spend their money on things that show a degree of their [wordly] success.  Moving on to liberation, there is not a difference between it within the American culture and Hindu religion.  They are pretty much the same.  Everyone wants to feel free from sorrow and pain.  Just about everyone wants joy and happiness and to feel peaceful.

Wordly Success

Lloyd Banks, "I'm So Fly," Rap, 2004
Plies, "Plenty Money," Rap, 2010
Trina ft. Keri Hilson and P. Diddy, "Million Dollar Girl," Rap and R&B, 2010
Bow Wow, "Fresh Azimiz," Rap, 2005
Biggie Smalls, "Juicy," Rap and R&B, 1994

Community Service

Bob Marley, "One Love," Reggae, 1984
Whitney Houston, "Count On Me," R&B, 1995
Monica, "For You I Will," R&B, 1996
R. Kelly ft. Celine Dion, "I'm Your Angel," R&B, 2008
Ben Harper, "With My Own Two Hands," R&B, 2003