Yoga Experience

I have never taken a yoga class before and I thought it would be rather interesting to take to say the least.  So, I decided to attend this yoga class on Monday (5/2/2011) because I was curious about it and I heard so many good things from people who have taken the classes.  Prior to taking the class I knew yoga had to do with stretching and being in certain poses, but I thought that it would not be that bad or too difficult because I played sports and we had to stretch so we would not pull any muscle.  Was I ever wrong about this!  The type of yoga that the instructor thought the class was called Ashtanga Yoga (Power Yoga).  This yoga is an athletic type of Hatha Yoga that focuses on intense stretching and building muscular strength.  Before we started the instructor said to clear our mind from everything and to focus on the present moment because that is all that matters and what’s important.  In the beginning, the poses or the stretches started off relatively easy for the first 15 to 20 minutes.  While doing the poses the instructor also told us to make sure that you take deep breaths because that was key in many positions.  After that first 20 minutes, everything went down hills.  The stretches and poses became more difficult as time went on.  The pose that was used frequently while I was there was the downward dog position and that was very awkward for me to do. The yoga class lasted about an hour in a half and my body afterwards felt sore for the most part.  After taking the class I have more respect for people who practice the different types of yoga on a daily basis.

"The Peach Orchard"

When I watched “The Peach Orchard” on Thursday, I did not understand how this clip was related to Shinto and because I knew very little about the religion, I was very confused about how I could relate the two.  I had to replay the movie several times and read over the Shinto notes in great detailed to try and draw a linkage between the two and luckily I did.    

            The little boy’s family in the clip was responsible for cutting down the peach orchards.  I viewed their action as a direct violation of one of the Shinto ethics.  One of the ethics states that, “Gravest sins are sins against sacred objects or places.”  So, by the little boy's family destroying the peach orchards, I took was a sin and was something that the kami was not pleased and because the kami was not pleased the quantity of peach orchards depleted. 

            Another part that I found where a form of Shinto was evident in the clip was when the people who looked like soldiers saw that the boy was sadden by what is family did and that it hurt him, they forgave him and performed a ritual which consisted of slow movements, bowing and clapping.  By them doing this ritual or rite they were communicating with the kami.  At the end, when the soldiers finished their ritual, peach orchards appeared in the fields and it brought joy to the little boy’s face to see how beautiful they were.  It also made him to a certain extent appreciate the peach orchards true beauty. 

Tao of Pooh

            This book was very interesting to say the least of.  It was a clever way how Huff used Winnie the Pooh and friends to get his point across about Taoism and Confucianism.  I found it funny how the author viewed Confucius followers as people who are confused and believe that everything should be follow by particular set of rules or strict guidelines. This is fine to believe in certain situation, however not everything is going to happen according those rules.  Sometimes the unexpected happens and when it do, how are you going to adapt or overcome the situation that appeared before you.  Taoism understands those variables and said that you are to make the best of what you are given. Huff states, “Tao doesn’t force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way, to produce results naturally.”  I completely agree with that concept.

            The American culture is one that is continuously busy and one that always want to expand.  In society, we always think about work and never take the time to properly rest or appreciate what we accomplish.  Huff gives an example of the 1^st Bisy Backsons being the Puritans.  He said the Puritans worked themselves to death and never established a rhythm of working and relaxation.  (pg. 100-101)  This is something that is still prevalent today, people will continue to work hard and achieve what there goals are no matter what has to be sacrificed. 

            Taoism could be a solution to the problem that American culture faces, which is that we are always busy.  By accepting some of the Taoist beliefs, it can lead American society to one that works hard for what they strive for as well as one that know how to take break and set time aside for themselves without constantly being bothered or concerned about work. 

Buddhism sterotype

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwmGcOrDa3Gkw7x-_jSHfdtbccuBTQEA-66ZbIKnWZtzpCQSSlLmlLWiOWGtdmPGPqOnSjhrYdbJScDw8Fo-DBDbGUo8ZbtvsWYHU9bbdgZkg06sW8IiIl9_hftbl2HxgjcYDTUmpI8up/s1600/enlightenment%252Bbigeyedeer.files.wordpress.com%252BWQ.bmp&imgrefurl=http://wisdomquarterly.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-gain-enlightenment-explained.html&usg=__dU4zgO66HclmesLRtwUGgKiKWoA=&h=403&w=500&sz=38&hl=en&start=24&zoom=1&tbnid=bYjajuZVNhxmTM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=143&ei=xfNzTbahIIfMgQf5yLFG&prev=/images%3Fq%3Damericans%2Bview%2Bof%2Benlightment%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bbuddhist%2Bworld%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2GGLL_en%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D539%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=224&oei=oPNzTeyyAsOblgfT-LVK&page=2&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:24&tx=82&ty=66

People in America have very different perspectives on almost everything (in regards to the world).  One of these perspectives that I picked up on while I was researching this topic was how easy Americans tend to think it is to achieve enlightenment.  Some Americans are under the impression that an individual can reach enlightenment in a very small amount of time and with very little effort.  The picture above shows how four monks were meditating and all of a sudden one exclaims to reach enlightenment before the others.  In my opinion, this was a very powerful statement in terms of the misconception of enlightenment. The false stereotype of Buddhism and enlightenment has caused many people, especially Americans, to believe that merely meditating and closing your eyes in a certain position is the quickest way to reach enlightenment.

            In chapter 5 (Does Real Buddhism Exist in the West) of Brad Warner’s Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate, he agrees with the stereotype that Americans have about Buddhism. Warner said, “You can’t build a bod like Arnold’s in the Terminator any faster now than you could a thousand years ago.” (Warner, pg.27)  From this statement, I gathered that one’s enlightenment don’t happen within minutes or hours but it take devotion and steady practice to reach the ultimate goal that you want to pursue, which in this case is enlightenment.  Americans also view enlightenment as a spectacular moment that is overwhelming.  However, Warner disputes that and go on to say, “Enlightenment is not a cool experience you have, which you then file away with all your other cool experiences.”, and “It’s also not something that someone who’s gotten can now give you.” (Warner, pg. 28)  Americans who decide to practice this faith need to realize that there are no shortcuts to achieving enlightenment.  Patience, faith and good practice are all needed to achieve the end means.

Aims 2 and 4

Worldly Success


Ron Brownz "Pop Champagne", Hip Hop, 2008

Plies, "Plenty Money", Rap, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WYiTGy0g0

Birdman ft. Drake and Lil Wayne, "Money to Blow", Hip Hop, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLAA5IRbZZI

Lloyd Banks, "Beamer, Benz, or Bently", Hip Hop, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtWfdmEDebc

G-Unit, "Groupie Love", Hip Hop, 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncfEtBcQCPM

Liberation


India Arie, "Video", R&B, 2001

India Arie, "I Am Not My Hair", R&B, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t9E_7Qk7os

Bob Marley, "Get Up Stand Up", Reggae, 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuMlHdxiIZ8

Maxwell, "Pretty Wings", R&B, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGr9SNcygTw

Nick Cannon, "Can I Live", Hip Hop, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNuDe90c2WU

Response


For an individual to be deemed as powerful or important, money is closely associated with them.  Therefore aim 2 (worldly success) is more prevalent then aim 4 (liberation).  We live in a society today that money is the most important thing in life and without money, to certain people you are worthless.  Most of the music that we listen today talks about how much money they can blow or about how big they are amongst other people. Worldly success is advertised well in the media and gives people the idea that only the people with the best or people in power or with the fame can be successful.

While doing this assignment, I realized that finding songs for both of these aims was not that difficult.  They were easy to find and took me about 15 minutes to think about 10 songs for each.  I think that Hindu understanding of these aims are different then American pop culture.  I believe Hindus most important aim was moksha (liberation) because that was how they achieved their salvation.  However, in American liberation is taken more as for freedom; standing up for what you believe in or value.

Aims 1 and 3

Pleasure Aim

Pleasure P, "Under", R&B, 2009. (Video)

 

Trey Songz, "Neighbors Know My Name", R&B, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0xvfgfXpdM&feature=related

Robin Thicke, "Sex Therapy", R&B, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGWRyXEWGKU

R. Kelly, "Sex in the Kitchen", R&B 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTYX0nMeXw

R. Kelly, "Seems Like Your Ready", R&B, 1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzaOtXWg2Tw

Community Service Aim

Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On", Classic R&B, 1971 (Video)

Bill Withers, "Lean On Me", Classic R&B, 1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaVXfHZv50Y

Mariah Carey, "Hero", R&B, 1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVhrIfaPKxw

Whitney Houston, "The Greatest Love of All", R&B, 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhYAse-9eiI

Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, "When You Believe", R&B, 1998
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kfpE8xYBmY

My Response to Aims 1 and 3

After doing this little fun filled exercise, the pleasure(kama) aim is more prevalent in American Pop culture then the community service(dharma) aim.  Sex is advertised on TV, billboards, newspapers, magazines, and even on the side public transportation to show people that this is what's cool.  In today's society, sex is what sells and in terms generate publicity and potential revenue. While doing this assignment I realized how easy it was for me to name songs that talked about pleasure, i.e sex. Within two minutes I could think of over twenty-five songs that contain pleasure of some type of sexual gratification in the content.  This is kind of sad because we should be more concerned with our community and how we can make things better and more peaceful.  For Hindus, community service(dharma) is essential for "harmony of the world."(Knott, Pg. 21.) However, for Americans, community service is more of good samartian thing that people what to be recognize for their contributions and how they made a difference. Also, from what I interpret, Hindu pleasure(kama) came from meditation, which is a ritual that is practice faithfully.  But when pleasure come in the mind of Americans pop culture, sex is the first thing that pops up and most people just run with that because they know in the end that's what the public is going to want to hear, see, and buy.