Shinto

I decided to watch the peach orchard. I saw many ways in which Shinto can be related to this video. Seeing how the ancient Japanese did not divide matter and spirit was the most obvious to me. They believed matter and spirit to be inseparable. If everything is spiritual then there must be continuity between humanity, nature, and the spirit/gods.  The boy was upset because the orchard got destroyed and his reaction was to cry. The gods then wanted to show him the peach orchard one last time before it was gone forever so they made that happen. Although they were picking on him at first I feel as if they knew exactly what they were doing and that it would be a better end result for the boy. The gods with painted faces were dancing like they were to get in contact with the Kami, which is no absolute monotheistic creator God.  I think if people really understand Shinto there is lots of opportunities to find connections in the two. 

Tao of Pooh

            I LOVE THIS BOOK. I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I loved how it was such a simply and easy read that related to my childhood favorite show. Winnie the Pooh was my hero growing up so this book really put him in perspective for me. I love how Pooh is described in the book with little brains but he is the only one that is happy and successful. What I mean by this is that he doesn’t have time to think because he just does with intuition and it always works for him. He gets everything done and has no stress or worries in his life. The whole book was entertaining and enjoyable

            I think the metaphor for America as a culture is right on. The busy Backsons really is how most people live their lives. I loved the line on page 94 saying, “all work and no play makes Backson a dull boy”. Besides the fact that it reminds me of the Shinning it’s a great way to put describe the lifestyle. Its so true how people think they have to always be doing something and always getting something done to be special or to be noticed or to matter. I also agree with the fact that if people do this to themselves and live this type of lifestyle and end up failing at it that they will be, as Benjamin Hoff says, “cursing the world, which is not to blame but which is there to help show the way”(99). And what Pooh had to respond to that was so adorable; he said those people end up burning their toast a lot.  People make life too hard when they can be happy and fulfilled just by being. (Circumstances don’t matter only a state of being)

            Taoism is how I live my life. Although just recently have I made that change and I have just now realized that it’s called Taoism. It’s the simplest secret to living your life and being happy.  You can make situations turn positive and you can be happy every morning you wake up. I think it’s the BEST solution to the MANY problems American culture has. Just as the example in the book about the stonecutter that was dissatisfied with his life. He worked his way up to something and every time something better came along he wanted it. Nothing was good enough until he was a stone building that seemed to be the most powerful thing until he looked down and saw that a stonecutter was chiseling him as he felt himself changing. It’s an ironic story that can be applied to many Americans. This book was great and Taoism is my favorite religion I have learned so far in my life. It just seems to work.