Dreams Crazier then Mine, But yet just as Awesome as Mine.

In watching actually all the films, mainly because I couldn’t understand what the hell was going on. Especially also because it looked like the guy who uploaded it was using either an old beta max or vhs VCR to upload it to the internet.

But in watching the movies and reading up on what all Shintoism is about the different values, ideas, and beliefs they have are very present throughout. I believe actually the two movies the depicted the beliefs were that of the “Weeping Demon” and the “Tunnel”.

The tunnel started off or felt like the same dream I’ve had were you’re running somewhere.  But the commander that was walking towards first gets pushed by a dog carrying ammo barking demonically pushed him into the tunnel.  Then the end turned around and heard the footsteps of one of his men. This shows the belief in the Human Spirit remains forever.  Then after his entire platoon comes out of the tunnel, he pleads with them to go home and rest in Peace. Shortly after this the dog that was carrying ammo comes back after him and pushes him back towards the tunnel. So I believe it shows that he’s still attached to his unit and vice versa where there dead but they still live on in his memories and vice versa.

Then the “Weeping Demon”, this one is clearly showing how pissed off and hateful the Japanese still are of the dropping of the Atom bomb. The demon talks about the big dandelions’ that’s have been growing because of the nuclear radiation. This shows the myth of purity and pollution. Also I believe it has a tie in with the

“To be helpful to others and in the world at large through deeds of service without thought of rewards, and to seek the advancement of the world as one whose life mediates the will of Kami”

I use this to show that towards the end of the “weeping demon” that the demon is helping this man find his way, but at the end changes and tries to turn the man into a demon. 

So it has different themes from Shinto throughout the movie. Watching it just made me think this is a dream and even I can’t understand my dreams, but hell he could and even turned it into a movie. Wish I could do that. haha

The Tao of Pooh

For this blog assignment we had to read “The Tao of Pooh” of course you all know this.  But in reading this I’ve found out that it’s a good book. It explains the Tao a little easier than anyone or anything else explaining it. It shows and gives at least in my opinion simpler form of understanding it. I liked the book in a positive way that all I could hear while reading it was Pooh’s voice from the cartoon’s in him trying to understand or help you to understand the Tao. But  at the same time like during class Prof Raznic saying about how the Taoist sages would act more stupid than usual when people where asking they should lead one’s life, just to get out in a way of paying the bill. 

Then the culture of the “Busy Backsons” I can understand where there coming from in talking about American Culture. We as a culture are always on the move. More so then anyone else in the world, it’s been ingrained in our heads to get this done then move onto the next. The old adage “time is money” is always in everyone’s mind. But yet no-one’s ever been able to slow down and just sit and listen.  No-one can’t or most people can’t sit and listen, have to get things done ricky tick. With this it burns us out and burns us out fast, also now dealing and moving faster with technology we’re so plugged in that most of us can’t unplug. 

The use of Taoism for American culture to fix it, would be a good idea in some aspects. But the big problem with that is that everyone in America would have to accept this or learn to implement in everyday things. Most would expect this to happen overnight, few realize that this happened over the course of about 2,000 years.  Even then it’s not very accepted way of life. Not many Americans would really accept the idea of being loveys dovey and accepting defeat. So many would reject it, Also we as Americans love being individuals. No way around that, we want to be ourselves show it off and proudly. So the solutions wouldn’t be widely accepted. 

So in the end though it was a good book where It did help me understand the Tao a bit more. But I couldn’t help thinking of Pooh Bear speaking in the background haha.