Shinto Blog

The part of  Kurosawa’s film “Dreams” that I chose to watch was the Peach Orchard. This part of the film begins with a young boy bringing food to his sister and her friends. He was very distraught when he realized that there were only 5 girls instead of 6 and this is how the story began. Just in the opening part of this scene the Shinto view on family was seen. They emphasize the importance of family and how caring their relationship should really be. As the young boy runs off to find the other girl he encounters the spirits of peach trees which his family has cut down. These spirits upset the young boy by blaming him as the reason they were cut down. The young boy begins to cry and explain that he really enjoyed the orchard and had a lot of appreciation for the peach tree orchard himself. This scene also represents another important aspect of Shinto culture which is the importance of nature. The young boy truly appreciated the peach orchard where as his family did not. The spirits almost seemed to make an example out of him and punished him for the pain that his family caused to them. Also another aspect of Shintoism was seen in this part of the film because in Shinotism  everything is spititual between nature and humans. The peach tree spirits communicated with the boy and this was a great example of this. Also the idea of kami is brought into this scene because the young boy believed that the peach orchard was kami.

The Tao of Pooh

            I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the Tao of Pooh . I really appreciated how Hoff  used  Winnie the Pooh , a very memorable character from the childhoods of many Americans, as the focal point of the book. I really appreciated how  Hoff uses the character to display the themes of this Eastern religion. Winnie the Pooh is seen by many Americans as playful and aloof but when looked at closer he truly displays the characteristics of Taoism. Winnie the Pooh appreciates the simple parts of the day that  many others really seem to forget about. He really takes life as it is given to him.

            Benjamin Hoff talks about America as a culture of Busy Backsons. He uses this note to display how Americans are on the  move and how  many Americans never give themselves time to appreciate the little things because of their busy lifestyle. This description is very true and I completely agree. There are days when I am constantly on the move and I feel like I have no time to even think. Growing up with Indian parents who weren’t born here, they always talked about how America was the country for opportunity and that no dream was unachievable. Benjamin Hoff talks about how the Busy Backsons run after things that are not necessarily meant for them. I have seen several people struggle and fail in pursuing careers that were just not meant for them. I very much so agree with Hoff on the fact that some things are just not meant for certain people.

            As for Taoism being the solution to the problem of American culture I do feel that there are aspects of Taoism that would in fact help the problem of American culture. I appreciate the fact that Taoism talks about taking time to appreciate the smaller things in life. However in my eyes there seems to be a lack of drive and competitiveness in Taoism which is a pinnacle in American culture. Americans thrive on discovery and without it we wouldn’t be where we are today.