Extra Credit Blog

I am a frequent Yoga person usually doing it twice a week at the local YMCA. I often that the I was getting the full culture of yoga in the classes because the instructor stated how we relate the poses to the world. After reading the article I found myself slightly offended. Going into yoga I fully realized that it was a type of meditation but that is not what I wanted to get out of it. I instead wanted to get the benefits of the poses and stretches and to help me relax more. The article stated that their are the equivalent of the 10 commandments.  "Most people are not aware that the practice of the Asanas or stretches is actually the third step in the classical school of Raja Yoga. The first step is the practice of 5 Restraints: Non-Harming, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Self-Restraint and Non-Possessiveness. The second is the practice of the 5 Observances: Purity, Contentment, Austerity, Self- Study and Surrender to God. (Notice there are 10, as in the 10 Commandments)." I guess this can be taken in a way that Americans have taken it to a new level. 


After every yoga session you have a relaxation time where the teacher has you relax your body and mind to fully reach your spiritual self. The teacher then states the beauty and peace in everything and to relate things to your personal life. I come out of yoga feeling relaxed and a new state of happiness, although the instructor does not specifically mention the religion aspect of yoga; I feel as if I am coming out of a church sermon with the strength to carry onto the following days. 


I appreciated that Professor Rasnic wanted to inform our class of the Americanized way of yoga but I have to disagree with it. I think that the article is bias as to the way that Americans practice this tradition. Another link that Professor Rasnic posted said that the only real way that Western yoga will hold its appeal for Westerners is if it continues to possess its degree and intensity. I can agree with this on the lines that as long as the teachers continues to relate yoga to religion is the only way that it will survive the next "big" movement of exercise.  

The Tunnel and Shinto

The first couple minutes of the movie were rather boring, but I suddenly got into the movie. A lone soldier is walking through a dark tunnel and the suspense is building through the movie's choice of music. A dog appears in the tunnel with what appears to be dynamite strapped around his neck. Quite sad. As the soldier walks through the tunnel and exits you hear another set of footprints. Out of the dark appears a solider that appears to be dead ( you later learn that he has died). He is confused and doesn't know what is happening. In the second part of the clip a whole group of dead soldiers appear and ask what has happened to them. This movie seems like it was a tragic butchering of the soldiers and the alive soldier possibility a chief or something is astonished. The soldiers line up and are ready for action. He asks then what they are doing here and that they should be resting in peace instead of helping others.
This is a crucial point in Shinto; as  it states that you should be to helpful to others in the world at large through deeds and actions without though of rewards and seeking advancement. Another main point of Shinto is to bind others with the harmonious acknowledgement of the emperor, to pray that the country may flourish; to maintain peoples peace and prosperity. This is exactly what the soldiers were doing, even though they were dead, they came back to fulfill the duties of the king and to help others. The chief states that he would rather have died with his troops then be alive alone. In Shinto, they have may afterlife's and I can't help to wonder if the afterworld is on the lone road, because their underworlds are like this world and not like a typical "heaven".
This movie seems to me that it is awfully similar to the current situation in Japan. People place their government and authorities over themselves. This is very different to what we have in the United States where we put ourselves above and beyond the government. I do not have an opinion on this because I believe that in each of the ways the countries are run there is something right and something wrong with the method.
Overall, I liked this movie and it was a great eye opener to different perspectives of religions.

The Tao of Pooh

When I first heard the name of the book I was taken back because it had Winnie the Pooh in the title, and I loved him growing up. Then once I purchased the book I saw him on the cover and it had the Yin and Yang on it. I started reading this book way before it was due because it seemed like something that would be more understandable to me rather then the other books that were assigned. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it was able to relate to me. It had funny stories of Pooh, and the book was written so that book was written in Pooh terms. "By the way Pooh, how do you spell Tuesday?...' Tuesday, you know Monday, Tuesday... What comes after Wednesday, 'Thirdsday." Pooh often had a cute, funny way of talking but with this book the author uses Pooh's voice as a way to approach Taoism in a sensible manner. What really make this book stand out from others is that it takes a religion, philosophies, and practices and puts them into a "language" that everyone can relate to. 


I thoroughly appreciated the section about Americans being Busy Backsons. Americans are constantly developing the newest cell phones, computers TV's, all to have the bigger and better technology. Today, we even have energy drinks that provide us with caffeine and other nutrients to wake people up to continue with their busy lives. We as Americans don't know how to truly relax, we sit down to watch TV, we play on computers, we text or call people. True relaxation is doing nothing... absolutely nothing. I think we fear that in doing nothing we won;t accomplish anything and will be completely cut off from the world that this new age in technology has made us feel like we need to be. 


If Americans really and truly took to heart Taoist practices and doctrines do I think that would solve a lot of problems. Is that practical in today's society? No. The problem with Americans is that we always have numerous things to do but Taoism is taking the easiest path and not making things difficult. This is an unsolvable problem because we are always to that if we want something, work harder. Until Americans understand that less is more this will continue to be a problem.