Shinto Blog - The Tunnel

I was very excited to learn this assignment dealt with Kurosawa’s Dreams. I had seen a few of them a couple years ago and really liked it, but didn’t know what it was called. I know we only needed to watch one dream segment for the assignment, but I couldn’t help watching all of them. The dream segment that I have picked is The Tunnel. In this dream, a military commander is returning home from WWII. He is walking along a deserted road at dusk; he comes upon a long, dark tunnel. Everything is brimming with an eerie premonition. An anti-tank dog loaded with explosives comes out of the tunnel to bark at the man. He continues into the tunnel which seems to stretch for eternity. On the other side, he turns around to see a young soldier walk out of the tunnel behind him. His skin is light blue to notify he is dead. The commander, horrified, recognizes the private as a soldier from his platoon. The private does not understand that he is dead and needs the commander to explain it to him. Upon realization, the young soldier returns into the tunnel. Next, even creepier, the entire third platoon marches out of the tunnel to report to their commander. The commander, grieving, must inform them all that they have died. He is overcome with guilt that he sent them all to their deaths while he alone is able to return home. He wishes that he could have died along side of his men rather than live with the weight of their deaths on his shoulders. The commander sends them marching back through the tunnel.

This dream segment is haunting and moving. I wish that there was more; I’d like to know how the whole story unfolds. I found the concept of the tunnel very interesting. Even though the commander had walked through it and saw nothing out of the ordinary, the tunnel became similar to a portal between the Other Worlds and our world. The ways in which I think Shinto was reflected were the fact that the souls of the soldiers were still tangible and would continue to be so forever, and in the mentality of the commander. The commander seemed to be in great conflict within himself. On the one side he probably longed for peace and harmony, but he also had a duty to fulfill while the war was raging. He holds extreme guilt in his heart over the death of his entire platoon. This could be because he feels that he himself has murdered them all and/or he probably feels dishonored in some way that he did not die along side of them. Also, it was not explained but one wonders why it is that the commander escaped death and they did not – does he feel guilt and dishonor because he had been a coward and had run away?

Taoism Blog

My reaction to The Tao of Pooh is overall positive-ish. While there were some things that I could not appreciate, which I will describe shortly, I did enjoy learning about Taoism. My previous levels of understanding about Taoism were virtually nonexistent. This being said, I liked the book merely for the fact of learning something new. The other positive reaction I had was toward some of the illustrations (taken from the ancient authors) that Benjamin Hoff used, such as the illustration about Wu Wei on pages 68-69. I felt these examples more insightful, or helpful, for my individual understanding. I know the book was about Pooh Bear and his chums and all… but… I was annoyed for probably seventy-five percent of the time with the interactions between the characters and the author. It felt redundant and distracting. More often than not I was confused as to what was actually being talked about during those paragraphs. Maybe it was fine for others that have read The Tao of Pooh, but I personally could have done without it. 

The chapter on “Bisy Backsons” was interesting. I had, again, both positive and negative reactions. Generally speaking, I felt that Hoff was correct in his perception that America as a society is so very fast paced, obsessed with saving time and youth, and that often times an individual seeks only to change others instead of working on the self. I did not like that he portrayed the early settlers in the light that he did. I certainly do not find the Puritans blameless, but Hoff sounded … bitter? He was excessive in his judgments (party crashers, unappreciative of the beauty of nature, etc. Page 102), and also in his praises towards the “wiser inhabitants” (Indians, page 101) and towards Nature (“Friendly Land”).  Other than his hyperbolic commentary on American society’s problems, I could appreciate his “solutions.” I feel that we as individuals do not have enough “inner quiet” and should develop it further. I like the idea of changing our mentality to enjoying the process of living as opposed to just trying to get to the reward. It’s hard not to get sucked into the light speed lifestyle, but I have found it to be unhealthy in my own life. I’ll give Hoff a few points for that at least.