Buddhism In American Stereotype

Source: http://www.elephantjournal.com/member/

Pleasures, Community Service and Hinduism

1.1. John Legend, "Satisfaction", R&B, 2008
2. Kanye West, "Addiction", Hip-pop, 2005
3. T.I., "Whatever you like", Rap, 2008
4. Floetry, "Say Yes", Neo-soul, 2002

5. Common, "Go", Hip-pop, 2005

Community Service  


1. John Legend, "Our Generation", R&B, 2010
2. Michael Jackson, "They Dont really care about us", Pop, 1996
3. Marvin Gaye, "Whats going on", R&B, 1971
4. Bob Marley, "Afica Unite", Reggea, 1979

5. Black Eyed Peas, "Where is the Love", Pop, 2005

American aim versus the Hindus

In doing this assignment the first thing that stood out to me is that it was easier for me to come up with songs dealing with pleasures in our society than those dealing with community service; this tells us a lot about the modern American society versus that of the Hindus. This being the most prevalent aim in American pop culture, it shows how the morality as decade over time. Most of the songs on the radio and on our albums are about sex, drugs, money, clothes, living a fast life and anything which can provide instant gratification. As times going on, each generation is becoming more socially desensitized as society takes its focus from God (community) to self. The essence of most communities (if not all) in earlier times was God or a governing central power which transpired through the whole group. In this day in America, there is either God (religion), culture, race, or a deep sense of nationalism that governs our minds to polarize. The only thing every citizen as in common is their interpersonal goal to succeed in disregard to their neighbor’s interdependence. Ambition is not a negative attribute for people to have but it’s the lack of fundamental humanitarianism paired behind it which rips our society apart; a system of constantly getting over on people and using them purely as a resource and nothing else. This is what governs our minds in today’s society, an interaction of people based on what they can offer you and counting them as valueless if they’re not relevant to you at that given time. Every time a song is written about community service or up lifting people, it’s almost like a public service announcement or a theme surrounding some recent tragedy or disaster going on in the world or nation, this ought not to be so. This is no reason why encouraging words cannot be administered without there being a problem or issue at hand.

The expression of community service in the Hindu aims and American pop culture seem to be similar and parallel to me. However, the expression of pleasure is quite different. The Hindu aims expression of pleasure doesn’t only seem to be limited to the vain things of the flesh (sex, drugs, clothes etc.) but also the good health and prosperity. Although health pertains to the flesh, it is not a search for instant gratification as the things we indulge ourselves in American pop culture.