LIberation and Success

I had a hard time finding songs that relate to liberation so I went ahead and chose songs about peace and just finding you. I feel like that’s something that can be reached once one gains liberation. Many, not all, Hindus believe that liberation is that ultimate goal in life.  Moksha, the sanscrit term used to describe this ultimate goal frees a person from samsara. Samsara is the continuous cycle of death and rebirth and is to be avoided by any believer of Hinduism. If I was a follower of Hinduism, I probably would also want to avoid this never-ending cycle of switching bodies. One of the ways to reach liberation is to renounce earthly desires. One must overcome the fear of death as well. Westerners are infamous for being greedy and desiring mundane things like wealth, popularity and fame. Therefore, finding songs about fame and success was very easy. We want more than we need; I suppose is what I’m trying to get at. If we begin to limit our desires to things that are actually important and live off of those, then we begin to understand the mindset of a Hindu that is trying to attain moksha. We can learn from Hinduism that it is indeed more humbling to do things in moderation that to drown in constant self-indulgence.

What is success according to dharma? In worldly terms, success is measured solely by looking at a person’s professional and personal life. Well-paying jobs, educated spouse, and intelligent children are considered to be good signs of a successful life.  According to Sri Swami Sivananda, there are ten tips that one must consider to achieve success. I can’t list all of them, but one of them is to “Live in the present. Forget the past. Give up hopes of the future.” Another one says, “Life is thy greatest gift. Utilize every second profitably.” If you’re interested in knowing about the remaining eight tips, you can visit this link:  http://hinduism.about.com/od/gurussaints/a/success.htm  J

SUCCESS SONGS

Fergie, “Glamorous”, other, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ZmWlTZ5p0   

Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, “When you Believe”, R&B, 1998

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kfpE8xYBmY 

  Drake, “Successful”, Hip-Hop, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnBiVj5HXNQ

Lady Gaga, “The Fame”, Pop, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRllGprQ7M 

Turn the Page

Liberation( peace)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-KAvPbO8JY  George Harrison, “Give me love”, Rock, 1973

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqOU2ox_tk8  Eagles, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” Rock, 1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXCSxLIJD9k  Billy Joel, “ River of Dreams”, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5kmCgVhADY  The Who, “Who are you”, Rock, 1979

Elvis Costello

Summary of first two aims

I found out that Seva ( pronounced sewa) means selfless act of service towards the benefit others.  It seems like finding songs that relate to community service appear to be harder to find than songs that relate to pleasure. I can understand because westerners are used to sexual or love songs that are more upbeat and fun to listen and dance to. However, It was really easy for me to find community service songs because I listen to them more than sex songs. My favorite singer is Michael Jackson and he has multiple songs that relate to doing good in the world. Especially famous songs of his include, We are the world, Heal the world, Earth Song, and Man in the Mirror. Needless to say, the songs that I chose are mostly from the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. Hindu tradition differs from the Pop culture influence in American tradition in that seva is a major aim that citizens need to participate in along with pleasure if they want to reach liberation in the end.

Favorite Aim: Seva (Community Service)

I found out that Seva ( pronounced sewa) means selfless act of service towards the benefit others. Some songs that relate to selfless deeds that I thought of are:
 Collaboration of Artists, We are the World, Pop, 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy1gp3F5NhY
 Ben Harper, "With My Own Two Hands". Indie/Reggae, 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6zt3pVPoJM
U2 Feat. Mary J. Blige, "One", Rock, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDQJnI4OhU
The Beatles, "With a Little Help from my Friends", Rock, 1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ

An awesome example video is below:
Michael Jackson, "Heal the World", Pop/Soft Rock, 1991

AIM #1: Pleasure: Warning. Sexual..

Pleasure Songs. Five songs:
     1. Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull, "Shake", Rap, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ9SioGG0BQ
     2. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, "Let's Make Love", Country, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw1aDkr2Z5E
     3. Rod Stewart, " Tonight's the Night", Rock/Pop, 1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZr6AE-u2UM
     4. Exile, "Kiss you All Over", Alternative Rock, 1978 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awRvajwDa0Q
     5. Ludacris, "Fantasy", Dirty Rap, 2000  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-Ru6kQhE4
I think the best example would be...