It’s 9pm. You’re laying on the couch with a big ol’ bag of your favorite snack, scrolling through all your streaming services, but nothing looks worth watching. The new True Crime mini-series looks too intense to relax to, deep down you know that pretentious documentary you want to tell your…
Media
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The Three Jewels in The Legend of Zelda: A Buddhist Connection to the Triforce
One could make the argument that the Triforce in Legend of Zelda is a metaphor for “The Three Jewels” in Buddhism. The Triforce is a sacred relic left behind by a trio of deities know as “The Golden Goddesses“. It has the power to grant a wish, and therefore fulfillment,…
Music
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Sure Shot to Shambhala: Adam Yauch’s Search for Enlightenment
The Beastie Boys are hailed as one of the most popular hip-hop groups of all time. Their debut album “License to Ill” was the first of its genre to top the Billboard 200 chart. Their follow up album “Paul’s Boutique” is widely regarded as a peak album of golden age…
Film and TV
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Groundhog Day: The Unexpected Buddhist Classic of Modern Cinema
“Groundhog Day” featuring the great Bill Murray is considered to be a cult classic. Released in 1993 the film grossed $70,907,146 worldwide. When it was rereleased in 2021 it made an additional $200,989 worldwide. In addition to being a box office success and cult classic many consider it to be…
Home and Garden
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Samu and Soil: Finding Mindfulness in Your Garden
In today’s modern world your meditation practice can take a backseat to the demands of everyday life. At times it can feel nearly impossible to find the time for a traditional sitting practice. Work, school, family and the tasks of everyday life are sometimes so overwhelming that carving out 15…
literature
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Buddhist Interdependence in MLK’s Iconic ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most well know human rights activists in American History. While he wasn’t a Buddhist many Buddhist beliefs and principles can be found in his writings and speeches. King’s rhetoric was strongly influenced by nonviolence and compassion. One of his most famous works…
Film and TV
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The Compassion Of Tonglen Meditation In The Green Mile
What is Tonglen Meditation? Tonglen Meditation is sometimes referred to as “taking and sending” meditation. “Tong” is translated as “giving or sending” and “len” is translated as “receiving or taking”. Its goal is to reverse the human tendency of avoiding suffering and seeking out pleasure. A practitioner of this form…
Film and TV
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Is Lisa Simpson The Most Famous Buddhist of All Time?
Short answer: No. Of course not! There are far more famous, talked about, and recognizable figures in the history of Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama, Ānanda, the Dalai Lama and even Hollywood Actor Orlando Bloom. It’s not fair or accurate to say she’s the the most famous Buddhist of all time, but…
Sports
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Chanting Is the Best Way To Unite Buddhists and Sports Fans
Chanting is a universal practice among all sects of Buddhism. The various schools of Buddhism have their own rituals, mantras, and melodies that go along with the practice. While the act of chanting can be varied there are some core themes that span across all sects. The most plain-to-see being…
Sports
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The Zen of the Zamboni
A Cloudy Mind and Cloudy Ice One of the most common misconceptions about meditation is that the end goal is a completely clear mind devoid of all thought. To most people the vision of a Zamboni cleaning the ice and leaving behind a shiny pristine surface is the perfect metaphor…