Discovering The Dharma in a Modern World
Explore inspiring stories, insightful teachings, and unique perspectives—from pop culture icons like Silent Bob and Star Wars to mindful practices like film photography and chanting. Dive into how Buddhist principles weave through modern culture and bring mindfulness to your daily routine.
Kurt Cobain died at the ripe age of 27 in 1994. Despite his short run in the human realm, he’s left a lasting impression on American culture and music. Cobain was raised in a devout born-again catholic home but would later reject his faith and become a non-denominational agnostic. During
“First, I lost my father to dysentery. Then… my Mother. Next, both my brother and sister succumbed to dysentery. Finally, I felt the disease working its way through my digestive tract, and I knew I had dysentery as well. We never completed our journey.” No, this isn’t an excerpt from
Buddhism is the most “punk rock” religion there is. There, I said it. You might think that’s a controversial statement, but let’s break it down harder than an Acacia Strain song. Both Buddhism and Punk/Hardcore music are all about being true to yourself, seeing past the societal norms pushed on
Some early Buddhist texts denounced music. Claiming it was nothing more than a sensory distraction pulling practitioners away from their meditation practice. Theravada Buddhist precepts prohibit monastics from singing, dancing or even listening to music. In spite of these ancient rules, there have been countless songs inspired by the ancient
Sshhhhksshhh! If your birth year starts with “19” you’re probably familiar with this iconic sound. It’s the soft hiss of channel 3 on a CRT TV before you fire up your retro gaming console of choice. For those of you born in this century, before HDMI cables, you had to
Westerners are putting down the bottle. The percentage of U.S. adults who consume alcohol has dropped to 54% in 2025, the lowest rate in nearly a century. Inadvertently following in the footsteps of Buddhist Monks, who are prohibited from consuming alcohol. However, in the modern world, consuming alcohol can sometimes
You’ve probably heard the term “Forest Bathing” being tossed around on TikTok or your social media platform of choice lately. But what you might not know is that it’s a relatively modern term that originated in Japan in the 1980s. It has since been rebranded, repackaged (you can almost say
The red pill or the blue pill? Enlightenment or the endless cycle of samsara? One is a trope invented by “The Matrix“, a 1999 science fiction film starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. The latter is an ancient Buddhist doctrine that states all beings are constantly experiencing an ongoing cycle
Are you interested in learning about Buddhism but don’t know where to start? Have you tried reading about Buddhism in the past but were intimidated or confused by verbose and overly-wordy antiquated texts? Then this list is for you! The philosophy and beliefs of this 2,500 year old religion are
What is the Buddhist concept of Non-Duality? Non-Duality, or non-dualism, is one of the most well known Buddhist concepts and a root of all Buddhist beliefs. In the simplest terms, non-duality means there is no distinct separation between subject and object. The self and the world around the self are
Shojin Ryori is the traditional cuisine of Zen Buddhist monks. It is historically vegetarian, and usually vegan, due to its roots in the Buddhist concept of non-violence. But some modern iterations include animal products like milk and cheese. Each meal is typically made up of several small bowls with an
We can find the Dharma all around us. Sometimes in the most unlikely of places, like a fat man in an overcoat from New Jersey. Kevin Smith’s character “Silent Bob” is most know for the crude jokes, drug use and the zany adventures he and his “hetero life mate” Jay
Pull out your cell phone and open up your photo gallery. Do you have ten to fifteen nearly identical versions of every picture on your digital camera roll? If the answer is yes, read on. We’ll teach you how to pare down that massive photo library while simultaneously living a
Picture this: It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon. You turn on the kettle to make yourself a little afternoon pick-me-up of your favorite coffee or tea. You sit down on the couch ready to enjoy a little rest and relaxation. Before you can stop yourself your monkey mind has you reach
Parents today are more stressed, overworked and pushed to their limits than ever before. Feeling like finding time for a traditional sitting meditation practice is out of reach? You’re not alone. In today’s modern world there simply isn’t enough time in the day to sit in silence for busy parents.
The NFT art fad has come and gone. Leaving some savvy early adopters with their pockets lined with gold and others holding the bag. While some people may have been separated from their hard earned dollars, they are now rich in knowledge about the Buddhist concept of non-attachment, dependent origination
In today’s modern world there are an endless number of ways to absorb the Dharma. There are the classic ways: attending services at your local temple or reading sutras. Conversely, there are more contemporary ways, such as listening to a podcast while hitting the gym or kicking back on the
It’s Saturday morning. You roll out of bed and wipe the sleep from your eyes. You stumble to the kitchen and fire up your trusty Mr. Coffee machine. The aroma of coffee fills your kitchen as the anticipation of your first cup O’joe drips closer and closer to completion. That’s
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, also known simply as “KOTOR”, is the most popular Star Wars game of all time and is in the running for one of the most popular video games of all time of any genre. It’s a cult classic that’s beloved for it’s eclectic
Keanu Reeves is a Buddha. Well, not really, but he did play one on TV! Reeves played Prince Siddhartha in the 1993 film “Little Buddha” and the film he’s most know for, “The Matrix“, is littered with metaphors for Buddhist teachings. In one of the most famous scenes in the
Fraggle Rock is an award-winning, beloved, family-friendly franchise full of laughs, puns, gags and…Buddhist wisdom? Jim Henson created the show with the lofty goal of “Ending all wars” by teaching children about the interconnectedness of all things as well as the “unassailable fact that their own actions would have consequences”
Breathtaking images of various Buddhas throughout history are as ubiquitous as The Dharma itself. The immense Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan China, the stunning Great Buddha of Thailand, and… the four inch tall Buddha featured on the cover of Blink-182’s demo cassette “Buddha“? While not as awe-inspiring or magnificent as
The Buddha’s Dharma can be absorbed whether you’re walking your dog, exercising, doing house chores or simply going for a drive. In today’s busy world many lay practitioners and people looking to dip their toes into the reservoir of knowledge left behind by The Buddha simply don’t have time to
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
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,
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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