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…
Category: Media
Video Games
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Loving-Kindness: Dalai Lama’s RF Switchbox for Compassion and Life XP
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…
Film and TV
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Buddhism in the Matrix: Morpheus The Bodhisattva
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…
literature
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Buddhism Made Simple: The Best Books for Curious Newcomers
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…
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Silent Bob-hisattva: A Master of Right Speech
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…
literature
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Best Buddhist Print Magazines You Can Subscribe to Today
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…
Media
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NFTs and Non-Attachment: From Digital Monkeys to Buddhist Monks
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…
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Netflix and Chan: The Best Buddhist Shows on Netflix
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…
Video Games
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Karma and KOTOR: What Video Games Can Teach You About Buddhist Karma
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…
Film and TV
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What The Matrix Did and Didn’t Teach You About Buddhist Truths
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…