“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…
Tag: impermanence
Music
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Jimmy Yu’s Path from Hardcore Punk to Hardcore Zen Master
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…
Music
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The Best Buddhism-Inspired Songs: A Playlist of Modern Music
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…
Film and TV
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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…
Lifestyles
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Why Film Photography Is the Ultimate Zen Practice for a Mindful Life
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…
Film and TV
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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…
Film and TV
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The Hidden Buddhist Roots of Fraggle Rock
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”…
Music
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Why Did Blink-182 Name Their First Demo Buddha?
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…
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…