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…
Tag: Mahayana
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…
Home and Garden
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Shojin Ryori: Everything You Need To Know About Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine
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…
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…