“Part Sid Vicious, Part Dalai Lama”
Dig this new New York Times “Bowery Journal” report on Noah Levine, Dharma Punx, and Josh Korda, who runs an NYC DP group.
A sample quote: “Perched on a ledge behind Mr. Korda, who was kneeling at the front, was a small white statue of a seated Buddha — with a mohawk. It is a curious combination; punk is typically seen as an expression of aggression, whereas Buddhism espouses compassion. But Mr. Korda and his friend Noah Levine, who started Dharma Punx, say both movements are rooted in dissatisfaction with the way things are, a desire to live in the present and a thirst for peace of mind.”
What’s extra cool is that as of 10 am, this article was the lead on the front page of the NYT site. What’s less cool is that the Dharma Punx site is seemingly down because of all the traffic they must be getting.
Well, nice problem to have.
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December 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I like Noah a lot, and respect what these guys are doing. But. I think the whole “punk Buddhist” bit is a little gimmicky, and I say that as someone who spent a pretty big chunk of his life involved with punk rock. I’ve already said some words about Brad Warner here, so I’ll leave that alone, but I don’t really see the connection between when I listen to the Dead Boys and when I sit in Vipassana, anymore than I see the connection between when I listen to Miles David and when I work out at the gym. Saying punk is fundamentally “about” anything seems a bit silly to me as well.
Anyway, sorry if my comments here seem overly critical. I’ve come to like this site a lot and for every contentious thing I say there were like three posts I found interesting, funny, or useful and didn’t say anything. I just never feel the need to say “yeah! right on!”, but maybe I should!
December 13th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
In the mid-90s I worked with Josh Korda at a design studio in NYC and, years before, I’d hang in the periphery of the NY hardcore punk scene. I can tell you that there’s nothing at all Sid Vicious-y about Josh, mos def more like the Dalai Lama–sweet, kind, funny.
December 14th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Here is the link for the NYC Dharma Punx.
http://www.dharmapunxnyc.com
The one that the article links to is the original Dharma Punx site, and not the NYC one.
Having attended Dharma Punx for many years now, I think I can say that there is not much reference to “punk” (whatever that means) at the talks, if any at all.
They are pretty straight up Theravadan teachings (more Vipassana when Noah was still here teaching), and there are some pretty darn serious practitioners in the sangha who put my practice to shame.
Sam