Heidiminx — the very model of the punk-rock dharma activist — rules. But you knew that, right? Well, if you didn’t, check out her new video, “Tattoos and Tibetan Ex-political Prisoners.”  In it, she interviews a member of the Tibetan ex-political prisoners association, GuChuSum.

As Heidiminx writes, “While there are numerous sites and TV shows dedicated to the meanings of tattoos, the tattoos of Tibet’s ex-political prisoners have not been well documented. Their experiences are crucial to understand the human rights violations China commits on a daily basis.”

Support and follow Heidiminx’s work here. And visit GuChuSum here.

Thanks to my friend Sam DeWitt, who sent news of this video clip with the message “Here is Josh Korda (our teacher at NYC Dharma Punx) interviewed on CBS Doc Dot Com. America will never be the same!”

CBS’s own caption for the clip: “Dharma Punx in New York City mixes the tradition of Buddhism with the ideology of punk rock. Dr. Jon LaPook talks with teacher Josh Korda about how the seemingly different connect with the help of meditation.” Check out the video, after the jump. (more…)

Yes, that’s right — people are protesting Akon’s “insult to Buddhism.” Protest = good. Protest with violence = not so good.

Buddhists protesting by throwing stones? Ridiculous.

Isn’t it?

Update: the Sri Lankan government has denied Akon a visa.

March 24 update: Akon has postponed his Sri Lanka tour.

March 27 update, via tamilweek.com: “Akon visa denial has wider impact on Sri Lanka and Buddhism”

New York City’s Interdependence Project has been, as they say, taking meditation to the streets. First there was their November 2009 “Sit Down, Rise Up” 24-hour meditation marathon in the windows of ABC Carpet. (Video here.) Now, the IDP has gone underground to bring meditation to light.

This new public meditation — which the IDP calls an “Inter-Act,” and which Director of Arts and Communication Josh Adler describes as “a new type of performance art and civic engagement” — took place in an NYC subway tunnel: the one at Port Authority to be exact. A “challenging environment to try and meditate in,” to be sure. So, how did it go?

Well, the cops may have not liked it so much, but there surely can’t be a problem with walking meditation when sitting doesn’t work. And, as Adler states, the IDP intends to keep going. To join them, visit the IDP or treeplays.com.

“Are we witnessing the second coming of the Buddha?” asked Stephen Colbert in the opening tease of Monday night’s Report. “I’ll believe it when I see it in my grilled cheese sandwich.”

So, Nation, what was it that Colbert was talking about? A run-down and video follow. (more…)

Via the TimesOnline: “Burma’s military government is contemplating the release of the country’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, at the end of the year, but only after the anticipated date of national elections, according to reports from Rangoon.”

Meanwhile, as the Times writes, “Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi are unconvinced. They say they will be ordering the flying pigs.” (And with good reason; the Burmese junta is quite skilled at saying one thing and doing another.) At any rate, this will be one to watch; more here!

This year’s Tibet House benefit concert — it’s twentieth! — just got a boost: Iggy Pop, legendary frontman of The Stooges (just named as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (for whatever that’s worth)) has now joined previous performers Philip Glass and Patti Smith on the bill, along with Gogol Bordello, Regina Spektor, and more. Now that’s cool.

The benefit will be held at Carnegie Hall on February 26. For tickets or more info call Tibet House (NYC) at (212) 807-0563, between 10AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday. More info of course on the TH site, here.

After first writing up this item, I decided to start playing recordings by the great artist, Iggy, himself. Some after-listening thoughts:

First off, I have to give kudos to Tibet House for booking Iggy. And Iggy for supporting Tibet House. (It goes without saying that anyone who supports a fine cause has earned their kudos, of course. And Tibet House surely qualifies as a fine cause.)

But why is Iggy cool? Well, as a writer of music (albeit a private and “unconventional” — read: bad – one)  I would say this:

If I could write one song as good as, say, “Gimme Danger,” I’d be… well… I’d be Iggy Pop. And there really can be only one Iggy Pop.

I mean, who else could write (and sing) the phrases “that’s like hypnotizing chickens” and “I’m just a modern guy; of course I’ve had it in the ear before”? And not only that, he put them back to back. (Those are lyrics from “Lust for Life.” Don’t let those horrible cruise commercials ruin that song for you. The song is brilliant. And darkly so. And, okay, those lyrics may not thrill you, but trust me, it’s about context. And Iggy had it. “Lust for Life” wasn’t key to the soundtrack of 1996’s Trainspotting for nothing.)

Also, as a guy who calls himself a Buddhist (and who advocates meditation for everyone, in pretty much whatever form works for you), I want to hear why Iggy is playing this show. Maybe it’s just that he’s available and said, “Sure,” because he’s an affable and enthusiastic and good guy. Maybe it’s something else, more specifically related to meditation or Buddhism.

Either way, I’d like to know — this is an actual artist, a lifer. And he knows a thing or two about perseverance through suffering. That’s the type of person I consider worth following, whatever the reason he’ll be performing at Tibet House in February. So I’ve got a message in to Tibet House to see what they say.

Anyway, that’s besides the point. The real point is: Iggy is big-time, enduring Great. Nice get, Tibet House. Iggy rules.

Via PR Newswire:

Borrowing the Zen practices of minimalism and focus, [St. Louis Tea Part movement co-founder Bill] Hennessy helps conservatives channel their anger and concern into positive steps toward reclaiming liberty.

“After the 2008 elections, I realized that shouting alone was useless. I also realized that we on the right were fighting too many battles at once. So I started to write myself a letter, and that letter turned into this book.”

Zen Conservative, the new book by St. Louis Tea Party leader Bill Hennessy, targets the millions of Americans who are fed up with government growth, regulatory intrusion, and unfathomable borrowing and spending in Washington, DC. But rather than just ratcheting up the volume, Hennessy’s “Zen Conservatism” aims toward effectiveness. The book advances the 5-2-1 method Hennessy has used to help the St. Louis Tea Party stay focused, engaged, and effective in issues like the proposed takeover of healthcare, the cap and trade tax scheme, and the undue influence of Andy Stern’s SEIU union.

Well, this sure isn’t my cup of tea. But if it’s yours, here’s the website.

This 30-second spot was initially created as part of the Lancia auto brand’s sponsorship of the 10th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Berlin Nov. 10-11, 2009, for which the theme was “Knocking down new walls and building bridges for a world without violence.” How nice to see Chrysler, a major US automaker, joining in.