Yep. That’s the slogan.

“Enlightenment” may mean many things to different people, but — funny or not — this sort of thing isn’t likely to help people to have a real grasp of any of those meanings.

Is that ok?

Big thanks to  the reader (who shall remain anonymous) who sends this one on:

“[I met this guy who] started a new tequila company called Karma Tequila. I played dumb and asked him what karma was, and he said, ’cause and effect.’ And I asked what cause and effect had to do with a name for a tequila brand, and he just said that it was the only name that they all agreed sounded great. So no reason, really. He did mention that, in the name of karma, the company gives back some of their proceeds to causes.

“I exercised a lot of control trying to keep my trap shut when he was going off about the name: ‘Imagine it branching out into branded cocktails: the Karmatini, the Karmapolitan, and get this … the Karmarita!’ I almost keeled over!”

…Yes, folks: “Karma Tequila.” Of course, right? …and you can see it on their site, here. I particularly like the “store” which includes the simple selling-line, “Buy Karma.” (Okay, maybe “like” isn’t the right word…)

So many commercials — car ads, insurance ads, fast food chain ads — are pretty much interchangeable. Everyone’s pretty, the sun is always shining, and no one gets older and loses their hair. (Unless, of course, what’s being pitched has to do with the avoidance of aging, or is a medication for the management of senility.) So kudos to Wendy’s (!) for their new spot. Watch:

Buddhism is of course unafraid to confront aging, sickness, and death. But the advertising industry? Well, let’s just say: not so much. So when Wendy’s chose to run this ad, they may just have broken a little teensy bit of ground. Addressing your customers’ mortality, even in so lighthearted a way, is somehow refreshing. It certainly caught my eye and jarred me a little.

But then, maybe that’s because I’m in the balding-youngish-guy-getting-older demographic. (Not that I’ll be going to Wendy’s any time soon… or, ever.) But what do you think?

Thanks to new reader Alan F for this one:

“Hi,

“I just discovered The Worsthorse, and have a Dharma-Burger for y’all. There’s a small Japanese fast-casual restaurant chain here in Austin, Texas, called ‘Zen.’ Of course, they do the whole Buddhist bit, but I thought the sign today was fun. I suspect the Little Buddha meal is supposed to be the kids meal, but it seems to me that the sign is also suggesting bhikkhus and bhikkhunis can get their alms from Zen on the weekends!

“Enjoy!”

Thanks much, Alan…!

I think I’ve covered this before, but after a couple of pushes, from Nate at Precious Metal and reader Jacqui M., here it is again.  As Jacqui writes:

“I’ve been enjoying the site for quite awhile… thanks for the giggles!

“I don’t know if you’ve covered this before, but Time magazine this week has a feature on ‘intentional’ food, including the company Intentional Chocolate. Thought you might find it interesting… The Buddhist link is in this paragraph:

Intentional Chocolate, founded in 2007 by chocolatier Jim Walsh, uses a special recording device to capture the electromagnetic brain waves of meditating Tibetan monks; Walsh then exposes his confections to the recording for five days per batch.

Gimmickiness aside, this one seems to me to be an example of the more sincere manifestation a Dharma-Burger might take. The Tibetan monks who meditate “for” Walsh’s chocolate are at Deer Park Buddhist Center, and include Geshe Lhundub Sopa. And as far as I’m concerned, if Geshe Sopa’s down with it, it’s pretty much gotta be a good thing.

And, it would seem, it works. Scroll to the bottom of this scientific abstract.

Thanks, Jacqui and Nate!

So many Dharma-Burgers, so little time. So let’s just jump in and see some of what’s come into the Horse’s in-box over the past few days:

The ever eagle-eyed Sam DeWitt sends this shot from the current Snickers campaign, and writes:

“Really? Nutvana™? With a trademark and everything? Will I get sued if I try to start being hip and dropping ‘nutvana’ in casual conversation?… As the kids say – Whatever!”

Alice of the great NOT2W0 blog writes to share two new Burgers
1) Seat Karma: Live entertainment ticketing search engine and broker.

Company Profile:
http://seatkarma.com/company.php

2) Zendals: Sandals with massage balls at the sole. I saw this on someone yesterday in the locker room at the gym. Link here.

And here’s one from the always mighty (and often moving) blogger, monk, and relentless friend of the Horse, Konchog Norbu:

“Oy gevalt. It’s endless. You could have a separate blog just for Zen-Burgers. Latest arising. I think I’m supposed to know who Tara Stiles is, but I really don’t.”

Lastly — for now, that is; there are still plenty more in the ol’ in-box to get to — Clint B. sends a link to the “Birdvana” shirt, (main graphic picture here; not picture is some writing that says “The duck seeks only bread.”) writing, simply, “Rod, I just don’t know what to make of this one.”

Me neither. I was about to say I kinda liked it, actually, until I just started thinking: “Oh, gee, a graphic of a cartoon animal, meditating? That’s pretty goofy.”

(Whatever you do, readers, please don’t scroll to the top of this page right now.) ; )

Thanks, everyone. Keep ‘em coming, and I’ll do my best to keep up!

Thanks to reader Karen B. for sending this new Dharma-Burger. She writes:

“I found this inside my Dove Milk Chocolate Promise. Apologies for the fuzziness, my cell phone’s camera’s not the best.

“The verse says: ‘Think lovingly, speak lovingly, act lovingly.’ I guess ‘compassionately’ didn’t fit on the wrapper.”

Will it never end? (Nope, not any time soon anyway…) Thanks to reader George R, for sending the Dharma-Burgery ZenBev, “a sleep aid that I saw in a healthy lifestyle type magazine. It’s a vitamin drink mix to help with anxiety and insomnia.”

George also sends this video for what might be the finest Zen/Dharma-Burger collision, “Zen Burger.” It’s been covered here before, but, as George writes: “This advert talks more about vegetarian being healthier and better for the environment and not so much to do with meditation, Buddhist practice or enlightenment. Although they do throw in a shot of the Zen Burger mascot doing a lame version of what seems like a yoga pose but looks more like the Karate Kid crane kick. Hope you enjoy.”

Thanks, George!

And thanks also to the mighty Yoga Dawg who sends a link to yet another one of these Zenny grid-based games, “Zen Gems.”

Props to Tricycle for beating the Horse to the punch on this one.

Sorry for the relative quiet, y’all. Between a cold and the realities of working in the new economy, it’s been a tough buncha days. To try and make it up to you, here’s a big bag of Dharma-Burgers.

First up is one from stalwart reader Jordan F. This little item is the “Scarpa Zen Approach” sneaker. Dig the ‘Burgery flavor of the copy they’re using to try and sell this thing: “Reach the summit of calm in the Scarpa Zen Approach Shoe. The supple all leather upper balances the burly Vibram Spyder sole, forming an unparalleled equilibrium of foot comfort and confidence. Reinforced arches and EVA heel cushioning comfort your steps on the path of one-pointedness. When you lose focus, molded toecaps protect you from meditation-disturbing stubs against inert rocks and roots. Sure you could sit in lotus position all day trying to achieve Samadhi while stern Japanese monks whack your back with a stick. You can also lace up the Scarpa Zen Approach Shoe and reach peace hiking through Aspen groves.”

Yeah, okay. Whatever.

Next up: the unstoppable Sam DeWitt points us to this New York Times review of the NBC show, Life, commenting, simply, “That all-purpose word crops up again.” That “all-purpose word,” of course, is Zen, but at least Life actually has something to do with Zen, as the main character studied Buddhism in prison. For more, read the review, or check out the Horse’s previous coverage (including a pretty interesting little link).

The Mighty Sam also sends on web-ad for FRS energy drink, with this notation: “just a random web advert luring unsuspecting consumers with the power of the lotus position (or some such thinking, I am sure).” That sounds about right to me! Nothing says “cure-all” like a sexually ambiguous meditator in silhouette. Am I right, people?

But does Sam stop there? No! Because he’s SAM DeWITT!

He also sends on this cover of The Economist from the issue on sale from the end of January, into the beginning of February. Here, a Buddha’s eye is meant to not only register “shock” at the grand sweep of the global economic crisis, but serves as a stand-in for, apparently, the entirety of Asia.

They used to call this sort of exoticized cultural shorthand “Orientalism,” didn’t they? Well, I call it a Dharma-Burger.

Next up, Marnie from The Enlightenment Blog points us to the “Buddha Board,” writing,  “Here is a Dharma-Burger tidbit. Seems to be some kind of painting easel wherein the painting vanishes after a certain amount of time. I haven’t tried the product but the flash introduction lets you paint with your mouse in an interesting way.” Frankly, I can’t believe I haven’t covered this thing before, as I have played with it, and think it’s just great. Try it out online.

And how about a “24-carat gold, 7.5mm-tall statue of Buddha”? Need one of those? Well, good thing it exists, right? The market has spoken! (Via AP.) As our friend Miriam writes, “Wow. Man. What an insult (?) to the concept and to Vajra Regent Ozel Tendzin’s book title?!”

Lastly, I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t point you to this ad — and the (typically) excellent commentary about it — found over at NOT2WO.

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions. And for reading — hope you’ve enjoyed gnawing on these ‘Burgers.