Jane Lynch made a reference to Buddhism after her acceptance speech for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy at  Emmy last night. As MTV News reports:

“I love being an actor. I love being an ensemble.” Later, recalling the calming spirituality of Buddhism, she joked, “Although I am not Buddhist, they do seem like a very calm people.”

…I don’t quite get it, but I think it’s fair to say that, Hey — we like you too.

A new piece from the editor of the Sweden-based Asian Tribune (published by the World Institute for Asian Studies) makes no bones about the Tribune’s feelings about the phenomenon of the Dharma-Burger. (I can only imagine how they might react to that term in and of itself.)

A couple of excerpts:

Internet companies, institutes for massage, restaurants, resellers of furnishing, and breeders of exotic cats all adopt Buddha in their uninhibited capitalist interests. As well as leaching the symbolic meaning which adherents of Buddhism ascribe to the Enlightened One. Some resellers of these, as they are marketed, oriental objects, also advertise that their Buddha statues are traded fairly or subscribe to the criteria for fair production.

And:

The commercialization of Buddha is an insult to all adherents of the Buddhist tradition. And can be seen as an expression of the prevailing relation between the so called Third world and the postcolonial powers.

Some would say that this is just plain true.

Some would say you have to look at such things in a matter of context.

There’s certainly an argument that different views might largely be the result of fundamental cultural differences. But then it can be fairly said that certain aspects of certain of cultures have to be more conducive to practicing what the Buddha taught than others. After all, wasn’t the Buddha ultimately offering a path to a different kind of culture, one fueled not by outward, material pursuits but by the best of what resides inside us all?

Or is a “Buddha for Sale” maybe not so bad, because we need reminders everywhere we go, not least of all the marketplace?

And hey, each Buddha for Sale is one less Snuggie or Big Mouth Billy Bass or whatever.

Maybe, though, it’s becoming more like one more Big Mouth Billy Bass. (Or whatever.)

(Yikes!)

Anyway, what do you say? Check it out.

Comments welcome.

Who wins?

See the whole comic strip here, via Ty Templeton, whose blog is a must if you like comics. (The recurring “Moments of Zen” — not about dharma; rather, they’re like the “Moments of Zen” from The Daily Show, but about comics — are a riot.)

[UPDATE: I've just put together a new interview with DeStefano, for Shambhala SunSpace. I hope you'll check it out.]

On NBC’s Last Comic Standing, the gruff Mike DeStefano, a seasoned comic, has become an audience favorite. And actually, it’s clear that the comedian’s persona is just that — a persona; at heart he’s a big softy and a family kind of guy. He’s also a former addict celebrating more than a dozen years in recovery.

Buddhism, clearly, plays a part in all this (though DeStefano identifies himself primarily as a practitioner of “recovery comedy”). Last night on the show viewers saw Mike’s monster Buddha tattoo (shown here) and also heard a joke that I imagine we’ll be hearing people repeat for a while:

“I went to a Chinese restaurant… They had a suggestion box, so I wrote ‘Free Tibet’.”

(It’s not “What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?*” but, hey, not bad, Mike.)

Other evidence of Mike’s interest in Buddhism? His new comedy album is called OK Karma. And here’s the cover (left).

He’s also written a book entitled Bada Bing Bada Budda.

Check out Mike online, here.

Update: click here to check out DeStefano’s contribution to the (true) storytelling podcast, the program, titled “The Junkie and the Monk.” It’ll give you a taste of Mike’s personality and background and — while it’s seriously rough stuff at times — it’ll make you laugh. You’re gonna like this guy.

(* “Make me one with everything.”)

“Despite being a practising Buddhist, Louise Goodman, a.k.a. Blackout Susan, plays roller derby with the Slaughter Daughters.”

The Ottawa Citizen has the story from which this great sentence comes. Go, Blackout!

You may recall this March ‘09 item about comedian/actor Rob Schneider being a Buddhist. Well, in a new interview that’s part of the press junket for the Adam Sandler-penned movie Grown Ups, Schneider talks a bit about his experience with Zen.

“”For 13 years I’ve been into Zen Buddhism,”  he begins. “I only understood it a few weeks ago.” Read more here.

Thanks to Danny Fisher for the tip.

Good ol’ Sweep the Dust, Push the Dirt (ZenDirtZenDust.com) writes of this comic:

Wonderful…yet again another comment on “fat” Buddha. It is sorta funny though. Anyone else think that the one dude looks like Jesus? I think this is something that the Worst Horse should grab. A Dharma-Burger perhaps?

Not really a ‘Burger but worthy of inclusion, sure. Also worthy of your time: ZenDirtZenDust.com itself!

Love this one.

Thanks to the mighty Steve Silberman for passing it along.

…and on South Park, too. Here’s Jon Stewart defending Trey Parker and Matt Stone, complete with a reel of some of the Daily Show’s many jokes at religion’s expense. Thank goodness Buddhists have a sense of humor. (Usually.)

For real. Via BuddyTV, here’s a report. And below, video to watch… if you dare.

April 21 update: tonight’s episode picked up where this one left off (and Buddha did snort more coke). Here’s a wrap-up.