Those who’ve been following (for example) Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha graphic novel and its film adaptation, or Deepak Chopra’s “Buddha” comic book, know that it’s not so new to mix Buddhism and comics. But it does seem to work, and one Buddhist temple is getting in on the act. As Culture Clash Daily reports:

This month [Japan's Ryohoji] Temple unveiled its new “moe Buddhist [signboard],” [rendered in an animation-based style] combining modern and ancient art. [This development came about after the temple's chief priest, Shoko Nakazato] displayed a picture of “moe” outside the temple to welcome passers by. Moe is a traditional Japanese slang word often for a young girl, and associated with innocence, love and caring.

According to Shoko Nakazato, young people and the media have been flocking to the temple ever since. (The temple’s website takes a similar approach, also depicting and blending moe and Buddhist imagery.) But as one visitor told The Japan Times, “I’m afraid that the temple will end up being just a mecca for fans of manga and anime, which is probably not the temple’s intention.” As for the artist behind the sign? She says that while she “was initially worried she might be doing something ‘indiscreet,’” [she] concluded that even if the sign was controversial, it might lead people to visit the temple and think about religion.”

Okay, so Lost’s “dharma” sort of petered out. Good thing there’s ABC-TV’s “10 Things I Hate About You” to reign in the slack. (Except, the show’s now over.)

About the show’s finale, via Entertainment Weekly:

10 Things I Hate About You wrapped up its under-appreciated one-season run on ABC Family last night, and, quite frankly, I don’t know what went wrong here. The dialogue snapped, the plotlines crackled, and the characters popped — not easy to do in the tired high-school genre.  [...] The two-part, hour-long series finale — which was clearly not intended as its swan song, since it ended on a cliffhanger — brought us all of the things we fans have grown to love about this show. Kat, characteristically, took up Buddhism, bringing on a hilarious (but still respectful) send-up of the school “meditation collective.”

I had no idea. (Being childless, it has never occurred to me for a second to watch any ABC Family programming.) Want to check it out? You can watch it here. It’ll cost you 99 cents, until Friday the 28th, after which it’s free.

That’s right. It seems that the “It Girl” of the 60s is taking her ongoing appreciation of Buddhism and mindfulness to children across the pond. It’s not that much of a surprise, given Hawn’s recent endorsement of the book Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness, from Wisdom Publications.

Having formed the Hawn Foundation, whose mission is to “create a more mindful world,” the actress, producer, and “creative philanthropist” has been taking meetings with British education secretary Michael Gove, looking for ways to make the benefits of mindfulness part of school-kids’ curriculum. “A peaceful, happy child,” says Goldie, “is the first step towards a peaceful world.” Here Goldie speaks about her work in a clip from Giving TV.

Love this video from Rev. Koyo S. Kubose of the Bright Dawn Institute for American Buddhism — on the meaning of one of Japan’s most pervasive (and cool) Dharma-Burgers, the Daruma (or Bodhidharma, or Damo) doll. In his series of videos — some are just for young kids, all are playful — the camera is static, but the good reverend makes up for that by being so animated himself.

More videos from Rev. Koyo here.

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…!

Haven’t seen it personally, but here’s the cover for (and an article about) “Tibetan Rock Dog,” a new graphic novel by a Chinese rock star.

Its story “unfolds in Tibet, where a Tibetan mastiff named Metal grows up in a Buddhist temple after his parents and siblings die protecting a peasant family. His grandfather, who learned the secrets of walking upright and speaking human language, trains him in canine meditation and teaches him about his ancient enemy, the Tibetan wolf. A rock musician on a pilgrimage adopts Metal as a son and takes him back to Beijing…. He forms a rock band with the friends he meets at obedience school.”

Again, not really. But this dog, from Disney’s movie Space Buddies, is named Buddha, and the website Monsters & Critics describes him as: “a yoga-lovin’ puppy who is obsessed with outer space. He is the voice of wisdom in the litter and he’s always telling the other Buddies that helping others is the surest way to help yourself. This pooch is wise beyond his years! Likes: Space, baseball, yoga, and meditation; Dislikes: Stress and red meat.”

Well, okay then. …The trailer for the film doesn’t mention anything about “Buddha” (much less meditation) but if you’re a little kid — or the kind of adult who likes the idea of astronaut jumpsuits with built-in tail-sleeves, or seeing a CGI-effect’d dog say “fashizzle” or fart in in zero-gravity — then this is for you.

What’s the story behind this image?

Buddha Torrents has the details.

Reader Norbert Huebner (from Frankfurt am Main, Germany) sent this one in June of ’07:

“I do not know if this 2005 Dharma Burger is fresh enough for your purposes but I consider it a must-have: the infamous Dalai Lama doll.

“The story: The German retailer and designer of toy dolls Marcel Offermann had launched a ‘Pope’ doll in a limited edition of 999 pieces to honor the newly elected pope Benedict. The dolls were manufactured by the renowned traditional toy manufacturer Schildkroet, apparently using existing molds with just custom coloring and clothing. The pope doll gained considerable media coverage and became a much sought after collectors item. In 2005 when H. H. the Dalai Lama turned 70 a ‘Dalai Lama’ doll followed (at a retail price of EUR 165,-).

I do not believe the doll is blasphemic, particular bad taste or something – to me it’s just, well, utterly pointless. Of course I am a big fan of TWH which ranks in the top of my dharma bookmarks– please keep up the great work!”

Thanks, Norbert!

Tibet: a place where you can “experience incredible adventure.” A “mysterious world, where the distinction between real and unreal does not exist.” “A world where all the dreams come true and nothing is impossible.” A land that “does not reveal its secrets easily.”

So says the breathless online copy for Tibet Quest, a shareware computer game with “65 explosive levels” from Fenomen Games.

I have to say, for all of the copy’s effort to trade on and perpetuate the exoticism of Tibet, I couldn’t get past level one, which was sort of like Concentration meets Tetris, but with a looping music bed that, ironically, made paying attention a challenge. Since I bailed after just minutes, I can’t say the game’s heart is in the wrong place — though the idea of a game whose object is to discover Shangri-La and pillage it “find buried relics” could make one uneasy. Ah well. If this sounds like your kind of thing — I think I’m way too old for it, despite being just a big baby-man — you can download a trial with one hour of gameplay here.