…just typically lame? See this (unfortunately typo-laden) report.
I’ll spare you the Buddhism/Booty-ism jokes. Besides, the Buddha only appears in a flash or two in this video. Is it insulting to Buddhism? Maybe. But that’s probably the least of its problems.
“Trying to find the words… without being disrespectful.” I think it’s safe to say you’d better try again, Akon. Just as I’m trying to find the words to describe the way you portray women without being disrespectful. And failing.
I like hip-hop. I like R&B. I like sex. And I’d like to think I have a sense of humor. But this is just vapid, tired, mimbo, bullshit. Buddha or not.
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.
I’m a little late on this one, being that I’m just back from a meditation retreat — it’s best, they say, to take a little time before jumping onto one’s email, etc, to make your post-retreat “re-entry” a bit easier. But when I saw that my dharma-brother-from-a-different mother Konchog Norbu had sent me an email that said, simply, “This one’s for the Horse,” with a link, I had to open it.
And so here it is, “Jessica Simpson Loses It in Buddhist Temple,” a scene from the singer and pretty person’s new show, in which she tries to learn what beauty means to various cultures:
You know, though, I can’t really say anything bad about this. At least she went. And hey, I can’t say I was much better in more than a couple of moments during this past weekend! So, yes, this one really is for The Worst Horse — and by that I mean, the worst horse in all of us. Because we all have “a little more work to do.”
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.
Rony Tan, founder of Singapore’s Lighthouse Evangelism Church, is in hot water for his recent “jokes” about Buddhism — among then, the suggestion that one might follow Buddhism thanks to demonic forces. The country’s Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that “Pastor Tan’s comments were highly inappropriate and unacceptable as they trivialized and insulted the beliefs of Buddhists and Taoists. “They can also give rise to tension and conflict between the Buddhist/Taoist and Christian communities.”
Tan, for his part, has now stated on the Church’s website that he recognizes that his comments were “wrong” and offensive.” A smart move, if only because such defamation is considered a punishable offense in Singapore. (Frankly, it the move seems as calculated as Tan’s onstage conversations seem scripted.) But the fact remains: an apology was called for, and, in this case, delivered.
So what did “Pastor Tony” say? Here’s are three videos with Tan’s divisive comments on Buddhism and “false religions” in general.
Have comments of your own? Please share them. Perhaps we can help those who might be given to believing what Tan is saying that, in fact, there’s nothing demonic about those who practice in a way so different from his.
Howl, starring James Franco as Allen Ginsberg, is off and running, set for a Sundance debut tomorrow. Here’s video of some clips from the film:
So, what do you think? Does Franco do justice to the late, revolutionary dharma-poet? Could anyone?
I frankly thought this looked like an SNL skit. Not a good sign. But I’d love to be wrong.
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.
Exciting news today for one of the most exciting young authors in the Buddhist realm: Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find Zen on the Sea, by Jaimal Yogis, is being turned into a film. Watch the trailer on the film’s website, here.
And, just as nice: a percentage of the film’s profits will be donated to organizations that share Jaimal’s desire and passion to care for the earth. Well done, all around!
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.
