Ted Nugent: “Hunting is Zen meditation” New-millenium hit machine and revered, never-irrelevant political theorist Ted Nugent has told CNN that hunting is: "Zen meditation in its definitive form, plus you get meat out of it." Really. Here's the story. I'll grant that hunting may make use of "meditative muscle" but ol' Ted is missing one serious distinction here. The first Zen precept is No killing. (This is rendered in many ways, including "Do no harm.") If you're going out your way to do the opposite, that's probably not "Zen meditation."

Trailer: The North Face’s “Into the Mind” The North Face's upcoming film Into the Mind seems to be half extreme sports movie, half Dharma-Burger. And, all gorgeous. The film comes out in Fall of 2013. Here's its description: "Into the Mind contemplates the experiences passed between mentors and peers to paint a philosophical portrait of human kind. What drives us to overcome challenge? How do we justify risk? What forces are at the core of a mountain addiction? Watch the trailer here. Thanks, as always, to the eagle-eyed Sam DeWitt for the tip.

Dharma-Burger! Zen Training… the game? Yes. There's actually a game that uses "Zen Training," as its hook. And the UK's PocketGamer has reviewed it. Here's an excerpt: "As colours flash and stones plummet, you begin to wonder why anyone would set such a frenetic game in a place normally associated with sombre, even-keeled mystics edging ever-closer to enlightenment. [...] Ultimately, Zen Training is a satisfying low-investment game to whittle away a few idle moments on in the course of your day." Check out the rest of PocketGamer's review here.

Campaign against Buddha images on toilets succeeds (Updated) From the Bangkok Post:

Two Thais living in the Netherlands have begun an online campaign demanding authorities remove pictures of Lord Buddha displayed on public toilets in a city there, according to Thai Rath newspaper.

The rest of the story, with a photo of the offensive images, can be found here. Jan 24 update: the firm behind the toilets' design has issued an apology.

Did you know there’s a screamo/hardcore band called Daido Loori? ...as in, the pioneering late founder and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery and the Mountain and Rivers Order? Well, I didn't either! But thanks to a comment left here, now I do and you do too. (Thanks, Josh L.) The band is on hiatus as of this past summer; here's a track called, appropriately enough, "Buddhist Priest," as well as live video from their last show. Though defunct, you can hear more of them on their Bandcamp page. As for why Daido Loori have named themselves that, I reached out to them to and see if they might share the story. First, drummer Charlie responded, letting me know that the band is not broken up, as I'd reported in an earlier version of this post: "One of our vocalists, Isabel, studied under Daido Roshi if I'm not mistaken. I'll get her to get in touch with you, and explain a little bit more. Also, we're not broken up! We're on a hiatus, as our members go to school all across the Wast coast, but we're putting out a new track very soon, and hope to tour over the summer." Next, I heard from Isabel: "Hi! My mother was a student at Zen Mountain Monastery and a lot of time in my childhood was spent there, as well as my parents' wedding and my baptism. Daido Loori was a significant influence on my mother's spirituality as well as my own. When I was a small child, he taught me many values that have inspired me to this day. He was just as much of a friend as he was a teacher. I named the band Daido Loori in homage to him." So there you have it. Thanks to Charlie and Isabel and the band as a whole.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s “Social media guidelines for so-called Vajrayana students” Just posted on Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's Facebook page: SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES FOR SO-CALLED VAJRAYANA STUDENTS If you think or believe that you are a student of Vajrayana—whether or not that's true is another matter—but as long as you think you are a Vajrayana practitioner, it becomes your responsibility to protect this profound tradition. It’s important to maintain secrecy in the Vajrayana. The Vajrayana is called ‘the secret mantra yana’ because it is intended to be practiced in secrecy. It is not secret because there is something to hide, but in order to protect the practitioner from the pitfalls and downfalls that ego can bring to the practice. In particular, practitioners tend to fall prey to “spiritual materialism,” where their practice becomes just another fashion statement intended to adorn their egos and make them feel important, or have them feel that they’re part of a ‘cool’ social tribe, rather than to tame and transform their minds. When practiced in this way, the Vajrayana path becomes worse than useless. Also, the Vajrayana teachings are ‘hidden’ in the sense that their meaning is not apparent to someone who has not received the appropriate teachings. It’s like a foreign language. Because some of the imagery and symbolism can seem strange or even violent to the uninitiated, it’s generally recommended to keep it hidden so that it doesn’t put off newer practitioners, who might develop wrong views about the Buddhist path in general and the Vajrayana path in particular. While posting on social media, please bear in mind that you are not only posting for your own reading pleasure, but to the whole wide world who most likely don't share your amusement over crazy photos, nor your peculiar adoration and fantasies of certain personalities you call as guru. Given this, here are some suggestions I offer fellow so-called Vajrayana students about how you can protect yourself—both by avoiding embarrassment and by protecting your Dharma practice—and also protect the profound Vajrayana tradition: (1) Maintain the secrecy of the Vajrayana (this includes secrecy about your guru, your practice, tantric images, empowerments you have received, teachings you have attended, etc.) - Don’t post tantric images: If you think posting provocative tantric images (such as images of deities with multiple arms, animal heads, those in union, and wrathful deities) makes you important, you probably don’t understand their meaning. - Don’t post mantras and seed syllables: If you think mantras and seed syllables should be posted on Facebook as mood enhancement and self-improvement aids, a makeover or haircut might do a better job. - Don’t talk about your empowerments: If you think images from your weekend Vajrayana empowerment are worthy of being posted up next to photos of your cat on Facebook, you should send your cat to Nepal for enthronement. Unless you have obtained permission from the teacher, do not post any photo, video or audio recording of Vajrayana empowerments, teachings or mantras. - Don’t talk about profound/secret teachings you may have received: Some people seem to find it fashionable to hang words like "Dzogchen" and "Mahamudra" in their mouths. If you have received profound instructions, it is good to follow those instructions and keep them to yourself. (2) Avoid giving in to the temptations of spiritual materialism and using Dharma in service of your ego (do not attempt to show off about your guru, your understanding, your practice etc. Likewise, do not speak badly of other practitioners or paths.) - Don’t share your experiences and so-called attainments: If you think declaring what you think you have attained is worthwhile, you may have been busy bolstering your delusion. Trying to impress others with your practice is not part of the practice. Try to be genuine and humble. Nobody cares about your experiences in meditation, even if they include visions of buddhas, unicorns or rainbows. If you think you are free of self deception, go ahead, think again. - Don’t boast about your guru: No matter how great you think your guru is, it would probably serve better for you to keep your devotion to yourself. Remember that being Buddhist is not joining a cult. If you think your guru is better than another’s, you probably think your equanimity and pure perception are better than another’s. - Don’t attempt to share your so-called wisdom: If you think receiving profound teachings gives you license to proclaim them, you will probably only display your ignorance. Before you “share” a quote from the Buddha or from any of your teachers, take a moment to think if they really said those words, and who the audience was meant to be. - Don’t confuse Buddhism with non-Buddhist ideas: No matter how inspired you might be of rainbows and orbs, and how convinced you are about the end of the world, try not to mix your own fantasies/idiosyncracies with Buddhism. - Be respectful to others: Without Theravada and Mahayana as foundation, there would be no Vajrayana. It would be completely foolish of Vajrayana practitioners to look down on or show disdain towards Theravada and Mahayana. If you think attacking other Buddhists will improve Buddhism, do a service for Buddhism, take aim at your own ego and biasedness instead. - Don’t create disharmony: Try to be the one who brings harmony into the sangha community with your online chatter, instead of trouble and disputes. - Always be mindful of your motivation: Please do not attempt to display "crazy wisdom" behaviors online, just inspire others to have a good heart. If you think you are posting something out of compassion, try first to make sure you are doing no harm. Whenever you can't let go of the itch to post something, make sure that it helps whoever who reads it and the Dharma.

Listen: Bad Religion’s new song “Dharma and the Bomb” A preview of a track from the longtime punk stalwarts' new LP, True North, complete with references to samsara and Bodhidharma. Hear it here: It's short and sweet and I'm not sure I'm grokking what it's about. (My first, easy, impression is that it's in part a commentary on the East's transition from birthplace and stronghold of religion/spirituality to nuclear-capable region.) What do you hear? (For more on BR and to stream the full album, visit the band's label, Epitaph Records.

A reminder, “like we always do about this time…”