MetaFilter posts tagged with buddhism

I blow up the dharma like what

desjardins — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:06:48 -0800

The Sickest Buddhist - Arj Barker from The Flight of the Conchords does a rap skewering of materialism in Western Buddhism. (via) Brad Warner offers a more serious critique of "satori porn" (sfw) Beliefnet talks about the branding of Buddhism, where it's used to market everything from mp3 players to perfume to bars to ... toilet paper holders?

Time-lapse Mandala

not_on_display — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:09:38 -0800

Time-lapse video, shot from overhead, of Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery creating a sand mandala over 5 days: Eight frames per second (1:30); Thirty frames per second (0:23). [via MeFi's Own™ carter]

The Dalai Lama's Buddhist Foes

shetterly — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:15:14 -0800

The Dalai Lama's Buddhist Foes contrasts "the tolerance and rationalism that the Dalai Lama represents globally and the theological hardball over mystical principles that he seems to play on his home turf." But the Shugdenpas aren't the Dalai Lama's only Buddhist opponents. Tibetan Buddhism's only female living Buddha, the twelfth Samding Dorje Phagmo, who chose to stay in Tibet when the Dalai Lama fled, has said, "The sins of the Dalai Lama and his followers seriously violate the basic teachings and precepts of Buddhism and seriously damage traditional Tibetan Buddhism's normal order and good reputation." The Dalai Lama has offered reasons for ending Shugden worship. Shugden worshippers believe his real reason is "he wants to become not only the supreme religious leader of all Tibetan traditions but also the universal leader of all Buddhists worldwide." The battle between continues. A few days ago, two young Shugden monks were sent to the hospital after being beaten by six followers of the Dalai Lama.

Turning one's back on Buddha

acb — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:05:13 -0800

At 14 months, Spanish infant Osel Hita Torres was brought by his parents to Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama decreed him to be the reincarnation of the recently deceased Lama Yeshe. Torres became Lama Tenzin Osel Rinpoche, and spent most of his life growing up in a gilded cage in the Tibetan exile capital, venerated as a living deity and isolated from the corrupting influences of the world. But then he escaped. Torres is now 24, is studying film in Madrid and has little love for the Tibetan Buddhism which deprived him of a normal childhood and adolescence. "They took me away from my family and stuck me in a medieval situation in which I suffered a great deal," he says. Among things he grew up with no experience of were football, television, dancing, or any movies other than Eddie Murphy's The Golden Child.

Enlightenment Therapy

homunculus — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:24:53 -0800

Enlightenment Therapy: How a Zen master found the light (again) on the analyst’s couch. [Via]

Bob Thurman, Tibetan Monk

RussHy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:50:27 -0800

Tenzin Bob Thurman became a Tibetan monk at age 24. He's a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, the first American ordained by the Dalai Lama. Here is his TED talk. If you are really interested in Tibetan Buddhism, check out his many podcasts.

Break out the Crayons

Rinku — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:19:21 -0800

Today 10,000 Pages: A Colouring Book of Abstract Line Art reached the 10% mark. Click on an image for a hi-res version for printing. All drawings are released under a Creative Commons Licence. The artist, Pixo, has quite a few other art-related blogs.

Cross-cultural psychiatry

homunculus — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:34:35 -0800

West treats East. "To help traumatized Tibetan monks, doctors in Boston turn to cross-cultural medicine." [Via]

Tibetan Buddhism in China

homunculus — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:00:24 -0800

Buddhism's allure is fading for many young Tibetans. At the same time, growing numbers of middle-class ethnic Han Chinese are turning to Tibetan Buddhism. [Via]

Religious takes on the global financial crisis

desjardins — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:04:30 -0800

The Dalai Lama blames the financial crisis on a decline in spirituality. Hindus blame it on greed. Saudi Grand Mufti, Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, blames the crisis on ignoring God's rules. Jewish scholars say we could have avoided a crisis by following Talmudic traditions. Pope Benedict sees the global financial system as "self-centred, short-sighted and lacking in concern for the destitute." Is it right to pray for the economy? (a Christian perspective). A Malaysian conference brings together Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Taoists, and Sikhs to discuss the crisis.

a little midwinter serenity

nickyskye — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:03:53 -0800

Historic, beautiful and interesting footage of Tibetan lamas and yogis teaching Buddhism, just 4 years after their escape from Tibet, when the Chinese invaded in 1959. "In 1963, for the first time, the Dalai Lama allowed a Westerner, Desjardins, to film the heart of the Tibetan tradition." Some meditation instruction taught by yogis: Tantra as practiced in Tibet, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Lerab's Youtube channel has all kinds of video gems for those interested in Buddhist and Hindu spiritual practice. Buddhism and Tantrism: "two films were originally shown on French television in the 1960's and are a wonderful testimony, revealing some of Tibet's foremost masters as they were then. It includes footage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the Sixteenth Karmapa, Dudjom Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin, and the yogis Abo Rinpoche and Lopon Sonam Zangpo. The original sixties commentaries have been retained, even though it may sound a bit dated in places." "There are unusual scenes of yogis performing preparatory meditation exercises." About Arnaud Desjardins, born 18 June 1925. Books he's written. Also on Lerab's YouTube channel: The Tibetan Book of the Dead #1, 2, 3, 4, 5. From Lerab's blog: "A Short History of Bön - Extracted from the pamphlet "Tibetan gYung-Drung Bön Monastery in India," published by the Yungdrung Bön Monastic Center, Solan, 1983. Translated by Tadeusz Skorupski."

The lotus-cross

homunculus — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:20:47 -0800

When Jesus met Buddha. "Something remarkable happened when evangelists for two great religions crossed paths more than 1,000 years ago: they got along." [Via]

Happy Bodhi Day/Rohatsu!

desjardins — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:52:38 -0800

Bodhi Day, also known as Rohatsu, celebrates the day when Buddha was enlightened under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya (video, annotated photo gallery). How do we celebrate Bodhi Day? Typically, Rohatsu is the last day of a weeklong sesshin (intensive meditation retreat). Better not sleep late, the bell rings at 3:50 am! One person's experience of sesshin. A lesson in mindfulness for Rohatsu, including tips for beginners. Bodhi Day is primarily a Zen tradition. Tibetan buddhists celebrate Buddha's enlightenment in May with the festival of Saga Dawa. Other Buddhist holidays.

I 've Told you,sit relax

homunculus — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:46:01 -0800

And now, a singing crocodile dressed as a cowboy teaches you to meditate. [SLYT, via]

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

homunculus — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:33:01 -0800

Bhutan crowns a new King.

The T'ang Dynasty

homunculus — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:00:12 -0800

China's Golden Age.

The Ayahuasca Monologues

homunculus — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:24:14 -0800

Surrendering to the Spirit Vine. Artist Alex Grey (previously) describes his experience with "the champagne of ayahuascas."

The Feminine side of Buddhism

desjardins — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:54:48 -0800

As in most religions, Buddhism's pantheon of deities and saints has been male dominated. The preeminent exception to this is Kuan Yin, the goddess of compassion, also called Guan Yin or Kannon. She is the female form of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, who underwent a gender shift after being popularized in China. She has inspired amazing forms of worship. Female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Female deities in Buddhism

Art of the Kathmandu Valley

homunculus — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:20:13 -0800

From the Land of the Gods: Art of the Kathmandu Valley. [Via Plep - NY]

Dalai Lama teaches the Lam Rim at Lehigh

setver — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:03:32 -0800

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, just gave a historic six-day teaching of Je Tsong-kha-pa’s Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (the Lam Rim Chen Mo), a vitally important explanation of Buddhism written in 1402 and just recently translated into English by a team organized by Joshua Cutler of New Jersey's Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center. The teaching, attended by about 5000 participants (my estimate), consisted of two two-hour sessions per day, except for a public talk on Sunday afternoon, at which the Dalai Lama received an honorary doctorate from Lehigh and gave a speech. The speech is available as downloadable audio clips and for viewing online. It is possible that eventually the videos of the teachings themselves will be made available on DVD or for download at lamrim.com.

China's plan to tame Tibet

homunculus — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:56:02 -0800

China's secret plot to tame Tibet. "Internal Communist party documents have revealed that China is planning a programme of harsh political repression in Tibet despite a public show of moderation to win over world opinion before the Olympic Games next month." Meanwhile, the military has sealed off several monasteries in Lhasa, keeping over 1,000 monks locked up. Another 1,000 monks have mysteriously disappeared, and may have been sent to prisons in a neighbouring province to keep them silent through the Olympics.

Between enraged and engaged Buddhism

homunculus — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:35:17 -0800

Asia's Angry Monk Syndrome. [Via]

The Caves of Dunhuang

homunculus — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:15:47 -0800

Buddha’s Caves: The Caves of Dunhuang.

Wei Wu Wei

fcummins — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:58:42 -0800

Terence Gray was an English born aristocrat of an Irish family. He tried his hand at Egyptology, drama and theater, but gave it up to keep the family vineyards in the Monaco. He owned the winner of the 1957 Ascot Gold cup. He also became a mystic. Writing as Wei Wu Wei, he produced 8 little books between 1958 and 1974. They are articulate, witty, and above all informed by a vast knowledge of Zen, Taoist and Hindu intellectual tradition. Beholden to none, he makes increasing sense in a modern context. Many of his insights are very close to some current views within cognitive science and the philosophy of mind. But cognitive science has flirted with Buddhism before.

Change Your Mind Day 2008

davar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:47:36 -0800

Change Your Mind Day 2008