Buddhist horror film: Mantra

The Worst Horse posts a new Buddhist horror film called Mantra.

I've been getting into horror films lately with my fellow apartment-mates and never have I thought about a Buddhist-themed horror film. I guess anything can be scary as long as you target the right emotions.

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Against the Stream - Dharma Punx

The Los Angeles Times features an article about Noah Levine, founder of the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. 

Levine is the founder of the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, which has centers in East Hollywood and Santa Monica and more than 20 affiliated groups nationwide. He and his students practice a unique incarnation of Buddhism infused with punk rock's anti-establishment ethos. They call themselves Dharma Punx. 

Dharma Punx don't wear robes and they don't bow to statues of the Buddha. Anyone can form a group -- as long as he checks with Levine first -- and there isn't the emphasis on hierarchy found in many forms of Buddhism (there are no Zen masters or Tibetan lamas). The idea, Levine said, is to make Buddhist teachings accessible to punks -- and to reconnect Buddhism with what he sees as its radical roots. 

Both punk rock and Buddhism, according to Levine, began as a rebellion against the status quo. "The first noble truth of Buddhism is that there is suffering in life, that there is an unsatisfactory quality to living in a world where everything is constantly changing, and to living in a world where there is so much greed and hatred and delusion," he said. "Punk rock's foundation is dissatisfaction, acknowledging greed, hatred and delusion and rebelling against sexism, racism, political corruption and war."

Read full article. 

Buddhist Superhero Movie

A Buddhist superhero film in English? hm...sounds promising...

"For this reason, Canadian Buddhist Zen Duke has brought together talented artists from all over the world and all faiths including all Buddhist sects from Nichiren and Zen to Western and even Chinese. They are now on the verge of completing an ambitious global epic that will promote inspirational Buddhist teachings and philosophies to a mainstream English speaking audience like no other film before it.

The film is completely non-political and is meant for both Buddhist and non-Buddhist audiences as it uses the popular superhero genre to both entertain and empower all demographics with an inspirational message during these challenging times."

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Buddhists protest Buddha Bar

Buddhist plan to hold a prayer service to protest the Buddha Bar's use of Buddhist icons.

"Hundreds of Buddhists plan to hold a prayer service in front of the Buddha Bar club in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning, in protest against the French franchise management's use of Buddhist attributes.

Eko Nugroho, head of the Indonesian Buddhist Students Association, told tempointeraktif.com that the service was organize to honor Buddha, who is represented by a Buddha statue in the Buddha Bar building.

Eko expects the bar management to change the bar's name. "It is most inappropriate to use a religious icon to name an entertainment place that sells liquor," he said."

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Buddhist lessons from "He's Just Not That Into You"

I've got to watch this movie. Seven buddhist lessons in all, reviewed by The Buddhist Channel. First one:

"1. Some express aversion to those they have attachment to – because they are intimidated by their own attachment, such that they try to reverse it, to reject their attachment. What they really have is aversion to themselves, not the other. Why not try to cultivate equanimity beyond the extremes of attachment and aversion instead?"

For the rest, read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

The Buddha Bar labeled sacrilegious

Indonesian students taking matters into their own hands:

"The exclusive Buddha Bar in Central Jakarta, part-owned by the daughter of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, has been labeled sacrilegious by the Indonesian Buddhist Student
Association.

Association chairman Eko Nugroho told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday that the new bar and restaurant in Menteng violated laws related to insulting religions and should be shut down.

Eko said that a number of Buddhist organizations in Indonesia had filed official complaints about the name with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism.

He said the Jakarta administration should have considered the law regarding the misuse of religious symbols before issuing permits for the restaurant.

“We urge local governments in Jakarta to take strong action against the new bar to avoid angering Buddhists,” he said."

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Huffington Post: The Groundhog Day Buddhism Sutra

UBA has actually watched The Groundhog Day during a movie night event so I thought this article from the Huffington Post was more than relevant to our readers and members. I actually haven't watched this movie so I cannot offer much insight. But this article explores the possible interpretation of the movie using the Four Noble Truths.

"I was interviewing Ramis for a Buddhist magazine called the Shambhala Sun because, it turns out, many Buddhists read the Buddha's truths (or dharma) between the lines of the script. Ramis gets a kick out of the fact that many religious groups claim the film is for and about their particular sect. I suspect Ramis and the Buddha would agree: 'The more, the merrier."

Ramis himself is not a Buddhist, does not meditate but is well read on the principles and consciously practices the simple tenets that weatherman Phil Connors comes to embody (picture a bald Bill Murray in saffron robes). Ramis, I learned from hanging out with him and interviewing many around him, is somewhere between a mensch (a really good guy) and a boddhisatva (a really good guy whose mission is to help other people become really good guys)."

Read the full article.

Indonesian Monks against Buddha Bar

Indonesian Buddhist urge to have the newly opened Buddha Bar, a Paris-based franchise restaurant, shut down.

"We urge the Jakarta administration to take strong action against the use of the name Buddha to avoid angering Buddhists," Brilian Moktar, head of the Buddhist association in Medan, was quoted as saying by Antara.

Jakarta became the first South-east Asian city to have the Buddha Bar in December, joining major international cities like London, New York and Dubai.

Read full article.

The Dalai Lama, South Park, and more...

I love it when Buddhism is featured in American pop culture, just as long as its not a ridiculously inaccurate portrayal. Here two recent examples:

Rev. Danny Fisher posts part of an episode of South Park with the Buddha in it (quite an interesting portrayal of the Buddha). While its obviously just a caricature, I'm still glad that it was included in American pop culture.

Also, the Tricycle posts an entry on a new biographical manga on the Dalai Lama! The site has a photo slideshow of clips from the manga and so far it looks great!

Rolling Stone: Chrissie Hynde

The Rolling Stone features an interview with Chrissie Hynde, the Pretenders singer, who talks about what she's been up as well as her new record Break Up the Concrete, the first Pretenders disc in six years.

Her first question refers to her album's opening line, Nam myoho renge kyo. Sound familiar? This is the same line that Amy Winehouse has currently adopted in her chanting practices. This line also makes other appearances in Western pop culture, such as The Simpsons and Boy Meets World.

Click here for my previous blog entry introducing the origin of this line.

"The opening line on your album is a Buddhist phrase, "Nam myoho renge kyo." Where did you learn that?

About 1971, this guy and I were hitchhiking through Canada. We thought we were John and Yoko. Somebody told us that if we got to Toronto, we should stay with this woman Georgia Ambrose, who held Buddhist ceremonies at her house. We called her and she said, "What sign are you?" "Well, we're both Virgos." And she goes, "Come over, I need some Virgo energy." When we got there, that's what they were chanting. It means, basically, that every drop that goes to the vein comes back to the heart.'"

Buddhism around LA

Here are some pictures of places I've noticed Buddhism randomly appear. It's interesting to see how Buddhist terms and icons are among us, though many times not in the proper religious sense.

This is a menu from "Socko's Subs". The #7 sub is called the "Dharma Bum: Our fantastic hummus sandwiched between cheddar & provologne cheese garnished with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mayo & sprouts. Dharma Bum? I guess so...

Here's some soap products from a soap store called "Lush" on Third Street Promenade. It's called the Karma fragrance, with "the fragrance of pure, innocent orange and worldy mysticism of an eastern spice market."

Here's an Asian restaurant called Buddha's Belly...kinda cute

Following the Beckham trend?

British rugby star Jonny Wilkinson has revealed his conversion to Buddhism. Wilkinson reveals suffering a period of depression upon kicking in the final goal for victory at England's 2003 World Cup finals. He then studied quantum physics, in which:

"I came to understand that I had been living a life in which I barely featured. I had spent my time immersed in the fear of not achieving my goals and then spent my time beating myself up about the mistakes I made along the way. Quantum physics helped me to realise that I was creating this destructive reality and that all I needed to do to change it was to change the way I chose to perceive the world."

After quantum physics, he eventually moved on to Buddhism:

"I do not like religious labels, but there is a connection between quantum physics and Buddhism, which I was also getting into. Failing at something is one thing, but Buddhism tells us that it is up to us how we interpret that failure."

"My motivation today has nothing to do with status, money or ego. Before I wanted to be the best in the world and I would watch other players to see how I measured up. Now when I do something great on the rugby pitch it is not about being better than others but about exploring my talent ... My fulfilment is no longer about self-gratification; it is about seeing the happiness of others."

Though he'll still be plowing through his opponents on the rugby field, he seems adequately informed. I wonder if there's any connections between him and the Beckhams...

Shake your Buddha!

I recently saw this t-shirt at Buffalo Exchange, a store that buys and sells used clothing, and I didn't know what to think. At first, I thought it was funny though not the most witty t-shirt I've ever seen. Then, I began to wonder what it's supposed to mean. Shake your Buddha? Obviously, the designers played off the word "booty" with "Buddha", but why? The phrase "Shake your Buddha" doesn't even make sense; the closest possible meaning I can think of is flaunting your Buddhist faith in the same way one would flaunt their "booty" when they shake it. Though that may be the meaning behind this shirt, I think I took the phrase a little too literally.

The way I see it, the only reason the designers incorporated the word and image of Buddha is because he is a pop-culture, fashion icon. One of my favorite Buddhism-related articles, "Buddhamania" featured in the LA Times, tries to make sense of modern pop-culture using the Buddha as a fashion and decorative icon. What was supposed to be an icon of an enlightened teacher revered for rediscovering and spreading Buddhism has now become a popular image completely disconnected from its religious context. So the question is, is that good? Is it disrespectful to the Buddha to wear a t-shirt that says "Shake your Buddha"?

Personally, I tend to believe that wearing a t-shirt like this one isn't disrespectful. Its message isn't meant to be crude or profane. If anything, I think it's great that icons of the Buddha are appearing more often in Western culture, even if it is out of religious context. It helps spread awareness of Buddha's existence and though there may not be any accurate historical or religious information attached to the icon, the image eventually leaves a lasting impression. The more they see the Buddha out of context, the more people will one day wonder who is the Buddha anyways and what does Buddhism teach? If there were no Buddha icons in form easily accessible to the mainstream public, such as fashion and pop culture, such thoughts and curiousity over the Buddha may never arise. If images of Buddha never appeared in Western pop culture, Amy Winehouse and the Beckhams may never have turned to Buddhism when their friends suggested it.

Though sometimes immature and shallow, popular images of the Buddha give people unfamiliar with Buddhism an early sense of distant familiarity with the religion so that they may feel more comfortable approaching it if ever necessary. I believe it is our job (as Buddhists, a Buddhist organization, the Sangha, and just anyone involved in Buddhism) to welcome those intersted in learning about Buddhism and guide them to the appropriate resources for their faith. That is what I hope we can do as the UBA.