Random Notes

  • The Heartful Dodger on MTV Paid Member

    In the Spring 2010 issue of Tricycle, Alexander Sharkey wrote a profile of Vinny Ferraro, an ex-convict and recovering drug addict who now works as the teacher-training director of the Mind Body Awareness Project (MBA) in Oakland, California. In Sharkey's piece, "The Heartful Dodger," Vinny talks about leading MBA's Challenge Day—a mindfulness-based program that introduces kids to mindfulness exercises in order to open them up to their own "thoughts, fears, prejudices, and vulnerabilities"—and how he works with kids to help them find freedom beyond conditions: All my work revolves around the same conversation. What is freedom beyond conditions? Beyond this school, this prison, this hood, whatever your conditions are. Do your conditions lead inevitably to suffering? No, they don't. Only a being's perspective leads to suffering. More »
  • Diagramming Western Buddhism Paid Member

    Can a Venn diagram represent the relationship between Buddhism, the West, and Western Buddhism? The Buddha is My DJ recently posted an alternative from the traditional two-circle diagram. From DJ Buddha: a diagram [would] take into account the diversity of sub-cultures within the West (or America) and how those sub-cultures interact with and adapt a diversity of Buddhist traditions in dozens of complex ways. More »
  • Buddhist Street Art Paid Member

    UPDATE: Here is an interview with the artist. Some highlights: It seems like Buddhist art is a big inspiration for you. Is this just aesthetic or is there a deeper meaning to it? Intuitively, I felt that “Eastern Philosophy” would be a good place to start. Nowhere in the world will you find as much information on the study of the mind than in the East. Also, I wanted to start with something that was easy to digest before getting into more esoteric/occult philosophies. How do people seem to be reacting to your work? So far, the response has been pretty positive. More »
  • Happy Birthday, Thoreau Paid Member

    Henry David Thoreau (or, as Tricycle contributing editor Andrew Schelling calls him, “Old Buddha ancestor of North America”) was born on this day, July 12, in 1817. Thoreau was many things—author, naturalist, philosopher, abolitionist, transcendentalist—and though he would not have called himself a Buddhist, Schelling is spot on in naming him a Buddha ancestor. More »
  • Lindsay Lohan turning to Buddhism for prison stint Paid Member

    Via monstersandcritics.com, Lindsay Lohan is reportedly turning to Buddhism to get her through her spell in prison. The 24-year-old actress was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation and it is claimed she is taking to the religion to help her get through the ordeal. A source said to UK newspaper Daily Star: 'Lindsay's been fascinated in the Buddhist faith for a while, as several of her inner circle follow the teachings of Buddhism. 'Lindsay's devastated about the jail sentence, she has been crying non-stop. She's been told to seek spiritual guidance and find her inner peace. More »
  • Termite "Buddha" draws thousands Paid Member

    Thousands of Vietnamese have flocked to a rubber farm in the southern Binh Duong province of Vietnam to see the work of a group of very unusual sculptors---termites. More »