I found a link to the coolest little flash-animated shorts at the company site for Freshminds. One thing this company does is animate the public speaking of their clients - demonstrated here with a series of short Alan Watts audio excerpts. Here's the really fun thing - they're produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Thanks to Moridin.com for finding this!
Time for a fluffier post, methinks. Been a while since I've listened to this:
The lyrics are interesting:
"Learn To Be Still"
It's just another day in paradise
As you stumble to your bed
You'd give anything to silence
Those voices ringing in your head
You thought you could find happiness
Just over that green hill
You thought you would be satisfied
But you never will-
Learn to be still
We are like sheep without a shepherd
We don't know how to be alone
So we wander 'round this desert
And wind up following the wrong gods home
But the flock cries out for another
And they keep answering that bell
And one more starry-eyed messiah
Meets a violent farewell-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still
Now the flowers in your garden
They don't smell so sweet
Maybe you've forgotten
The heaven lying at your feet
[Solo]
There are so many contradictions
In all these messages we send
(We keep asking)
How do I get out of here
Where do I fit in?
Though the world is torn and shaken
Even if your heart is breakin'
It's waiting for you to awaken
And someday you will-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still
You just keep on runnin'
Keep on runnin'
Learn more about the situation at http://www.savedarfur.org/. Please consider embedding this on your site or blog or linking to this ad at YouTube. You can also forward the ad on to others here.
This film looks to be (as far as I can tell from the trailer) a really good look at the Sangha Metta Project of Southeast Asia, "which which engages monks in HIV/AIDS prevention and care." To learn more about the film project and also to find links relevant to this issue, check out http://aidsfrontline.org/.
This is obviously not directly Buddhism-related, but it's fairly close to the version of Surya Namaskar that I do. Or at least will begin to do again as soon as I feel my shoulder is rested enough. Anyway, there are some little differences, but it's more or less the form I was taught. I love this practice, and for as long as I've done it I've considered it a meditation on mindfulness and balance.
Consider joining the ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History at http://www.one.org.
I stopped by Ven. Rinchen Gyatso's blog today and found links to the beginning of this great 12 part lecture series on the Diamond Sutra by Venerable Hyun Gak (né Paul Muenzen). I found a better source for the lectures via Google, so I thought I'd include them below, if anyone's interested. They're from the Korean Buddhist Television Network.
Here are links to the other eleven parts (each about 40 minutes long): Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12. (As a heads-up, there are up to 2 brief ads before parts 3 through 12.)
OK, this is a car commercial, but I love this:
(Found at Awakening the Buddha in us - thanks!)
This is a lovely tune by Yungchen Lhamo. Her description:
Every1 wants to be happy. Everything works better when people are happy. We all need to find happiness. But what really makes us happy? Not just happy for a moment but really happy, a happiness that is meaningful and valuable. Om Mani Padme Hung
My 12 year old thinks that Juan's efforts are full of Loving-Compassion. I agree.
Here's a related Australian news clip:
And to learn more, here's the website: http://www.freehugscampaign.org/
Thought I'd share this video I found, featuring Naturally7. What a joyful thing ...
This is an older BBC film. It's a thoughtful look at the life and philosophy of being a Buddhist monk, filmed in Thailand.
This is nice:
From allinthemind The mantra of Buddha Avilokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), what the mantra means, some tibetan throat chanting by Lama Tashi, along with a few visuals. Please enjoy!
This is interesting. My 12 year son found this moving and perhaps even inspiring. I wish the best for him....
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery was founded by Venerable Tenzin Palmo in 2000 following a commitment she made to His Eminence 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, head lama of the Khampagar Monastery, in order to provide an environment where young women from Tibet and the Himalayan border regions could come together to study and practise in accordance with the Drukpa Kargyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.The joy of the nuns in these images, as they realize the opening of their nunnery is so wonderful, and contagious, too. Best wishes for them on their journey...!
