Random Linkage: DPR in NYC, Brad Warner on Your Couch, Buddhism & Mental Illness, Undercard Superstars

• DPR Teaches in NYC: Dependence and Interdependence from the Nalandabodhi US blog.
• Brad Warner’s headed to a living room near you in support of his latest book ‘There Is No God and He Is Always with You: A Search for God in Odd Places’
• Please do read this blog post titled ‘Buddhism and Mental Illness’  by Justin Whittaker over at American Buddhist Perspective. If you’re so inclined, please do share your story in the comments section on his blog.

There is no grand optimistic twist in the story. To tell you everything will be okay would be a lie. Things will still get shitty. But not always as shitty as before. And sometimes life will actually be pretty damned good. And it’s that ‘good’ that we strive for: the moment of peace with the 3-month old baby, the colorful sunset after the cloudy day, the hug from a friend or parent after a long time apart. There is so much to discover in live that connects us with the truths of impermanence, interconnectedness, and ultimate nonsubstantiality of the self; concepts that seem on the surface to be merely theoretical, but must be experienced to be truly realized.

• ‘Cult Mentalities, Hero Worship and the Pitfalls’ from Undercard Superstar (Yes I know this is a blog post about martial arts, but with a blog name like Full Contact Enlightenment, you know I had to post it here for its relevance to the situations of abuse going on in the Buddhist community.

She started with the question “Are you supposed to do anything to become a World Champion?” I replied, “Yes, there are sacrifices you must make to become a World Champion and you are going to have to do some things that other people won’t do to become a World Champion”.  She began to cry as she explained. She said that when she first joined the team she was given a set of rules.  She was told exactly how she should act.