After just finishing reading through Noah Levine’s latest book “The Heart of the Revolution: The Buddha’s Radical Teachings on Forgiveness, Compassion, and Kindness”, I’m left with the sensation that I’ve experienced the warm fuzzies while getting bounced around in a mosh pit.

Life if pretty much like that in many ways. You can choose to stick your elbow in the eye of the guy beside you who keeps pushing you and pushing you and pushing you – hoping to get a rise just so you do act on your rage or you can choose to step aside and let go of this annoyance you’re presented with.

Noah’s book speaks to this very challenge and poses that “compassion is the weapon of revolutionaries” – spiritual revolutionaries who are choosing to “defy the lies and serve the truth” in their desire to free themselves and others from suffering and become awakened beings. In this book, He speaks of the 1%, the outlaw bikers that stand apart from the law-abiding in society and ruin it for the 99% of those good folks. This concept is transposed on the Buddha’s statement that “only a handful of people in each generation – the spiritual 1%ers- would be willing to do the hard work of training the heart and mind through meditation, ethical behaviour and unconditional love for all sentient beings”. Are there that many spiritual renegades in our modern day society when we hear so many reports of how religion is on the decline or if it is adopted, is taught or practiced by those with ulterior motives than the desire to determine the truth for oneself.

The book is truly a guide for becoming a more compassionate person in a challenging world and oh gosh, this book couldn’t come soon enough as it often feels like the world is burning its way through the very handbasket that it’s going to hell in. “The Heart of the Revolution” provides teachings on mindfulness, generosity, compassion, gratitude, tonglen, forgiveness and lovingkindness. It gets into some much meatier territory than previous books as heavier subject matter such as the skandhas, impermanence, karma and the realms.

At the end of each section, practices are suggested so that the reader can go beyond just reading about the concepts covered in the book and this is where I believe the vital work is to be done as it’s one thing to read about it, but another thing to actually engage with the teachings on a day-to-day basis.

While I agree with Noah’s condemnations of some of the ways that Buddhism is being taught today, I do wish that there was a bit more of a description as to what to look for in an authentic teacher and for more communities to hold a flashlight to those who are indeed mis-representing the Buddha’s teachings.

All in all, this latest book in the Noah Levine triology is well worth picking up if you are interested in a practice guide to help you cultivate compassion in a world that needs it so badly. “The Heart of the Revolution” provides a marked departure from the punk rock roadtrip stories that Noah has told before and with this book, he fully assumes his place as an authentic, humourous, warm, engaging, personable and highly knowledgeable American Buddhist teacher -regardless of how many tattoos and Bad Brains t shirts he owns.

Brad Warner’s new book, Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between, tackles a subject that is rarely discussed in Buddhist circles: Sex! Honestly, I can only really think of two teachers that are willing to discuss this topic, Noah Levine (author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream) and Mr. Warner himself. Before I start talking about the book, it might be interesting to some of you to first discuss how Brad has been involved in discussions on the idea of “right livelihood”. Brad was a columnist for the alternative porn site Suicide Girls, this created much criticism in many Buddhist circles, that a Zen monk would write for such a website. I have found myself “defending” Brad more times than I wish to remember, I find that people are quick to judge others on the decisions that they have taken. People seem to put their teachers on pedestals, seeing as they represent the Buddha’s teachings they are meant to be held to this unrealistic ideal, they are still human after all. Also, I find that it is the critics that are creating their own suffering by clinging to these closed views, I am sure that Brad would say that he is responsible for whatever karma he may be accumulating from this work and was completely accountable from whatever may arise from this job. I don’t really want to get into it too much here, I find that I have discussed this enough and that it is time that we move on, if it makes you feel better, he no longer does the column. Brad also has a great explanation of why he decided to do it, so go get the book and check it out for yourself, and then you can form your own opinion.

Sex is a controversial topic, but it is such an important part of our lives (I mean, most people are obsessed with sex, how could we not be? It’s so much fun and feels so great! However, it is also the source of many headaches!), and there are not many texts out there that take such an honest look at the topic in relation to the dharma. Brad covers all topics, from masturbation to the porn industry to BDSM (that’s an acronym for the S&M industry kiddies) to LGBT issues and more. I find that Brad is really coming into his own as an author, I have always been a fan of his books, but he is able to present very wise and deep teachings without losing his pop-culture references and wit! (his footnotes are still the source of most of his zingers!) I don’t want to give too much away, so I have decided to share with you all one of my favourite passage from the book in hopes to entice you to go to your local independent bookstore and pick up a copy. I am sure that Brad could use your coin!

The book begins with his retelling of a talk that he gave in Montreal (514 represent Whoot!) at Casa Del Popollo (Probably one of the best bars in Montreal, go support local businesses that create community kids!) when someone asked him if Buddhists could “jack-off”. Pretty big first question after a talk if you ask me. Brad decides to respond this question by demystifying some widely held misconceptions about Buddhism in the West. Sin is a concept that is really ingrained in our collective Psyche, we were all mostly raised Christian (at least in Canada) or in Judaism and Islam where sin plays a big role in all that is morality. What we must remember however, is that Buddhism is from the Global East and does not have the concept of sin, this is something that the West brought to morality. This can been seen by how the Japanese view porn and the other facets of the sex industry. He also takes the time to clarify that Buddhism is not a religion, you may be wondering “What about all those temples with statues etc?”, but Buddhism as such is not spirituality it is realism. (I know, this book was probably in the spirituality section of the bookstore) This makes total sense when we look at the history of philosophy, which its history can be divided into two categories: idealism and materialism. Spirituality is seen as a kind of idealism “It takes the view that the spiritual world, the world of ideas, imagination, and mental formations, is the true reality.” This brings to mind the common notion in religious circles that we are souls trapped in bodies, but this is not at all a Buddhist concept. Materialism, instead of seeing material matter as nonexistent, sees it as primary. “Materialists, on the other hand, see matter as primary and spirit either as nonexistent or, at least, as negligible.” Buddhism believes that neither materialism nor idealism is correct: “We are not immaterial spirits trapped in material bodies, nor are we mere permutations of essentially dead matter who only imagine we have a spiritual side.” I am sure, if you have dabbled in Buddhism before, that you have heard the famous line out of the Heart Sutta “Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form.” “Rather, the experiential, internal, subjective, spiritual side of our day-to-day existence and the hard, external, objective, material world we inhabit are manifestations of one underlying reality that is neither spirit nor matter.” This is how we are able to perceive Buddhism as realism; so as Brad finishes this discussion by saying that when you are jerking off, just jerk off, and when you are not, then don’t.

Brad is able to give us some real-world wisdom on a topic that is definitely controversial, but I find that he has done a great job. The book brings you on an interesting journey in the world of sex: masturbation, dating, gender identity, pornography and so much more. I must admit that I found certain passages to be very interesting, there is a chapter that discusses a group in the Bay Area (that is San Francisco, Oakland, Berkley, etc for those of you unfamiliar with California) that practice Orgasm Meditation (Some interesting observations and stories that’s for sure!). He interviews Nina Hartley (porn star from the 1980s who was raised in a Zen family and is now a registered nurse and sex activist), and I really enjoyed his defense for writing for Suicide Girls. His defense is very eloquent and well thought out, he makes a great argument that we should have much more problems with people pandering base desires with instant enlightenment seminars and meditation machines, than what is being presented on the Suicide Girls website. I find that this also goes back to our Western understanding that sex = sin. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about sex in Buddhism and is sick of always getting the same answer from their meditation teachers (you know the one that I am talking about, when they refer you to the rules of sex for monks in monastaries). Brad gives us insights and answers that we are able to apply in the real world, a much more pragmatic approach if you ask me!

1. Not struggling with this head cold. Fatheaded and snotspotted I’m trying to keep a clear head. Literally.

2. Listening to:

- “Untangling Thinking Through Wordless Awareness: Meditation Instructions and Q & A” by Matthew Brensilver from the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. 

-A conversation with Her Eminence Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche from Chronicle Radio’s “Let Loose” podcast hosted by Barry Boyce.

3. Reading:

- Book – “You Don’t Have to be Buddhist to Know Nothing: An Illustrious Collection of Thoughts on Naught” by Joan Konner.

- Blog-‘Monk Mojo’s 1,000 Cuts’ How did I not discover this blog earlier?

4. Watching:

-Beverly “Guitar” Watson rocks it

This daylong will include three yoga classes, two meditation classes and a Kirtan. The schedule goes a little something like this:
10 am Gentle Yoga
11 am Intro to meditation
12-1pm lunch
1-2:15 Intermediate yoga
2:30-3:30 Meditation with Dharma talk
3:45-5 Yin Yoga
5-6 Kirtan

There is a minimum donation of $50 for this event and you are free to come and go as you wish.

The funds raised form this event will go towards bringing Noah Levine to Montreal for a teaching weekend September 25th & 26 as well as funding future events and a scholarship fund.

For more information, please visit the Dharma Punx website or contact them via mtl.dharmapunk@gmail.com

Doug from Philly is of the Dharma Punk ilk and is beyond cool. (I just sounded like Sassy magazine all of a sudden).

Seriously people.

I’m so happy to have another suffering punk rock Buddhist added to the mix. The world needs more of us.

Welcome Doug.

I’m really hoping this film will make it to Canada! Someone please drop me a line if you hear of any showings.

Meditate and Destroy

I’m meeting with another person who is interested in helping on this project and would love to hear from anyone else who would be up for either helping to organize a group, sit with us or just wants to send words of support our way.

It is time to share the dharma with others. Those who can appreciate sutras as much as old Ramones lyrics.

Hey ho… let’s go.
Drop me a line if you are in.

Tricycle’s Daily Dharma: June 11, 2006

The True Teaching

The true teaching is the kind of teaching that conforms to two things: First, it is consistent with the Buddhist insight. And secondly, it is appropriate for the person who is receiving it. It’s like medicine. It has to be true medicine, and it must fit the person who is receiving it.

Sometimes you can give someone a very expensive treatment, but they still die. That is why when the Buddha meets someone and offers the teaching he has to know that person in order to be able to offer the appropriate teaching. Even if the teaching is very valuable, if you don’t make it appropriate to the person, it is not Buddhist teaching.
–Thich Nhat Hanh, in Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Vol.IV, #4

“In this teleseminar, he discusses rebellion and the Four Noble Truths, his journey through 12-steps and addiction, his work in prisons, the importance of relationship in transformation, the challenges of living non-violently and the opportunity of growing a uniquely American Buddhist tradition that embraces tattoos and cheeseburgers alongside mindfulness meditation.”