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The Tibetan Book of the Dead

Padmasambhava and sky

The Bardo Thodol -- also called "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" -- is best known as a guidebook for the journey between death and rebirth. However, the teachings in the book can be applied to life as well.

Buddhism for the Life Challenged

Buddhism Spotlight10

Barbara's Buddhism Blog

Buddhist Sports News: Alex Rodriguez

Tuesday October 27, 2009

If you follow professional baseball as closely as I do, which is not at all, you may not be aware that the New York Yankees are in the World Series this year. Well, they are. And what makes this a Buddhist news item is that one of the stars of the team is rumored to be "flirting" with conversion to Buddhism.

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, known as A-Rod, is dating actress Kate Hudson. Kate is said to be a devout Buddhist (Tibetan, I think) who has been spotted at A-Rod's baseball games holding brown mala beads. Sportswriters speculated that A-Rod's relationship with Miss Hudson helped his post-season play. And there is much gossipy speculation that Rodriguez is converting to Buddhism to please Kate Hudson.

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New Shaolin Film: Real Monks, No Zombies

Monday October 26, 2009

There must be hundreds of films with "Shaolin" in the title, including Shaolin vs. Evil Dead (2006; Shaolin monks battle zombies; unrated)  and Shaolin vs. Vampire (1980; Shaolin monk protects baby vampires; unrated). Filming has begun on one more, to be titled Shaolin.

The work is being filmed in the real Shaolin temple and will star Andy Lau, who was in the gorgeous House of Flying Daggers, with Jackie Chan in a cameo, along with Hong Kong actor and pop star Nicholas Tse and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. Real Shaolin monks will take part in action scenes and play supporting roles. The director is Benny Chan, who appears to be best known for New Police Story (2006; unfairly disgraced police inspector vs. violent gang; rated R).

Some news stories say the new film will be remake of the classic Shaolin Temple (1982; made Jet Li a star), but others say the story is entirely new. Whichever, it could be worth watching when it comes out, probably in about a year.

Paying for Spiritual Services

Friday October 23, 2009

Following up yesterday's post on spiritual masochism -- another shocking bit of news to float out of the Arizona desert sweat lodge tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of three people, is that the participants had paid up to $10,000 to be tortured. Patti Wigington, the About.com Guide to Paganism/Wicca, blogs about this and asked the question, is it OK to charge for spiritual services?

This question comes up a lot in Buddhism. People are sometimes shocked and astonished when teachers and dharma centers require a payment for teachings and retreats. Shouldn't the dharma be free? Christian ministers don't expect fees for sermons, do they?

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Spiritual Masochism

Thursday October 22, 2009

Some details finally are emerging about the recent, tragic deaths during a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona. This was not part of a Buddhist retreat, but the episode brings up issues that relate to spirituality, Buddhism included.

The background, in a nutshell: As part of a "spiritual warrior" retreat in Arizona, between 55 and 65 people were jammed into a 415-square-foot space made of a wooden frame covered by plastic tarps and blankets. Hot rocks were brought in to make the "sweat lodge" something like a sauna. Two people died during the ceremony and a third died after several days in a coma.

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