Our interchanges on Buddhism [with Jack Kerouac] were on the playful and delightful level of exchanging the lore, exchanging what we knew about it.
I didn’t then, and I don’t now, think in terms of whether or not people are genuinely committed Buddhists or not. We’re working with all of these things, and it doesn’t mattes what words you give to them, and if I thought that there was some point where I’d say, “Jack, you’re thinking too much about how the world’s a bad place,” that would be my sense of a corrective and his understanding of the Buddha-dharma, but that wasn’t in my interest, or anybody else’s interest, to think: “Is this guy a real Buddhist or not?” He was worried about it later, but I never was. —  Gary Snyder (via woodysblues)

Anonymous asked: Can you share your thesis for your "Jews and Buddhism" paper?

It was actually a response paper after a documentary screening at my college. We watched Belief Amended, Faith Revealed and had a discussion with the director, Bill Chayes. (He’s a nice guy. A little overly-serious about his films, but hey, that can be good.)

I focused my paper on my delight in seeing the way many ethnic Jews combined parts of traditional Judaism with practices of Buddhism and zen. (The film provides numerous examples, including Ginsberg.) From a personal perspective, raised Catholic, I remember hearing almost derogatory statements made about people who “pick and chose” their own religious identity (“cafeteria Catholics”). The “spiritual blending” highlighted in the film was incredibly intriguing. You should all see it if you get the chance!

Alan Watts in the minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of “South Park”). Because this is amazing. Always.

Mantras - Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes. —  Alan Watts (via ebad)

by Allen Ginsberg

gardenofthefareast:

Bernie Glassman and the Zen Peacemakers hosted a gathering of socially engaged Buddhists and others. They set out to create the space and opportunity for social activists to meet, discuss what they have been doing, and what more could be done. It was an enlightening and encouraging event. It included some truly cool characters; Anne Waldman, Peter Matthiessen, Jon Kabot Zinn, Jim Bastien and some Dude they called Jeff Bridges, who will supposedly be featured in Tricycle magazine.

Allen Ginsberg. c. Steve Miles

moltenaeons:

A sublime television recording of Alan Watts from around forty years ago. It made me ponder about nature, human nature, and whatnot. Whether you agree or not, it provides plenty of thought-worthy material.

*Then I wondered: If the general population translated this a into hedonistic trendyness (hippiedom at it’s worst),.. what will come of a generation that seems to be obsessed with uber-superficial (fake)reality TV, videos of people doing moronic things, and mind-numbing social networking sites?