Seintology

Posted: May 29, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: buddhism, comedy | Leave a comment

Jerry Seinfeld was interviewed by Bari Weiss on her podcast Honestly. Several parts have created headlines but I thought this, towards the end, was interesting. I’ve edited this crude transcript:

Weiss:

In 1976, you took a few Scientology classes. You remember anything they taught you?

Seinfeld:

Tons. Like: Always confront any problem. Avoid – avoidance. Avoidance makes the problem grow and confronting it makes a shrink.

Weiss:

You’ve dabbled in Zen Buddhism. Do you have a favorite Buddhist teaching?

Seinfeld:

Yes, before enlightenment carry water and… And what’s the other thing? They do? They sweep. After Enlightenment. Carry water and sweep.

Uma’s example

Posted: November 16, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: actors, buddhism, heroes | Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu67HilnYIo

into Uma’s example of not speaking in anger and waiting to be ready to speak on stuff.

feel like Twitter Internet etc. has made everyone feel like they need to have a Take on everything instantly.  I enjoy a good Take a much as anybody.  But feel like I can’t remember the last time I heard someone say “I need to reflect on this before I comment.”

Remembering that Uma’s father is a scholar of Buddhism.

The Man From Onion Valley. source.

Heartlessness

Posted: February 14, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: advice, buddhism, Japan | Leave a comment

saigyo

My friend Sammy on her Instagram posted some quotes from her boyfriend’s Zen calendar that were not helping.

Due to the turbulent times, Saigyō focuses not just on mono no aware (sorrow from change) but also on sabi (loneliness) and kanashi (sadness). Though he was a Buddhist monk, Saigyō was still very attached to the world and the beauty of nature.

Others elsewhere translate mono no aware as something like beautiful melancholy or a feeling of longing so agonizing it’s pleasure.

To be “heartless” was an ideal of Buddhist monkhood, meaning one had abandoned all desire and attachment.

From Saigyō’s Wikipedia page.

saigyo

Source. Public domain under Japanese law

Above we see Saigyō drawn by Kikuchi Yōsai, famous for his monochrome portraits of historical figures.

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