Author Philomena Cunk (with just a tiny bit of help from Diane Morgan) has 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,888 reviews). A VULTURE BEST COMEDY BOOK OF 2023. From the star of the “deeply funny, unexpectedly informative” (The Daily Beast) Netflix mockumentary Cunk on Earth, a helpful guide covering every single topic in the known universe, from Adam and Eve to Top Gun. Once in a blue moon, a book comes along that changes the world. The Origin of Species. War and Peace. Nineteen Eighty-Four.
And now, Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena, by Philomena Cunk. Philomena Cunk is one of the greatest thinkers of the 21st century, and in Cunk on Everything she turns her attention to our biggest issue: Why are there so many books? Wouldn't it be better if there were just one? This is that book — an encyclopedia of all human knowledge, delving into not only life's greatest mysteries but our most important political figures and cultural touchstones. Read it, and you'll never have to read another book again. More
Her other root teacher was BZC Founder Mel Weitsman, a direct transmitted disciple of Shunryū Suzuki, who also founded two affiliated temples, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and the San Francisco Zen Center). For the weekly Saturday Dharma talk, Abbot Linda as she is referred to, extolled the virtues of Theravada Insight Meditation, also known as vipassana, stating that while it is different than Zen's shikantaza, it is just the same. That is to say, they coordinate and aid one another to bring about the same realization(kenshō) or “clear seeing.” Vipassanaliterally means “special or clear seeing.”
Is satori “insight”? Not quite but not altogether different, both being a kind of iteration of wisdom (prajñā), clearly seeing into the true nature of experience -- directly perceiving what is ever-present but usually unseen: The Three Marks of Existence.
RETREAT: 28-day (Aug. 30-Sept. 26) Insight Retreat for Experienced Practitioners with Gil Fronsdal assisted by Ines Freedman: Silent mindfulness retreat for experienced yogis that includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, Dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with teacher. insightretreatcenter.org
These weekly Dharma talks, and we've attended a few now, generally amount to nothing, doing nothing, accomplishing nothing, but seeming very deep for their Taoist-style nothingness or pointlessness. It may just be that they land later, filled with wisdom and no rush to make any obvious point. Last Saturday (8/22/26), an elderly Zen abbess from Santa Cruz, a long-time professor at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC.edu), gave a wonderful talk about social suicide, literally. She discussed her intimate familiarity with plagiarism and academic scandals in the social sciences as brought up by the tragic case of an accused person-of-color at Cambridge University in England. Accusations by a right-wing troll led to an investigation of Black Prof. Jason Arday (RIP), who was humiliated by the accusation and chose to end his life in ignominy. This is tragic, our Zen speaker explained, because far worse is done by seasoned senior white professors who weather the storm, which usually comes to nothing, no retraction, no dismissal, no punishment. It seems to be the way of hubris and academic progress. She would know because she sat on many a committee to deal with such issues as well as being part of the peer-review process, which even when it turns up plagiarism by professors usually comes to naught.
But this talk was different, better, more substantive, less fluffy white rice, more solid and gomashio-sprinkled tofu, as it were. Why?
The jokes keep coming, little nudges about this and that, never getting too heavy to "stink of Zen," but at the end of it was a reverie about the newest, latest to be recognized bodhisattva, The Dali Parton. Abbot Linda praised "Buddhist Rebecca Solnit." Who knew the feminist woman who can't pronounce "women"* was a Buddhist? News to us.
Everyone giggled and enthusiastically nodded along in recognition of the recently passed country music star, humanitarian, lover of humankind, and philanthropist. This is in accord with the local NPR affiliate in the Bay Area playing the first of a 9-part Radio Lab (by the great Jad Abumrad) series on Dolly: Creator of 'Dolly Parton's America' podcast discusses her life and legacy | KALW
*How to correctly pronounce "women": /wih-minn/
What's so great about Buddhist insight?
What's the point of Buddhism, Dick Gere, insight? - Why not just worship His Holiness, Lisa?
.
When one knows-and-sees, the heart lets go.
Then a longtime member of the sangha asked, "What do they do in vipassana meditation?" Abbot Linda perked up and outlined the fourfold setting up of mindfulness the historical Buddha talks about in the two Satipatthana Suttas, the greater and shorter "Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourses." One make the heart/mind serene by sitting and attending to the breath until it is concentrated [and absorbed or in a zen state called jhana if possible. Then one emerges and turns attention to other aspects of the body]. One then progresses, turning attention to feelings (the three categories of sensation, pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral). Thereafter, attention is placed on mind.
No, Bart, just sit! Don't you dare have a goal!
Finally, one gives one-pointed attention to dhammas or mental phenomena usually categorized in Buddhist lists like the Five Hindrances and Four Ennobling Truths. [This is generally the way vipassana is understood, cultivating liberating insight by clearly seeing these four categories of "things." For in seeing them clearly, it is very difficult to identify and remain attached to the wrong views of self, satisfaction, and permanence. One instead sees things as they truly are -- hurtling towards destruction, unable to ever satisfy or fulfil, and utterly impersonal. In seeing this, the heart/mind lets go, stops clinging and grasping at ephemeral phenomena, and arrives at release, sometimes glimpsing the awe-inspiring freedom of nirvana. That's satori, that's kensho, thatthe first stage of enlightenment the Buddha called stream-entry.]
This September 2026 vipassana retreat offers an experienced Zen and Insight (Vipassana) meditators a period of intensive residential practice guided by Gil Fronsdal. The teaching and practice orientation will be “Shikantaza Through the Support of Insight,” Shikantaza or “just sitting” being the core Soto Zen practice. The schedule will include mindfulness in complete noble silence with morning, afternoon, and evening formal sitting (zazen); formal ōryōkimindfulness meals (taking the least amount of food); work periods; and daily meditation instructions and nightly Dharma talks. There will also be formal and informal meetings with teachers. Participants commit to stay on for the duration (except by arrangement or emergencies). The retreat includes a 30-day sesshin (接心, lit. means “gathering heart/mind” but is usually translated as “Silent Zen Retreat Intensive”).
She tried Shaolin kung fu training for just 24 hours; it broke her
How hard could it be? Even pandas can do it!
(SportEye) Aug. 14, 2026: What happens when an ordinary woman spends 24 hours training like a Shaolin Buddhist monk? She arrived expecting difficult martial arts exercises.
Instead, she faced flexibility training, brutal balance drills, sprint intervals, explosive leg exercises, handstands, strength conditioning, and physical challenges designed to push both the body and mind beyond their comfort zone.
But Shaolin training isn't simply about becoming stronger. It's about learning to remain calm when the body is exhausted, controlling breathing under pressure, and continuing when the mind says to stop.
Discipline, dedication, and monastic rules all help
From painful flexibility exercises to balancing on narrow wooden posts and navigating stairs upside down, this 24-hour experience reveals why Shaolin training is about far more than flashy kung fu.
This is what happens when an outsider experiences the discipline behind one of the world's most legendary martial arts traditions. #kungfu #martialarts #shaolin #monk #training #power
Bruce Lee challenged by Thai female kickboxer undefeated 1971 — Bangkok match
I can prevail with just one well placed strike.
(Bruce Lee: The Hidden Legacy) Bangkok, November 15, 1971, underground gym. Somrak Kamsing challenged Bruce Lee. Forty-seven fights, 47 wins, 43 knockouts, she never lost.
"Come to Bangkok. Fight me. Or admit you fear women."
Bruce Lee read the challenge. Hong Kong. Filming Fist of Fury. He never fought woman before, never fought a perfect record, but he refused to decline the offer.
"She's undefeated champion. She deserves respect. She deserves fight."
He accepted. "Bangkok. November 15. Traditional Muay Thai rules. Five rounds. No cameras. No publicity. Just two martial artists."
Muay Thai or Muaythai (Thai มวยไทย, RTGS muai thai) is sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs [5], or the Science of Eight Limbs [6]. It is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and clinching techniques [7]. The name "Art of Eight Limbs" refers to the combined use of two fists, two elbows, two knees, and two shins [8].
Muay Thai went international in the late 20th-21st century, when Westernized practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing, mixed-rules matches, and matches under Muay Thai rules around the world. The professional league is governed by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand, sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Muay Thai is related to martial art styles of India's cultural sphere: Musti-yuddha [9, 10], Muay Chaiya, Muay Boran, Muay Lao, Lethwei, Kun Khmer, Benjang [11], and Tomoi [12].
Muay Thai practitioners are known as Nak Muay. Western practitioners are sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning "foreign boxer" [13].
Muay Thaietymology: The Thai language term Muay Thai [14] that is a compound word made up of muay and Thai, the first derived from the Sanskrit root word [15] mavya [16], which means "to pull together," "to form into a single group or unit," or "unity" [16], defined as "to tie" [17] and "sport boxing" [18] in Thai. The alternative form of the Sanskrit word mavya is mavy (mavyati, Sanskrit मव्य् (मव्यति, lit. "to bind, to tie, to fasten") from its root term mav [19, 20] (Sanskrit मव). "Thai" comes from the word Tai [15], which means "free" [21] and "Tai-Kadai speakers " [Note 1]. More
Black implies white. White implies black. Swirling
Somrak Kamsing [the name of a real male fighter also known as Somluck Kamsing?] started training at age 8 disguised as a boy. Underground gyms didn't allow females.
She cut her hair, wrapped her chest to bind her bosom, and nobody knew for three years. Then one sparring session at age 11, fighting a 16-year-old boy, he hit her too hard and split her lip. She attacked, knee to body, elbow to face.
The Boy went down. The coach discovered her secret, "You're a girl?" She expected to be banned. The coach smiled, "You fight better than any boy. Stay. Become a champion."
By age 25, she was a legend. Men refused to fight her. They were too scared. "What if I lose to a woman?" She laughed. "You will lose. Question is how long you last."
I am water, I am void, I pivot to evade strikes.
November 15 arrived, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, only 50 witnesses. No media, Bruce insisted. "This is not a spectacle. This is martial arts. This is sacred."
They bowed a deep bow of mutual respect.
The bell rang.
Somrak attacked, low kick. Bruce checked it. She threw a combination. He slipped. She threw an elbow. He ducked. He countered. A backfist grazed her cheek. This was a real fight, five rounds. Both gave everything they had.
I make martial arts films.
Somrak landed solid leg kicks. Bruce countered with precision. She threw a flying knee. He sidestepped, spinning back to give her a kick to the ribs. She stumbled, the first time in 47 fights.
By Round 5, both were bloody. Bruce's eyebrow was cut. Somrak lip was split. They were still fighting, still trading strikes, no defense, just pure warrior spirit. The bell rang.
Silence. Then both bowed simultaneously, smiling.
The referee raised both hands. It was a draw by unanimous decision. It had been 48 fights, and she was still undefeated. Both remained undefeated. Nobody lost. Both won.
They hugged, "You are a real martial artist," Somrak said. "Gender doesn't matter, only heart."
I wish I'd eaten better and lived.
Bruce replied, "You taught me today. A woman can be a warrior equal to any man. Thank you."
Gifts were exchanged. Somrak gave Bruce traditional mongkhon.
Bruce gave her a Wing Chun ring.
November 15, 1971, Bangkok, five rounds, one draw, two champions. One lesson: Respect transcends gender because heart determines warrior.
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