Saturday, August 29, 2026

Industry Puppet Katy Perry: How to be a star

HOW TO BE AN INDUSTRY PUPPET: THE KATY PERRY STRATEGY

(Jay Diggs) How to be an industry  puppet: the Katy Perry (Catty Purry) strategy. "Rusty Brandy, Baby, what is a Faustian bargain?" - "I want a divorce!" - "O.K., Hubby, but what is it?"

How did she get her record contract, and how do I get the same deal?
.
What is a Katy Perry?

I just wanna be Kate Hudson again
Katy Lizzy Hud's Son (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, born Oct. 25, 1984), known professionally as "Katy Perry," is a Hollywood product, an American singer, songwriter, and goofy TV personality.

Known for her influence on pop music and her camp style, she has been dubbed the "Queen of Camp" by Vogue and Rolling Stone.

At age 16, Perry released her unsuccessful gospel album Katy Hudson (2001) under Red Hill Records. After moving to Los Angeles, she signed to Hollywood's Capitol Records and rose to fame with the pop rock album One of the Boys (2008).

Its lesbian bisexual anthem and lead single "I Kissed a Girl" topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Perry's moist, disco-influenced pop record Teenage Dream (2010) became -- ka-ching! -- the only album by a woman to spawn five U.S. number-one singles:
  1. "California Gurls"
  2. "Teenage Dream"
  3. "Firework"
  4. "E.T."
  5. "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"
Momma, don't preach. I don't need your and Dad's stupid religious beliefs holding me back.
.
It helps having really big boobs, huge like these
Its sugarcoated reissue, subtitled The Complete Confection (2012), produced the U.S. Number 1 single "Part of Me."

The dance-inspired Prism (2013) yielded two U.S. Number 1 singles, "Roar" and "Dark Horse."

Perry's subsequent albums, Witness (2017), Smile (2020), and 143 (2024), were mostly duds and met with varied critical and commercial success.

Now mostly a laughingstock, Perry is still one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 151 million records worldwide. She has seven diamond certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America.

The world's highest-paid female musician in 2015 and 2018, she was named by Billboard one of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century. As proof, her accolades include:
  • 20 Guinness World Records,
  • 5 Billboard Music Awards,
    5 American Music Awards (including the Special Achievement Award),
  • 1 Brit Award,
  • 1 Juno Award, and
  • 7 MTV Video Music Awards (including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award).
Perry was the first artist to have multiple videos reach one billion views on YouTube.

With an estimated net worth of $360 million, she is among the world's wealthiest musicians.

I told you I literally sold my soul to the Devil.
Outside of music, Perry released an autobiographical documentary titled Katy Perry: Part of Me in 2012, voiced Smurfette in The Smurfs film series (2011–2013), launched her own shoe line Katy Perry Collections in 2017, and flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-31 in 2025.

She served as a judge on American Idol from the 16th season in 2018 to the 22nd season in 2024. She is an advocate for LGBT rights and women's rights, and she was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2013.

Her philanthropy and activism focus on children's education and HIV/AIDS awareness. More
  • Jay Diggs (video); Bauhaus; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to win by losing? (Tao☯️Vedas🕉️)

(Taoist Diary) Why being "Nobody" is our greatest power: Taoist secret

Becoming Nobody: Ego Death by DMT?

Satyakāma Jābāla (सत्यकाम जाबाल)
The Brahmin Vacchagotta demanded the Buddha answer yes or no. The Buddha was silent.
.
What does a Hindu sage see?
In the Vedas, Satyakāma Jābāli is a Vedic sage, who first appears in the fourth prapāṭhaka (chapter) of the ancient Vedic text, the Chāndogya Upanishad [1].

As a boy, in order to become brahmachārī (celibate Brahmin student), Satyakāma enquires about his father and his family from his mother Jabālā. His mother tells him that she went about many places in her youth attending to different people devoted to their service and did not know his lineage.

Therefore, she tells him that in this world, all that she has is him and vice versa, so he is called Satyakāma Jābāla.

Eager for knowledge, he goes to the sage Haridrumata Gautama, requesting the sage's permission to live in his school for to be a Brahmacharya. The teacher asks, "My dear child, what family do you come from?"

Satyakāma replies that he is of uncertain lineage because his mother does not know who his father is. He tells the sage that as to his lineage, his mother named him Satyakāma Jābāla.

Seeing his innocence and his strong wish to learn, the sage declares that the boy's honesty is the mark of a "Brahmin (brāhmaṇa), a true seeker of the knowledge of Brahman" and accepts him as a student in his school [2, 3].
Will Satyakama Jabala know how to help us?
The sage sends Satyakāma to tend to 400 sickly cows and to come back when they multiply into 1,000 [3].

The symbolic legend or allegory then presents Satyakāma's conversation with a bull, a fire, a swan (Haṃsa, हंस), and a diver bird (Madgu, मद्गु), which respectively symbolize Vāyu, Agni, Āditya, and Prāṇa [1].

Satyakāma thereby learns from these creatures that the form of Brahman is in all of the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), world-bodies (earth, atmosphere, sky, ocean), sources of light (fire, sun, moon, lightning), and in humans (breath, eye, ear, and mind) [2].

Aummmm, the cosmic sound of the universe
Satyakāma returns to his teacher with 1,000 cows and humbly learns the rest: the nature of Brahman (the ultimate, metaphysical reality behind all of the illusions of maya).

Satyakāma graduates and becomes a celebrated sage, according to the Hindu tradition.

A Vedic school is named after him, as is the influential ancient text Jābāla Upanishad – a treatise on Sannyāsa (a Hindu sannyasin or renunciate's life) [4].

Upakosala Kamalayana was a student of Satyakama Jabala, whose story is also presented in the Chhāndogya Upanishad [5]. In the end, Satyakāma Jābāla's teacher the Sage Gautama gives him the name Patan. More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Berkeley Zendo on Vipassana insight?



Linda Galijan is the Berkeley Zen Center’s first female abbot (Facebook)

"I never get lost because I don't know where I'm going" - Zen Master Ikkyū, 15th century.
.
At the BZC altar (Nathan Dalton)
BERKELEY, California - Saturday, August 29, 2026: The Berkeley Zen Center's Abbess Linda (Shinchi Linda Galijan Rōshi) will set off for a monthlong vipassana (Buddhist four-dimensional insight as sati) retreat under her root teacher Gil Fronsdal.

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.” Vipassana literally 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.
Prof. Jason Arday (anglicanmainstream.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.

Bodhisattva Dolly Parton passes away at 80
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.
The enso in Zen is like a zero, circle
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, that the first stage of enlightenment the Buddha called stream-entry.]

Sitting with Gil Fronsdal
How to see? Stillness and silence
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 ōryōki mindfulness 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”).
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Dali Parton: Dolly the Bodhisattva?

.
The Backwoods Barbie Doll Dolly 
At dollypartonsamerica.com, thanks to Jad Abumrad of Radio Lab, there is a 9-part series of interviews on America's favorite bra owner, The Dali Parton, Goddess of Kindness, a kind of cultural icon and bodhisattva (a "being destined for enlightenment/awakening" by the marriage of compassion and wisdom) for the benefit of us all. Feminist, activist, Buddhist Rebecca Solnit says it quite well:
Who cares about this American singer? She's just a singer! Or was she much more? (FB)
In praise of Dolly Parton, 1946-2026, our Goddess of Kindness (Rebecca Solnit)
.
Dolly Parton, the "unicorn of unicorns"
How many authors can capitalize?
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What happened in Nepal-Tibet? Not rain

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The true name of Gnostic "Jesus"


(Gnostic Talk) I've stopped calling him "Jesus" (Yehoshua, YHWH, Tetragrammaton, Rabbi, Son of Zeus, Yazoo, Lord, Kristos, Emmanuelle, Christ, Father, Patriarch, Joshua, Yeshua, Y'shua): His true Gnostic name changes every Christian prayer ever uttered.

Dead Sea Scrolls reveal truth about many revisions and changes of our flawless "Bible"

(Ambrose Discovery) The Dead Sea Scrolls just decoded by AI...and the mess it reveals in who authored the "Bible" is far worse than anyone thought

How to protect against rulers
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How did I die in my past life?

Sell us US citizen data, Don. - Sure, how much?
[SPECULATION: We need to steal your biometric facial data to sell it on the open market to the government, intel agencies, Israel, China, and non-state actors and scammers, so we've come up with these tricks. Pick one. How about we predict what your soulmate is going to look like or age progress your face? It's fun. Tell all your friends so we can build a network and connect the dots between all of your contacts. Do it for national security before China takes TikTok back from the nice Zionist Jewish American capitalist billionaire Larry Ellison and his network of operatives like his son David Ellison and his installed CBS News Boss Zionist Bari Weiss, who captures media assets with Trump's help.]
$cam AI "solutions" to deal with scams?
Unlimited AI Qs: Alexa helps millennial mom with last-minute school project: AI to the rescue!
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Buddhist origins of Reiki (video)


Reiki Founder Mikao Usui
Mikao Usui (1865-1926), commonly Usui Mikao in Japanese, was the founder of Reiki, a form of spiritual energy healing used as an alternative therapy for the treatment of physical, emotional, and mental diseases.

He taught Reiki to over 2,000 people during his lifetime. Eleven of these students continued their training to reach the Shinpiden level, equivalent to the Western third degree or Master level.

Early life, family, and education
What is our energetic aura?
He was born in Taniai village (now Miyama cho), Yamagata district, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, now located near present-day Nagoya. His ancestors were the once influential Chiba clan of Hatamoto samurai.

According to the inscription on his memorial, Tsunetane Chiba, a military commander during the end of the Heian period and the start of the Kamakura period (1180-1230), was one of Usui's ancestors.

In 1551, Toshitane Chiba conquered the city Usui and thereafter all family members acquired that name.

Usui was raised as a samurai from childhood, specifically in the martial arts techniques of aiki (合氣術) or "Way of Aiki" = Aikido.
  • A Shumei member recently told us that three Japanese men all belonged to an organization called Oomoto Kyo ("Great Source"). One went on to develop Reiki, another (Morihei Ueshiba) Aikido, and a third (Mokichi Okada) Jyorei energy healing and Shumei.
  • Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba developed Aikido as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. His goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attackers from injury. Aikido is often translated as "the way of unifying (with) life energy" or as "the way of harmonious spirit." According to the founder's philosophy, the primary goal in the practice of aikido is to overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness against others.
Although there are many stories extant in the United States that Usui earned a doctorate in theology at the theological seminary of the University of Chicago, he never attended, let alone received any degree from the University of Chicago.

Career and activities
There is a universal life force (chi or ki)
As an adult, it is believed that he traveled to several Western countries, including the Americas, Europe, and China as a part of his continued study.

His studies included medicine, history, Buddhism, Christianity, psychology, and Taoism.

It is believed that the aim of Usui's teachings was to provide a method for students to achieve connection with the "universal life force" energy (prana, esoteric energy, holy spirit, spiritus, animating force) that would help them in their self-development.


What sets his teachings apart from other hands-on healing methods is his use of attunement (reiju) to remind students of their spiritual connection.

It seems that all of his students received five principles to live by and those with a further interest in the teachings became dedicated students.

There does not appear to have been a distinction between clients and students in the beginning though this may have changed at some point.

People began coming to Usui Mikao possibly for different purposes -- some for healing and others for the spiritual teachings.

Shugendō is a Japanese mountain ascetic shamanism that incorporates Shinto and Buddhist practices [15].

The roles of Shugendō practitioners include offering religious services such as fortune telling, divination, channeling, prayer, ritual incantations, and exorcism.

Shugendo was often used by family clans to heal disease or avoid misfortune [11].

Claims of Reiki's Christian origins
Hawayo Takata, a Reiki Master under the tutelage of Chujiro Hayashi (林 忠次郎, 1880–1940), lied about Reiki's history of development to make Reiki more appealing to the West [16].

To this end she made a relation of Reiki with Jesus Christ and not with Buddhism.

Buddhist origins of Reiki

She also falsely presented Usui as the dean of a Christian school. While he had obtained the knowledge of Reiki from the Buddhist religious book The Tantra of the Lightning Flash, Takata claimed that he had been inspired from the story of Jesus Christ, who had healed with the touch of his hand.

So Usui, it was said, had come to America to learn Reiki. She told this to spread Reiki among Christians, too, believing it would otherwise be extinct.

However, in 1994, the original manuscript was found, which claimed that Reiki had originated from Gautama Buddha, the historical founder of Buddhism [17]. More
The origins of Reiki and the glory of India:  It's all prana (breath, spirit, spiritual-energy)

(Yogiraj SatGurunath Siddhanath) Nov. 22, 2015. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath World Tour Schedule: siddhanath.org
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)