So much of what people call "Zen" (capitalized as opposed to zen or jhana/dhyana) sounds more like Taoism (with a stiff dose of Confucianism) than Buddhism, and here's why. It was all picked up in translation. So what was lost? Those may be beautiful spiritual/temporal traditions with which to blend, but what is obscured is the historical Buddha's message until it is almost completely lost and replaced by Hinduism (with its Tantra, yoga, and magic that gave rise to another branch Vajrayana/Shingon attached) to a new religion that came to be called Mahayana, far from the Buddha's Dhamma.
Everything Zen
We silly Westerners have no idea! We think we know
"Zen" is a silly word, carrying so much meaning in American English. Goodness knows what it means in Japan or China nowadays, a dying religious sect taking sides in the jiriki versus tariki battle?
We aim to find out on Thursdays in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Zen Sangha. There is a path. What is it? If one were to ask the average American Zen practitioner, then everything likely to be heard in response would be some derivation of Taoism, not Buddhism or any relation to relation to the Doctrine of the historical Buddha.
Lao Tzu (Laozi) was not a Buddhist. He was possibly a celestial (deva), descended to Earth to philosophize and guide the Chinese.
For all that, on "Buddhist Radio" (Alan Watts - KPFK 90.7 FM, 8:00 am, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026) Alan Watts explained Zen in 18-minutes.
His brief talk lays bare the root of every misconception. Moreover, Buddha's Wisdom (in the video displayed above) does much to add context and clarify. Zen can be grasped.
Watts says the problem with understanding Zen is that unless one were raised Japanese -- very punctilious, rigid, formal, ritualistic, deadly afraid of a faux pas, losing face, or doing things incorrectly -- one will not be able to appreciate what Zen (Taoism) offers as relief.
Zen promotes spontaneity, naturalness, flow, being at ease, comfort, and relaxing into a kind of "just being" present and mindful (of the moment) without so much thinking (premeditation).
The dominant past lives (rebirths) as a human that I utilize and work with are as a Wiccan "nature woman" and as a Druid. In both lives, I developed an incredible connection to nature and other realms.
In my Wiccan life, I am a medium helping humans and their passed over loved ones.
In my Druid life, I can see through time using seers’ stones.
In both lives I am tuned in with higher realms and intimately connected with nature. These two lives know about me and actively assist me in re-awakening my abilities and my ancient wisdom.
Mediumship and art have allowed me to perceive and intuit and have given me prophetic ability to explore the galactic frontier.
Other lives I connect with are my explorer adventurer lives. My excitement is always pulling me to new places and cultures.
I often feel my explorer life on the cool crisp sea – finding new lands and exotic cultures.
I’m also a pioneer in two lives, one going West with my family along the Oregon Trail and the other as a mountain man pioneering the Wild West.
Art and creativity are huge parts of my life, and I was wildly attracted to Europe in my youth…[because] I had LOTS of lives there.
The dominant lives are those as artists. I have major connections with the early Renaissance painter Caravaggio and his use of light as well as the emotional sensitivity of Lenardo Da Vinci.
Bridget's Balarinas by Edgar Degas
My other heart-sparking connections are as the Impressionist painter Edgar Degas and the painters of the Primitivism Movement in the late 19th century. These painters were seeing and visually capturing new frequencies and making them physical on Earth – pushing the boundaries of our view of reality and rebirthing old paradigms.
I’m very grateful for these cross-connecting influences and their assistance as guides to me in my art. (Click to view my art).
Life on other planets
Rebirth: There's life on other planets
My extraterrestrial lives are my guiding light to Fourth Density. Through an ET regression, I wholeheartedly connected with my Zeus-like Pleiadian counterpart. I remembered making a beautiful agreement with him to always remember his essence so he could guide my way back to the stars in this Earth life.
I utilize my adept emotional body from my Arcturian counterpart and often connect with my Sirian, Shakani, and Shalinaya lives.
The dominant focus for the rest of this human life is focused on Bridging-ETs, that is, planting the new frequency on Earth assisting the landing of The Hybrid Children. More: All about Bridget Nielsen
‘Pregnancy robots’ could give birth to human children in revolutionary breakthrough — and a game-changer for infertile couples. There’s a robot for that.
What a time to be alive. People are marrying AI bots, [having intercourse with sexbots], and now robots might soon be able to [receive seed and get pregnant] carry babies [through gestation].
They'll never dare do this, never put these out. - What if perverts get their hands on robokids?
Now my cheating hubby and I can have kids!
China is reportedly working on designing a bot with an artificial womb — which will receive nutrients through a hose in its abdomen — that will soon be able to carry a fetus for about 10 [lunar] months before giving birth, according to Chosun Biz.
The “pregnancy robot” was conceptualized by Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou, China. If all goes according to plan, the prototype will make its debut next year. More
Too much cornography to blame?
Former Trump Warlord John Bolton targeted by FBI for his disloyalty to the Orange King
Is an egg an egg? - Yes. Is it alive? - Yes. - How do we know? - We know because if cared for, it will grow (develop, transform, metamorphose) into a bird, often a bird (like a chicken) capable of procreating more eggs and birds.
Is killing unskillful (harmful, detrimental, resulting in suffering)? - Yes. - Is taking the life of an egg killing? - NO, that doesn't count! It's not a bird! It's a fetus, and a fetus is not a life! I'm not giving up my omelets and easy-overs! You tricked me! It's not killing. There's nothing wrong with stealing eggs, smashing them, and devouring the insides like common egg-stealing snake-animals from the warm wombs of mother-birds! I grew up on a farm, and all the hens gave us their eggs, I mean our eggs, and said, "Sure, eat 'em, I don't care! They come out of canal and mean nothing to me as long as the roosters are kept away so they can't be babies and we're forcibly confined for our safety to all lesbian prison-coops! Case closed, right-to-lifers! Keep your exalted karma philosophies out of my kitchen!"
So you admit to having mixed feelings, with so much reactivity, that slurping the wombs of big mother-birds to devour their egg in the shell is kidnapping, killing, and cannibalizing fellow living beings? Kind of, but so what? EVERYONE does it! - Well, not everyone. Those who do meet with trouble, not the least of which are salmonella infections, E. coli epidemics, bowel distress, possible death, and when they meet with the results of their karma (deeds), they will not be happy about it.
Isn't the salmonella and E. coli infection the karmic result of killing? - No. That's just a natural consequence of consuming contamination. The abducting of eggs, killing of birds, the slaughter and slurping of the dead, that's the karma. And the karmic result and fruit (vipaka and phala) of killing will not be good.
The Buddha tells a story of the past: Silanisamsa Jataka
It's not a sutra, Homer, it's a jataka. - Shut up, Flanders! *Whisper* I'll be back for those eggs.
.
This ship is going to sink, friend.
Long, long ago, at the time of [a previous buddha named] Buddha Kassapa [3], a [stream-enterer] lay disciple who had already entered the path [reached the first stage of enlightenment] booked passage on a ship with his friend, a rich barber.
The rich barber's wife asked the Buddha's disciple to look after her husband. But a week after it left port, the ship sank in the middle of the ocean.
The two friends saved themselves by holding on to a plank of wood and were eventually cast up on the shore of a deserted island rookery.
Hungry, the foolish barber raided egg nests, killed birds, slaughtered and cooked them, offering a share of his bloody meal to the Buddha's disciple.
"No thank you," the disciple answered, "I'm fine" [not wishing to encourage the foolish barber in his defilementsand unskillfulkarma]. He thought to himself, "In this desolate place, there is no help [guidance] for us except the Three Jewels [the Buddha, Dhamma, and noble Sangha]."
As he sat meditating on the Three Jewels, a naga (reptilian, dragon, CDs) king who had been reborn on that island magically transformed himself into a beautiful ship filled with the seven precious things [4]. Its three masts were made of sapphire, the planks and anchor of gold, and the ropes of silver.
The naga king transforms into a ship to save the good man
The helmsman, who was a sea spirit, stood on the deck and yelled, "Passengers for Jambudipa [earth, subcontinent, or India] now boarding for immediate passage!"
"Yes," the virtuous lay disciple called back, "that's where we're bound!"
"Then come aboard," the sea spirit invited.
The virtuous layman climbed aboard the beautiful ship and turned to call his friend the foolish barber.
(The Simpsons) Stealing to kill and devour mother and their offspring
"You may come," the sea spirit declared "but he may not."
"Why not?" the disciple asked.
"He is no follower of the pure life," answered the sea spirit. "I brought this ship for you, but not for him."
"If that's the case," the virtuous layman announced, "then all the gifts I have given, all the virtues [restraints and exertions] I have practiced, all the powers I have developed — I give the fruit of all of them to him!"
"Thank you, Master!" cried his friend the barber.
"Very well," relented the sea spirit, "now I can take both of you aboard."
The ship carried the two men across the sea and up the Ganges River that pours into it. After depositing them safely at their home in Baranasi [the holy ancient city of Varanasi/Benares], the sea spirit used his magic power to create enormous wealth for both of them. Then, poising himself mid-air, he instructed them and their friends:
"Keep company with the wise and good. If this barber had not been in the company of this virtuous layperson, he would have perished in the middle of the ocean."
Arguing more details
What about other eggs? - Avoid harming beings.
[Doesn't that depend on whether a rooster (cock, man-chicken) inseminated and fertilized it? - That's what some people say. But is cannibalizing a fellow human's womb, the afterbirth, okay after a human birth? - That's sick. - Yeah, but people do it, saying human cannibalism is nutritious and what a waste to throw all that flesh and goo away after it is expelled from the womb and vagina, mixing with bum juices and all but being washed and sauteed before being cannibalized. - Sick! - Sick, yes, but is it killing?
- No! No one died, and no one was kept from being born or developing! - Right, so if that cannibalism is all right, why not eggs that have not yet developed a blood spot, the sign of fertilization? - Ugh, it's all so gross. I don't think humans are carnivores, given that they don't have the features of carnivores but share so many similarities with herbivores. - Meat eaters call human bodies "omnivores" like dogs, capable of eating anything. - Any nutritive substance will do, no matter how contaminated or how fouled by harmful substances that intrinsically mixed in. Carnivore bodies are the way they are to deal with quickly expelling the toxins. - Anyway, don't we HAVE to eat something, so we have to kill something to do it?
- No. We can live without killing, but let's say some lower lifeform does die in the process, are we killing it or calling for it to be killed? No. Even vegetables do not have to be killed for us to eat and live well. - How? - Fruitarianism, for example, is a great way to live on food produced by plants without killing the plants -- beans, grains, vegetable parts other than roots, bioavailable minerals, chlorella, nuts, and much more like nonplants, such as mushrooms and mycelia.
There's breatharianism, subsisting on prana and amrita, but the West doesn't believe in that, so it's out of the question -- but we know it to be true, rare as it is, upending everything we think we "know" about this body and this human life. Vegetarianism is another example, which comes in different varieties. Veganism is a better example, as it steers clear of all dead animals, dead insects, dead and killed higher lifeforms, and avoids using their slaughtered bodies and byproducts. - Is there no way to eat the dead? - There are plenty of ways to eat the dead. Look around.
- No, I mean, any ethical, moral, non-karmically-harmful way? - I can think of one, but it still has the problem of the dead's bodies being rotten, filled with harmful things that the human body will suffer to have to deal with, but at least karmically might not be a problem, other than maybe ghoulish beings standing around delighting in the dead body and its devourment.
- Well, you don't make it sound appetizing, but what is it? - What if someone were to eat the already-dead, that is, that which is dead by not being killed? - What do you mean? - Roadkill, aged animals, sick animals, dead by predation, dead by accident, and so on, these bodies, while dead, might not have been killed by the consumer aiming to consume them NOR paid to be killed, nor by approving of killing as happens when one hires and pays a butcher, a delicatessen, a slaughterhouse, abattoir, a rancher or other torturer of animals who raises them for slaughter or facilitates their slaughter.
- Never mind, I'd rather go vomit and never eat another living being if you put it like that. - The Truth is that the Truth is, whatever it is, and that may be what karma knows, regardless of our rationalizations saying, "This isn't so bad" or "This is not as bad as that" as if any of that makes killing okay, or approving of killing, or rewarding someone for killing, or digesting the dead.]
Sarah Silverman on Jimmy becoming a grandpa, having lunch with Kanye West, and her new Netflix special
(Jimmy Kimmel) May 20, 2025: Sarah Silverman talks about JimJim becoming a gramps, walking her dog with JK, and changing neighbor’s signs, Amanda Knox calling into her podcast asking for advice, having lunch with Kanye "Yeezy" West, her new Netflix comedy special “PostMortem,” her dad’s reaction to her stepmother finding out about her cancer diagnosis, and his hilarious Yelp reviews. #Kimmel
(KTLA 5) May 18, 2025: The FBI has identified [alleged anti-natalistattention-getter] Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms, California, as the suspect in Saturday's domestic terrorist bombing of the American Reproductive Centers' clinic in Palm Springs.
His father, Richard Bartkus, 75, spoke to KTLA5 News for the first time. KTLA's Gene Kang reports live on May 18, 2025. Details: KTLA.com.
The Eyebrow Lady? Isn't she Che Guevara's divine consort?
We prefer to think of her as the Unibrow Goddess, thank you. What is a "divine consort"?
Y'know, like, Goddesses are always paired with Gods. There's Krishna and Radha, Shiva and Parvati, the Buddha and Kwan Yin, the Jesus and Mary [Magdelene] Chain, Muhammad and Khadija, and now Che and Frida.
Oh, yeah, something like that -- iconic -- but the Buddha did not have a wife. Prince Siddhartha (who later became the Buddha) did, and here name was Bimba (though the world remembers her as Yasodhara, which is a description, and by many other names).
BBC: Becoming Frida Kahlo
A divine couple, Frida and Che (modern art)
There are many myths that surround the passionate, radical Mexican painterFrida Kahlo (Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón, 1907–1954), the most famous female artist of the 20th century.
This compelling art documentary attempts to set the record straight. It reveals how politics, love, and art shaped Frida as an individual and as an artist. And it shows how she ultimately strived to be free from the control and influence of men.
When an accident changes Frida’s life, she channels pain and heartache into painting. Frida Kahlo was a rebel from the outset, challenging norms from an early age. As a young woman, she met Mexican Diego Rivera, a superstar artist who would go on to change her. But a tragic accident thwarted Frida’s plans. Left facing a life of pain and injury, she channeled this tragedy and used it as the catalyst for her artistic career.
Now married and living in 1930s America, Frida witnesses the ugly side of capitalism.
Frida Kahlo traveled to America alongside her lover Diego Rivera, who’d been commissioned to produce an important mural. But Frida was determined to succeed in her own right. She was shocked by the vast gap between rich and poor in America. Then after losing a child to miscarriage and her mother to illness, she produced some of her most visceral and devastating works.
Episode 3: "The Final Years"
Dangerous politics and turbulent [bisexual] love distort and devastate Frida Kahlo’s world.
After a short affair with Leon Trotsky, Frida finally achieved her own solo exhibition in Europe. But all does not go according to plan. She learns that husband Diego Rivera wants a divorce. Pouring her pain into her work, she creates her masterpiece: The Two Fridas. Her last years are spent in agony, while creating some of her most enduring images. Source
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