For Father’s Day tell us a story about how a father-figure in your life has taught you a life lesson about Buddhism — whether it was intentional or not as is the case with most “dad” lessons.
Hallie Ewig and her hip hop gangster rap dad
Hallie Ewig (she/her/hers) University of Washington, Class of 2022: “For as long as I can remember, my dad has exclusively listened to hip-hop music. When I was little, instead of listening to pop artists on the car radio, he would play artists like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Wu-Tang Clan from his iPod. I never really understood why he listened to music most parents would find “profane.” One time I asked him, “Dad, why do you listen to songs with bad words in them?”
He responded by turning up the volume and saying, “Just listen to the lyrics, Mika.” If you really listen to the lyrics, you can see that all of these Black artists are sharing a common theme intertwined with the swear words: systemic racism. My dad has been exposing me to Black oppression before I was even old enough to understand it.
He taught me that it is important to not only listen to others but to do so with compassion, and music is a great place to start. Even though we face our own racism as Asian-Americans, we must be compassionate to the struggles of others so that we can unite to overcome them together. Black men, women, children, members of the LGBTQ+ community, dreams, and futures [all] matter. They have always mattered, and they will forever matter. Thank you, Dad, for everything!” More:The Young Buddhist Editorial
QUESTION:It's Father's Day. How would a Western follower of the Buddha make use of this celebration?
How and why would a "modern" or "Western" follower of the Buddha's Teaching celebrate this day and use it to give gratitude to his or her father as one of his/her first gods and the other three gods?
Maybe readers would like to share also how you fulfill their personal duty to give others inspiration and ideas. This mean not being greedy but instead sharing possible merits you have.
(Note: This question is given as a gift of Dhamma and not for commercial purpose or meant for worldly gain.) Source:Buddhism Stack Exchange
The Buddha’s Legacy as a Father
Ven. Rahula, the Buddha, and Ananda
The San Mateo Buddhist Temple warmly welcome all to join the community in person for its Family Dharma Service on Sunday, June 15, 2025. On the occasion of Father’s Day, Rev. Adams will share a Dharma Talk about the legacy that Sakyamuni Buddha left for his son Rahula and how the Buddha’s compassionate care for all beings was like the concern of parents for their only child. The Buddha's Legacy as a Father (June 15) - San Mateo Buddhist Temple
Wisdom Quarterly COMMENTARY
Do you love me, Daddy? - More than life itself.
Was Prince Siddhartha loved by his father? The story/allegory of the Buddha's life makes that clear, unless he was a narcissist trying to live through his child, as even many non-narcissists do. King Suddhodana doted on his beloved son, the prince and future chief of the Scythians/Indo-Sakas. He wanted for his son what he wished for himself -- world dominion, the role of "world monarch" (chakravartin). The Brahmin soothsayers said it would be so IF only the boy were pampered and kept from seeing the world as it really was. For the son so loved the world that he came back to save everyone.
A father with a father and wife
Sid married at 16 and had a son at 29. Realizing it was now or never, he set off on a quest.
In this anachronistic, Western-informed fantasy, Samsara (2001), beautiful Yasodhara rips selfish Siddhartha for daring to leave his family to pursue his own fame, glory, and good times.
It's sad to reflect that most Westerners do not know who the Buddha was, their heads having been filled up with popular misconceptions of a fat happy Budai or Herman Hesse's book Siddhartha (which the careful reader will note is NOT about the Buddha but another guy named Siddhartha) which tangentially touches on the story of the Buddha's life.
Hesse's novel mirrors Everyman's Tale, the Hero's Journey, based on the allegorical story of the Buddha's life in general. Some of the Buddha's life story is not even about this Buddha but previous ones the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) mentioned when teaching about previous supremely enlightened teachers (samma-sam-buddhas) who had arisen in this world.
Buddhist Madonna and Child
We forget that Siddhartha G. was a father because what are we all taught? That's right, that he abandoned the family (renounced the palace) for the easygoing life of a spiritual nomad, a wandering mendicant answering to no one with all the fun and palaver of going East on a spiritual quest. What could be more fun and full of good times? All that yoga and sitting around, no job, talking to other groovy hippies with long hair and beards on the Hippie Highway to Magadha and Bihar.
(Dalai Lama) Mothers are kind, and fathers
are left to be the unpopular tough ones.
The prince leaves his wife, Yasodhara (Bimba Devi), never meets his kid (Rahula or "Bondage"), says "fudge you" to the Ol' Man (King Suddhodana), not even a wave his mother-aunt (his mother, Queen Maya's sister, Pajapati Gotami)...right? Right? Wrong.
Intention (cetana) matters. It is the basis of karma (deeds, actions). What was Prince Siddhartha thinking to drop out like that? (Where was he going to tune in and turn on?) We know from the ancient texts of the Pali canon that his wife knew where he was, how he was, and why he was doing it. So well did she know that she copied him. When he ate only one meal and slept on the ground and wore saffron, she took up these things. We impute to her how we would feel if we had been abandoned after giving birth, and this is completely wrong and misleading. The Los Angeles area monk Ven. Walpola Piyananda understands the matter so well that, together with Stephen Long, he tried to correct all the misconceptions in his book Thus We Heard - Recollections of the Life of The Buddha.
I'm hitting the road on a quest.
Siddhartha's intention, motivation, impulse to leave was to find "salvation" from suffering for everyone -- his father, his mother(s), his wife, his son, his family, his friends, his people, and all living beings, particularly the humans and devas. He didn't go to go forever. He went until he was successful. It took him seven years to do what he had to do (to accomplish what it means to be a "supremely awakened" "Buddha," which is different from an arahant or paccekabuddha). He had to attain full realization (maha bodhi), make known the path to enlightenment, which entailed preaching the Dhamma (Dharma exclusive to buddhas), and establish a Sangha (community) of successful practitioners, disciples capable of memorizing, chanting, and teaching that Dharma.
Mom, where's Dad? - That deadbeat?
As soon as he did that, he came back. How old was his son when he returned to Kapilavatthu (Gandhara, Afghanistan, Saka Land)? His son, Rahula, was 7. His former wife had not remarried even though she could have and was encouraged to. The family had not moved on -- his father having sent many messengers to bring his son back to rule the Sakas/Shakyas/Indo-Scythians and to find news of him. The only thing that had changed was that the son's son was now the prince. Rahula was now being raised to lead. The Buddha didn't think that was much of a legacy to leave his son. Instead, he gave him his grand inheritance worthy of a buddha: He had him ordain as a monastic, stayed by him, and brought him to enlightenment.
Son Rahula became Ven. Rahula and enlightened. Wife Yasodhara became a nun (Ven. Rahulamata) and enlightened, the fiercest disputant in all the land able to debate anyone and win. FatherKing Suddhodana became an Aryan ("noble") disciple, attaining one or more of the stages to enlightenment. Mother Queen (Maha) Pajapati Gotami (Prajapati Gautami) became the world's first Buddhist nun and enlightened.
Many Scythians/Shakyian princes and princesses entered the Monastic Sangha and gained realization -- and the Buddha opened up that possibility to everyone, creating a Noble Sangha that was far larger than the Monastic Sangha we all imagine to be the "disciples" of the Buddha. It may have included 80,000 people, but it certainly included countless millions of devas. The Buddha is popularly known not only as the "Master Physician" but also as the "Teacher of Gods and Men" (of devas and humans).
Does that sound like a hippie on the Hippie Trail gallivanting around India with no job, doing nothing, leaving his wife, abandoning his son, sticking a choice finger in the direction of a loving and overprotective father and doting foster mother? The Buddha didn't forget his biological mother (Maha Maya) or even his previous mother in many lives (a woman the texts simply refer to as Mata along with her husband, Shakyamuni's father in many previous lives).
Now remember, young man, be a good father.
Wouldn't it have been better if he had stayed home, raised his son, tended to the householder life of the palace, been a dutiful son to his father, and made his mother proud? We wouldn't be talking about him now. He would never have become the Buddha, "the Enlightened One," in that life. But people, Westerners in particular, still want to bellyache, gripe, and air their grievances, full of wrong view, putting down the Great Teacher like they know better how a profitable life is lived.
(Eli from Russia) PSKOV, Russia (former USSR) - Hi, I’m Eli! I travel in Russia, and my goal is to visit all its many regions. So far I’ve visited 47 of them, and the next one is the Pskov region. This region is one of the most ancient Russian lands. It’s a real treasure trove of historical and cultural knowledge, with an amazing legacy and unspoiled nature. At the same time, it’s considered to be one of the most depressing regions with a record of population decline across the entire country (as everyone rushes to modernize and live in the big city, preferably crowded Moscow). Let’s explore Pskov City and the village life for which this region is famous.
TIMECODES
00:00 Pskov region: the most cultural or the most depressing?
Who owns Mexico? That might go to the philanthropic Carlos Slim family of billionaires.
.
(Luxury Zone) There's a fine line between being rich and ensuring all your children and their children's children will live just as luxuriously and opulently as you do. Such is the case with the ten richest families in the world.
Welcome to Luxury Zone. Mexican philanthropist Carlos Slim only makes $24K a month, so never mind his billions. This channel shares everything about luxury and helps viewers experience the billionaire lifestyle. It ranks the most expensive things in the world and has a look inside the lives of the wealthiest people on the planet.
Consider subscribing for inspiration and eat-your-heart-out experiences: bit.ly/2zR6U6c
Dave Chappelle, Russell Brand, Jimmy Dore, John Oliver; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly
(THATSxBLASPHEMY) July 2, 2023. #John Oliver joins the late-night talk show chorus in roasting offensive, easy-to-knock #Trump for ten minutes straight. Why does the mainstream media hate Orange Julius? Jimmy Dore explains: Trump tells the [inconvenient] truth sometimes, which they don't want told by anyone in the government. That will not be allowed and will not stand. So he must be taken down, down for speaking truth to power (even when he himself is in power or is part of the Swamp he's decrying).
Ron DeSantis: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
(LastWeekTonight) March 5, 2023. John Oliver discusses Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his track record as the governor, the pitfalls of comparing him to Don Trump, and the supposed dangers of “woke math.”
Connect with Last Week Tonight online...or subscribe to the YouTube channel for more almost news as it almost happens: lastweektonight
ABOUT: The likeable, British-born [comedian and] pundit John Oliver is provided a unique platform to offer up his singular perspective and distinct voice to any number of social, political, or existing issues for HBO (or is that MAX now?)
Louis C.K. via Laugh Planet, April 17, 2020; Sheldon S., Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Can a canceled comedian make a comeback?
Can Louis C.K. make a comeback after c*m*ng all over those plants? If one looks closely, it seems he's already sneaking back with a special. He's a damaged and vulnerable patriarch. But he's funny and contributed much to comedy with his old show. It influenced comedic greats like Sarah Silverman. So maybe we should excuse those in the Court Jester role even if they're perverts pushing the envelope while truth-telling, whistleblowing, and improving society by calling us out on our hypocrisy. Here are some of the funniest moments, the best of his defunct show according to Laugh Planet.
To all who care about the Refuge Recovery, Against the Stream, Dharma Punx, and affiliated dharma communities, the leader and owner of these organizations, Noah Levine, is using this platform to respond to sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him in a secret letter to the board.
[We sure do wish the accuser would step forward, anonymously if necessary, and tell his/her story.#MeToo, #TimesUp]
Or you either, Noah!
Many of you received a letter yesterday from Against the Stream. The letter and the action taken by the board are based on a false allegation [of "sexual misconduct"].
I have spent the last 30 years healing, recovering, and trying my best to help others do the same. I am certainly not a perfect or enlightened person, but I have found in the dharma a path that has led to an embodied honesty and transparency about any shortcomings I have. It is with that same transparency and honesty that I write this letter to make clear that what I am being accused of is absolutely untrue.
Here's what is happening:
Recently a letter was sent out to members of our community and to undisclosed recipients. The letter contains an allegation made through a third party regarding a woman I was dating [aren't you married with children, Noah?] who has apparently made a claim that some of our consensual contact was somehow non-consensual [You raped or took advantage of her, is that what she's alleging?]. This never happened. All of our interactions were mutual with clear and open communication. [Aren't you a drug addict, atheist, ex-con, and confirmed liar? And yet you want us to believe you without even hearing her "lies" side?] The breadth and clarity of our conversations makes this accusation all the more surprising to me and those who know me. [Mm-hm, always the last to know.]
You are not alone. Me, too. We have been harmed. And Buddha help the one who lies about such harm with false allegations against people who did not assault or harass us because that makes you, sister, part of the patriarchal problem.
I have made myself available to all involved parties to discuss the matter -- not just to deny the allegation, but to make sure that every concern, every question, and every fact is addressed openly and truthfully. [Noah, do you like that song by the Circle Jerks, "Deny Everything"?]
LA punks Circle Jerks, "Deny Everything," from the album Group Sex
Further, all of the governing bodies of the organizations I am involved with are aware of and responding to the letter. This includes the boards of Against the Stream and Refuge Recovery as well the executive team at Refuge Recovery Treatment Centers. The ethics council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center is also aware of this and will be doing their own inquiry into this accusation. [That's good news! Obviously, your teams are biased in your favor, and Jack Kornfield and his team are above reproach, even if he's your mentor, friend, and teacher.] I have also informed my teachers Jack Kornfield and Ajahn Amaro and will continue to be in direct contact with them.
We believe Levine (and/or his PR firm).
I am doing my best to meet all of this with forgiveness and compassion [That's the best way, particularly if the allegations are untrue, so keep toughing it out], bringing mindfulness to all of the unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are arising and passing through my heart, mind, and body. [What's meditation for?]
With kindness, compassion, appreciation, and as much equanimity as I can embody in this present moment,
Noah Levine
[Are you being sued? Is she one of your clients? Is she one of your employees? Did you get fired from the Huffington Post? We believe you. And we can't wait to hear her version of the situation or see this secret letter.]
In this talk from Wanderlust’s Speakeasy Noah Levine, a meditative leader and author, explores the Buddhist perspective on practicing wise sexuality. (More at wanderlust.com/journal/buddhis...).
In this talk from Wanderlust’s Speakeasy at Aspen Snowmass, author Noah Levine explores [his take on] the Buddhist perspective on how to understand and practice wise sexuality.
Sex, among other feelings of pain and pleasure, is related to all activities of the body. In this lecture Levine explores how mindfulness can help balance our needs for constant stimulation. As humans, we are driven to seek positive sensation and shy away from negativity.
We are born into sexual bodies and sex, intimacy, and loving relationships are central to the human experience. If handled with reverence and care, our sexuality can be a great source of joy. If we don’t pay close attention and practice some level of restraint and renunciation, it can become the core source of our suffering.
“Sex is something we are always working with. If we are engaging with it or not, it’s just part of being human.”
– Noah Levine
Noah Levine is the founder of the “Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society” with centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco and over 20 affiliated groups in North America and Europe. He teaches meditation groups, sells workshops, and leads pricey retreats internationally.
Levine has created a process of addiction recovery based on the teachings of the Buddha he calls "Refuge Recovery" [which is a terrible name based on the common mistranslation and misunderstanding of the word sarana, which means "going for guidance" not "going for 'refuge,'" but he was probably much more interested in alliteration than accuracy].
Levine is the author of Dharma Punx, Against the Stream, Heart of the Revolution, and Refuge Recovery.
“We don’t know how to enjoy that pleasant moment and then let it go.”
– Noah Levine
For more information about Levine and his work, check out his website: againstthestream.org. Produced by Wanderlust Festival (wanderlust.com). Filmed by: Circus Picnic (circuspicnic.com). Filmed at Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2015.
Women in the Third Reich lived within a regime characterized by a policy of confining women to the roles of mother and spouse and excluding them from positions of responsibility, most notably in political and academic spheres.
The Western standard is to infantilize women and treat them as irresponsible children who cannot look after themselves but must be subordinated to males who rule them as in the U.S. and England.
Nazi BDM females. Many girls were raped by Russians during after WW II defeat (UH)
The policy of Nazism contrasts starkly with the evolution of emancipation under the Weimar Republic and is equally distinguishable from the patriarchal and conservative attitude under the German Empire.
First and foremost in the implied Nazi doctrine concerning women was the notion of motherhood and procreation for those of child-bearing ages. The Nazi's "model woman" did not have a career, but was responsible for the education of her children and for housekeeping.
Women only had a limited right to training revolving around domestic tasks and were, over time, restricted from teaching in universities, from medical professions, and from serving in political positions...
Many restrictions were lifted once wartime necessity dictated changes to policy later in the regime's existence. With few exceptions no women were allowed to carry out official functions.
While many women played a role at the heart of the Nazi system or filled official posts at the heart of the Nazi concentration camps, only a few were engaged in the German resistance and paid with their lives, such as Libertas Schulze-Boysen and Sophie Scholl. More
At home, so abroad:
Nazis and Prostitution
Documentary: The Third Reich's "Wermacht Brothels" from the time of the invasion of France began to keep Nazi soldiers safe. They were spreading sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis. Were Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, Hess, Goering, and other top party officials aware of the solution? Prostitution was made a state enterprise run by the military as Germans merged bureaucracy and sexual slavery for Nazi control of brothels and an industrial-scale sex trade.
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