The Buddha's [distinction] about "desire" that Western Buddhism gets wrong
The rare beauty of Native American men
(The Midnight Library)
July 10, 2026: [Theravada] Buddhism is often described as a tradition that teaches us to eliminate "desire." This is one of the most persistent misreadings in the history of the Western encounter with Eastern philosophy.
The ancient Pali canon makes a precise distinction between two words that, in English, may both be rendered as "desire," but they are almost opposites.
Tanha is compulsive "craving" driven by a sense of lack — whereas chanda is "aspiration" driven by genuine vision.
The Buddha actively encouraged chanda ("desire," "aspiration," "will," "intention") while working to release tanha ("desire," "craving," lit. "thirst").
Professor of Neuroscience Dr. Wolfram Schultz, MD, at Cambridge University, England, documented that the dopaminereward system produces more activation in anticipation (wanting) than in satisfaction (getting) — confirming the structural mechanism of tanha (craving) 2,600 years after the Buddha described it.
Neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Judson Brewer, MD, who studies the default mode network at Brown University confirmed in The Craving Mind (2017) that mindful [dispassionate detached attention to what is happening in the present moment without moving towards the pleasant, away from the unpleasant, or being confused/bored by the neutral] observation of craving interrupts the compulsive cycle measurably.
Three Buddhist practices drawn directly from the Pali canon: The R.A.I.N. practice, the aspiration question, and the satiation experiment.
Recognize, name what is present
Allow, do not react (chase, act on, suppress, check out, do not crave, resist, or go dull in boredom/confusion), let it be present (radical acceptance)
Investigate, what does it feel like, where is it located in the body, what is its texture?
Nurture, bring kindness to the experience, not to the craving itself but to the part of you experiencing it
"This practice interrupts the automatic cycle of trigger to craving to behavior and creates a gap in which choice becomes possible."
"Prof. Brewer's research has confirmed that this gap created through mindful [dispassionate, equanimous, attentive, vigilant, wakeful, unbiased] observation of craving measurably reduces the compulsive quality of tanha [craving, addiction, obsession, compulsion] over time."
BIO: Dr. Judson Brewer, MD, PhD (aka "Dr. Jud"), is a New York Times best-selling author and pioneering psychiatrist blending cutting-edge neuroscience with 20+ years of Buddhist mindfulness training. A leader in the science of habit change, he is director of research at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center and has held positions at MIT, Yale U., and UMass. Dr. Jud developed app-based programs like Mindshift Recovery, Unwinding Anxiety, Eat Right Now, and Craving to Quit, clinically proven to treat anxiety, addiction, and emotional eating. He’s the author of The Craving Mind, Unwinding Anxiety, and The Hunger Habit, and co-founder of the nonprofit Mindshift Recovery. He is also a collaborator with Clear Mountaineers and medical researchers Dori Rosenberg and Dave Arterburn. More
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The Midnight Library @TheRealMidnight...) July 10, 2026; Dr. Wolfram Schultz; Dr. Judson Brewer; Dr. Tara Brach; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
We spent the day at the largest Chinese New Year celebration in the United States (roughly the size of Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, Upstate New York). Hsi Lai (pronounced \she lie\, which means "Going West") Temple had it all, including Aztec dancers (Danza Azteca, perhaps representing Siberian Asians cum Native Americans who are mostly local Mexicans) topping off a cultural show of martial arts demonstrations, dances, dragons, and a big central horse representing the year to come.
The lines were out the door but moving fast.
The all-you-can-eat vegan buffet was great (daily, only $10) with noodles, veggies, sweet and sour, tofu, lotus roots, soup, tea, fruit, and fried Indian dharma wheels. The rare rainstorm in Los Angeles cleared the skies as the sun broke through for the outdoor festivities.
We have never seen the temple, said to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere, this crowded. Parking was only found blocks away, and buses were bringing in celebrants. Everyone had their phones out, filming the spectacle. And even the monastics were clapping and enjoying themselves.
Everyone was immersed in Chinese culture uniquely blending with this part of Mexico. (Yes, California is part of Mexico or was until our empire stole it from Spain's empire). Perhaps 20,000 well-wishers passed through the gates throughout the day. Festivities continue for two weeks.
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Burning Man horror: Man found dead in pool of blood as festivalgoers watch effigy torched
(ETimes) Sept. 1, 2025: BLACK ROCK DESERT. A festivalgoer was found dead in a gruesome scene at Burning Man in Nevada, just as the iconic human-shaped effigy was set ablaze on Saturday night. Authorities are investigating the death as a homicide (murder), with deputies, BLM rangers, and Black Rock Rangers securing the area while interviewing attendees. The identity of the deceased has not yet been revealed. Burning Man organizers are cooperating fully, urging festivalgoers not to interfere as the investigation continues in this shocking desert tragedy.
Burning Man 2025 mind-blowing night life
(Breeze Offroad) Sept. 1, 2025: BLACK ROCK CITY. 🔥 Burning Man is a week-long, radically creative gathering held annually in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It’s not a typical festival—but rather a temporary dust metropolis called Black Rock City, built from scratch by tens of thousands of participants who co-create everything from experiences to massive art installations to themed camps and wild mutant vehicles. The event centers around radical self-expression, community, and self-reliance, with no commercial transactions (except ice and coffee). It culminates in the symbolic burning of a towering wooden effigy known as “The Man,” a ritual that gives the event its name, and the central temple on the closing night. #burningmanfestival#burningman
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(Breeze Offroad) Aug. 29, 2025: BLACK ROCK CITY, Nevada - 🔥 Burning Man is a week-long, radically creative gathering held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. It’s not a music festival, not a trade show, and definitely not an average [basic b*tch] party. Well, then, what is it? —It’s a temporary city built from scratch by tens of thousands of active and creative participants who come to share art, ideas, and experiences. #burningman2025 #burningmanfestival #blackrockcity
Our de facto correspondent (Escaping Normal Life) has gone silent. Are we worried? No. Maybe he's having a near death experience or something life-altering. The show must go on. Readers want to know, so here's the update:
Burning Man has an "Orgy Dome"?
BURNING MAN 2025 ORGY DOME: On August 27, 2025, it was revealed that the desert festival's "Orgy Dome," which had been a popular and active free love party scene at the festival since 2003, had collapsed due to sudden and very strong desert winds [61 ("Burning Man's Orgy Dome has been destroyed")]. It was afterwards announced that the sex tents would be restored [62]. Gates also closed on different occasions due to bad weather, with at least one festival attendee being electrocuted [63]. More
What really happens at Burning Man? Everything's free, life lived by principles, not a music festival but rather a festival of lights and lifestyle, standup comedy, Orgy Dome, acid (LSD) trip, the afterglow, Buddhist insight: "Desire what you don't have a little less, desire more what you do have." Put the phone away. Ride a bike. Stare at the sky and into different dimensions that are just as far away as the doors of the perception. Mario Adrion explains, concluding, "Namaste, b*tches."
24 hours at Burning Man 2025 – Daily Playa Survival Vlog
(Escaping Normal Life) Aug. 28, 2025: In this daily playa survival vlog, I go inside the heart of Black Rock City – where 70,000 people come together in the Nevada desert to create the most unbelievable temporary city on Earth.
🌵✨ Yes, it's muddy and messy, but that doesn’t stop the fun, the phenomenal art, massive sound camps, live music, free spa treatments, caked mud, no showers, and unbelievable energy all around.
Beyond the parties, Burning Man is also a place for self-growth, spirituality, and community – with religious temples, AA meetings, weddings, families, kids, and powerful moments of togetherness that make this city feel like home.
Too often, people focus only on the negatives, but the truth is Burning Man is a functioning city full of creativity, connection, and human spirit. Join me for 24 hours of survival, dust, mud, art, music, and magic at Burning Man 2025! Venmo: venmo.com/u/escaping_normal_life
Margaret Qualley, "Reality Is Not For Me" t-shirt; Mario Adrion; Double Dusted Podcast, Burning Man Orgy Dome experience, posted March 2025; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly
Burning Man 2025 Daily Vlog: Surviving the Playa, One Day at a Time
(Escaping Normal Life)
Aug. 26, 2025: Step into the heart of Burning Man 2025 with my daily vlog series, where I document what it’s really like to survive on the playa [Black Rock City's ancient beachfront]—dust, art, chaos, and all.
From battling whiteout sandstorms and extreme heat to exploring mind-blowing art installations and wild camps, this vlog gives a raw, unfiltered look at life in Black Rock City.
Whether one is a first-timer preparing for a journey or just curious about the Burning Man experience, see how I handle the challenges of dust storms, food, de-hydration, sand camping, and staying safe while also diving into the magic of this mystical [sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll] event.
👉 Subscribe and follow along for daily Burning Man 2025 updates, survival tips, and behind-the-scenes moments not seen anywhere else.
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