Listen to this week’s podcasts from the Be Here Now Network

Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 351 – Remembering Civil Rights Leader John Lewis w/ Danny Goldberg

July 24, 2020

Danny Goldberg returns to the Mindrolling Podcast to honor the life of civil-rights leader and former United States House Representative John Lewis. John Robert...

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Via Daily Dharma: Realizing How Connected We Are

As we realize how truly connected we are to others, our loneliness recedes, we feel lighter and more resilient, and we move forward in our lives with a greater appreciation for our shared humanity.

—Mindy Newman, “Healing from Miscarriage”

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To Paint The Portrait Of A Bird // a poem by Jacques Prevert

a poem by Jacques Prevert
 (translated by Lawrence Ferlinghetti)

First paint a cage
with an open door
then paint
something pretty
something simple
something beautiful
something useful
for the bird
then place the canvas against a tree
in a garden
in a wood
or in a forest
hide behind the tree
without speaking
without moving...
Sometimes the bird comes quickly
but he can just as well spend long years
before deciding
Don't get discouraged
wait
wait years if necessary
the swiftness or slowness of the coming
of the bird having no rapport
with the success of the picture
When the bird comes
if he comes
observe the most profound silence
wait till the bird enters the cage
and when he has entered
gently close the door with a brush
then
paint out all the bars one by one
taking care not to touch any of the feathers of the bird
Then paint the portrait of the tree
choosing the most beautiful of its branches
for the bird
paint also the green foliage and the wind's freshness
the dust of the sun
and the noise of insects in the summer heat
and then wait for the bird to decide to sing
If the bird doesn't sing
it's a bad sign
a sign that the painting is bad
but if he sings it's a good sign
a sign that you can sign
so then so gently you pull out
one of the feathers of the bird
and you write yours name in a corner of the picture

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Via How to Live a Spiritual Life in a Capitalist World

Confronting the Dangers of a Materialistic Culture
 

As the COVID crisis continues, we’ve seen some of the most harmful ideologies underpinning our culture—including racism and runaway capitalism—pushed to a breaking point.

Dr. Bokin Kim, a Won Buddhist minister and President of the Won Institute of Graduate Studies in Philadelphia, describes the current pandemic as a warning signal for us to examine the materialistic foundations of our culture and the suffering it has caused.

Materialism has always been a central concern of Won Buddhism. The tradition was founded 100 years ago in South Korea with the guiding motive “As material civilization develops, cultivate spiritual civilization accordingly.” Concerned by rapid industrialization and the decline of moral values, the Korean founder of Won, Venerable Sotaesan set out to create a “buddhadharma of the future” that would make the Buddha’s teachings applicable to everyday life in modern society. Won principles can provide insight on the roots of human suffering in the 21st century and valuable guidance for navigating the fragile world we live in.

Watch our July Dharma Talk series with Dr. Kim to discover wisdom and practical tools for finding the right balance between our spiritual and material lives.

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