“So I’ve got that going for me…which is nice.” Please follow me if you’re into this sort of thing. Read more

This past week, I moderated a conversation between Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges and Zen Peacemakers founder Bernie Glassman, authors of the brand new book The Dude and the Zen Master, for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (one of the best causes around). A post about that event is forthcoming, but I’ve already received lots of notes from people who attended and/or saw the pictures of it online. Above all else, they’re wondering about what all of the things are on my... Read more

I was sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Marlene Jones, a mighty and important presence in terms of thinking about power, privilege and difference in American sanghas. Hers is a tremendous loss for all Buddhist Americans. A bio for her at the website of the San Francisco Zen Center reads: Dr. Marlene Jones holds appointments in the Social and Cultural Studies Program in Humanities Department at Dominican University. She is a social and community activist with a doctorate in... Read more

Wishing Senator Hirono and the 113th Congress auspicious beginnings. Please get it together and do us proud. The country needs you. Read more

Not long ago, I brought you news about Robert Thurman’s attempt at an “internet meme” — a video about Grover Norquist’s Congressional pledges. At 11 minutes and minus the snappy presentation of similarly lengthy memes like “Kony 2012″, I expressed skepticism about the chances of “Buddha Bob’s” video assuming meme proportions. But he gets the last laugh, I think: the video is currently at 29,161 views and growing! Not only that: Buddha Bob is at it again! He’s just uploaded a... Read more

Continuing the end-of-the-year lists, here are five of my favorite dharma books from 2012. (Unlike my list of five favorite films from 2012, I haven’t ranked these — they’re just listed alphabetically.) I really want to know what yours are, and I hope you’ll share them with us in the comments of this post.  *     *     * * Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama This one’s kind of a... Read more

If you asked me, it was a good year for films with a social conscience. In the spirit of end-of-the-year lists, here are five of my favorites from 2012. I hope you’ll share yours with us in the comments too. *     *     * 1. Lincoln, dir. Steven Spielberg I’m of the opinion that Lincoln is Steven Spielberg’s best film, and that sends it right to the top of any year’s list. Sure, the screenwriter, Tony Kushner, is... Read more

Talon Marks — the student newspaper of Cerritos College — did a nice little write-up about my very first Climate Reality presentation, which I did on their campus back in November. You can read the article here. As I’ve previously mentioned in a post for this blog, I am a trained and certified Climate Leader with Former Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps. As a certified Climate Leader, I’m charged to go forth and present on climate change to various groups and... Read more

A must-watch… Read more

DEMAND A PLAN. Read more