Jesse P. Hiltz

Jesse P. Hiltz

17p

13 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - Seeing Buddhism in "Th... · 0 replies · +1 points

My interest is also peaked.

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - "The Sickest Buddhist"... · 0 replies · +1 points

Other view on the sickest buddhist
One City: "The Sickest Buddhist, Lululemon and Spiritual Materialism: So Overrated" -
http://blog.beliefnet.com/onecity/2009/08/the-sic...

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - "The Sickest Buddhist"... · 0 replies · +1 points

So good.

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - From The Worst Horse's... · 0 replies · +1 points

Not that I don't enjoy our more serious content, but this is quite possibly my most favorite sunspace post, ever. More Rod, More!

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - How to charge your "Bu... · 0 replies · +1 points

It seems that whether or not these devices are "authentic" to a mediation or mindful tradition is only the surface of something more important.
Let's not pretend that someday we will somehow return to a golden age, without electronics or technology - like a zero-impact, techno-Eden. A phone that can be charged by our own fidgeting (mindful or otherwise), rather than a well outlet, seems a step in a productive, or at least, a pragmatic direction.
We all operate in a materialistic, Late-capitalist model of free market economy, so if we want our gadgets to become eco-friendly, which I do, it would seem that they have to "take-off" from some sort of marketing niche. And, unfortunately, eco-friendly products are expensive, so a "handheld meditation power converter" (as opposed to wall plug-in) for Buddhists with money to spend - well, you have to start somewhere.

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - God in (primitive?) Tibet · 0 replies · +1 points

I think we can count china out of this one. The film was made by a huge catholic charity called "Aid to the Church in Need" that started in the 1940s. http://www.acn-intl.org/index_s.html

Their mission statement says "Our Mission is to help oppressed and persecuted Church throughout the world." If this is the sentiment in the documentary - which alas, we have not seen to whole of yet - the film might actually be a middle form of propaganda: its not trying to condemn Buddhism, but wants to tip the scales slightly in their favor in that geographical location.

Presumably, those impressed by the doc will donate to the charity in the name of the catholic missionary in Tibet.

Does this makes sense?

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - God in (primitive?) Tibet · 0 replies · +1 points

I was just asking Mark Drew, on the facebook portion of this discussion, what some of the possible reason why Catholicism hasn't taken off in Tibet as it has with other missionary territories. I was wondering if anyone here had any thoughts on that issue?

Also, in response to Rodd, its hard to tell the agenda of the film. There isn't much information on it elsewhere. I virtually just popped up, but it seems quite well made. I'm sure that it has been crafted with the best of intentions. Most things are, which why the language doesn't at first seem hostile. The language does, however, use a very particular choice of words, most of which have more archaic, negative contexts then more thoughtful synonym. I would say that, whatever the intent, there is sometime implicit going on, even if it isn't explicit. But that maybe is leaving too much up to interpretation.

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - Harold Ramis, Groundho... · 0 replies · +1 points

I don’t see this is a scandal and don’t think anyone of us here were embarrassed by Ramis’ comment. To put in one last word, my goal was simply ask “what is Buddhist Hype?” It was certainly not intended to sell magazines.

But if that is the charge as it stands, I’d still like to ask the question again. If what I’m doing is Buddhist hype (by linking to our own story and to the interview in which Ramis allegedly scorns us), what does that mean. What are its limits?

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - The Karmapa turns 24â€... · 0 replies · +1 points

Well put. And I thank you for quoting Moby Dick, there is more wisdom in that book that most people would care to admit.

14 years ago @ Shambhala SunSpace - Harold Ramis, Groundho... · 0 replies · +1 points

Perhaps, I could make a couple points to clear up some misunderstandings.

Perhaps the tongue-and-cheek nature of this blogpost didn't come through. I am aware that I've engaged in Buddhist hype. I feel that this point is made honestly enough. I'll quote myself here: "[...] insinuating that Buddhists will watch, read, listen, to anything a famous person says, writes, produces, that mentions, implies, implicates something directly, connotatively, remotely Buddhist."

I'd hope that the reflexivity of the statement is apparent, the irony of which is what is key here.

So, regarding the charge of "starf**king," I'd like to deny this. We've just done a piece on Ramis, yes, we are guilty of this, (Groundhog day is, without a doubt, a popular film among Buddhists) so him mentioning us seems apt enough. But, we've interpreted the situation as playful, not malicious, and we are engaging playfully with it.

Finally, if the charge of "lowbrow" was made, I'd say that there is indeed a difference of “brows” between Groundhog Day and Animal House. I mean, doesn’t Jack Black eat some poop in the last movie? But this doesn't demote his entire corpus, does it? Nor does it insinuate that low brow isn’t enjoyable; Animal House is a roar.

In sum, you are correct to see the hype, but believe that this was mainly my point the whole time.