And now, Buddhist entertainment news. A new ballet based on the life of the Buddha will debut at the Paris Opera this week. Chorographed by Angelin Preljocaj to music composed by Bruno Mantovani, "Siddharta" (French spelling) portrays Siddhartha Gautama's quest from indulgence to asceticism to meditation to enlightenment.

"Evoking Siddhartha's life through dance for me appeared self-evident," the choreographer said.  "He has a body and it is that body that goes out to seek a state of enlightenment." I have no production stills to show you, but the Paris Opera website pictures a man with gold glitter on his face and a woman shrouded, sort of, in what looks like plastic wrap.

In Thailand, Buddhist groups are protesting the theatrical release of a film that depicts hoodlums dressed as monks and touching women. The chairperson of the Association of Buddhist Relations accused the film's producers of trying to "destroy" Buddhism. I say if Buddhism survived Shaolin vs. Evil Dead, there's nothing to worry about.

Kyle the Reformed Buddhist found a copy of the January 8, 1940 Life magazine. In it, a young Quentin Roosevelt (grandson of President Theodore R.) describes traveling to China and Tibet and encountering Buddhism there. This link takes you to PDFs of the magazine pages, vintage advertising and all, so you can read the article yourself. You may find it a bit disturbing.

From the introduction to the article, written by somebody other than Quentin Roosevelt:

Buddha, in the 6th century BC, was Prince Siddhartha Gautama, heir to a province in northern India. Revolted by the superstitions of India's native religions and the caste system they supported, he turned philosopher, and taught a pessimistic denial of religion, a stoic, agnostic despair of the riddles of life that make religion a necessity.

Within two centuries of Buddha's death he was enthroned ... as the God of a religion more elaborate and fiend-ridden than those he once denied.

Read more...

I get comments sometimes from people who say they find Buddhism interesting except for the supernatural parts, like reincarnation and karma. Most of the time, people misunderstand Buddhist teachings on reincarnation. But in any event, merely "believing in" rebirth seems to have no purpose, and I think it's all right if you don't. Just don't close your mind to it.

Karma is different. I don't think of karma as supernatural, but that's because once you understand what it is you can observe it happening, both through you and through other people. Science doesn't explain it, but I don't rule out the possibility that some branch of science -- neurophysiology, perhaps --  will explain it someday. And if not, I'm still seeing it happen, so I can't very well disbelieve it.

Read more...

"The Buddha," a documentary by David Grubin and narrated by Richard Gere, will be premiering on PBS television April 7. I bring it up early because the website for the documentary is worth checking out now. You can watch sections of the documentary online.

And if you click on the section called "Faces of Buddha: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times," there are more links to essays by teachers such as Joan Halifax, Ajahn Brahm, and Joseph Goldstein, addressing "how the Buddha's teachings can resonate in your life." It's a lovely online resource.