G. Yamazawa - "Elementary"

In this powerful slam performance, award-winning poet George Yamazawa recounts his earliest memories of teasing classmates by calling them “gay,” and the reaction he got from his Buddhist father. In rhythmic verse, Yamazawa talks about the power of words as insults and poetry, and the love that Buddhism inspires.

As the Zombie Population Rises

Population Matters (previously known as the Optmum Population Trust) have launched a three-minute video about overpopulation for Halloween. The humorous, faux-documentary style provides a number of key statistics and includes references to population dynamics, biodiversity loss, climate change and water, energy and housing constraints.

Simon Ross, chief executive of Population Matters, said, “We believe that zombies are a perfect metaphor for humanity’s blind growth in numbers and heedless exploitation of resources. The film is set in London but references global population growth and could be set anywhere. It is our first foray into filmmaking for young people, who are a key audience for our message of the benefits of small families. We hope that it will be well received and are planning to produce more short films in the near future.”

Samsara - Anicca

The word "more" has never carried more weight or sadness than in this beautiful animated short from Alan Holly. This was shortlisted for the Academy Awards and nominated for the Annies — watch and you'll know why.

What if the Homeless Gave You Money?

"Let's see how people feel about themselves when someone who is classified as "lesser" than them on societies class ladder offers them money."

(As always, appologies for the advert, skip as soon as you can.)

Generosity by Gil Fronsdal

This was recorded at the Insight Meditation Centre in Redwood City, CA in October 2011.



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4

Buddhism, China and the Environment

Communist China is supporting a return to traditional Buddhist values in order to convince citizens to care about the environment.
 

Transforming Unhealthy Habits through Mindfulness by Hugh Byrne

When harmful or unhealthy habits form, they can cause us much suffering and they can be hard to change because they are carried out automatically and without conscious awareness. Mindfulness is a key to changing harmful or unwanted habits as it provides skillful methods and practices to bring them into the light of awareness. Three elements of mindfulness are particularly important in changing unhealthy or unwanted habits - Intention, Attention, and Attitude. The talk explores these three elements with a focus on Intention.