GATE 3: Writing to Awaken Humanity

GateCommunity.org/StoryCon, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013; Wisdom Quarterly

GATE 3: “Transformational Story Conference 2013”

“The Power of Story to Create Personal, Social, and Global Transformation”

“Celebrating Meaningful Messages for an Awakening Humanity”

• Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013
• Daytime Program: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Evening Program: 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

A Celebration of Transformational Entertainment, Media, and Arts

The Saban Theater
8440 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (MAP) (TICKETS)

LiveTalks LA:

Daniel Pink, Jan. 17

Matt Groening, Feb. 7th

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Los Angeles is a city of music (webcast)

Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; KROQ.com  (COUNTDOWN CLOCK: -11)

What if Mayan Calendar interpreters are off by nine days, ready? (beyondtheprophecies.com)

Gwen's Bush, Gavin, Night 2 (kroq.com)

While Wisdom Quarterly joined Dharma Punx at Against the Stream: Buddhist Meditation Society to see punk legends T.S.O.L. and the Adolescents, No Doubt made a surprise appearance at KROQ's annual "Almost Acoustic Xmas." As if the bill weren't full to the brim with talent, Gwen and Co. did a 40-minute set. Catch the one-time-only broadcast of the entire first night then tomorrow morning see No Doubt and many other artists:

Almost Acoustic Christmas Webcast: Night 1 Monday at 10:00 am, Night 2 Tuesday at 10:00 am (PST). WATCH HERE

Watch Saturday night’s show beginning today (Dec. 10) at 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time and Sunday night’s show on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 10:00 am. These will be the only opportunities to watch! And by the way, there's nothing "acoustic" about it.

NIGHT 1 WEBCAST SET TIMES:

• Youngblood Hawke – 10:00 am
• Two Door Cinema Club – 10:25 am
• The Gaslight Anthem – 10:55 am
• Walk The Moon – 11:30 am
• The Lumineers – 11:55 am
• AWOLNATION – 12:30 pm
• Slightly Stoopid – 12:55 pm
• Garbage – 1:25 pm
• Bush – 2:00 pm
• Rise Against – 2:40 pm
• Linkin Park – 3:15 pm

NIGHT 2: No Doubt, Of Monsters And Men, The Killers, Jack White, M83, fun., Neon Trees, Grouplove, Alex Clare, Imagine Dragons,  Passion Pit. WATCH

City of Music?
Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly

He's not crying! Something got in his eye.

The Gandharvas, or "The Angels" (the literal translation of the Spanish Los Angeles), really make this town the City of Music. 

Forget Nashville and the countless American garages and studio apartment bedrooms where most music is now made and mixed. The neon lights under the Hollywood sign still shine. Not only for "new" rock but pop music and rap, too. And the 55th Grammy Awards Show just wrapped up five days ago.

Dreamy gandharva Tadolf Swiftler

In Buddhist cosmology gandharvas (angels) are "heavenly messengers and musicians" of the first two space worlds above the human plane. The Sensual Sphere heavens are really into pleasure, and music plays a big part as does food and fun we wouldn't normally attribute to "angels." There's gossip, silliness, vanity, and cupidity galore. Think pagan Roman, Greek, and Hindu Indian pantheons. 

In one of their cities, where the stream-enterer Sakka is extraterrestrial king, these musicians entertain and entertain at what can only be thought of as massive cotillions, balls, and bashes, and concerts. 

Dark goddess Ke$ha jingles during the ball (kissfm.com)

 
Down here in the terrestrial "City of Angels," the big radio stations (and in other big markets) compete for dominance. KISS FM (an iheartradio.com affiliate) just had dreamy Tadolf Swiftler (a hybrid alien breakup artist with definite gandharva roots who also goes by Taylor Swift) and barfy Justin Bieber (another more-than-human oddity, uh, "star") play two nights of "Jingle Ball" concerts. KISS FM is the home of Ryan Seacrest, when he's not promoting the Kardashian sisters or every other show on TV (American Idol, etc.), and bills itself "L.A.'s #1 Hit Music Station," the music equivalent of TMZ.

12.12.12 Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert: Floyd, Stones, Who, Boss, Clapton, Kanye

The show also featured a rare American appearance by Korean Buddhist bigwig PSY (Gangam Style), our own sweet Valley Girl Satanist Ke$ha, the Jonas Brothers, fun., Flo Rida, Jasmine Villegas, Afrojack, The Wanted, Zedd, Owl City, Ellie Goulding, Maroon 5 and Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am, 4 Count, Sammy Adams, OneRepublic, Ne-Yo, and more glitter than Tinsel Town produces in a month. Never mind that upstart stations ("LA's Rock Alternative 98.7 FM," MyFM, or dinosaur rock KLOS FM who this year hosts the Doobie Brothers) also do their best to press artists into volunteering for these charity X-mas appearances/publicity stunts.

• 121212: HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF CONCERT
• (LA Times) The Rolling Stones will perform as well as Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, the Beatles' Paul McCartney, the Who, Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Chris Martin, Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters and Nirvana's Dave Grohl, and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
• Rising Mexican-American star Jenni Rivera killed in crash
• Beyond Mayan Prophecies for 12-12-12 
• Alanis Morrisette is on the "edge of evolution"
• Matisyahu does pre-Hanukkah concert
• Can RAP music fans be Buddhists? 

But it's not over! This Friday KPWR FM (Power106) is holding "Cali Christmas" at the same venue KROQ sold out this weekend. Rap superstars 2 Chainz (Zen koan master), Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Meek Mills, Ca$h Out, The Weeknd, and a surprise guest will perform. Li'l Wayne? Jay-Z? It's a secret! (And it's probably Wiz Khalifa).

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Girl vs. Girl: "Pitch Perfect" (video)

Amber Dorrian and Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; IMBD.com; Screen.yahoo.com

In one of the best pop films of the year, it's "Beca" (Anna Kendrick) versus the World. Until college and her professor father nudge her into expanding her horizons beyond beats and DJing, she's the lovable indie alt grrl. How is she converted to befriending females and getting out of her shell?  That is the central conceit of the movie -- acapella renditions of very cool songs. This would be a disaster if the music weren't so good. But behind the shiny songs and unreal (unrehearsed) performances that take place spontaneously throughout the story at Riff Offs and elsewhere is a very real story about what it's like among women, our separation, cattiness, and constant counterproductive competition. 

Drill Sgt. Aubrey (imdb.com)

Thank you Nazi Aubrey (Anna Camp), super-sexy "Stacie" (Alexis Knapp), supermodel "Kimmy Jin" (Jinhee Joung), hilarious comedienne "Fat Amy" (Rebel Wilson), freaky-geek Quiet "Lilly" (Hana Mae Lee), and uber-nemesis "Bumper" (Adam DeVine). There's lesbianism (very jokey), there's misogyny, there's promiscuity, there are jerk adults (color commentators "Gail" and John), there are dance offs, and there is that one eternal truth secretly brewing underneath it all, covert competition in a gynocentric cooperative frame. The movie is not all good news; it is almost ruined by the syrupy "good guy" male lead "Jesse" (Loser). Fortunately other men, like "Bumper" and "Donald" (Utkarsh Ambudkar) and "Benji" (Ben Platt), round out the cast, all straight, all acapella. More

NOTE: This review and focus on a commercial success was written under duress after Wisdom Quarterly staff were forced to watch the movie three times by Features Editor Ashley ("Aubrey") Wells, who seemed to be experiencing some kind of enlightening experience or catharsis from the story. Who knows why the Dharma Editor allowed except that he liked the movie, too. It does grow on a person and is not bad but only compared to Hollywood's ordinary output. It has legs; it came in eighth place in the Top Ten this week.

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Buddhist Radio: Anger, Emotions, the Brain

Karla McLaren (Language of Emotions), Dr. Rick Hanson (Enlightened Brain), Roy Tuckman ("Something's Happening," KPFK) and SoundsTrue.com; Wisdom Quarterly

Dharma over the airwaves of LA (Ben Ashmole/flickr.com)

   

Loving is easier than taking a pill (weheartit.com)

Los Angeles is fortunate to have Buddhism on the radio at 90.7 FM. The connected world is fortunate, too, because it streams worldwide.
  
Unfortunately, much of the Buddhist programming occurs overnight. It is radio for night people with Roy of Hollywood on "Something's Happening." Thankfully, it's temporarily available in the audio archives to listen to FREE from Pacifica.  

In an extraordinarily lucid and enlightening segment, Karla McLaren (12:00-1:30 am, Sept. 11, 2012) redefines the usefulness of "negative" emotions. What is anger for? How about sadness, depression, guilt, and worry?
 

Emotions are as integral to our existence as consciousness (kyleweber.com)

   
They all serve us and have something they are trying to tell us. But they speak in a special way. In The Language of Emotions: What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You, McLaren reveals that society tells us something different: We shouldn't feel them at all, and if we do, we should feel bad about it! Society shoulds all over us, and emotions linger for years unheard and unprocessed. McLaren points out that there's a better way.

• Part 4 of 6: "The Gift of Anger - Healthy Boundaries." Preparing for emotional channeling. Sadness and anger.  Contentment, guilt, and happiness.  Worry and joy.  Heading into deeper water.  Channeling anger.  Fury and rage.  Hatred: Part One.  Hatred: Part Two. 
• PLAY NOW

Does the brain know what the heart is saying?

Not content to deal with the heart, Roy follows up with a brilliant assessment of the brain (1:30-3:30 am). Neuroscientist Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of The Enlightened Brain: The Neuroscience of Awakening, gets to the root of brain structures and their activity in relation to Session 5 of 6: "Equanimity." What is an equanimous mind? Better still, What is equanimity?
  
Hanson tackles bigger Buddhist questions: The cause of suffering.  How our reactions create unnecessary suffering.  How the brain creates suffering.  The four components of equanimity.  Guided Practice: Focusing on Change.  Interdependence.  Guided reflection on the causes of a present difficulty.  Not being alarmed about being alarmed.  
  
Guided Practice: You're Alright Right Now.  The eight worldly winds.  Guided Practice: Tracking the Feeling Tone of Experiences and Their Reactions.  Calm, contentment, and virtue.  Guided Practice: Opening to a Growing Sense of Contentment.  Serenity. 

• PLAY NOW
• Coming soon: FREE LIVE STREAMING VIDEO EVENT: RICK HANSON "The Compassionate Brain"  October 8, 2012.
• Both authors presented courtesy of Sounds True, (800) 333-9185, soundstrue.com

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Punk Rock: My Career as a Jerk (video)

Johnny Whiteside (LAWeekly.com); Cinefamily.org; Wisdom Quarterly

(BlankTV) From the Net's biggest, uncensored, completely D.I.Y. punk, hardcore, indie, and alternative music video site, BlankTV.com

The Circle Jerks were always one of the most explosive, engaging, and wildly enjoyable forces in punk rock: a militant shock troupe whose mixture of frantic hedonism, naked aggression, withering whimsy, and walloping music was never less than flabbergasting. 
  

There ain't hyperbole lurid enough to attempt to began to convey the heat and velocity at which the band has consistently operated, a fact that makes the arrival of director Dave Markey's jolting new jerkumentary, Circle Jerks: My Career as a Jerk, such a welcome event.

  
For those who experienced firsthand the group's weaponized punk-rock stylings, it's a glorious reminder of how dangerous some types of pleasure can be; for those just immersing themselves in the Keith Morris-brewed vat of glorious self-destructo shenanigans, it's a vivid look into punk's artistic past that rates as equal parts instruction manual and Scared Straight cautionary tale.
  

Filmmaker Markey will join band members Greg Hetson and Lucky Lehrer for a post-mortem gab fest. Don't be stupid, kids; go! Part of the Don't Knock The Rock Festival. Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N Fairfax Ave., Hollywood; Thursday, Aug. 30, 7:30 pm; $12. (323) 655-2510.

UPDATE

Review: The movie is great! Wisdom Quarterly was on the scene as 75% of the members announced that they were ready to reunite. Unfortunately, Keith Morris missed the first showing and was only later seen crossing the street to the venue after all the voting members on stage for the Q&A had adjourned to partake of free refreshments in the open-air patio. But during the movie, Morris repeatedly alluded to being open to the possibility of joining the original members and making a go of it to bring a new generation of punks hits like this:
 
"Paid [Afghan] Vacation"

"I hope you're having fun. Where's your uniform? Where's your gun? Better rub up that suntan oil 'Cause you'll be fighting in the hot sun. It's not Vietnam, It's another oil company scam. Salute that flag for Uncle Sam. Get your money out, place your bets, It's Afghanistan! Fix bayonets, check grenades. Got enough bullets, Got enough rounds to wipe out this place? We're the infantry and the cavalry. Parachutes fill the sky, Bodies burn, and people die..."

• VIDEO: Circle Jerks live at the House of Blues
• FYF Indy Music Festival expands to two days in LA 

   

Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) at Occupy San Francisco

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Dan Aykroyd on UFOs (video)

Gregg Durham, Recon Earth; Wisdom Quarterly

 

Hollywood super star Dan Aykroyd, an avid believer in the existence of alien life forms and the government's cover-ups, hosts this look into the UFO phenomenon. Aykroyd shares his personal experiences and discusses recent findings with author and noted researcher David Sereda.
 

Space aliens, akasha devas (Jasspierxia)

DAN AYKROYD UNPLUGGED ON UFOS features sightings, UFO footage, and testimonials from astronaut Gordon Cooper and others, including former-President Ronald Reagan. (Aykroyd has photo and video material of the famous O'Hare sighting in his possession, which will be presented is his new documentary).
 

This is an impressive, intelligent, informative, and enjoyable investigation from Hollywood legend, SNL alumnus, and official celebrity spokesman and lifetime member of MUFON.

Aykroyd`s honesty on the subject is impressive for its fairness and balance. This is a well rounded and down to Earth interview on various angles and implications of an extraterrestrial presence in the human world. More

• No Bill Murray in "Ghostbusters 3" says Dan Aykroyd

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A Buddhist Path to Recovery? (video)

Buddhist Recovery at Against the Stream, Los Angeles; Wisdom Quarterly (Part 1 of 3)

(SoberLiving.com, SLtscrc) This drug rehab program has succeeded for over 25 years in Newport Beach, California, specializing in separate treatment programs for women or men, including an eating disorder facility. After 30-90 days of sobriety, the Beachside Extended Care Program allows structured treatment in a monitored residence to reintegrate into society. Or get back into the classroom through T.E.A.C.H., which provides transportation and highly supportive academic counseling. Info: (866) 323-5609.
 

The Four Truths of Recovery

These four truths come from a Buddhist perspective that says:
  
“All beings have the power and potential to free themselves from suffering.”
  
We [at Dharma Punx/Against the Stream] feel confident in the Buddha’s teachings to relieve suffering of all kinds, including the suffering of addiction.

1. Addiction creates suffering.

We come to understand, acknowledge, admit, and accept all of the ways our addictions and addictive behaviors have caused suffering in our lives.

• ACTION: Write an in-depth and detailed inventory of the suffering you have experienced in association with your addictions.

2. Addiction is not all your fault.

We come to understand that all forms of addiction have their roots in the natural human tendency to crave for life to be more pleasurable and less painful than it actually is. The addict is not at fault for the root causes and conditions that lead to addiction, only for the habitual reactive patterns that perpetuate it.

• ACTION: Investigate, analyze, and share this inventory with your mentor or teacher and come to understand the nature of your addiction/suffering.

3. Recovery is possible.

Freedom from the suffering caused by addiction is attainable -- if we are ready and willing to take responsibility for our actions and follow the Eightfold Path.

• ACTION: Take refuge in the community, practice, and potential of your own recovery. Study and apply the principles of the path, and eventually you will become confident with a verified faith in the path of recovery/enlightenment through the actions you take on the path.

4. The Eightfold Path to recovery

After the ecstasy, the laundry: Recovery is work.

This is an abstinence-based path and philosophy. We believe that the recovery process begins when abstinence (from all substances and related behaviors) begins. The eight factors or folds of the path are meant to be developed, penetrated, and experienced for oneself. This is not a linear path; it is not taken in order. Rather, all of the factors are developed and applied simultaneously. This is a guide to having a life freed of addiction. The eight folds of recovery are maintained and brought to perfection throughout life.

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66-Day Meditation Challenge Climax (video)

Aura Vasquez (Against the Stream), Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

Aura (studioajh.com)

HOLLYWOOD, California - Meditating warriors, the 66-Day Meditation Challenge is reaching its climax.
 
Come sit with us, Monday through Friday 7:00 am, Saturday 5:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am and 6:00 pm. How has the challenge impacted your life? (Leave a private comment).

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."
  

"When we calm mind and senses, we become conscious of an [illusory] inner self."

"Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn't more complicated than that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it." - Sylvia Boorstein 
  
"Self-discipline, although difficult, and not always easy while combating negative emotions, should be a defensive measure. At least we will be able to prevent the advent of negative conduct dominated by negative emotion. That is sila, moral ethics. Once we develop this by familiarizing ourselves with it, along with mindfulness and conscientiousness, eventually that pattern and way of life will become a part of our own life." - The 14th Dalai Lama (Live in a Better Way: Reflections on Truth, Love and Happiness)

Wiki Weekly Food for Thought

• The Five Hindrances of the Heart/Mind
• The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 
• The Noble Eightfold Path
• The Four Noble Truths

Dharma Punx Classes
Intro to Meditation 
Meditation and Dharma Talk
Every Wednesday @ 7:30 pm
Saturday Afternoon Meditation and Talk
Every Saturday @ 5:00 pm
Meditation and Dharma Talk
Every Sunday @ 11:00 am
Community Silent Sit and Meditation
Every Sunday @ 6:00 pm
Recollective Awareness Meditation
Every Monday @ 10:00 am
Some Saturdays @ 10:00 am (see calendar)
Silent Morning Sits
Mon through Fri @ 7:00 am-7:45 am
Meditation and Dharma Talk
Every Monday @ 7:30 pm
Noah and Matthew alternate teaching
Dharma Den: Community Meditation
Every Wednesday @ 7:30 pm
The Dharma Test Kitchen
Every Friday @ 7:30 pm
Meditation and Dharma Talk
Every Thursday @ 7:30 pm
   

Creative Advantage

Half-day with Caitriona Reed, June 9, Santa Monica

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"Dharma Maps" at Against the Stream

What is enlightenment? Bodhi, in Pāli and Sanskrit, is often translated as “enlightenment.” 

   

A better translation might be “to awake, become aware, notice, know, understand.” What does it mean to become awake? How do I wake up, become enlightened?
   
Dharma maps are descriptions of the path to enlightenment, strategies, step-by-step guides for organizing insight practice toward the (non) goal of enlightenment.

   

There many such maps, perhaps as many as there are teachers. Which works for us? This course will look at them as if portions of the Requisites of Enlightenment were independent maps:

 

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, Sixteen Stages of Insight, Four Stages of Enlightenment, Ten Fetters... The course will also look at the work of the commentaries and

• The Progress of Insight by Mahasi Sayadaw
• Mastering the Core Practices of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram
• The Pros and Cons of Dharma Maps by Shinzen Young.

This is an intermediate level course and will explore insight practice using guided-meditation. Everyone who is comfortable sitting two 30-minute guided meditations per class is welcome.

• Dharma Maps: An 8-Week Series
• Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm
• June 7, 14, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, and August 2.
• Cost: $20 per evening. Some scholarships and work study available. No one is turned away for lack of funds. More

George Haas, who is from Manhattan, began sitting vipassana at Ordinary Dharma in Venice and reading extensively. In 1998, he began study with his current teacher, Shinzen Young, and Vipassana Support International, where he is now a senior facilitator.

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