"Metta World Peace" rules!

Wisdom Quarterly

It is not often one can look up to a sports star. (Unless it's a towering human titan with remnant DNA from our gigantic past due to manipulation from fallen space beings like asuras, nagas, and devas). But Ron Artest is different. He would not let anything stand in the way of a name change to wear kindness, friendliness (mettā or maitri in Sanskrit), altruism, and peace like a badge for all to see. (Badges are available from tee-shirt dealers in the form of yellow jerseys for $32.99).

(Jayamangalani) From the sutra on loving kindness. By the power of this discourse, the "demons" and ogres (yakkhas) do not bring up fearful visions. A person making effort regarding this instruction day and night (by reciting and practicing) sleeps comfortably and is freed of bad dreams among other benefits.

Metta is a Pali (an exclusively Buddhist language) word that means "altruistic love" -- loving kindness, loving friendliness, agape, fraternity, eudaimonia, non-enmity, non-animosity, non-separation.

We are all connected on some level. And in recognition of this, to break down the barriers set up by illusion, we practice loving-kindness meditation. world peace speaks for itself.

And it speaks of one of the results of cultivating metta. The other result is immediate, our own peace of mind, relief, and reconnection.

There are 11 benefits to developing metta, and those are to be expected from someone who develops metta to the level of absorption (jhana). Otherwise, the benefits may sound preposterous and overblown. Metta cultivated to any extent benefits oneself, others, and everyone. It is not possible to benefit others without benefiting oneself.

It is altruism nonetheless, just as harming others invariably harms oneself. Altruism exists but is not achieved instantly. As the delusion of self and separation fall away by progressive insight, metta is the natural outcome. There is no wisdom without compassion.

There are three poisons and their opposites, the Three Antidotes:

1. Altruism or non-greed (alobha): selflessness, concern for the welfare of others, a traditional virtue in Buddhist and many other cultures, the opposite of selfishness. Instead of being "selfish," one expresses an enlightened self-interest by being both for one's own welfare and the welfare of others simultaneously, knowing that any benefit to others does indeed benefit oneself now and/or in the future
2. Loving-kindness or non-hatred (adosa): metta, consideration for others, friendliness, nonresistance, acceptance, allowing. It is the opposite of frustration that flows in harmony with others and the situation, accepting what is and choosing what to do from there (even if that means working to oppose it). It is freedom from anger, cruelty, wrath, and annoyance (which is where anger starts).
3. Wisdom or non-delusion (amoha): insight, realization of the Four Ennobling Truths, which reveals our interdependence and interconnectedness. Far from being alone and separated, we are intimately tied and experiencing much of the same thing. Therefore, just as we would want to be treated we would be wise to treat others. It will come back to us by the mysterious workings of karma.
   

Money and the Kindness of Strangers

Wisdom Quarterly

It was raining money at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium! Club-level server Heather Allison was taking orders in the stands at a Chargers football game when she tripped and showered unsuspecting fans a level below with about $1,000 in cash. You can guess what happened.

• A man threw his baby over the railing telling him to grab as much cash as he could before hitting the bleachers?
• Fans began to fight each other resulting in two deaths in a mad scramble during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression?
• Gunshots were fired by security personnel in an attempt to clear the crowd who looked up to see money raining down before the shots did injuring many in the confusion and stampede?
  
• No, it was even more amazing. The fans surprised everyone.

Sports hooligans, susceptible to groupthink, give all fans a bad name (AP)

“All my customers began screaming over the railing to the people below: ‘That’s the servers’ money,’” explains Allison, who has sold refreshments in Sections 36 and 37 for five years.

Fans helped collect the stray bills as did the crowd below. Within minutes, a security officer returned with a stack of cash for the grateful waitress. “It was all there,” says the mother of four and full-time student who, after paying the concession, still pocketed $170 in tips. “Chargers fans are amazing,” she says. “We’re like a family.”

• Money rains on fans in freak accident (SD Union-Tribune)
• Wife severs husband's penis tosses it in garbage disposal
  
• Bay Area man drops baby into hot oven
  
• What happens when a waitress drops $1000? (NBC Sports)
• Father's testosterone drops after baby arrives (USA Today)
  

Jealous woman sets boyfriend on fire
This is the horrific moment a couple became human fireballs as they were engulfed in flames in a New York street. The first victim, 32, is pictured with his clothes burning as he desperately tried to put out the fire. He died four days later in hospital from 50 percent burns. On the floor, his 50-year-old lover, mass murderer Agnes Bermudez lies screaming in pain as flames roar along her body, as she was accidentally ignited in the attack. The terrifying images were captured on CCTV. But the blaze caught hold of their apartment block in Queens and three people died in the fire. Horribly disfigured in the attack, Burmudez was charged with four counts of murder -- because that's how things are done in America. More

Becoming Buddhist reading Quantum Physics

Colin Fernandez (Mail Online at dailymail.co.uk)

Wilkinson, who became a British national hero at the 2003 World Cup, said Buddhism has helped him overcome a fear of failure that was ruining his life.

Rugby star Jonny Wilkinson: "I've become a Buddhist after reading quantum physics books." We should have known the sports star had a spiritual side from the way he clasps his hands as if in prayer before he kicks goals. Now the England rugby payer has revealed that he has found inner peace through Buddhism.

His obsessive perfectionism was making him miserable, but Buddhism liberated him from being motivated by "money, status, or ego." The millionaire sportsman said that within 24 hours of winning the World Cup final against Australia in Sydney, he felt a powerful feeling of anticlimax.

"I did not know what it really meant to be happy. I was afflicted by a powerful fear of failure and did not know how to free myself from it." More

Celebrity Buddhists include Angelina Jolie, Tiger Woods, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sting, Coldplay wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Keanu Reeves, Tina Turner, Orlando Bloom, Uma Thurman and, of course, Lisa Simpson.

Sarah Jessica Parker: Hollywood's Newest Jew-Bu?
(PR-Inside.com)

Vanishing from public view in her discreet Irish hideaway, "Sex and the City" superstar Parker is seeking tranquility.

NEW YORK, New York - Stressed by her latest challenge as producer of not one but two new cable shows, and dismayed by continuing rumors that her marriage is incontinent, superstar Sarah Jessica Parker seems to be finding tranquility down a path that many of her faith have trodden in the past: Becoming a Jew-Bu. More

LA Rising: Rage Against the Muse (video)

Wisdom Quarterly

(Life in a Day) On July 24, 2010, thousands of people around the world uploaded videos of their lives to YouTube to take part in "Life in a Day," a historic cinematic experiment to create a documentary film about a single day on Earth. Now, it's time to watch their story unfold on the big screen. It wowed audiences at the Sundance, Berlin, and SXSW film festivals, a. And during its YouTube world premiere.

• You on Film: A Day in the Life (Wisdom Quartery)

Superstars Muse battle hometown heroes Rage Against the Machine and Lauryn Hill enchants as Buddhist freaks meet at the Coliseum while Buddhist geeks calmly discuss the Dharma at the nearby University of the West.

• VIDEO: MUFON speaker presentation
  

Best of the X-Games: The 17th annual alternative sports junket flies through town with spectacular spills, chills, and prodigious thrills. (One kid challenges his idol for supremacy as another competitor breaks his foot during practice and someone pulls off a triple flip while spraying himself with Axe).

It's easy to stay informed about what may really be going on in a world of compelling distractions and mainstream media disinformation campaigns.


Forget "Cowboys & Aliens," the better movie on alien invasions is the British "Attack the Block" from the producers of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD. This fast, funny, frightening action adventure movie pits a teen UK gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters -- and turns a London housing estate into a sci-fi playground, a tower block into a fortress under siege, and teenage street kids into heroes. It's inner city versus outer space.

Everything but thinking will be going on at the continuing OC Fair in neighboring Orange County, in spite of last year's ice sculpture "The Thinker."

• OC Fair 2011

Rave Riot: LAPD vs. EDC primiere

Wisdom Quarterly (SPORTS COVERAGE)

(Wisdom Quarterly) Kaskade invited everyone to a private EDC movie primiere and block party, but too many ravers came. When a patrol car was damaged, LAPD overreacted as is common in Los Angeles. Police fired deadly projectiles at the crowd to retaliate for the burning of the LAPD vehicle and to cause panic and mayhem. Riots and more planking are likely to recur tomorrow night when Lady Gaga arrives to film an appearance/performance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," which is filmed very close to Grauman's Chinese Theatre near the same Hollywood intersection. A few miles away in downtown LA, the Summer 2011 X Games began. (Watch X Games launch on ESPN)

"Electric Daisy Carnival Experience" movie leads to crowds and oppressive police reaction. This view from seven floors up looks down on the massive gathering overtaking the venue (Hollywood Reporter)

(The Hollywood Reporter) Police brought out riot gear to calm down the unruly crowd outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Police donned riot gear to calm down an unruly mob in Hollywood at the world premiere of Electric Daisy Carnival Experience on Wednesday night.

According to Los Angeles' KTLA-TV, DJ Kaskade called for a "block party" outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre: "Today@6pm in Hollywood @Mann's Chinese Theatre. ME+BIG SPEAKERS+MUSIC=BLOCK PARTY!!! RT!" he tweeted.

"Literally thousands and thousands of kids showed up for this thing," reported Tim Conway Jr. of Los Angeles radio station [and Coast to Coast affiliate] KFI. Riot police shut down Hollywood Blvd. and ordered the crowd to leave. But many refused -- because they did not know why they were being turned away. The event was not cancelled; it had reached capacity. They started fighting, throwing bottles, and allegedly set fire to a cop car, KTLA reported. More

The annual corporate event has gotten so big that it was moved to Las Vegas this year.

Free "X Fest" at the Los Angeles X Games

Free X Fest at L.A. LIVE!

"X Fest," which opens at 9:00 am daily, is the FREE portion of the ESPN action sports festival featuring live concerts, interactive parks, athlete appearances, demos, giveaways, sponsors, industry booths, and more.

• See bands on the Radio X Stage powered by KROQ FM
• X Games Los Angeles (womentalksports.com)
• Men's grooming habits turn women off
  
• July 30th: L.A. Rising - Rage Against the Machine

Beavis & Butthead return