Dharma Punx: Dhamma shining in a most unlikely place

BhikkhuJayasara

Just watched this video below about this gentleman Noah Levine who grew up as a "punk" (as in the scene) and turned his life around to being a bald tatted up dhamma teacher. I love his first line " Buddhism isn't just for hippies" ahaha, as I do feel that Buddhism suffers from that stereotype and is thrown in with new age and hippie stuff a lot. It's good to see the dhamma spread to those who want to rebel from society, after all was not Buddha the ultimate rebel?

Dakini

Yes, Dharma Punx is doing a great job of keeping Buddhism relevant for younger generations, adapting to the times, as it were. Also what I love about them is that they have a charitable component, a community action program. They run soup kitchens. It's so important to demonstrate to practitioners that Buddhism isn't just about meditation, it's about putting compassion into action to benefit others.

BhikkhuJayasara

Dakini said:

Yes, Dharma Punx is doing a great job of keeping Buddhism relevant for younger generations, adapting to the times, as it were. Also what I love about them is that they have a charitable component, a community action program. They run soup kitchens. It's so important to demonstrate to practitioners that Buddhism isn't just about meditation, it's about putting compassion into action to benefit others.

I've been listening to him in some other videos and I have to say I'm impressed. I have not heard anything from his teachings that threw up any red flags for me and I've agreed/had the same view more then once. He knows what he's talking about for a lay teacher.

Invincible_summer

His father is Stephen Levine, who hung out with Ram Dass, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, etc.

In Noah's book Dharma Punx, he talks about how he was more or less around meditation since he was a kid, but never really got into it until he hit a really low point in his life. Nice to see that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Bunks

What an inspirational guy! Thanks @Jayantha

Dakini

Invincible_summer said:

His father is Stephen Levine, who hung out with Ram Dass, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, etc.

Stephen Levine is with Jack Kornfield now, at his Spirit Rock meditation center in the north Bay Area.

Daiva

I belong to Noah's sangha here in Los Angeles, Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. It is one of the most welcoming and authentic places I have ever been. All the teachers are great, and they bring in various teachers from different disciplines. I've learned more than I have elsewhere, and my meditation practice has improved tremendously.