Contemplations For Black Men

Don Cornelius - dead by apparent suicide

2012-02-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

Black Men will continue to be highly complex individuals whose lives defy a fixed narrative. Enigmas - every one of us, and we know it...

"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks on home Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement sources said police arrived at Cornelius' home around 4 a.m. He apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.Source

Morgan Freeman to Marry His Step-Granddaughter?

2012-01-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

For a very long time, some thought it was just a nasty rumor that actor Morgan Freeman was dating his 27-year old step-granddaughter, E’Dena. It has been reported by various media outlets that the two have maintained a 10-year relationship, which says that they started dating when she was just 17-years old.

Yahoo reported back in 2009 that Freeman was planning to marry the woman and that once Freeman’s wife found out about the affair, that’s when he filed for divorce. Source

Brother Eats Brother's Cocaine From Buttcrak in Traffic Stop and Dies

2011-12-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

Buddhists must find peace in life and in death...

2011-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Every Black person in America knows these are times to avoid getting caught up in criminal situations. It's hard to see clearly after so much has happened to Black people in America. Whether Davis was guilty or not, what has happened to Black America still goes without apology from slavery to present. The justice system is broken by its own admission. Outrage cannot be measured solely on this incident. Reincarnation is the Buddhist response to lethal injustices. If innocent the rebirth will be noble. If not then the rebirth will be according to the situation known only to the person who died. Either way the human being is left to ponder the truth within his or her heart rather than in the public media. Death is coming for all of us. We can neither chose the time nor means. Therefore, we must all prepare for the unpredictable inevitable. Now is the time for good works, noble thoughts, and service to humanity.

The Score: Dr. Cornel West - 1 / Pres. Obama - 1 / Public Perception - ?

2011-05-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

22. An African American Buddhist man has patience and realizes it is not easy to subdue the faults of one's own disposition. (Contemplations For Black Men, Rangdrol, pg 22)

Fussin' and fightin' among Black men has never been a pretty sight. In fact, it grieves people of all persuasions to see potential uplift dashed about the rocks of harsh speech and stern attitudes towards one another. This is especially true among powerful black men who've achieved and been honored with the privilege of representing masses on the global stage.

Dr. Cornel West and President Obama recently shared their minds publicly in a way that exposed their disposition under stress of leadership and responsibility. Black men are only in the first generation of high profile professorship and presidential responsibilities. We have much to learn about the humility necessary to lead effectively at the global level. High profile public discourse is no place for a street corner verbal thrashing. The world doesn't work that way.

It really doesn't matter who's right. The fact is core issues can easily be lost in the rancor or verbal and political disrespect openly expressed as intense personal opinions. The question of who is free is easily answered in such circumstances. Both parties are equally trapped within the context of brow-beating arrogance that serve little purpose for themselves and others.

One wonders whether recent interactions between Cornel West and President Obama stem from deep contemplation of appropriate conduct in public discourse. According to the article below each man feels he's serving the people, yet fail to recognize their own dignity is barely maintained in the way they speak of one another.

Both men have legitimate points to argue and perhaps people will benefit from the discourse. Sides will certainly be taken. But who'll save these two titans from self-demeaning anger and frustration?

The Obama Deception: Why Cornel West Went Ballistic:

Obama and West’s last personal contact took place a year ago at a gathering of the Urban League when, he says, Obama “cussed me out.” Obama, after his address, which promoted his administration’s championing of charter schools, approached West, who was seated in the front row.
“He makes a bee line to me right after the talk, in front of everybody,” West says. “He just lets me have it. He says, ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, saying I’m not a progressive. Is that the best you can do? Who do you think you are?’ I smiled. I shook his hand. And a sister hollered in the back, ‘You can’t talk to professor West. That’s Dr. Cornel West. Who do you think you are?’ You can go to jail talking to the president like that. You got to watch yourself. I wanted to slap him on the side of his head.
“It was so disrespectful,” he went on, “that’s what I didn’t like. I’d already been called, along with all [other] leftists, a “F’ing retard” by Rahm Emanuel because we had critiques of the president.”

“I think my dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men,” West says. “It’s understandable. As a young brother who grows up in a white context, brilliant African father, he’s always had to fear being a white man with black skin. All he has known culturally is white. He is just as human as I am, but that is his cultural formation. When he meets an independent black brother, it is frightening. And that’s true for a white brother. When you get a white brother who meets a free, independent black man, they got to be mature to really embrace fully what the brother is saying to them. It’s a tension, given the history. It can be overcome. Obama, coming out of Kansas influence, white, loving grandparents, coming out of Hawaii and Indonesia, when he meets these independent black folk who have a history of slavery, Jim Crow, Jane Crow and so on, he is very apprehensive. He has a certain rootlessness, a deracination. It is understandable." Article

Personally, I'd rather not see these two sitting down having a beer at the White House. Self restraint would be sufficient. There's got to be a better way to handle their differences given the amount of intellectual power and resources on the table between them. Neither is Buddhist nor do they need to be. Still, there is something to be appreciated in the Buddhist approach to Black masculinity. Refraining from harsh speech is a Buddhist tenet taken seriously for obvious reasons.

I'm raising sons in Hawaii. Dr. West has a point about the president's lack of contact with "up by my bootstraps," black men during his up bringing in 1970's Hawaii. I was raised in the heart of a urban black ghetto and find nothing particularly noble about that experience either.

The fact is human beings must evolve regardless of where they're raised. The vision must be forward. Thank goodness we're raised differently. Our diversity is America's greatest national defense asset. I think growing up itself is more important than origins. Every person must grow to see and sometimes endure his or her faults in a way that avoids harming others. Each of us must make sure our worst enemy when we become stressed is not an unwillingness to address our negative disposition.

I'm sure in the final analysis cooler heads will prevail. The people will be served because ultimately they serve themselves by deciphering the subtext of leader's thoughts and actions. Their is never a reason to lose hope. In the meantime perhaps these brothers can contemplate the goals they seek (breathe...), and work more closely to achieve them.

I hope so, don't you?

In support of a church in crisis (again)

2010-10-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

.

We all know the Black Church has been a stable force of spiritual sanctity and guidance for African Americans since slavery. Although many of us have so called, "left the church," the fact still remains a majority of African Americans hold steadfast their conviction to God and Biblical teachings.

My family was evangelized by its English slave owners. Centuries later, I was baptized Episcopal (Church of England) and later participated in Catholic, AME, and Church of God and Christ denominations. The reason I became a practitioner of Buddhism had little to do with goings on in the church. The allure of Buddhism for me was its promise of liberation from dogma, doctrines, and dilemmas that had nothing to do my personal spiritual path. Still, I and many others outside the Christian fold have a little church in us. The Five Blind Boys', "Amazing Grace," Shirley Ceasar's, "No Charge," James Cleveland, "No Cross, No Crown," and so on are as great an inspiration for human patience, tolerance, resilience, and redemption as any Buddhist sutra or tantra. Even in my remote spiritual outpost of Lamaism the status of the Black Church retains a deeply personal significance at the core of my being. My heart goes out to all those who devotedly remain in the pews and now suffer as a result of yet another emerging pulpit controversy.

Most of us know there's something familiar about concerns raised over New Birth Missionary Baptist Church's pastor, Bishop Eddie Long. Infidelities, presence of the gay community in church leadership, inappropriate trysts, and so on have always fueled gossip as part of church culture and legacy. Perhaps recently what used to get by with a wink and nod has become spectacle in print and TV news media.

The problems in the church regarding conflict of sexual practice versus doctrinal dictate are more pervasive than most imagine; occurring notably in the pulpit as well as the pews by the church's own admission.

As loving members of the Black community we, Buddhist men and meditators, can express a sincerity of compassionate concern for atonement among our Christian brethren despite their view of us as outside those heaven bound. We can and perhaps must honor voices of the innocent, unjustly harmed, and spiritually maligned. Their voices are our voices. they are our neighbors, family, friends, colleagues, and sometimes our cultural representatives.

THINK about it....

2010-05-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

COCAINE-LACED COOCHIE?

2010-05-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

.
In 2004, the late Rick James proclaimed cocaine to being a "hell of a drug" on 'Chappelle's Show.' However, the Motown legend never mentioned the narcotic's dangerous effect around a women's love muscle.

According to Pam Grier's newly released memoir, 'Foxy: My Life in Three Acts,' the blaxploitation beauty reveals in explicit detail the disturbing news she once received while dating Richard Pryor.

"Pam, I want to tell you about an epidemic that's prevalent in Beverly Hills right now," the doctor said. "It's a buildup of cocaine residue around the cervix and in the vagina. You have it. Are you doing drugs?" Grier replied, "No" as the doctor continued to question her.

"Is your partner putting cocaine on his penis to sustain his erection?" "No," she replied.

"Are you sure he isn't doing it in the bathroom before he comes to bed?" the doctor asked.

"That's a possibility," Grier said. "You know, I am dating Richard Pryor."

"Oh, my God," he said. "We have a serious problem here." Article

Dear Bobby Brown, why?

2010-04-27T01:07:00.000-07:00

Black History Month - Buddhist offereing

2010-02-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, I offer a month-long online viewing of "Festival Canceled Due to Heavy Rain," the award-winning film about my life. The film charts my journey from the sixties in urban Los Angeles, to my profound experience of healing in the Cambodian jungle last year.

Please watch the film, offer what financial support you can, and share with friends, family, and members of the press. My hope is to continue to highlight the important connection between African Americans and the Buddhist experience so we all can share in mutual understanding.

VIEW FILM

(may take a moment to download)

"O"intelpro and the Black Hetero Relationship Dilemma

2010-01-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

.
The past thirty years has seen a tremendous surge in women's empowerment. Incalculable resources have been spent to provide women opportunities, mentorship, and entry into wealth and unique lifestyles never before seen in the history of black in America. At the same time 1970's America under Hoover, Nixon, and Cointelpro developed a defacto policy targeting deradicalization of black men. Criminalization, felonization, impoverishment, toxic urban environments, obesity, health and nutritional miseducation, corporate and educational glass ceilings, imprisonment, profiling, political divisiveness and strife, exploitation of comedic or misogynist celebrity stereotypes, stigmatization, predation, repudiation, and so on have in some way effected the lives of every black man and woman in America including the legacy of Dr. King.

A dilemma, if not crisis, has predictably arisen among the current generation of successful black women seeking similarly or more successful black men as life partners.

The story is much broader than older black men's failure to mentor the younger generation. There are much deeper issues than concise made-for-television sound bites. Thirty to forty year old black men and women are living out the aftermath of a dark period in the generation before them.

Over the last decade a phenomena I call "O"intelpro has also had a tremendous impact on black success identity. "O", a show admittedly purposed to sell products to middle aged white women, has done much to exploit the "purple - up by ya boot straps" theory of black success deeply rooted in the southern garden of Alice Walker's abuse fetish. Sisters, if you've followed this model and find yourself entangled in a web of unsuccessful, ineffectual, and/or secreted life of relationship intrigues you've been "O"intelpro'd.

Between Cointelpro and "O"intelpro gender relations between intelligent and loving black adults are subject to becoming rife with issues of race, class, gender identity, ideology, self-cherishing, frustration, shame, blame, guilt, legal problems, debt, challenged social currency, and outdated cultural idioms. The result of this dilemma is cultural contraception in the African American heterosexual community. Less marriages between black folk creating less black babies, more babies born out of wedlock, and mixed race babies born as a compromise to lowering one's economic, social, and/or professional standards. Que lastima! What to do?

The key for both genders is to live YOUR OWN dream based on where you find yourself today rather than the dream created by others a generation ago. Ask yourself if you want an intimate personal or family life like Oprah's, Alice Walker's, OJ's, Tiger's, Jesse's, gangster rap stars and so on. If not, but you're intimate life is headed in that direction, rewrite the script before it's too late. Celebrities are not paid to publicly discuss the great sacrifice those who love them have to make. In fact they can get really pissed when someone opens up about the trails and tribulations of their love and family life.

Some simple advice: Give yourself permission to live what best serves your long term emotional interests. Watch television for entertainment not love life advice.

Eligible brothers step up to a more loving model of secure manhood that is as durable as it is hard to say no to. And, with utmost integrity and tenderness unclench successful women's grip from their social identities, bottom lines and ovaries. No man or woman is an island. To try and fail is better than never to have tried at all.

Eligible sisters, don't look down on a man based on his current situation. Let partnership begin with openness to possibilities you may not have considered in the past. Maybe its time to support a man, "the man", who can make your dream for a long term loving relationship come true.

Of course, the solution is not that simple, but one thing we do know is that perpetually discussing the dilemma among same gender groups is not the answer to anything.

A lesson on weathering the storm...

2009-12-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

,
36. An African American Buddhist man knows there are times to keep one's mouth shut like a butt crack. (pg. 7)

Good Night Tiger, Good Night Moon...

2009-12-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

.

51. An African American Buddhist man should strive to be an antidote to the suffering of women and children.

"In the case of Tiger Woods, whose middle-of-the-night car accident last week brought to light allegations that the golfer was involved in an affair, the payment is pretty steep.

Not only has Woods issued a public apology on his web site, but the The Daily Beast reports that he will pay his wife, Elin Nordegren, $5 million upfront and another $55 million to persuade her to stay in their marriage for another 24 months.

Instead of waiting until 2014 for her $20 million payday, Nordegren will only need to stay married to Tiger until October 2011 and by doing so, will get more than twice what she was entitled to under the original pre-nup, according to The Daily Beast. The new agreement would also pay Nordegren more if she stayed even longer -- a staggered schedule of payments over five years that could top $75 million.

Getting that grand sum of $80 million (the $5 million she's getting upfront, plus the $75 million in the new pre-nup), however, will require Nordegren to stay with Tiger for another seven years, show up with him at social events and in public as if they were still the perfect couple, and sign a nondisclosure form that will prevent her from ever telling her story." Article

Damnit!

2009-12-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

Psalm 109 Verse 8 used to pray for Presidents demise

2009-11-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

.
25. An African American Buddhist man is not "Holy" while manipulating others to be his henchmen.

Using scripture to incite harm is not the Buddhist way.

"There is a bumper sticker and slogan going around asking people to pray for Obama, and then referring to Psalm 109:8. That's code, though, for the actual verse that says:
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
And the verse immediately following says:
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember a time when there was a Christian movement that encouraged people to actually pray for the president's death." Article - Black Voices.com

Lama Rangdrol to give public teaching in San Diego and San Francisco

2009-10-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

A great time to meet:

San Diego:
November 4, 2009
Indigo Village
1054 Second Street, Suite B
Encinitas, CA 90024

San Francisco:
November 6-8

Swine flu could kill millions

2009-09-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

84. An African American Buddhist man coordinates with any human service organization that brings direct relief to human suffering. (page 9)

"The swine flu pandemic could kill millions and cause anarchy in the world's poorest nations unless 90 million pounds ($2.5 billion) can be raised from rich countries to pay for vaccines and antiviral medicines, says a UN report leaked to the Observer. The disclosure will provoke concerns that health officials will not be able to stem the growth of the worldwide H1N1 pandemic in developing countries. If the virus takes hold in the poorest nations, millions could die and the economies of fragile countries could be destroyed." Article

Bobby Brown Spit on Whitney Houston

2009-09-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

52. An African American Buddhist man should strive to be an antidote to the suffering of women and children. (page 9)

Kanye - tomorrow will be a better day....

2009-09-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

13. An African American Buddhist man sees a harmful person as someone with a curable disease who has not found the proper medicine to relieve his suffering. (page 12)

Article
.

Chris Brown, what went wrong and who shares responsibility?

2009-02-12T23:03:00.000-08:00

Many African Americans see no use for Buddhism in their lives and community. This is unfortunate because the relevance of Buddhism, especially the ideas available for men to contemplate, are directly related to taming their anger when they need to the most.

I was at a recent event where a Hollywood celebrity insider snubbed my presence as though I had no business being there. Unfortunate, because there was absolutely no room to converse about the mental health of young black men and women under tremendous pressure to perform. The protectors of celebrities on the inside dropped the ball on this one. My sense is that the protectors need to review there own ideas about the situation as they call for others to do the same. Bodyguards protect the physical person, PR firms protect the public image, producers and musicians protect the integrity of the music, but who protects the celebrities minds from becoming out of control? This is a job or a highly qualified individual who knows the human mindscape, and I don't mean psychiatrists and psychologists. Usually the pscyh doctors come in AFTER the traumatic incident, too late for high profile celebrities! I've done suicide watch on folks whose interventions came too late. It's not pretty. Proactive and preventative action are far more effective BEFORE problms arise. Meditation and contemplation of equanimity are like precious jewels to those under extreme performance pressure.

Here are four contemplations I would have shared with Chris Brown to meditate on over the past few years as his career matured. I feel it would have served him well in this unfortunate moment.

52. An African American Buddhist man should strive to be an antidote to the suffering of women and children.

60. An African American Buddhist man understands that men carry a lineage of hypocrisy toward women and have no right to stand in judgment of them.

63. An African American Buddhist man understands that whatever has been expected of, done to, and blamed on women, including our mothers, has been overwhelming for women to bear.

64. An African American Buddhist man understands that women have been the victims of tyranny crafted by the minds, hands, and doctrines of men.

76. An African American Buddhist man accepts women for who they are and whatever they strive to be.

The vision for black men in the future must have new tools, new models, new success stories that are not bound in the ways of old. Otherwise the best and the brightest will fall into the ranks of infamy and wickedness that has come forward with us from slavery. OJ, Rick James, Al Green, Lionel Richie, the prisons, the cemeteries, the broken families, the children who live with life long emotional scars, we know the list and we know it is very long.

When will women and children be safe from angry black men? This is a fair question to ask and I hope sisters will see the wisdom in what I am presenting after forty years of training, research, and experience.

Rihanna and her success deserve mental health training and couples guidance especially under the pressure of stardom. Why wasn't this in place and if it was why did it fail? The problems these two young people will endure now are difficult if not impossible to erase. The embarrassment, shame, public humiliation and injury to self esteem, self confidence, self motivation, and self image will take more than a PR firm's skillful manipulation of public image. These are real problems that are now part of both star's human psyches.

Please let me know if there is any way I can help to promote respect for one another.

Rihanna Bloodied, Beaten, Bitten By Chris Brown: Reports (UPDATE): "Brown pulled his silver Lamborghini to the side of a street in L.A.'s Hancock Park neighborhood. That's when, per the source, Rihanna grabbed the car keys and tossed them out the window, sending Brown into a rage. He tried in vain to find the keys, then came back to the car, put his hands around her neck and, according to the insider, said, 'I'm going to kill you!' According to the source, the 20-year-old 'Disturbia' singer told police that she lost consciousness, and when she awoke, Brown had fled."

End Homophobia

2009-01-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

34. An African American Buddhist man is not concerned with the sexual preferences of other people. (pg. 6)

Homophobia in the African American community is a remnant of a historical past who vestiges extend back to African culture. Despite the prevalence of anti-gay sentiments in the black Christian community a man who converts to Buddhism must choose acceptance and compassion for all human beings. Homophobia must leave the mind forever. If not, no amount of Buddhist study, training, or practice will suffice as a substitute. To choose Buddhism is to let go of the past, to become a more caring and loving human being, and to avoid harming others through prejudice and past cultural proclivity.

9 in Senegal to Be Jailed for 8 Years: "Anti-gay sentiment has been on the rise across Africa in recent years. Nigeria’s Parliament tried to pass a law last year that would restrict the rights of homosexuals to even meet to discuss their rights. Gambia’s president threatened to behead any homosexuals found in his country. And even in Senegal, one of the most liberal and tolerant countries in Islamic Africa, tensions over homosexuality have been on the rise...(where) nine men were handed harsh sentences of eight years in prison after being tried on charges of conspiracy and “unnatural acts,” a term used to criminalize homosexuality"

20. Compassion for those living in pollution

2008-12-30T01:45:00.001-08:00

20. An African American Buddhist man finds it hard to enjoy good health while others are unwittingly eating, drinking, and inhaling pollution. (pg. 4)

From time to time we men become insensitive to the plight of others. Some of us just don't care, others have their own problems to worry about, while many are too busy to be aware. This toxic mud slide is a major threat to the health of people in the area. Folks have been wiped out and there is no telling if or when the local people will be unwittingly eating, drinking, and inhaling pollution. On behalf of strengthening our own compassionate awareness we must acknowledge the suffering around us, which is why number twenty is such a valuable point to contemplate.