“"Moksha" is really a satire of myself. I've always been interested in Eastern spirituality. I'm particularly interested in enlightenment and the spiritual pursuit to liberate ourselves (I'm a Buddhist at heart). During my teenage years, I imagined I'd end up going to India to become a yogi; study with the last living saints in a cave; give up all my worldly possessions; learn to levitate. And there's still part of me that can see myself "disappearing" for some years at an ashram somewhere.” GivingYearsHeartStillsEndsLastsSpiritualSpiritualityStudyGiving UpEnlightenmentIndiaSaintPossessionDisappearPursuitBuddhistSatireTeenageWorldlyCavesEasternMokshaYogiTeenage YearsWorldly Possessions Author:Alexander Weinstein
“While I've always been critical about this peddling of spiritual materialism, it wasn't until I went to Nepal that I came face-to-face with my own spiritual materialism. The thing is, Kathmandu is noisy, and dusty, and crowded, and everywhere you go you see these same Western yoga teachers, hashish-smoking backpackers, and fair-trade shop owners, all seeking the stalls filled with amazing Buddha statues, hand carved mirrors, beautiful yak scarves, and thangka paintings. And everyone is buying stuff!” HandsBeautifulFacesSpiritualStuffMy OwnTeacherPaintingYogaFairsMirrorsTradeFilledWesternSeekingCriticalBuyingSmokingShopsOwnersMaterialismStatuesCrowdedFace To FaceNoisyScarvesNepalYoga TeachersFair TradeHashishPeddlingYaks Author:Alexander Weinstein
“In Nepal, I realized a certain part of my spiritual search had come to an end. I wasn't ever going to live in a Himalayan cave (I like electricity and a soft bed way too much), and I sure wasn't going to find enlightenment so easily.” WayEndsSpiritualCertainToo MuchBedEnlightenmentI RealizedElectricityCavesNepal Author:Alexander Weinstein
“In the story ["The Pyramid and the Ass"] there's this war against the so-called Buddhist Terrorists. As we find out, they're not really terrorists at all, just good folks trying to liberate people from technology and fight against an American government/corporation trying to coopt our souls. The inherent racism and Buddhist-phobia in the story plays into the present demonizing of Islam - and of our loss of knowledge about the great, spiritual history of the Sufis, for example, or the cultural heritage from the middle east.” PeopleTryingWarSoulPlayStoriesGovernmentSpiritualFightingLossTechnologyMiddleExampleRacismIslamFolksEastTerroristAssBuddhistCorporationsHeritageMiddle EastInherentSufiPyramidsAmerican GovernmentPhobiaCultural HeritageGreat Spiritual Author:Alexander Weinstein