Gaia Community: Phil's Blog

Get out of debt

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:50:03 GMT

I love this video! Coming from someone who once bled credit cards, I can guarantee that this will get you out of debt. Please forward to your congressperson.

Tags: SNL, video, debt, stop buying stuff, funny

Songs for Tibet

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:52:51 GMT

Apple's iTunes Music Store is offering a new compilation album of music from an eclectic group of artists to help support Tibet's struggle for autonomy. Songs for Tibet is quite good and I love the timing.

Songs for Tibet - Art of Peace Foundation "Freedom is Expression"

From ArtofPeaceFoundation.org:

As a show of solidarity with the Dalai Lama and Tibet, 20 artists have come together to release this historic double album on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. These recordings - some original for the project and some acoustically driven recordings of previously released songs - express our common vulnerabilities and experiences in pursuing happiness, peace and freedom. Collectively, these tracks represent a heartfelt message of support for the path of compassion and non-violence championed by the Dalai Lama. Begun in May of 2008 and completed in two months, the outpouring of support from all corners of the world was unparalleled. Funds raised from the album by the Foundation will go to support peace initiatives and Tibetan cultural preservation projects important to the Dalai Lama.

Tags: music, Tibet, human rights, iTunes, ArtofPeaceFoundation.org

Lama Obama

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:17:13 GMT

...has a nice ring to it :)

Tags: Barack Obama, Lama Surya Das, Comedy Central, video, funny, Buddhism

Robert Thurman on Blind Faith

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:53:16 GMT

Bob Thurman Podcast: Vimalakirti Video #6

Tags: Robert Thurman, blind faith, religion, dharma, Buddhism, video

Dharma, Darwin, and Evolution

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:20:21 GMT

Bob Thurman is a fantastic--and funny--teacher! Here is a quick clip from his podcast describing some issues with theism.

Bob Thurman Podcast: Vimalakirti Video #4

Tags: Bob Thurman, Darwin, theism

Robert Thurman on the 17th Karmapa

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Wed, 28 May 2008 01:02:36 GMT

From NPR.org:

Morning Edition, May 27, 2008 · The Karmapa, one of the most important leaders in Tibetan Buddhism, is visiting the United States. Some think the young lama will succeed the Dalai Lama as the next spokesman for Tibetan Buddhism and Tibet.

Co-host Renee Montagne talks to Robert Thurman, professor of Buddhist studies at Columbia University, about the 22-year-old Karmapa.

Listen at NPR.org...

Tags: Robert Thurman, Karmapa, Buddhism, Tibet, NPR

Where are you taking risks?

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:56:02 GMT

I try to take risks In almost all parts of my day-to-day life. It's easy and comfortable to not take risks. I can get up in the morning, clean up, pour my coffee, run the usual storylines of the day in my head, drive to work, do the work, drive home, internet, TV, read, sleep--and squeeze in eating of course.

Taking risks for me is when I pause and see through these habitual patterns and allow some space to truly experience what is going on. In Shambhala Warriorship, this is considered "daring". It's a commitment to be willing to feel a little uncomfortable outside of our cocoons. I take risks when I pause from my routine of telling--and I do mean telling--someone, "How's it goin'?" The pause allows me to actually listen to their answer and have a genuine human interaction. For someone who has lived a life with perpetual anxiety, these genuine "daring" moments have been huge. A breath of fresh air.

Tags: QaR, risk, risking, life

To experience fearlessness, it is necessary to experience fear

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:00:16 GMT

A few years ago I began going to the Shambhala Medtiation Center of San Antonio. Studying Shambhala Buddhism and living Shambhala Warriorship has had a tremendously positive effect on my life. So much so that I will be going to Sutrayana Seminary this Summer at the Shambhala Mountain Center. This is to make a stronger connection to the Shambhala Buddhist lineage and to eventually become a teacher in the sangha. As part of my preparation for this seminary, I have been contemplating a set of slogans by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of the lineage. I thought some of you Gaians might be interested in these, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on these slogans regularly in my blog. If interested, you can receive these slogans weekly from OceanofDharma.com.

TO EXPERIENCE FEARLESSNESS, IT IS NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE FEAR

When I first began studying Shambhala Buddhism, I found it interesting that the term "fearlessness" was used to describe a warrior as opposed to "fearLESS". Why would the goal not be to be completely absent of fear?

We experience fear every day. It can be fear of death, fear of change, fear of boredom, or fear of the present moment. Some fear is good, such as fear of being eaten by a bear or fear of being hit by a flying baseball bat, but we deal with most fear negatively by developing cocoons or masks. As soon as something feels uncomfortable, we either push things away or cling to something else. This has been the story of my life. I would carry around a mask for almost every situation. A mask for work, a mask for home, for girlfriends, family, etc. These are created because of a fear of what is happening at the present moment. It's as if I was trying to outsmart a moment by pretending to be something else. After slowing down my mind through meditation, I began to notice my aversion to these situations and how it was causing me to miss what was truly going on around me. A simple email from my boss asking to meet with me instantly triggered the creation of a cocoon to protect me. My mind would race of thoughts of what could happen, mistakes I likely did to merit the meeting, and many other story lines; anxiety flared. In reality, my boss could simply have a question, wanted to pat me on the back, or in fact did have a problem with my performance. But allowing space for the situation to arise gives me the opportunity to fully address her concern and--if at fault--fix the problem. This is fearlessness.

Being a Shambhala Warrior doesn't destroy fear or see no need for it, but it creates confidence to face the present moment. Our cocoon and other armor is dropped. Experiencing the fear that arises in myself gives me a taste of what my life could be without its stranglehold. In Buddhism, this would be similar to how experiencing samsara--cyclical suffering--motivates our search for liberation.

Tags: Ocean of Dharma, fearlessness, Shambhala

Phil at Last.fm

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:38:42 GMT

So, I've been searching on the web for a neat place to place my music for people to hear in full quality for free, and Last.fm seems to be the perfect place. Check out my artist page there to listen to the music from my latest album for free! Below is a track from that album that I have yet to feature at Gaia. It's a Philip Glassish/Elliot Goldenthal ditty.

Phil Castillo – Logic of Love: Red Room

Tags: new music, music, Last.fm, soundtracks, Red Room

Grounds for Divorce

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:36:31 GMT

One of my favorite bands just released a new album. If you haven't heard Elbow before, definitely check them out. Great stuff. Below is their song Grounds for Divorce:

Elbow - Grounds For Divorce

Tags: music, video, Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid, Grounds for Divorce

Shambhala San Antonio Slideshow

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:46:43 GMT

Besides my teaching gig, I'm also the Communications Director for the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio. Below is a video slideshow I put together of several activities we've had in the past year or so. If you're not fortunate enough to live in San Antonio :) you can find a Shambhala Center near you here.

Music is "One Day Like This" by Elbow.

Shambhala San Antonio

Tags: Shambhala, San Antonio, Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio, Elbow, photos, YouTube, video

Let the monks of Tibet hear your voice

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:02:08 GMT

From Amnesty International USA:

You've seen the images on YouTube and in the news papers...

... Chinese security forces brutally attacking unarmed, non-violent protestors, including Buddhist monks, in Tibet.

But, you don't have to sit idly by and just watch. You can take action right now to help secure the freedom of 15 Tibetan monks who were arrested on March 10 for staging a peaceful protest in Barkhor, Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Sign our petition to the President of China demanding the immediate release of the 15 Tibetan Monks and other peaceful protesters.

We have no information on the monk's current whereabouts. We don't know the nature of the charges brought against them. And, they're at very high risk of torture or other ill treatment.

What we do know, is that by acting together we can place enormous pressure on the Chinese Government at a moment when they are trying to put their best face forward in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games. By acting now, we can secure the immediate release of the 15 monks and the other peaceful protestors that were detained with them.

Sign our petition to the President of China demanding the immediate release of the 15 Tibetan Monks and other peaceful protesters.

In recent days, Amnesty International has met with Congressional leaders, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and with senior White House officials. We are placing enormous pressure on the Chinese Government to stop the violence, open up the region to foreign reporters and to free peaceful protestors.

But, we need your immediate help to keep the pressure on.

Sign our petition to the President of China demanding the immediate release of the 15 Tibetan Monks and other peaceful protesters.

Sincerely,

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

Tags: Tibet, Amnesty International, human rights, petition

I Dream of Spring

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:03:16 GMT

She's been around for a while now, but I just discovered K.D. Lang through her new album, Watershed, and I'm very glad! Her voice is amazing and her arrangements are subtle and elegant. I particularly love the song below. Check the album out!

k.d.lang - I Dream of Spring

Tags: K.D. Lang, music, video, Watershed, I Dream of Spring

Senator Obama Condemns China's Use of Force on Tibetans

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:43:10 GMT

From the International Campaign for Tibet:
March 16th, 2008

Senator Barack Obama has condemned the use of violence by China to put down peaceful protests in Tibet and called on the Chinese Government to respect the human rights of the Tibetans and to account for the detained demonstrators.

Tibetan nun at vigil

In a statement on March 14, 2008, Obama said these protests "demonstrate the continuing frustration of the Tibetan people at the way in which Beijing has ruled Tibet. There has been an informal dialogue between Chinese leaders and the Dalai Lama's representatives over the past six years. It is good that they have been talking, but China has thus far shown no flexibility on the substance of those discussions. Indeed, it has delayed in scheduling the latest round, despite the willingness of the Tibetans to continue dialogue.

Following is the full text of Obama's Statement.

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the situation in Tibet

Chicago, IL | March 14, 2008

"I am deeply disturbed by reports of a crackdown and arrests ordered by Chinese authorities in the wake of peaceful protests by Tibetan Buddhist monks. I condemn the use of violence to put down peaceful protests, and call on the Chinese government to respect the basic human rights of the people of Tibet, and to account for the whereabouts of detained Buddhist monks.

These events come on the 49th anniversary of the exile of the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama. They demonstrate the continuing frustration of the Tibetan people at the way in which Beijing has ruled Tibet. There has been an informal dialogue between Chinese leaders and the Dalai Lama's representatives over the past six years. It is good that they have been talking, but China has thus far shown no flexibility on the substance of those discussions. Indeed, it has delayed in scheduling the latest round, despite the willingness of the Tibetans to continue dialogue.

If Tibetans are to live in harmony with the rest of China's people, their religion and culture must be respected and protected. Tibet should enjoy genuine and meaningful autonomy. The Dalai Lama should be invited to visit China, as part of a process leading to his return.

This is the year of the Beijing Olympics. It represents an opportunity for China to show the world what it has accomplished in the last several decades. Those accomplishments have been extraordinary and China's people have a right to be proud of them, but the events in Tibet these last few days unfortunately show a different face of China. Now is the time for Beijing to take steps that would change the image people have of China later this year by changing the reality of how they treat Tibet and Tibetans. Now is the time to respect the human rights and religious freedom of the people of Tibet."

Tags: Tibet, human rights, Internation Campaign for Tibet, China, Barack Obama

The Tibet issue

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:02:02 GMT

Why Are We Silent

Tags: video, human rights, Tibet, International Campaign for Tibet, China

Spoiler Alert: 2008 Election Results

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:49:42 GMT

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

Tags: politics, The Onion, funny, video, electronic voting machines

Days Without Brain

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:45:46 GMT

I just finished composing music for a new short film from German director Konstantin Adler. It's a funny film about a guy whose computer dies and his life falls apart. I've uploaded the suite from the film below. Orchestration includes marimba, strings, hip-hop kit, and a few Tibetan instruments :)

Days Without Brain Suite

Tags: new music, music, Days Without Brain, Konstantin Adler, independent film

Say

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:51:34 GMT

Say what you need to say. I haven't seen the movie this song was written for, but the music is fantastic. If we engage the world with fearlessness and trust in the basic goodness of all beings, we can't fail. "Even if your hands are shaking and your faith is broken. Even as the eyes are closing. Do it with a heart wide open. Say what you need to say." - John Mayer

Say- John Mayer [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Tags: music, video, Say, John Mayer, impermanence

What do you wish you'd learned earlier?

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:09:00 GMT

Interdependence and a daily sitting practice.

Tags: QaR, hope, action, care

Learning to meditate

http://philcastillo.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:31:07 GMT

Basic meditation instruction from the head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Learning to Meditate / Mipham

Tags: meditation, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, video, shamatha