You can quit work, but you can quit retirement?

You can quit work, but can you quit retirement? Many people are. Why? The answer is about more than money and may surprise many people who are working hard to plan their dream retirement.

Pulling out of the driveway, my chatty rideshare driver volunteered that he retired a few years ago from the hotel that I had just checked out of.

I just had to quit, he said. Somewhat confused, I ask, Quit what? Working at the hotel?

Looking back at me in his rearview mirror, eyes twinkling, he responded briskly, No, retirement! I just couldnt do it anymore.

While accelerating onto the highway, he explained, It was becoming the same ole same ole. I just had to quit.

You can certainly quit a job but you can also quit retirement, at least in the classic sense of retirement. Psychologists refer to what my driver describes as habituation, when people become accustomed to or no longer react to a situation or stimulus. In short, even retirement, like decades of work before it, can lose its excitement and become what my driver craftily refers to as the same ole, same ole.

In fact, after about a year, nearly 2 in 5 people retire from retirement, at least part time. Its not that people are unhappy in retirement; it is just that they do not anticipate how much time there is in retirement. In my previous Forbes article, I argued that for people in relatively decent health, retirement life might be 8,000 or more days a full one-third of adulthood. Moreover, the big and small things many believed would fill their retirement days either didnt, or their routines became as tedious as the morning and evening commute they toiled for decades and came to loathe when working.

My driver could tell I was somewhere between baffled and amused. He volunteered why he went back to work. He shared, I enjoyed my time away from work for a while but found that I fell into a boring routine. I missed talking to people, meeting new people, and having a reason to go out for other than buying groceries or going to the coffee shop to see the same faces every day.

MassMutual recently released its 2024 Retirement Happiness Study, which reports the perceptions and self-reported behaviors of pre-retirees age 40-plus and people already in retirement. According to Matt DiGangi, Head of MassMutual Strategic Distributors Annuity Distribution, MassMutuals research on retirement happiness underscores the importance of managing expectations and preparing for retirement both financially and emotionally. The happiest retirees invest not just in their financial futures but also in their social circles, pastimes, passions, and physical health long before retirement. MassMutuals data indicate that 77% of pre-retirees believe they will feel happier on any given day in retirement compared to 67% of current retirees who say they are happier.

And what do people anticipate doing in retirement? What activities do they think will make them feel happier? Most (55%) pre-retirees do not see retirement as the end of work. Instead, 38% of pre-retirees view retirement as shifting focus to a new type of work or fulfilling purpose, while another 17% see retirement as simply working less.

The study findings further report that while many retirees had a plan or developed activities to keep them engaged, many were like my driver; they began to suffer from the same ole, same ole. When asked if they experienced more or less boredom, 38% of retirees reported being about as bored as anticipated, and another 16% discovered they were more bored than expected. Of those who returned to work, 83% did so as a choice, not a financial necessity.

The most revealing findings are what people think they will do in retirement versus what they report doing as retirees.

Travel is always a big and stated goal in retirement planning. A full 79% of pre-retirees said that travel was how they planned to spend their free time; instead, 55% of retirees actually reported traveling.

Likewise, 61% of pre-retirees said they will spend more time pursuing hobbies. Retirees are a little less excited about their hobbies in retirement; 52% report they are painting, gardening, and more.

Half (50%) of pre-retirees anticipate getting outside and exploring nature as a pastime; the data show that only a quarter (27%) of retirees actually seek out flora and fauna retirement.

Even volunteering drops from relatively high anticipation to modest participation. Of pre-retirees, 44% expect to volunteer, but only 22% of retirees report volunteering to fill their free time.

So, what are people doing in retirement? In fairness, more than half (56%) of pre-retirees say they plan to watch movies and television. Clearly, the entertainment and advertising industry sees ratings when they see retirees. A full 8 in 10, or 83% of retirees, report spending their free time watching movies and television.

Retirement planning is focused primarily on ensuring financial security. In contrast, longevity planning is about financial security and overall well-being which demands a holistic approach to ensuring enough money and preparing for what to do with the vast wealth of free time found in retirement. Here are four steps to managing the chances of retirement years becoming the same ole, same ole. These steps should begin decades before when you believe your last day of work will be.

A decade or more before retirement, begin noting and discussing with your partner or significant other places and activities that spark your interest and curiosity or simply make you smile.

Years before retirement, translate inspirations collected over time into specific activities, places, and social groups you may wish to pursue. You can begin forging connections to grow your social circle and become familiar with organizations you find interesting for future part-time and even full-time work or volunteering.

As retirement approaches, revisit and review your shared interests with your significant other and how they have evolved over the years. Compare your shared aspirations, expectations, and hesitations.

It's not easy but take retirement out for a test drive. Find time to volunteer, even work part time, or try out a gig job on weekends. If you are thinking you might move in retirement, use some of your banked-up vacation time to experience where you might live. Dont choose a resort hotel but consider renting a home where you might live and do the daily, often boring, life tasks, for example, cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Identify and visit where you might meet new people. Participate in activities that may confirm or negate what you believe today will contribute to a happy retirement tomorrow.

I parted company with my driver at the airport. He smiled as he handed me my bag and said, I think I will find another ride or two, go home, see what the missus is up to, and maybe go back to work for an hour. I work and do what I want on my time now. Its better than being retired.

More here:
4 Steps To Take Decades Before Retirement To Keep It From Getting Old - Forbes

Even a bull market cant help women catch up to men when it comes to retirement savings.

In a new study released Thursday, researchers offered an analysis that modeled the asset values recent retirees would have after a bull market and a bear market. They found that after a bullmarket, the median value of womens retirement savings would be $184,600, while men would have $199,400 after a bear market.

Because men start off with 45% more financial assets than women, according to the studys data, women were unable to catch up in even the best market conditions. The median retirement savings for women is $185,000, while for men it is $269,000.

To run their experiment the researchers estimated rates of return for a bear market and a bull market. For the bear market, they used the average return rate of the S&P 500 and 10-year bonds from 1973 to 1979, when the economy was suffering from stagflation. The stand-in for a bull market featured return rates from 2017 to 2022, when the stock market was particularly robust. The analysis also factored in that the seniors in question would withdraw 7.5% of their savings each year to fund their living expenses, as virtually everyone does during retirement. They then applied all those factors to the median savings for women and men.

The report, commissioned by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, a trade organization of retirement plan servicers, examined the retirement readiness of peak boomers, defined as people born between 1959 and 1964. Numbering 30 million, peak boomers represent an exceptionally large segment of the population that is poised to retire en masse over the next five years. Whether or not enough of them are financially prepared to retire will have ripple effects across the economy. The more money these peak boomers have saved for retirement, the less strain the U.S.s social safety net will be underto say nothing of what kind of quality of life these boomers might expect in retirement.

When people retire they dont just want to sit in a chair all day long, and watch TV or Netflix, said Lincoln Financial Group CEO Ellen Cooper, during a panel about the report on Thursday. They actually want to go out and experience life and do the things they werent able to do when they were working.

A broadly bearish market would jeopardize even relatively well prepared peak boomers, according to the research. How much the retirement accounts of men and women grow in different market conditions illustrates how long-lasting the effects of a lifetime of pay inequities can be, and how difficult to overcome. Aside from having $84,000 less in their median savings accounts, women fare worse than men across all asset classes that can contribute to a comfortable retirement. They owned homes that were 5% less valuable and got Social Security benefits that were 25% lower than mens.

Helping women build better nest eggs in retirement requires addressing the root causes first, said Caroline Feeney, Prudential executive vice president and head of U.S. businesses.

They include the gender pay gap and a financial industry geared primarily toward men. As of March 2023, women earned 82 cents for every dollar that men did, according to data from Pew Research.

This pay gap translates into lower savingsthats a reality, Feeney said during the panel.

She added that some research has shown women on average have a lower risk tolerance when it comes to investing.

Feeneys point was once considered a standard assumption in financial circles. However, in recent years that assertion has become more layered. A recent study from the Harvard Business Review found that when it came to impact investing, women actually exhibited a higher risk tolerance than men. Other research indicates women are more judicious, which can get reduced to simply being risk-averse. Theres also more evidence pointing to the fact that women feel more cautious about investing because they feel as if they have fewer resources and advice available to them.

The financial industrys reputation as a boys club, along with the stereotype that women are less money-savvy than men, has meant theyre often underserved when it comes to investment advice. That makes it harder for women to find the right expertise than many men, who also may not be financial experts. Two-thirds of men say they have easy access to high-quality investment products compared with just 39% of women, according to a study from financial planner Principal.

You pull all of that together, of course, it makes it far more difficult for women to be in a position to live a secure financial retirement, Feeney said.

To make matters worse, women not only have less money in retirement but they can have more expenses as well because they live longer and are more likely to be a caregiver. Most Americans do a poor job of estimating how long their retirement will last. That shortfall only gets worsened when women have to care for someone else beyond just themselves, even in old age. More than 75% of caregivers are women, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. Even working women who are caregivers can take a hit to their retirement, because they have an added financial burden (often on an already lower salary), which means they have less to sock away for their golden years.

To mitigate the difficulties of preparing for retirement, Feeney has simple advice: ask for help. There are no silly questions, she said.

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The retirement gender gap is so large, women have less savings in the best markets than men in the worst - Fortune

Kay and Jim Schlembach could be considered Americas poster children for downsizing. After a career at ExxonMobil in Houston, Jim retired at age 62, and the couple bought a 3,200-square-foot contemporary on a wooded lot in Clifton Park, N.Y., near Albany.

It was a big house to entertain their kids and grandkids. But the Schlembachs had a strict 10-year timeline. Now at ages 62 and 72, respectively, Kay and Jim have decided to downsize to their 850-square-foot condo in Richmond, Va.

We made the decision that we were not going to be a burden to our children and that we would take care of our aging process and living arrangements, says Kay. These are hard conversations to have. America doesnt deal with death very well, and aging is difficult.

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The Schlembachs put their home on the market in March. The open house brought more than 200 visitors, and within three days, they had received 10 offers all for well above the asking price of $600,000. Eight days later, they were under contract for more than $700,000.

The Schlembachs may be among the most proactive downsizers in America, but theyre not alone. According to the National Association of Realtors, baby boomers are on the move. They are the largest group of both home sellers and buyers in the country.

Finding a smaller dwelling that checks all the boxes geographically, financially, emotionally, and physically is a smart thing to do. But first, you have to sell.

Heres some of what you need to know:

Homeowners can get a basic understanding of what their home is worth by tooling around on Zillow, Realtor.com, and other online sites that have estimator tools. But its also wise to consult with at least two or three local real estate agents.

And dont go with your cousins friend who just got her real estate license. The Schlembachs had a checklist and insisted on a seasoned and responsive broker, with extensive knowledge of our local market conditions, solid comps, optimal listing timing, pricing based on data-driven dollars per square foot, days on market, and technological aspects such as photography, staging and Internet exposure.

About 10% of homeowners in 2021 sold their homes without a real estate broker. That saved these sellers about 5% or 6%, which is the rate of commission most real estate agents charge.

But selling your own home can be a lot of work and stress and might not generate the best price. The best agents have expertise in local housing market trends and can generally generate higher prices because of their market knowledge. Plus, theres a lot of paperwork between the legal contract and contingencies of sale, like inspections, compensation for defects and disputes that can arise en route to closing. Some states require one or both parties to have an attorney.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Savvy sellers should have a frank discussion with any agent they interview. Real estate commissions have always been negotiable, but sellers rarely had much opportunity to haggle.

Thats changing rapidly. In October the realtors association and several brokerages were hit with a $1.8 billion judgment in a class-action antitrust suit that said commissions were artificially high. Then, in March, the association reached a nationwide, $418 million settlement of claims that the industry conspired to keep commissions high.

The settlement, which is pending approval, promises to change the way real estate commissions are paid. Realtors agreed, for example, to stop requiring sellers to pay buyers agents commissions. The changes are expected to go into effect in July. As many as 50 million recent home sellers may receive compensation after the settlement is approved.

Demand for properties is high. Mortgage rates are down from their October 2023 peak. But low inventory and higher prices are putting baby boomers on a collision course with their desire to make a move to something smaller, cheaper or easier to manage.

In February, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he believes the U.S. housing market is undersupplied and will remain so for years. That should concern downsizers who are hoping to trade what they have for something better, only to find market conditions discouraging.

My advice would be for people looking to downsize is to really do their research on the impact this decision would have. With the current situation of the real estate market, the downsized property may be significantly more expensive in not only price, but also in taxes, HOA fees, interest rate, etc, says Andrew Petersen, an agent in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Stop asking your kids if they want Aunt Emmas old China. (They dont.) Specialists can help manage all aspects of decluttering and downsizing, starting with the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers.

Barbara Feldman, a relocation specialist in Manhasset, N.Y., has been helping clients since 2007. Shes seen it all and her advice after helping folks downsize or right size is simple: Downsize now!

We buy too much and keep too much, says Feldman. My advice is that if I have something and I can replace it in 20 minutes for less than $20, let it go.

(Image credit: Madison Holmlund, designed by Brittany Chinaglia)

Sellers need to maximize all the assets of their homes and minimize any feature that will cause buyers to balk. In a time when most sellers have amassed equity in their homes, spending a little to wow buyers is a smart investment in your quest to successfully downsize.

Staging helps the purchaser visually see the potential of the home and leads to an emotional buy, says Manhattan interior designer Ronnie Rosenberg. It also usually brings in a higher price and a quicker sale.

"Downsizing has a much better chance of being a success when its a choice, says Feldman. A majority of her clients are between the ages of 70 and 80 and by this point, she says, the need to move is more of a mandate than a conscious decision.

Its daunting for so many people, emotionally and physically. she says. Theyre experiencing a loss of independence and they express that. They say I used to be able to do this but now I cant.

Homeowners sitting on a lot of equity may feel like theyve hit the lottery. But records and invoices for all the repairs and upgrades tell a different story about what your home cost.

For tax purposes, a home improvement is any expense that materially adds to the value of your home, significantly prolongs its useful life or adapts it to new uses. Documenting these items can reduce your capital gains exposure and, for buyers, demonstrate the investment youve made in the home, helping to justify the list price.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If youve lived in your house for 20 or 30 years, you may be in for a shock when you sell it. A tax shock, that is, as you may be facing capital gain tax on any profit over $500,000 (for married couples). The cost of selling can be significant, says fee-only financial adviser David Wattenbarger in Chattanooga, Tenn.

On the other hand, selling may not be the best alternative from a tax perspective. A highly appreciated property left to an heir may qualify for a step up in basis at the death of the owner, which could avoid the realization of a capital gain, says Wattenbarger.

Downsizing usually coincides with a move to a new neighborhood or 55-plus development with greater amenities, especially in warmer states with cheaper taxes. Think Florida. But the residents of the Sunshine State are seeing skyrocketing insurance and association fees along with higher home prices.

Warm weather and no income tax come with a hefty price tag. I find most people are surprised not only at how expensive property is in South Florida, but also the cost of property taxes and insurance, says Petersen, the agent in Pompano Beach. They can be significant enough to offset those other benefits.

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplingers Retirement Report, our popular monthly periodical that covers key concerns of affluent older Americans who are retired or preparing for retirement.Subscribe for retirement advicethats right on the money.

Go here to read the rest:
10 Things You Should Know About Selling Your Home to Downsize in Retirement - Kiplinger's Personal Finance

An influential voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers, Owens is respected for his work focused on social change, identity and spiritual wellness.

ROME, Ga (AP) Instead of traditional maroon and gold Tibetan Buddhist robes, Lama Rod Owens wore a white animal print cardigan over a bright yellow T-shirt with an image of singer Sade, an Africa-shaped medallion and mala beads the most recognizable sign of his Buddhism.

Being a Buddhist or a spiritual leader, I got rid of trying to wear the part because it just wasnt authentic to me, said Owens, 44, who describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen.

For me, its not about looking like a Buddhist. Its about being myself, he said at his mothers home in Rome, Georgia. And I like color.

The Harvard Divinity School-educated lama and yoga teacher blends his training in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism with pop culture references and experiences from his life as a Black, queer man raised in the South by his mother, a pastor at a Christian church.

Today, he is an influential voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers, respected for his work focused on social change, identity and spiritual wellness.

On the popular mindfulness app Calm, his wide-ranging courses include Coming Out, Caring for your Grief, and Radical Self-Care (sometimes telling listeners to shake it off like Mariah Carey). In his latest book, The New Saints, he highlights Christian saints and spiritual warriors, Buddhist bodhisattvas and Jewish tzaddikim among those who have sought to free people from suffering.

Saints are ordinary and human, doing things any person can learn to do, Owen writes in his book, where he combines personal stories, traditional teachings and instructions for meditations.

Our era calls for saints who are from this time and place, speak the language of this moment, and integrate both social and spiritual liberation, he writes. I believe we all can and must become New Saints.

But how? Its not about becoming a superhero, he said, stressing the need to care for others.

And its not reserved for the canonized. Harriet Tubman is a saint for me, he said about the 19th century Black abolitionist known for helping enslaved people escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She came to this world and said, I want people to be free.

Owens grew up in a devout Baptist and Methodist family. His life revolved around his local church.

When he was 13, his mother, who owns a baseball cap that reads: Gods Girl, became a United Methodist minister. He calls her the single greatest impact in his life.

Like a lot of Black women, she embodied wisdom and resiliency and vision. She taught me how to work. And she taught me how to change because I saw her changing.

He was inspired by her commitment to a spiritual path, especially when she went against the wishes of some in her family, who like in many patriarchal religions believed a woman should not lead a congregation.

Im very proud of him, said the Rev. Wendy Owens, who sat near her son in her living room, decorated with their photographs and painted portraits.

He made his path. He walked his path, or he might have even ran his path, she said. Dont know how he got there, but he got there.

A life devoted to spirituality seemed unlikely for her son after he entered Berry College, a nondenominational Christian school. It didnt deepen his relationship with Christianity. Instead, he stopped attending church. He wanted to develop a healthy sense of self-worth about his queerness, and was dismayed by conservative religious views on gender and sexuality. He felt the way that God had been presented to him was too rigid, even vengeful. So, in his words, he broke up with God.

His new religion, he said, became service. He trained as an advocate for sexual assault survivors, and volunteered for projects on HIV/AIDS education, homelessness, teen pregnancy and substance abuse.

Even though I wasnt doing this theology anymore, what I was definitely doing was following the path of Jesus: feeding people, sheltering people.

After college, he moved to Boston and joined Haley House, a nonprofit partly inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement that runs a soup kitchen and affordable housing programs.

There, he said, he met people across a range of religious traditions from Hinduism to Christian Science to all the denominations of Christianity, Buddhists, Wiccans, Muslims. Monastics from different traditions, everyone.

A Buddhist friend gave him a book that helped him find his spiritual path: Cave in the Snow, by Tibetan Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.

The British-born nun spent years isolated in a cave in the Himalayas to follow the rigorous path of the most devoted yogis. She later founded a nunnery in India focused on giving women in Tibetan Buddhism some of the opportunities reserved for monks.

When I started exploring Buddhism, I never thought, Oh, Black people dont do this, or maybe this is in conflict with my Christian upbringing, Owens said. What I thought was: Heres something that can help me to suffer less. I was only interested in how to reduce harm against myself and others.

At Harvard Divinity School, he was again immersed in religious diversity even a Satanist was there.

What I love about Rod is that hes deeply himself no matter who hes with, said Cheryl Giles, a Harvard Divinity professor who mentored him and who now considers him one of her own teachers.

When I think of him, I think of this concept of Boddhisatva in Buddhism, the deeply compassionate being who is on the path to awakening and sees the suffering of the world and makes a commitment to help liberate others, said Giles.

And I love, she said, that hes Black and Buddhist.

Through Buddhism, mindfulness and long periods of silent retreats, Owens eventually reconciled with God.

God isnt some old man sitting on a throne in the clouds, whos, like, very temperamental, he said. God is space and emptiness and energy. God is always this experience, inviting us back through our most divine, sacred souls. God is love.

His schedule keeps him busy these days appearing in podcasts and social media, speaking to college students and leading meditations, yoga and spiritual retreats across the world.

So much inspires him. He wrote his latest book listening to Beyonce and thinking about the work of choreographer Alvin Ailey. Theres Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. He loves Tony Kushners Angels in America. And pioneering fashion journalist Andre Leon Talley of Vogue magazine, who he says taught him to appreciate beauty.

I want people to feel the same way when they experience something that I talk about or write about, Owens said. Thats part of the work of the artist to help us to feel and to not be afraid to feel. To help us dream differently, inspire us and shake us out of our rigidity to get more fluid.

The post Lama Rod Owens describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. He wants to free you from suffering appeared first on TheGrio.

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Lama Rod Owens describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. He wants to free you from suffering - AOL

ROME, Ga (AP) Instead of traditional maroon and gold Tibetan Buddhist robes, Lama Rod Owens wore a white animal print cardigan over a bright yellow T-shirt with an image of singer Sade, an Africa-shaped medallion and mala beads the most recognizable sign of his Buddhism.

Being a Buddhist or a spiritual leader, I got rid of trying to wear the part because it just wasnt authentic to me, said Owens, 44, who describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen.

For me, its not about looking like a Buddhist. Its about being myself, he said at his mothers home in Rome, Georgia. And I like color.

The Harvard Divinity School -educated lama and yoga teacher blends his training in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism with pop culture references and experiences from his life as a Black, queer man, raised in the South by his mother, a pastor at a Christian church.

Today, he is an influential voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers, respected for his work focused on social change, identity and spiritual wellness.

On the popular mindfulness app Calm, his wide-ranging courses include Coming Out, Caring for your Grief, and Radical Self-Care (sometimes telling listeners to shake it off like Mariah Carey). In his latest book, The New Saints, he highlights Christian saints and spiritual warriors, Buddhist bodhisattvas and Jewish tzaddikim among those who have sought to free people from suffering.

Saints are ordinary and human, doing things any person can learn to do, Owen writes in his book, where he combines personal stories, traditional teachings and instructions for meditations.

Our era calls for saints who are from this time and place, speak the language of this moment, and integrate both social and spiritual liberation, he writes. I believe we all can and must become New Saints.

Lama Rod Owens sits in the yard of his childhood home in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday, March 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

But how? Its not about becoming a superhero, he said, stressing the need to care for others.

And its not reserved for the canonized. Harriet Tubman is a saint for me, he said about the 19th century Black abolitionist known for helping enslaved people escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She came to this world and said, I want people to be free.

Owens grew up in a devout Baptist and Methodist family. His life revolved around his local church.

When he was 13, his mother, who owns a baseball cap that reads: Gods Girl, became a United Methodist minister. He calls her the single greatest impact in his life.

Like a lot of Black women, she embodied wisdom and resiliency and vision. She taught me how to work. And she taught me how to change because I saw her changing.

He was inspired by her commitment to a spiritual path, especially when she went against the wishes of some in her family, who like in many patriarchal religions believed a woman should not lead a congregation.

Im very proud of him, said the Rev. Wendy Owens, who sat near her son in her living room, decorated with their photographs and painted portraits.

Wendy Owens, a United Methodist Minister and mother of Lama Rod Owens, shows her robes hanging in her home on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Rome Georgia. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

He made his path. He walked his path, or he might have even ran his path, she said. Dont know how he got there, but he got there.

A life devoted to spirituality seemed unlikely for her son after he entered Berry College, a nondenominational Christian school. It didnt deepen his relationship with Christianity. Instead, he stopped attending church. He wanted to develop a healthy sense of self-worth about his queerness, and was dismayed by conservative religious views on gender and sexuality. He felt the way that God had been presented to him was too rigid, even vengeful. So, in his words, he broke up with God.

His new religion, he said, became service. He trained as an advocate for sexual assault survivors, and volunteered for projects on HIV/AIDS education, homelessness, teen pregnancy and substance abuse.

Even though I wasnt doing this theology anymore, what I was definitely doing was following the path of Jesus: feeding people, sheltering people.

After college, he moved to Boston and joined Haley House, a nonprofit partly inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement that runs a soup kitchen and affordable housing programs.

Lama Rod Owens poses for a portrait with his beard covered in flowers in the yard of his childhood home in Rome, Georgia on Saturday, March 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

There, he said, he met people across a range of religious traditions from Hinduism to Christian Science to all the denominations of Christianity, Buddhists, Wiccans, Muslims. Monastics from different traditions, everyone.

A Buddhist friend gave him a book that helped him find his spiritual path: Cave in the Snow, by Tibetan Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.

The British-born nun spent years isolated in a cave in the Himalayas to follow the rigorous path of the most devoted yogis. She later founded a nunnery in India focused on giving women in Tibetan Buddhism some of the opportunities reserved for monks.

When I started exploring Buddhism, I never thought, Oh, Black people dont do this, or maybe this is in conflict with my Christian upbringing, Owens said. What I thought was: Heres something that can help me to suffer less. ... I was only interested in how to reduce harm against myself and others.

At Harvard Divinity School, he was again immersed in religious diversity even a Satanist was there.

What I love about Rod is that hes deeply himself no matter who hes with, said Cheryl Giles, a Harvard Divinity professor who mentored him and who now considers him one of her own teachers.

When I think of him, I think of this concept of Boddhisatva in Buddhism, the deeply compassionate being who is on the path to awakening and sees the suffering of the world and makes a commitment to help liberate others, said Giles.

And I love, she said, that hes Black and Buddhist.

Through Buddhism, mindfulness and long periods of silent retreats, Owens eventually reconciled with God.

God isnt some old man sitting on a throne in the clouds, whos, like, very temperamental, he said. God is space and emptiness and energy. God is always this experience, inviting us back through our most divine, sacred souls. God is love.

His schedule keeps him busy these days appearing in podcasts and social media, speaking to college students and leading meditations, yoga and spiritual retreats across the world.

So much inspires him. He wrote his latest book listening to Beyonce and thinking about the work of choreographer Alvin Ailey. Theres Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. He loves Tony Kushners Angels in America. And pioneering fashion journalist Andre Leon Talley of Vogue magazine, who he says taught him to appreciate beauty.

I want people to feel the same way when they experience something that I talk about or write about, Owens said. Thats part of the work of the artist to help us to feel and to not be afraid to feel. To help us dream differently, inspire us and shake us out of our rigidity to get more fluid.

Associated Press journalist Jessie Wardarski contributed to this report.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Lama Rod describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. He wants to free you from suffering - The Associated Press

The Fixxs moody, atmospheric Saved by Zero might have seemed like a strange choice as a lead single for their second album Reach the Beach. Not only does the song lack a big chorus, but the concept of someone being saved by a number is esoteric for a radio hit. What could it even mean to be saved by zero? As it turns out, there are at least two meaningful ways to interpret the songs title phrase. One was thought of by The Fixxs vocalist Cy Curnin, and the other was a meaning he wished hed thought of.

The meaning Curnin intended for Saved by Zero emerged from the confluence of changes in his life circumstances and a Buddhist mantra he had been practicing. Lets take a look at the message Curnin tried to get across in this 1983 hit, and the more literal interpretation he has grown to appreciate.

Reach the Beach was The Fixxs breakthrough album, but their 1982 debut Shuttered Room made the band visible enough to change its members lives. Saved by Zero was Curnins statement about how he coped with the changes in his personal and professional lives, as well as a response to the feelings of powerlessness he felt when writing songs for Shuttered Room, such as Stand or Fall and Red Skies. Regarding the latter, Curnin told Songfacts, I was feeling that sense of impotence back then in the early 80s or late 70s when [U.S. President] Ronald Reagan and [British Prime Minister] Margaret Thatcher were getting in bed together, metaphorically speaking, and designing a whole defense system that involved Europeans lives without asking usit was never on any electorate ballot that I can remember.

Saved by Zero was Curnins way of taking his power back. About the time he was writing lyrics for Reach the Beach, he had started to explore Buddhism, and part of his teachings involved a mantra that was about getting back to a state of nothingness. As Curnin explained in a 2008 interview for the Las Vegas Sun, [The mantra] clears your head of all fears and panics and illusions, and you get back to the basics. The idea of the song is how great it is to get back to zero.

In the opening lines of Saved by Zero, Curnin contrasts the yearnings that caused him to suffer with the freedom that comes with no attachments.

Maybe someday Saved by zero Ill be more together Stretched by fewer Thoughts that leave me

Curnin appears to be observing his ego, recognizing his desire to be more together, while simultaneously noticing that those thoughts are only temporary. He makes that contrast even sharper in the final lines of the first verse, when he sings, Chasing after / My dreams disown me / Loaded with danger.

Even with the knowledge that Curnin was writing about his attempts to get back to zero, the chorus remains an enigma. When he sings Maybe Ill win / Saved by zero, what is Curnin trying to win? Is being able to return to zero a win? Or is this the voice of his ego, still chasing its dreams? Later in the song, Curnin poses the question, Who needs to win? Its a question that only deepens the enigma.

Curnin sets the language of dominance and winning next to words conveying surrender and nothingness in the second verse as well.

Holding on to Words that teach me I will conquer Space around me

While his pairing of these seemingly opposite ideas is initially confusing, Curnin could be using the contrast to illustrate what it means to be saved by zero. Its moving away from the holding and conquering and toward learning and openness.

In his interview with Songfacts, Curnin disclosed he had become aware of a mathematical interpretation of Saved by Zero, He learned the number zero is something of a mathematical hero. He explained, There has been the invention of zero as a number by the ancient Indian mathematicians. Without that, calculations would have been completely wrong. Because we were following the Roman rhythmic calendar which believed that one was the first number. He acknowledged he wasnt considering this meaning of Saved by Zero when he wrote it. Nonetheless, he likes the interpretation enough to say, You know what, Im taking it anyway.

After making inroads into the Billboard Hot 100 with Stand or Fall, Saved by Zero gave The Fixx their first Top 40 hit. The song peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100 and went to No. 9 on Billboards Mainstream Rock chart. The songs popularity laid the groundwork for the follow-up single, One Thing Leads to Another, to be a massive hit for The Fixx. Those two singles went a long way toward helping Reach the Beach achieve Platinum certification in January 1984. It is The Fixxs only Platinum album and the only one to enter the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 8.

Saved by Zero was used in the Problem Dog episode of Breaking Bad in Season 4. The song was covered by Irish synthpop band Empire State Human for the 2005 compilation The Fixx: An Electronic Tribute.

Its a little ironic that The Fixxs song about being grounded in nothingness only served to make them one of the more popular bands of the mid-80s. Perhaps the only greater irony was when the song was used in advertisements to sell cars with 0 percent financing in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. If you missed out on the spiritual meaning of this 80s classic, you were far from the only one.

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The Buddhism-Inspired Meaning Behind Saved by Zero by The Fixx - American Songwriter

Myo-jang, president of the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, poses for a photograph at Jeondeung Temple, South Korea's oldest Buddhist monastery. (Jean Chung / For The Times)

Three monks, a horde of reporters and 20 singles looking for love walked into a Buddhist temple.

The singles sat on gray mats in the center of the temples study hall, visibly tense because the two dozen reporters crammed in the back were causing a small scene.

An irritated cameraman snapped at a competitor: Can you get out of my shot?

The three monks of the Jogye order South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, with around 12 million followers looked on with placid smiles.

So began the third edition of Naneun Jeollo or To the temple a matchmaking event launched last year by the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare to fulfill the religions commitment to fostering social cohesion.

One of the organizers reminded the participants of the weekends stakes: nothing less than the future of the country.

Im sure all of you have noticed how that day-care center in your neighborhood has one day turned into a nursing home, he said, pulling up a computer slideshow titled Aging Society.

Read more:Inside Japans miracle town, where the birth rate is soaring amid a demographic crisis

It showed that over the last two decades the number of babies born each year had been halved and that by 2050 the elderly would make up roughly 40% of the total population, straining the countrys welfare systems and deepening labor shortages.

The singles took in the figures with polite yet stony expressions.

For the sake of the low birthrate, the presenter concluded in an upbeat tone, all you have to do today is actively participate and find a good partner.

: :

The Buddhists modeled the weekend after a matchmaking reality TV series called I Am Solo, which has produced eight marriages and gained a nationwide following.

This along with the unusual premise of celibate ascetics taking on the challenge of worldly romance has given the Buddhist version its own viral fame, which the foundation hoped to maximize by opening it to the press.

We want to spread the word, said Myo-jang, the monk who leads the foundation. Were hoping one day there will be an edition for every Buddhist temple in the country.

The participants 10 men and 10 women had been told to expect some media, but not the film sets worth of cameras that followed them into a courtyard for formal introductions.

My mind is going blank, said one of them, a 30-year-old who works in finance. I thought there would be at most one TV crew. I feel like someone who just committed a huge crime.

The name on his badge Seong-hun was a pseudonym drawn from a pile, just like on the TV show.

He was one of 147 men and 190 women who had applied to participate in the April weekend, held at Jeondeung Temple, the oldest Buddhist monastery in the country.

Read more:Looking for a date? In Taiwan, the government is here to help

We screen the participants very carefully, Myo-jang said. We want to make sure that there arent people looking for one-off flings.

The weekend was free and open to all religions. Applicants were required to submit employment records and a personal essay, and age and geography were taken into account to maximize the chances of long-term coupling. But Myo-jang said one factor was the most important: yearning.

Only those who hungered for true love, like Seong-hun, had made the cut. Since his last serious relationship in college, Seong-hun had discovered finding love to be difficult. He disliked dating apps, but large social gatherings sapped him. His mother had been telling him to take dating lessons.

At some point in the relentless struggle to find financial stability, life had begun to feel like a perpetually half-full glass that just wouldnt fill up all the way.

Ive gotten too cautious in my 30s, he said. When I was younger, pure attraction was all I needed, but now, I find myself getting hung up on little doubts way too early in the relationship.

What exactly he was looking for, he didnt know.

I think what Im drawn to is someone whos tough on the outside, but soft on the inside, he said.

: :

After the singles had changed into their uniforms a traditional Buddhist garment consisting of a magenta vest and wide-fitting navy pants Shim Mok-min, the professional emcee hired for the event, gathered them around him.

Shim, who was dressed in a baby blue suit, estimated he had done about 50 events like this one. Most of them were hosted by local governments as part of a national effort to bring the countrys nosediving fertility rate the number of children the average woman has over her lifetime closer to the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.

The soaring cost of homeownership, poor work-life balance and the fracturing of traditional gender roles have continued to push South Koreans away from marriage and reproduction.

More than half of those between the ages of 30 and 34 are unmarried, and last year, the countrys fertility rate already the worlds lowest fell to 0.72.

Some of the matchmaking events Shim hosted had storybook endings, like one held by the city of Yongin that produced a marriage. The mayor officiated the couples wedding, and Shim emceed their childs first birthday party.

But far more often, they ended up turning into a game of survival.

Ive seen the women being swapped out with each new group while the men stay the same, round after round, Shim said. One event I did had two women and 18 men.

The games he was now moderating were icebreakers designed to tease out any early attractions and encourage small acts of physical contact.

At events where everyone is new to this format, you have to push them a bit, he said. The ultimate goal is to direct traffic so that participants have clear paths they can pursue later on.

Shim had the singles take turns answering questions from the rest of the group.

Your hair is so nice, one of the men told Ji-su, a 33-year-old policewoman. What do you use on it?

Ji-su cracked a smile and mumbled an answer.

By the time the group moved on to team bingo, any initial shyness had been replaced by a total commitment to winning. With every point scored, the singles screamed and high-fived one another.

Shim frantically reminded them why they were here.

You are here to find your other half, he said. The games are just a means to an end!

A round of speed dating, in which the men and women took turns having short conversations with one another, wrapped things up.

Read more:Korea's army of senior citizens ready for battle. 'I dont remember the rifles being so heavy'

For dinner at the temple cafeteria, the singles would split off into pairs. The women with the highest game scores were given first pick, and a program organizer led them outside, one after another, to a laptop displaying head shots of the men.

That was tiring but fun, said Seon-jae, who was picked fifth by a 31-year-old dental hygienist.

He didnt know if he liked her back yet.

I guess Ill have to talk to her and find out, he said.

: :

After dinner, the group convened for one more round of games.

Shim turned down the mood, leading the group in a meditative chant, instructing the singles to hold hands and gaze into each others eyes.

Empty your minds, Shim said.

Knees were now being touched, whispers shared and heads drawn together.

Bring your mats closer together, Shim said.

Seong-hun talked animatedly with Yu-jin, a 33-year-old real estate consultant whose sister had met her husband at a Buddhist temple.

Ji-su, the policewoman, was in a quiet conversation with her partner looking charmed, until one of the reporters walked over and stuck his camera about a foot from her face, making her recoil.

For the evenings final act, everyone took a short walk to the teahouse for a romantic cafe outing, but with rotating partners. After a few hours of conversation under the soft yellow lights, couples would choose their dates for the next mornings nature walk.

The participants will text us who they like the most later tonight, said Kong Ji-yu, one of the organizers. If theres a match, the two will be paired together for the walk. For the rest, well partner them with someone we feel suits them.

Last years event had produced two matches, with one of the couples reportedly still dating. The organizers, observing the proceedings from the lobby, were now hoping for three.

Read more:They earn nearly $200,000. Can they afford to have kids in SoCal?

The singles sipped fruit tea at the wooden tables, looking relaxed and sleepy. Camera-wielding reporters zipped through the narrow aisles like bees, zooming in on faces and hands.

After a few rotations, Yu-jin, the real estate consultant, went to the counter to refill her lemon tea, looking up to see a reporter in a long trench coat pointing his handheld camera at her.

The reporter, who was filming a news documentary for national broadcaster KBS, fed her a line.

Say I want to meet a good partner through this program, the reporter said. Just once, really quickly.

Yu-jin reluctantly obliged.

: :

Seong-hun went to bed early that night feeling contemplative.

Here he was trying to escape the casualness of dating apps, only to feel like he was cheating every time his conversation partner changed.

I realized I need to start by figuring out what exactly Im looking for, he said. Maybe Ive just been overcomplicating things in my head.

The next morning at the courtyard, Kong, the program organizer, looked pleased.

There were four matches last night, she announced.

To avoid hurt feelings, she added, the details of who picked whom wouldnt be revealed to the group.

Seong-hun had asked the organizers to pair him with someone at random. He sat with his assigned date at one of the tables outside the cafe and dived into a conversation about lifes malaise, while a camera drone buzzed overhead capturing the strolling couples posing for photographs by the cherry blossoms.

Huddled together a few tables over with an air of weariness was a group of four calling themselves the failed couples. They had dropped any pretense of romance and skipped the walk.

What's more, the participants were fed up with the reporters from KBS. One of them tricked me into an interview by asking me to just sit down for a second, said Chae-won, a 32-year-old gym teacher.

Would events such as these and their steady contribution of new couples help reverse South Koreas fertility crisis? The group was skeptical.

What really needs to be addressed is the cost of living and housing prices, Chae-won said, as the rest of the group nodded along. Right now, I already have my hands full just from looking after myself.

Even if she ended up getting married, she would think twice before having a baby.

I see colleagues getting the stink eye for having to take a day off because of their child, she said. Things have supposedly gotten a lot better in that regard, but thats still how it goes.

Later, the matched couples would be encouraged to pursue their relationship beyond the temple walls, under their real names.

And at the closing ceremony, Yeo-am, the temple's abbot, offered some parting words of wisdom.

Relationships, he said, were made not from a burning love but quietly accruing affection.

My sense is that there are another three or so potential couples in this group, he said, pointing to the two singles nearest to him. Why dont you two try seeing each other?

The two laughed awkwardly.

When the abbot began taking questions, Seong-hun raised his hand.

How do I get rid of this emptiness, this feeling that Im missing something important in life? he asked.

The abbot told him to begin every morning by performing exactly 108 bows, a meditation exercise in Korean Buddhism. And for all the weekend's emphasis on finding a partner, the abbot's advice was a reminder that some journeys in life must be made alone.

Thats something you must resolve on your own, the abbot said. No other person can save you from it.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Inspired by reality TV, Buddhist monks become matchmakers - AOL

In high school, my friends often asked me about the Buddhist take on social justice issues.

What do Buddhists think about abortion? How about gay rights? Do Buddhists eat meat? Are you allowed to own a gun? Sometimes I had an answer, but for other issues, I wasnt sure. I knew I had my stance, but I didnt know what I was supposed to believe.

Some of my religious friends seemed so set on their opinions, and part of me envied their strong conviction even if I didnt agree with it. As someone who wanted things spelled out in black-and-white terms, the ambiguity of Shin Buddhism felt frustrating. Just tell meits never OK to kill, right?

Even today, part of me still wants a clear path on what I should do and think as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist follower. With issues of social justice, I want to be told that my religion validates my own beliefs. Ive talked to some people in the Shin Buddhist community who also crave this clarity, and Ive heard arguments that Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) leadership should take a stronger organizational stance on social issues to advocate for justice and change. The most recent issue being the war in Gaza.

I cant begin to understand the anguish, fear, and horror that Palestinian and Israeli families are currently enduring. I struggle to find words that convey the heaviness of this collective suffering. Families have been torn apart, and heartbreaking killings continue with no end in sight. The ripples of trauma will be felt for generations.

I feel so helpless absorbing news from the safety and privileges of my home, feeling like theres nothing I can do to ease such pain. With Jodo Shinshu being such a key part of my identity and community, I find comfort in knowing that our religious organization stands firmly against evil.

But do we? As I struggle with how to wrap my mind around war conflicts, Im reminded of a passage from one of the exhibits of the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, Washington.

This beautiful museum focuses on the art, culture, and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. One of the permanent exhibitions includes a brief walkthrough of the history of various Asian American diasporas, with a section featuring Cambodian Americans. This part of the exhibit includes historical depictions of the Cambodian genocide.

As disturbing as it is to be reminded of such a brutal part of history when millions of people were killed, I appreciate that the museum does not shy away from the truth. At the end of the description, it states:

To simply finger a brutal regime, however, is to risk missing a valuable lesson from the Cambodian genocide. The initial aims of the Khmer Rouge were hardly evilthey did not set out to decimate the Cambodian people. Instead, Khmer Rouge leaders were swept away in an ideology. They were corrupted by power and abandoned common sense in an attempt to make a flawed belief system work. The lesson of the Cambodian genocide is not that the Pol Pot was evil; it is rather thatlike goodevil lurks in the heart of every human being. Dont view the exhibition here and wonder only, How could they be capable of such evil? Instead, as well, How could I be capable of such evil? and pledge to prevent it from happening again.

To me, this feels very much aligned with Shin Buddhist thought. Shinran Shonin (1173-1263), the founder of the Jodo Shinshu school, talks at length of the cruel realities of the world and the evils of human nature. Not only the evils of humans in general, but specifically our own capacity. Our sufferingthis burning house is fueled by our own human anger, ignorance, and greed.

In the Tannisho, Shinran has an interaction with Yuien-bo, one of his followers. He challenges Yuien-bos loyalty by telling him to kill a thousand people.

Yuien-bo responds: Though you instruct me thus, Im afraid it is not in my power to kill even one person.

Shinran replies: By this you should realize that if we could always act as wished, then when I told you to kill a thousand people in order to attain birth, you should have immediately done so. But since you lack the karmic cause inducing you to kill even a single person, you do not kill. It is not that you do not kill because your heart is good. In the same way, a person may wish not to harm anyone and yet end up killing a hundred or thousand people.

As shown in this passage, Shinran points out that Yuien-bos ability to refuse to kill anyone is a privilege of his circumstances rather than a testament to his morals. If Yuien-bo feared that his family would be hurt if he didnt comply, then he may have acted differently.

Shinran explains this further: For those who make their living drawing nets or fishing in the seas and rivers, and those who sustain their lives hunting beasts or taking fowl in the field and mountains, and those who pass their lives conducting trade or cultivating field and paddies, it is all the same. If the karmic cause so prompts us, we will commit any kind of act.

When I think about the violence in Palestine and Israel, I find myself wondering, What kind of people kill and rip others from their homes and families? and How could people drop bombs and make decisions that lead to tens of thousands of civilian deaths?

Surely, I could never do the same. However, Shinran reminds me that the more I tell myself that there is a moral disparity between myself and militant fighters, the more I conclude that they must be morally flawed for enabling such suffering. As I result, I am less likely to value their lives and extend compassion and understanding.

Some people might not see this thought process as an issue. After committing such atrocities, are they even worthy of our compassion and understanding? I would argue that trying to understand and extend compassion does not mean were passive or complicit. We can form opinions and take action, while understanding that our perspectives stem from our own subjective causes and conditions.

I think Shinran helps us understand that someones actions are not theirs alone, but rather a result of their causes and conditions. This includes situational circumstances, subjective perspectives, implicit biases, and fears that dictate ones judgment.

Instead of condemning individual actions and seeing groups of people as the problem, I believe that Shinran challenges us to look upstream at the karmic conditions that inform these choices.

How do anger, ignorance, fear, and greed contribute to patterns of oppression, imperialism, colonialism, and war, and how do we stop our own evil nature from becoming corrupted by and contributing to these powers?

It seems that Jodo Shinshu Buddhism doesnt tell us what we should and shouldnt do because navigating these decisions is something that we must go through ourselves with our individual karmic conditions. While I think its OK for leaders to express opinions and reflections about current events, I can see why BCA would struggle with the issue of taking a strong stance on behalf of everyone in the organization. As a collective of foolish beings, no one can speak for everyone.

However, I want to be clear that not having a unified organizational position does not mean that we need to be passive. In our community, I believe its essential to create space to address heavy topics that are on our minds and discuss how they relate to Jodo Shinshu thought.

At Palo Alto Buddhist Temple, where I am a member, we often have discussions after service where people can talk about whats on their minds. The topics have included controversial issues.

During the discussions, I dont always agree with everyone and sometimes hearing a different perspective sets me even more firmly into my own thought process. However, as my outlook shifts and grows, Im always grateful to have gained insight into what others are thinking and feeling. With skilled facilitation, some trust, and lots of practice, I feel that weve been able to express and receive our opinions and reflections with respect.

Amidst violence and seemingly endless cycles of suffering, Ive noticed that I feel less alone and helpless after these discussions. As I awaken to my own internal biases and capacity for evil, I also know that I am embraced by a community. A community of foolish beings whose collective wisdom and compassion is deeper than Im able to grasp alone. I am eager to continue discussions with our sanghas about Palestine and Israel, exploring the depths of our wisdom and practicing compassion as we walk the Shin Buddhist path together toward a more peaceful world.

As seemingly pessimistic (or perhaps, realistic) as Shinran was at the capacity of humans to overcome their greed, anger, and ignorance, he also talked about the infinite wisdom and compassion of Amida Buddha and the promise of universal liberation for all sentient beings.

When we discuss and process the heavy realities of human evil and suffering, I know that we, like Shinran, can create space that fits both critical self-reflection and hope as we strive for a future with more compassion and peace.

This essay was originally published in the PABT Sangha newsletter and subsequently published in the December, 2023 issue of Wheel of Dharma, the official publication of the Buddhist Churches of America.

Sydney Shiroyama

Sydney Shiroyama is a Ministers Assistant at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple.

Originally posted here:
Good, Evil, and Gaza - Lion's Roar

April 18, 2024, 3:09 PM EDT

By Anna Kaplan

Orlando Bloom may be most well known for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings, but viewers will see a new side of the actor as he takes on three extreme sports in a matter of weeks in his new show, Orlando Bloom: To the Edge.

While Bloom goes rock climbing, wingsuiting and free diving meaning without an oxygen tank to about 102 feet below sea level, he's also often reciting Buddhist chants before embarking on each adventure.

Viewers might be surprised to find out Bloom has been practicing Buddhism for more than 30 years. The 47-year-old tells TODAY.com how his faith played a role in To the Edge, now streaming on Peacock. (Peacock is a part of TODAY.coms parent company, NBCUniversal.)

As a philosophy and as a practice, its something thats definitely been the anchor in my life, Bloom says.

He starts by sharing the meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the chant he recites throughout the three episodes: It means, I bring myself in tune with the rhythm of the universe through the vibration of sound.

Bloom, a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism and a follower of the Soka Gakkai organization, says he likes the philosophy that the Buddha believed would lead all living beings to enlightenment in their current lifetime.

At its core, its about respecting all living beings, he says. And I liked that as a roadmap. I always wanted a roadmap, and in a way, this practice has been that for me.

Bloom says he discovered Buddhism when he was working with an artist on painting and drawing when he was 16. Ahead of his school exams, he heard his mentor chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

I just said to him one day, What are you doing? Bloom recalls. And he said, Im chanting that youre going to do really well in your exams, and then youre going to have a really successful life.

Bloom asked if it would actually help, and his mentor said it would, so Bloom decided to start his own practice.

I just never stopped because I found it to be very, very helpful to me, he says. If there is an art to living, I found that the philosophy and this practice is, for me, the art.

But that doesn't mean his faith has remained constant over the course of 30 years he says he questions his faith "every day."

Ten times a day. Ten times a second. All day, every day. Theres no moment Im not constantly, he says.

Its not like I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to be, like, levitating, he adds with a laugh. No, I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to survive my life and everything that happens in life. Chanting helps me to navigate the nastiness.

Bloom says he wanted to incorporate his faith into To the Edge because it makes him focus on each experience in life.

What my chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo does is, it just focuses me, he says. It has me open my mind to the experience, to be present to the moment, to go with the flow.

And while some may think the idea of Buddhism is the opposite of trying extreme sports, Bloom says his faith grounded him ahead of the intense moments seen on the show.

Ive had this practice since I was 16, and its an amazing tool to keep me present, focused and grateful for whats right in front of me because I think, sometimes, we can forget that all of the obstacles in our life are really opportunities for our growth, he says.

When youre right in it, its like, Why is this happening? What am I doing? Why was this a good idea? And I just mean in everyday life, by the way, he continues.

But while filming moments of abject fear, or a heightened sense of pressure, on To the Edge, Bloom says his chant became something he relied on.

I find it was a perfect tool for me, and it just so happened that I was doing it, so it became part of what you saw me do on the show, he says.

Of the three sports wingsuiting, free diving and rock climbing he says wingsuiting was one of the most heightened moments of his physical experience on the show.

Bloom says there wasn't anyone in his life who was completely against him attempting the extreme stunts seen in the show, but his partner, Katy Perry, did have some hesitations.

I think my partner was, like, not entirely sure what I was doing until I came home, freaking out, and then she was like, OK, thats crazy, he says. But shes happy now. And she saw it all.

The pop superstar FaceTimed her beau several times throughout the show, and came in person to watch him go wingsuiting for the first time.

Perry hugged Bloom after his wobbly flight, before playfully saying he looked like a flying wombat.

As for the other episodes, Bloom says he found free diving mentally and emotionally challenging, but also rather beautiful in its own way, while rock climbing was just a brutal grind.

Bloom mentions the moment at the end of his climb, which had been selected specially for him, when he was standing on top of ancient art.

I never felt so connected as I did in that moment, Bloom says. It was probably a combination of all three (stunts) coming together.

He added: From doing these things, you learn to become capable, and thats something that I wanted.

Anna Kaplan is a news and trending reporter for TODAY.com.

View original post here:
Orlando Bloom Talks New Show 'To the Edge' and His Buddhist Faith - TODAY

ROME, Ga (AP) Instead of traditional maroon and gold Tibetan Buddhist robes, Lama Rod Owens wore a white animal print cardigan over a bright yellow T-shirt with an image of singer Sade, an Africa-shaped medallion and mala beads the most recognizable sign of his Buddhism.

"Being a Buddhist or a spiritual leader, I got rid of trying to wear the part because it just wasnt authentic to me, said Owens, 44, who describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen.

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Lama Rod describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. He wants to free you from suffering - The Caledonian-Record