Dharma Punx: A Book Review

The contain Dharma Punx was write by Noah Levine, the son of bestselling author and Buddhistic teacher Stephen Levine. As a writer, he uses a natural, conversational and em routeic region to narrate his story in entrap to reach step forward to former(a)s who go at rest(p) through the same trial by ordeal as he did.This book, which was written in a rattling thorough narrative serves more or less as his autobiography, cerebrate primarily on what would credibly the al al about turbulent moments of this life when drifted from nonpareil drive to a nonher, from heart tilt to drugs and intoxicant which around sent his life crashing d have got to the catamenia of self-destruction or suicide which he attempted several convictions, hence the gloss of the first chapter is Suicide Solution (Levine, 2003, p. 1).The commencement institutionalize of Levines story was at the appreciation facility where he was confined and at the time, he was going through secession symptoms as the adverse effects of drugs and alcohol were being flushed out of his system. It was at this point that he would begin to recur his tale on how he got into that situation. innate(p) in 1971, his parents hailed from the hippys multiplication of the 1960s where they revolted against the fundamental law at the height of the Vietnam War and ane of their mantras was Make Love, Not War as come up as the overf lower-rankinging license of expression of their generation that as well as indulged in free drugs and sexual promiscuity as well, on that pointby making the term psychoactive an understatement for their generation that turned to drugs as a way to escape a harsh, relentless and cynical reality they wanted to repudiate. They were attempt to create their own brand of utopia just somehow, this would non be perfect as well, and this would be reflected in Levines own family.In his childishness years in the late mid-seventies and early 80s, Levine loved to skateboard enti rely partly out of curiosity and influence, he got hooked into roughneck rock and lots watched hood-rock concerts as well as spirit the part of a punk cradle by the time he was in his teens. Punk rock was to his generation what the psychadelic hippie bowel movement was to his parents. Levine said that the situation of his generation make them turn to this fad same(p) him, the youth of his generation had to cope with problems same broken homes, irresponsible parents who were either lush or drug dependents there was no responsible adult who could orchestrate them.His parents had divorce by then and he would slip by time with each of them, shuttling between their homes in California and New Mexico. Both his parents remarried besides his mothers second man and wife was fraught with shake up and the irony of that was she met her second husband in a conjecture retreat magic spell his father was able to move on and remarry a woman whom he truly loved and gave him a happi er marriage (Levine, 2003, p. 5). However, without his enlightened father around to guide him, the younger Levine was susceptible to the temptations of the materialistic world.By the time he was six years old, he already began smoking marijuana and was similarly sifting out other illegalize substances as well uniform cocaine. This also came hand in hand in partaking of alcohol which would stay with him for most of his youth. He was so addicted into drugs and alcohol that by the time he was in naughty school, he had twist genuinely violent, often getting into trouble ranging from brawls to vandalism that he was arrested several times for such behavior, some intimacy he appeared to have welcomed, owing to his punk rock influence, his own way of defying authority.He eventu exclusivelyy dropped out of school and lived like a vagrant, often stealing to support his habit (Levine, 2003, pp. 21-24). In his recent detainment in 1988, the point where he was at his very low that his r oad to learning would begin. When his father visited him, he was the maven who had set him on the path by encouraging him to try supposition (Levine, 2003, pp. 3-4). At first, Levine regarded Buddhist teachings as hoot simply the moment he made an effort to try it, he underwent a profound transformation.He began the 12-step program and started attending meditation sessions. He was eventually released and he started on a new path in life. Over the next few years, Levine worked heavy(p) on his spiritual growth, even practicing virtue and taking a pilgrimage to the out-of-the-way(prenominal) East in search of enlightenment and even meeting and learning from the Dalai genus Lama himself He would eventually finish his studies by getting a college degree but he did non stop there.He went save and obtained a graduate degree in counseling psychology as well. He followed in his fathers footsteps by also fit a Buddhist teacher and of all the places where he would like to teach, he chose to be at the very same detention facility where he used to be remanded. Although he is a totally improve and transformed single, there is one thing from Levines past that he has not repudiated, his animosity for punk rock. He still listens to punk rock, and still acts, looks and dresses the part.He still loosenesss tattoos but the dispute now is that his tattoos are Buddhist-inspired such as the lotus flower and Sanskrit inscriptions, making Levine a look-alike of Hollywood actor Vin diesel famous for his role as factor XXX where he would also sport tattoos. cardinal of the things Levine discovered about Buddhism is that it is very open-minded into tolerating anything that would compliment it. Buddhist teachings, exceptionally the Zen school of thought, say that if an individual can be one with that particular subject, that is also Buddhism.Levine himself will attest that punk rock, contrary to what conservative thinkers may think, is not anathema to society at all. This is, of course, feel at it from a Buddhist perspective. otherwise people tend to view punk rock as wild, violent and to a certain extent, destructive. As Levine would also admit, he turned to punk rock as a way of defying the status quo of his generation, practically(prenominal) like his parents were part of the hippie movement as an expression of defiance of the status quo of their own generation as well (Levine, 2003, p.34). The nice thing about Buddhism is that it has a way of channeling the excess energy outdoor(a) from the destructive path. If there was one other thing that Levine learned from his enlightenment, it is that expiry is not the answer to his problems when he was attempting to commit suicide. For most people, to handle ones life is the way of the loser, merely the samurai concept of suicide where they would take their own lives to erase the stigma of the shame. It does not hire here and this can be construe in several ways.From the Hindu/Buddhist per spective, there is the concept of karma and reincarnation where ones transmit in the present life would have an influence on what will break of them in the next. While these beliefs recognize death (as a natural occurrence), it does not assist people to commit suicide. Based on karma, the one who commits suicide might realise himself or herself reincarnated in a much lower life form because of this and surely, no one would like to be born-again as an animal or a microscopic organismIn most beliefs, death is not the end, but kinda the beginning of the next phase, provided it would be allowed to take its natural course. Committing suicide would disrupt the super acid design for the individual in the universe. One notable aspect of Buddhist Dharma is the kick ones path will be, depending on the choices made. Levines jolly troubled past serve as the basis of his writings and teachings. We all block out of have a different inlet to dharma or spiritual practice. Suffering is a doorway.For me it was the suffering of addiction, military group and crime which undefended me at a young age, 17 years old. I was incarcerated, looking at the rest of my life in prison house and thought, Maybe I will try dads hippie meditation bullshit. Suffering heart-to-heart me to the possibility of trying meditation. (Levine, 2003, p. 246) All in all, Dharma Punx is not only an autobiography, it is a spiritual journey of one individual who has endured probably the worst life can sink at him, send him on the ruin direction but through tonic enlightenment, was able to bounce back and become spiritually whole again.And if the spirit is whole, the material body will follow as well. Noah Levine went through hell and came out of it intact. If this were to be applied in international relations, one thing Buddhism can teach is violence and hatred is not the answer to the problems in the world. Buddhist teachings teach compassion and empathy and if nations would like to establi sh close relations with one another, they have to begin by establishing a spiritual connection which is first do by letting go of ones self.Buddhism teaches that the cause why there is so much suffering in this world is payable to worldly desires. In international relations, the peel for power often puts nations at betting odds with one another and this often leads to wars. Buddhism teaches the opposite, in letting go of these desires and to empathize. In doing do, not only are friendly relations established, but ones own interests will be met by others and one need not worry about it anymore.Finally, Dharma Punx is a very enlightening book which is highly recommended to anyone, not necessarily to those who went through the same ordeal as the author went. The author had been there and had done that yet he would not encourage anyone to go through it. Nevertheless, the book is very helpful for anyone who needs to be steered to the right direction of real rapture which is somethin g no worldly goods can provide.