Buddhist Rap: The 'Sickest Buddhist' Music Video Captures Spiritual Narcissism At Its Best (VIDEO)

While Buddhism is usually associated with peace and tranquility--not all of us remain humble on the spiritual path. This video highlights what can happen when the quest for spiritual enlightenment turns into the realization of spiritual narcissism.

With lines like, "I'm so present I am ahead of my time" and "The instructor just told us to do a 45 minute meditation--I nailed it in 10!" watching this video will inevitably leave you laughing--and listing similar people you know in your head.

*The video has been removed both by YouTube and Vimeo. One reason why can be found at The Worst Horse.*

Sickest Buddhist from GenerateLA on Vimeo.

Comments

[nootrope]

I didn't get to see the video, but I can't believe it could be any funnier than the self-absorbed ego trip of whomever was offended enough to have it pulled! Get over your selves, lol, pun intended.

[starboymikey]

So why is it okay to laugh at self-centered Chritians, Jews and Muslims, but not Buddhists?

[MTiffany]

Because no self-centered Buddhist has ever used manufactured evidence as a pretense to invade another country? Because no self-centered Buddhist has ever hijacked a plane and flown it into a skyscraper?

[TommyObama]

Still doesn't exempt them from satirical humor. Try again. Withstanding criticism, and yes, off-color humor, is not a mark of weakness, but a mark of strength.

[maha]

Buddhists I know thought it was hilarious. I heard about it from one of my priests.

[cliffhammond]

Not having seen the video I must ask, was this performance intended as irony?

If the editors missed that then they surely missed the irony of their attacking this guy for "narcissism" with a nation full of rap stars and hip-hop artists. Narcissus is as Narcissus does.

[Realityism]

the joke
------------
your head

[Mike Barden]

Don't the American Indians and Hindus have something in common: if you're crazy, you must be holy?

[menukjau]

yeah, evangelical christians aren't crazy at all, who are you kidding.

[zingdaddy]

Well, they may have taken down the video, but there's this story from The Onion, recounting a "Yogi Competition":

http://web.archive.org/web/20030207115222/http://www.theonion.com/onion2908/monkgloats.html

An excerpt:

LHASA, TIBET—Employing the brash style that first brought him to prominence, Sri Dhananjai Bikram won the fifth annual International Yogi Competition yesterday with a world-record point total of 873.6.

"I am the serenest!" Bikram shouted to the estimated crowd of 20,000 yoga fans, vigorously pumping his fists. "No one is serener than Sri Dhananjai Bikram—I am the greatest monk of all time!"

Bikram averaged 1.89 breaths a minute during the two-hour competition, nearly .3 fewer than his nearest competitor, second-place finisher and two-time champion Sri Salil "The Hammer" Gupta."

The heavily favored Gupta was upset after the loss."

[Erdgeist]

As a Buddhist for over 40 years I speak from experience. I have seen the dark side of Dharma centers and Zen centers. This video isn't too far off the mark. I actually enjoyed it before the censors yanked it.

[Hannah Ihatethissignup]

I think this is very close to the polar opposite of actual Buddhism.

[BetteB]

HI Hanna, yes, I believe that was the point of it. It's a shame they took it down as it made a good point.
Love
Bette

[knowBuddhaU]

KNOCK-KNOCK
(who's there?)
BUDDHA!
(buddha who?)
KNOW! BUDDHA U!

BWAHAHAHA!

(I'm not really a Buddha, I only play one on this Web site: http://www.examiner.com/x-8313-Seattle-Buddhism-Examiner)

[AngieMom57]

OMG!

I'm doing the belly laugh ;-)

[whit4brains]

That's Arj Barker from Flight of the Conchords. He is so funny!

[elsie900]

This reminds me of the Onion Magazine cover a while back:

[photo of golden pagoda]
"EASTERN RELIGIONS -- Which Ones Are Best For Your Abs?"

[brooklyncitizen]

Chuckle.

[ModernTimes1]

Pretty funny. Not on the level of Sacha Cohen yet.

[Iamcaptainamerica]

That's comedian Arj Barker, if anybody's interested.

Great stuff as always, arj!!!

[MeetJohnDoe]

Moi, I'd worry more about passion, aggression, and ignorance.

Just sayin'.

[BetteB]

Fear and ego are two good one's to worry about reducing for me. Fear is the opposite of love.
Love
Bette

[CatWisdom]

A nap and a nosh heals most problems.

Love and purrs,
CW