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Thread: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

  1. #1
    Yekhefah
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    Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    In the screenplay I'm working on, one of the characters is a very New Agey 15-year-old girl. She's a vegetarian, she meditates regularly, and she believes in the power of the mind. She's quite mature for her age and while I suspect she got into New Age philosophies to piss off her Marine-officer father, I think she's been at it long enough that she really does get a great deal out of it.

    My other character is her nervous stepmother, who suffers from nightmares and is living in denial about several things. I see this New Age deal becoming a major plot point, and I want the young girl to teach her how to meditate and control her nightmares, and take control of who she is. (This isn't the main plot, but it adds a lot of depth and pushes the main plot along.)

    I need to know a lot more about meditation, New Age philosophies, and Buddhism in order to write this. I know next to nothing about any of the above. I was a very New Agey kid myself, but I was more into astrology and crystals and Deepak Chopra. I was a dumb kid experimenting; the kid in my story has to actually know her stuff.

    Does anyone have any good resources for me to learn about this kind of thing? What branch of Buddhism would be most relevant? Where are some resources on how to learn this particular variety of meditation? What else would work in this context, including crystals or whatever? All information is welcome!

  2. #2
    God/dess holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    I don't know anything about that stuff either. It may be easy to get into one teacher's philosophy though - as far as the meditation stuff goes. I know someone who is into that stuff and he got way into the one guy. If I see him, I'll ask some questions. Also my AMAZING massage therapist is really into the new age thing and I know that in addition to crystals there is this whole world of wild stuff. She's told me about color therapy, and vibration therapy. That might be cool cinamatically because she has all these toys made out of different materials that she'll strike so they resonate. In Oregon there are a ton of shops that are filled with that stuff. I'm sure there are a lot in L.A. also.

    I swear I so want to hook you up with my friend. I know you have a boyfriend so I mean hook up platonically. But he is the most hysterical, wonderful friend to have. He's a screenwriter in Hollywood, I know that is like a million people, but he's fabulous. Not in a gay way though. Not that there'd be anything wrong with that.

  3. #3
    Senior Member BlindGroping's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm
    http://www.beliefnet.com/

    The girl will probably be into Yoga as well.
    http://www.yogasite.com/

    Do you meditate at all?
    Or do/believe anything the girl does?
    I'm here just for the food.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    I used to meditate, and yes, I am very open to what she does. I just don't know enough about it. I'm more like the older character - chaotic and depressed and looking for peace. She's open to learning more, as am I. Thanks for the websites.

    And thanks for your comments too, holiday. Hell, put us in touch! You can email me through the site. I always like to meet fellow writers.

  5. #5
    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    I don't know anything about your qusestion but i realy want to read your story when you are done you got my attention with the discription you gave. Godd Luck

  6. #6
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Check out web.nightlightnews.com .....A very inclusive site utilizing astrology, Buddhism, paganism, and positive thinking. Risa knows her stuff!

  7. #7
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Wow, thanks!

    And thanks for the encouragement, krchab! It really helps.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member azcustomer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Yek,

    I am jealous, you are so close to one of my old favorite meditation places. This place got me through college.

    http://www.yogananda-srf.org/temples...ine/index.html

    check out the site and resources available.


    "Life is not about the number of breaths you take.
    It's about those moments which leave you breathless."

  9. #9
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Actually, what you are speaking of is called "New Thought" not New Age.

    Just thought I'd clarify.

  10. #10
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Venus, we called it New Age when I was a kid. What's the difference?

  11. #11
    Miss. Kristina Lee
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    check out books by llama surya das. hes amazing and easy to understand.

  12. #12
    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    I've always seen it as New Age as well ....is there really a difference or is it just different terminology?

    Wikipedia, here I come .......oh ................this is interesting:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought

    AND

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age


    Pretty informative.....you learn something new everyday, huh?

    Here's one quote from the "New Thought" link:
    Although New Thought churches are often mis-identified with the New Age movement, New Thought beliefs predate contemporary New Age thinking by nearly a century, and New Thought churches typically do not share major tenets of New Age thinking. New Thought is distinctive from traditional religious movements in that it is expected to evolve and not remain static. Adherents believe that as humankind gains greater understanding of the world, New Thought churches will evolve to assimilate new knowledge.






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

  13. #13
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Wow, that was informative! Thanks!

  14. #14
    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Hey Yekhefah, good luck, by the way.






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    I am a lifelong Buddhist, although not a religious one but more of a philosophical one. I'm by no means an expert, but if you have questions on Buddhism, I'll try to answer or lead you to a good source for answers. There are many, many branches of Buddhism and they are all somewhat different- mine is more Japanese Buddhism (which is tinged with traditional Shinto). Have you thought about going to different Buddhist temples and talking to the abbot or priests? Since you're in LA, I might be able to tell you where some are.

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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Good luck-the idea sounds awesome. We need more interesting/complex female adolescents in screenplays

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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age


  18. #18
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Wow, HelloKitty answered the question very well!!

    I wish you much luck on your writing journey. I would defintely love a heads up when you are done. The book/screen play sounds absolutely wonderful!

  19. #19
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Thanks, everyone!

  20. #20
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Regarding the 'New Thought" churches, it's easy enough to research three of the major churches in the category:

    http://www.christianscience.org


    http://www.religiousscience.org

    www.unity.org

    and the following website, belonging to the minister who used to run the Religious Science church in Hollywood, but who has since moved his ministry to Palm Springs:

    http://www.revbates.com


    his link also includes three free pdf-format New Thought e-books:

    http://www.revbates.com/booksandtapes.htm

    Btw, all three of the above religions are considered to be cults by the more fundamentlist Christian churches, but I've never been sure if it's because the FC church people are "true believers" to slightly paraphrase the title of Eric Hoffer's old book. Or if almost anything falling outside of the FC "sphere of influence" is viewed as economic competition they would prefer to "just go away."

  21. #21
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    My characters are California Jews anyway, so I don't plan on going with any Christian themes. You know California Jews... it seems like the majority all become Buddhists or Scientologists, and hold Zionist fundraisers at the ashram.

    California is a melting pot like nowhere else in the country, I'll give it that.

  22. #22
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Quote Originally Posted by PhaedrusZ
    Btw, all three of the above religions are considered to be cults by the more fundamentlist Christian churches, but I've never been sure if it's because the FC church people are "true believers" to slightly paraphrase the title of Eric Hoffer's old book. Or if almost anything falling outside of the FC "sphere of influence" is viewed as economic competition they would prefer to "just go away."
    Traditional Christian churches view ANY religion that is not Christian to be "invalid" or part of a cult.

    The New Thought "churches" are about bettering yourself through expanding your thoughts (there is more out there) but also by taking action (not sitting around trying to find out what God has "in store" for you). But, the main thing about New Thought "religion" is that they do not judge anyone for their religious beliefs. At our Unity church, we have a few jewish folk (who still go to Temple) and some Catholics (who do not go to catholic church, but still believe in the bible). New Thought is more about finding who you are by becoming who you want to be...

    On and on...

    But, yeah, anyways.

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    Default Re: Buddhism, Meditation, New Age

    Quote Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
    Traditional Christian churches view ANY religion that is not Christian to be "invalid" or part of a cult.

    The New Thought "churches" are about bettering yourself through expanding your thoughts (there is more out there) but also by taking action (not sitting around trying to find out what God has "in store" for you). But, the main thing about New Thought "religion" is that they do not judge anyone for their religious beliefs. At our Unity church, we have a few jewish folk (who still go to Temple) and some Catholics (who do not go to catholic church, but still believe in the bible). New Thought is more about finding who you are by becoming who you want to be...

    On and on...

    But, yeah, anyways.
    Actually, I would personally consider all of the New Thought churches to be philosophies rather than religions, per se, having served on the boards of two such churches a number of years in the past. And having several friends/relatives, all of whom followed either Christian Science, Religious Science or Unity themselves. As to both Religious Science and Unity, IIRC, you can belong to either Religious Science and/or Unity while simultaneously belonging to any other church. And if there's a problem with the concept, it's usually the "any other church" which is the one choking on it.

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