Hiphop
Heart Sutra and punch lines: A new yardstick for measuring the weight of words
"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." "Your reality is thinner than paper." One is the Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra, and the other is a punchline that exploded in a rap battle. The context and era are different. But both have the power to "shake the world with one line." Hip-hop MCs hit their audiences with the weapon of "punchlines," while Buddhist monks convey the truth with the words "sutras." What are truly weighty words? What is it that "pierces" them? And how should we measure their weight? Is "Punchline" a mantra for the 21st century? A punchline is the "core" sentence in a rap that has the most impact on the audience. In an improvisation battle, this one blow…
Is Hip Hop Modern Buddhism? –Rhyming as a Process of Enlightenment
In the 21st century, sneaker- and beat-clad buddhas shout the truth with a microphone. On street corners, in clubs, and deep inside YouTube algorithms. They are not enlightened, but those who seek to enlighten - in other words, "rhymes". In Buddhism, enlightenment is a process. It is a journey from ignorance to awakening, a journey to cast off the illusion of the ego through practice, observation, and introspection. But where is "practice" in the modern world? What if it's on stage? What if it's buried in rhymes? Hip-hop may be the "Buddhist act" of our time. Freestyle = Improvisational Enlightenment "If you think about it, it won't come out. Just wait for it to come to you." These are the…
Hip-hop monk realizes on the green: Golf teaches compassion and focus
"In this age of worldly desires, my training is in the studio and on the green." So says a "hip-hop monk" who once stood on the stage of an MC battle and now holds a robe and a putter in both hands. He sharpens his mind with beats and knows himself with swing. For him, the Buddhist path is not in the temple. It is in the sound, in the words, and on the green of the wind and grass. Golf is a sport that cultivates compassion "The most important thing in golf is to be aware of the existence of others," he says. Waiting for the group ahead, not disturbing the opponent's concentration, carefully preparing the green. There is…
Anger leads to out of bounds – MCs and monks learn to control their emotions on the green
An MC once said, "If you get angry on stage, you lose. The moment you lose your cool, the blade of your words will stab you." A monk once said, "Anger is like the wind. If you let it go, it will pass, but if you hold it, it will become fire." And a golfer swung his driver in frustration, and the ball mercilessly disappeared into the out-of-bounds zone. Anger is a momentary emotion, but the consequences it brings are lasting. Hip-hop, Buddhism, golf - all of these are cultures that ask how to face "emotional turmoil." And there is an unexpected commonality between them. Emotional outbursts destroy the beat and the score In the world of MC battles, anger…
Rhymes are prayer, swing is breath: A hip-hop Buddhist’s morning practice
5am. The hustle and bustle of the city has yet to awaken. In the hazy pre-dawn air, a man quietly stands on the grass. In his hand he holds neither a microphone nor a scripture, but a putter. Hip-hop, Buddhism, and golf - these three worlds that at first glance seem to exist in different dimensions, but he lives in one flow. "Rap, Buddhism, and golf are all about being here and now. If you're caught up in the future or the past, you won't get a good shot or a good rhyme," he says, and his morning is filled with breathing, silence, and groove. His morning practice frees him, calms his mind, and becomes one with the space -…
“No Bully Movement”: Why Hip Hop is Standing Up to Bullying
Homie Kei and Zeebra take on the forefront of social change through "sound and words" Real voices calling for the eradication of bullying The "No Bully Festival" held at Chigasaki City Cultural Hall in the summer of 2024 attracted nationwide attention. The performers on stage were Zeebra, Kan a.k.a. GAMI, Hannya, ANARCHY, OZworld, JESSE, D.O, and the man who stood out the most, Homie Kei. They took to the microphone not for entertainment or fame, but for the passion to "reduce bullying to zero," which drove the entire venue. The existence of Homie Kei: The weight of words from someone who knows pain Homie Kei is known as a "real man" who was once a member of a street gang…
Cannabis was a “vibrating philosophy.”
Jomon, Tao, and Cannabis: Three Ancient Layers Resonating Together Now Smoking is not just a hobby. It is the gateway to a philosophy that has existed since ancient times. In the past, people lived by "Tao." Not going against the flow of the river, not resisting the wind, but simply being in "harmony" was the highest form of intelligence. And the same "Tao" was also cultivated in Japan, an island in the far east. That was the spirituality of the Jomon people and the culture of hemp. In modern times, hemp tends to be discussed within the framework of "industrial resources" or "drugs." But in fact, it was a vibrating plant that embodied the Tao itself. Hemp is a plant…