I am hoping you can help me here. What I am looking for is examples of Buddhism in popular culture. Finding examples from movies and books which had Buddhist themes prevalent in them was rather easy; finding/recalling examples of Buddhism in television has been more troublesome (not watching television hinders my expertise in this area). Therefore, I appeal to you; can you help me find a few examples of Buddhism in popular television shows. (One prominent example I am aware of is Lisa’s Buddhist conversion from The Simpsons.) So, what I am really looking for is, any show themed towards an “Eastern” spirituality practice (eg: talk of Tantric sex in Friends, meditation in any sitcom, any talk of Tibet, etc). Specifics are not necessary. Just a brief description is sufficient. Thank you.
(Yes, this is for school. No, this is not homework. I have examples, I would just like a greater breadth than my non-television watching self is able to provide. If you are interested, the essay will examine the dissonance between Buddhist practices in North America to its portrayal in popular culture.)
The central plot to the show My Name is Earl is Earl’s ongoing quest to right all his wrongs for good Karma. Of course, his idea of Karma (he seems to think it’s an actual God or physical being I think) isn’t quite right, but the spirit is there.
The next door neighbors on King Of The Hill are Buddhists. Conn, and Min Suppanusenpon are Laotian immigrants who have largely assimilated into American culture. Their daughter, Connie, almost never mentions Buddhism. Conn and Min don’t seem to follow most of the tenets of their sect. But when some monks visit looking for the reincarnation of their leader, the Suppanusenpons obviously place great importance on the event and treat the monks with great respect. In another episode at the funeral of a minor supporting character, Conn tells the story of the man and the two tigers.
Bette (Jennifer Beals, on The L Word, is a Buddhist, or at least practices Buddhist meditation techniques. As of the most recent episode she has gone away to a ten-day Buddhist retreat somewhere in Washington.
Twin Peaks featured a fair amount of talk about Tibet and Buddhism.
Lisa Simpson converted to Buddhism on The Simpsons.
The biggest one is probably Kung Fu, the 1970s TV show starring David Carradine. Carradine’s character was raised in a Buddhist monastery and travels through the Old West in search of his long-lost brother. He is a vegetarian and tris to practice non-violence, often allowing himself to be beaten rather than resorting to the kung fu smackdown he is completely capable of laying down. However, he usually has to go for the smackdown in the end to protect someone else. All three seasons of the show are now available on DVD.
Kyle Valenti was sort of Buddhist in Roswell. One of my favorite scenes is where he’s dreaming a conversation with the Buddha (spoiler box for those who haven’t watched the series):
(We enter Kyle’s dream with Isabel Evans who is “watching” his dream. He’s on a mountaintop in a Lotus position with BUDDHA.)
BUDDHA: Remember young blossom, my most important words.
KYLE: Yes, master.
BUDDHA: To thine own self be true.
ISABEL: It’s Shakespeare.
BUDDHA: With every inhale find the center of yourself. With every exhale release the ties that bind your energy. Inhale. . .Exhale. . .Inhale. . . (BUDDHA is interrupted by a cell phone beeping.)
BUDDHA: Excuse me. BUDDHA here. Yeah. When? Prepare the ship. Standby to beam us aboard.
KYLE: Master?
BUDDHA: Our enemies have arrived, Kyle. We must leave Earth and face the dark legion.
KYLE: No, no, no, no. I’m here for inner peace, not that science fiction crap.
BUDDHA: Max Evans changed you when he saved your life. You know that. You’re an alien now Kyle. Dude, like, accept you destiny.
There have been a couple, I think- there’s still a Bodhi tree in the back yard (sometimes), and in a Christmas episode she says that as a Buddhist, she believes people would be happier without possessions. The OP does say he was aware of this example, but he’s going to hear everything there is to hear about it.
One of my favorite Edina moments from a later episode. Her and Patsy are getting ready to go somewhere and Edina stops to say a quick chant over her altar, Patsy asks her “Are you still doing that Buddhist thing?” Edina replies “Almost religiously.”
I recently read a newspaper article (I think it was the Chicago Sun-Times, but I don’t have the clipping anymore) that suggested some Buddhist symbolism and references in Lost. The organization that set up the underground bunker arrangement is called the Dharma Initiative, and John Locke’s outlook seems to be rather Buddhist in nature, although he never refers to himself as a Buddhist.
Definitely many esoteric Buddhist touches in Lost. (Like the Numbers summing 108, etc.) Locke is a weird hybrid of Lockean (duh) philosophy and Shamanism.
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That’s Kahn and Minh Souphanousinphone
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Arlen’s other Laotion family, the Wasonasongs, convert from Buddhism to Methodism because, as the family’s father Ted says, “It’s just better for business.”
Oh no, that is just what I am talking about. Anything from TV world. I hadn’t even thought about Buddhism in those reality designing shows, or reality shows in general. Has any reality show contestant (from Survivor to Surreal Life) been Buddhist? Cause that would be great!
Thanks everybody for their responses. To narrow the search down slightly, I need to be able to cite any show and relate it to my topic. Therefore, reality shows which proclaim to decorate a room in a “Zen” or “Feng Shui” theme would be perfect. A reality show with a self-declared Buddhist on it, perfect. Or any show with Buddhist character(s) or overt Buddhist theme (My Name is Earl), perfect.
Currently, the best examples I have at the moment include Lisa from The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Dharma and Greg, as well as The L Word. I intent to check out several of the others, especially design shows and reality shows.
If anybody wants to be my hero, I am still searching for a show where discussion of Tantric Sex occurs. While I am certain it has occured, I would die for an example from a popular show like Seinfeld or Law and Order.
There is an episode of sex and the city where the girls go to a woman who gives a course (and demonstration) of tantric sex. I can’t find which episode at the moment though.
