A yen for Zen in Hollywood
Anne-Marie O’Connor’s description of Linda Guber’s spiritual awakening and assumption of the name Tara, the Buddhist female representation of health, long life and compassion, provided a vivid view into the latest manifestation of truth- and soul-seeking that has taken form among Hollywood’s elite (“Destiny in the Hills,” May 22).
We easily practice the technical and emotional aspects of ancient traditions without knowing their true cultural and historic foundation and ethics. But without a serious and disciplined commitment to years of preliminary mind-training practices and careful guidance under an established teacher, spiritual and psychological defeat is likely.
Name changes and infatuation with statues and beads is spiritual materialism, an Eastern “trip” that is not worth the cost of the candle it takes to illuminate the statue of Buddha in our garden. The result? We increase our suffering by confusing technique and appearance for substantial preparation and many years of discipline.
Niles Willits-Spolin
Woodland Hills
*
O’connor is the real thing. Her work is intelligent, even covering something lightweight like a Zen component to a wealthy woman’s Bel-Air mansion. She brings credibility, sensitivity, respect to the subject, neither pandering nor snickering. She lays out the whole story, and honors it and the subject.
It’s all too easy to wink at the reader, throw in cheap shots or fawn and play it safe. She finds balance.
Cliff Rothman
Los Angeles
*
For those of us regular seekers who are trying to maintain our sanity, please tell me this isn’t about Zen and Buddhism and is instead about what we love most about Hollywood, the fusion of self-obsession and hype. It’s almost the best laugh I’ve had in years.
Leslie Pam
Los Angeles