Gwen hits a rough patch, and there’s only one thing to do… Hug it out bitchez! All about how we need each other to have a complete, fulfilling life. Warm fuzzies! Jazz hands!

Links mentioned:

Gwen talks a little bit about the classic spectra of personality. Find more out here.

Books mentioned:

Awake at Work, by Michael Carroll

An online stress-test prompts us to think about how Zen helps us with life transitions, especially the biggest transition of all, dum dum dum dum, death!Links Mentioned:

• The Wiki entry for the Japanese phenomenon of karoshi, “working yourself to death.”

• The photo exhibition of people before and after they have died.

Books Mentioned

• Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart .

• The book filled with Japanese Death Poems from Zen Monks.

We all think we’re pretty cool, and then that one thing from our youth turns us into a saggy nostalgic bag of sighs. Is this healthy, and even less important, is this Zen?

Links mentioned:

• All of your wishes have come true Gwen, NKOTB is back.

• An interesting article from the AMA on false memories.

• An in-depth talk on the 5 skandhas. It’s from a Dzogchen teacher but hey, gotta throw them a bone sometimes…

• And our man Thanissaro Bhikkhu and his blessed translations with a thankfully short sutra on samskara.

• Gwen talks some smack on Hot Yoga (Bikram Yoga) If you want some more info on why we’re not down with it read this engrossing Mother Jones piece.

• Patrick mentions the Uncle Rico character from Napoleon Dynamite. Now you can get the action figure! Sweet!

Sometimes you just don’t want to talk about, think about, or do zen. And that may be part of the practice. Also hear Patrick squirm about his coffee addiction.

Links mentioned:

• Scientific American on Orgasms

• Ethan Nichtern and the ID Project

• Our buddy Brad Warner

• And Brad’s most favoritest teacher, Genpo Roshi, talking to Gwen

• ibiblio’s Koan Site

• Jamba Juice

Books mentioned:

• Vanda Scaravelli, Awakening the Spine

• Three Zen Masters, by John Stevens