Punk now teaches buddhism

[sonamdhargey]

This is the story of a young man and a generation of angry youths who rebelled against their parents and the unfulfilled promise of the sixties.

As with many self-destructive kids, Noah Levine's search for meaning led him first to punk rock, drugs, drinking, and dissatisfaction. But the search didn't end there. Having clearly seen the uselessness of drugs and violence, Noah looked for positive ways to channel his rebellion against what he saw as the lies of society.

Fueled by his anger and so much injustice and suffering, Levine now uses that energy and the practice of Buddhism to awaken his natural wisdom and compassion.

Noah Levine is a Buddhist teacher, author and counselor. He is trained to teach by Jack Kornfield of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. He teaches meditation classes, workshops and retreats nationally as well as leading groups in juvenile halls and prisons. Noah holds a masters degree in counseling psychology from CIIS. He has studied with many prominent teachers in both the Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist traditions.

Noah currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Source: www.dharmapunx.com/

[RedLantern]

Giving these kind of people a little consideration and understanding could help them to change.You have to help them change.You have to get inside their heads to see why they behave the way they do,once you are inside their heads,you can communicate with them better.This would in turn help them to get inside your head and see what it is they have done wrong.Does this make sense?
Some people are born into a way of life being unaware that they can change their outcome.Understanding and teaching can do to help people onto a successful path.
This is a wonderful and inspiring story,thank you for sharing.

[brian]

Whatever harsh treatments or unhappiness that people have suffered during their childhoods should not be made as an excuse or reason for them to be violent and create havoc for the community. Some even went to the extent of self destruction. In this case, Noah Levine showed how a punk can still choose his way to become a benefit to people even though he suffered quite a lot in search of meaning of life. In this case, he found Buddhism to be logical and true to every words. May all the people who chose react poorly to their unfortunates/unhappiness in the past to make a change to their minds and think positively by benefiting people which will find them happiness and the real meaning for life.

[diablo1974]

Most of these punks has very bad childhood and not in a good growing environment. These created the causes to lead them into such dire circumstances. Yes definitely its a choice, but to be able to meet that 'choice' to choose from many. These punks needs a 'light' to guide them to the right path before they heading towards self destruction.

[dondrup]

Noah Levine has come a long way to find the truths about life and Dharma! What he had experienced in his early years of his life especially the punk experience will serve him well in teaching others meditations and Dharma. He is serious about his work.  He has gotten himself trained as a counsellor and studied Buddhism extensively. His book Dharma Punx will inspire many about the fallacies of life and lead them to the path of liberation and enlightenment.

Noah Levine and his work have received many mentions from the media (please refer http://www.dharmapunx.com/press/default.asp). With the help of the media, Noah Levine can bring Dharma to the forefront to benefit many others.

[Jessie Fong]

Noah Levine is touted as a Buddhist teacher and author. He is well known as a counselor, holding a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from CIIS.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Noah_Levine.jpg

As a youth, Levine was incarcerated several times. His first book, Dharma Punx, details teenage years filled with drugs, violence, and multiple suicide attempts—choices fuelled by disillusionment with American mainstream culture. His substance abuse started early in life—at age six he began smoking marijuana—and finally ended in a padded detoxification cell in juvenile prison 11 years later. It was in this cell where he hit "an emotional rock bottom" and began his vipassana practice "out of a place of extreme drug addiction and violence" While incarcerated, he saw for the first time how the practice his father taught him gave him the tools to relieve the fear and uncertainty that pervaded his life.

He currently leads Dharma and vipassana meditation retreats and workshops across the United States and teaches weekly meditation classes in Los Angeles. A member of the Prison Dharma Network, Levine works with juvenile and adult prison inmates, combining meditation techniques with psychotherapy. He "[explores] how they can have a deeper understanding of what has happened and what they need to do in order to be free, on many levels—free from prison, free from the trauma of the past."

He has helped found several groups and projects including the Mind Body Awareness Project, a non-profit organization that serves incarcerated youths.

[DS Star]

Never judge a book by its cover...

Noah Levine projected the image of a 'punk' but he 'exudes' compassion from his actions of helping the youths in juvenile halls and prisons.

Noah transformed his anger and frustrations of previous years as strengths for him to help others... Actually in Tantric practice, negative energies and attitudes are transformed into enlightened wisdoms.

Noah found his own happiness by helping others finding their happiness.