Peri-Dhammic gift ideas

The Watercooler
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“Peri” is a prefix meaning “around” or “about” like perimeter is the measurement around an object or pericardium is a membrane surrounding the heart. So peri-Dhammic gifts are those gifts that are not Dhamma per se, but are somewhat adjacent to it. They shouldn’t have anything to do with Buddhism or Dhamma directly, but they may steer the mind in the general direction of it. Gifts for kids or adults are welcome. Short or digestible gifts are best, given how busy we modern people are. Here are some I came up with, all for adults or teenagers.

Cosmos
The original TV series from 1980 with Carl Sagan. The 2014 remake with Neil DeGrasse Tyson is excellent, but the original is something special. Sagan’s presentation is excellent and you can see his awe of the universe shine through. It touches on our place in the universe, the origins of life on Earth, the scientific process, the history of science, the importance of skepticism, and our shared humanity. It’s the last two aspects just mentioned that tie it to Dhamma, encouraging objective investigation of the world and compassion for our fellow humans. If I had to pick one thing out of all the movies and TV I have seen that would be beneficial for a person to watch, it would be this. Anyone interested in science or astronomy would probably enjoy it. Wikipedia page and an excerpt.

The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant
Published in 1968, this book is a distillation of these authors’ 11 volume, 13,000+ page The Story of Civilization down to a little over 100 pages. It gives a real “seeing the forest through the trees” look at human history, the repetitive patterns displayed throughout it, and important lessons to draw from it. The book provides a clear lens into human nature based not on ideals or philosophy, but our actions throughout history. Some of the language and a smattering of the ideas are outdated, but the bulk of it is timeless. It relates to Dhamma because it can be a basis for developing disenchantment and a sense of urgency. Anyone interested in history would probably enjoy it. Wikipedia.

Please post your ideas and if possible, explain their connection to Dhamma and who the target audience is. Happy gift-giving this holiday season! :christmas_tree:

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Some of Hayao Myazaki’s films would fall into this category, as Buddhist principles are largely internalized by traditional Japanese culture, and it gets expressed in his stories. E.g., the film Nausicaa unconsciously recreate the concept of the pure land that underlies the corrupt land found in the Vimalakirti Sutra. The concepts of defilement, past karma, and purification are central to the story. But he mixes different sources of inspiration together freely, so there are also Western and Shinto ideas involved, too.

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Thanks Charles. That’s the kind of thing I had in mind. Another Studio Ghibli film is Grave of the Fireflies which was one of the most emotionally impactful films I’ve ever seen. That film is peri-Dhammic, IMO.

Who else has gift ideas? Anything wholesome or even peri-wholesome. Please don’t be afraid to share: time is running out to get gifts this season!

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Consider a donation to Buddhist Global Relief in the name of your recipient or to your local sangha or monastery, in their name.

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