The Man Who Woke up the Buddha - Podcast

Marcus opens an email from Sid a few days after Christmas and finds a wild rant that seems to have been written by Sid, the Buddha, the God of Money, and Pāli the Parrot.Click here to read this episode.Go to Season 1 Episode #1Go to Season 2 Episode #1Go to Season 3 Episode #1Table of Contents [All Text Posts]Apple Podcasts [All episodes] Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

As we wait for Season Four to begin, I provide full disclosure as to how I, Pāli the savant parrot, and Zoey, Sid's savant granddaughter use AI. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid wakes up in the middle of the night in a rage, and somehow makes it downstairs to the garage before screaming out his fury: at his cancer, his Buddha-hood, and his historical flashbacks. The next day Dr. Jay briefs him and Di on the results of his MRI and Di insists he (and Sid) discuss Sid-Buddha’s increasingly erratic behavior. Fortunately, Pāli has a birds-eye view of what’s going on and keeps the discussion on track. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid wakes up in the middle of the night in a rage, and somehow makes it downstairs to the garage before screaming out his fury: at his cancer, his Buddha-hood, and his historical flashbacks. The next day Dr. Jay briefs him and Di on the results of his MRI and Di insists he (and Sid) discuss Sid-Buddha’s increasingly erratic behavior. Fortunately, Pāli has a birds-eye view of what’s going on and keeps the discussion on track. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

The grandchildren celebrate Bodhi Day in Pāli the parrot’s new rec room in the basement by telling Sid about the acts of kindness they did that day. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid gives the grandkids a dharma talk about animal sacrifice with a focus on the Abraham and Isaac story by way of Bob Dylan. Fortunately no animals were harmed in the making of the episode…as long as you don’t count the hamburgers and hot dogs. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid gives the grandkids a dharma talk about animal sacrifice with a focus on the Abraham and Isaac story by way of Bob Dylan. Fortunately no animals were harmed in the making of the episode…as long as you don’t count the hamburgers and hot dogs. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

The grandchildren celebrate Bodhi Day in Pāli the parrot’s new rec room in the basement by telling Sid about the acts of kindness they did that day. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid has a spirited and, at times, convoluted conversation with the leader of a local "Hare Krishna" group about whether all that is is really all that is. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid has a spirited and, at times, convoluted conversation with the leader of a local "Hare Krishna" group about whether all that is is really all that is. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid meets up with his enlightened “park-person” friend LJ who explaines why people don’t recognize Sid’s Buddha nature. It has something to do with ducks. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

After meeting Pāli the Zen parrot and going to Sid’s last radiation treatment, Casper and his grandfather go for a walk around a college campus where they come upon some Bhakti yogis chanting Hare Krishna. Sid is intrigued. Casper is bewildered. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Kesey arrives with Pāli and gets into a deep discussion with Sid about the Pāli Canon as the parrot gets used to his new home. The Buddha, as always, tries to keep the conversation on track. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid’s nephew’s Willy and Junior—along with Junior’s alleged girlfriend Cindy—built a large aviary in the living room at Sid’s house, as he read up on the Buddhist Pāli Canon, Zoey read up on parrot behavior and Di found a way to rise above it all. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid’s nephew’s Willy and Junior—along with Junior’s alleged girlfriend Cindy—built a large aviary in the living room at Sid’s house, as he read up on the Buddhist Pāli Canon, Zoey read up on parrot behavior and Di found a way to rise above it all. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid and Kesey go mano a mano or, rather, master a master in the Buddha department in this, the final episode of Season Two of The Man Who Woke up the Buddha, which also features the arrival of a new character who adds a whole new dimension to the spiritual lessons of the novel. Click here to read this episode.Go to Season 1 Episode #1Go to Season 2 Episode #1Table of Contents [All Text Posts]Apple Podcasts [All episodes] Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid provides somewhat-sage counsel to his grandchildren as they construct a model of the Buddhist stupa (burial marker) he wants placed at his grave. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

While Courtney and Sistah drive Sid home from radiation, Sistah goes on a brilliant, extended, borderline-manic rap about the excesses of the patriarchy and religious intolerance. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Born to Be Wild. (podcast) Season 2, Episode 18Sid’s granddaughter Courtney and her brilliant, albeit reality-challenged roommate Sistah take Sid on a hair-raising ride to his 15th radiation treatment. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid’s first radiation brings up memories of 6th-grade teachers, plastic pumpkins, and hallucinogens, until the appearance of the Greek philosopher Diogenes raises some very interesting questions about who one really is. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

A short but sweet holiday extra in which Sid's grandson wishes him good luck with his radiation (partly because he wants to "inherit" Sid's radiation mask for Halloween. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Sid regains his equilibrium after his challenging discussion with Leila about good and bad by performing his morning ritual of watching the sunrise with his sextant before meandering off in a series of tangents that center on identifying mantras in plain English from song and film titles, as well as the brilliant words of Popeye, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-doo. All while preparing in his typical atypical way for his first radiation treatment Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid and Leila continue their difficult discussion about how this experience of acceptance relates to the idea of there being good and bad, higher and lower. It's complicated. And Sid finds himself unable to express the Buddha's perspective. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Leila challenges Sid on his insistence that true acceptance means never saying that anyone—or anything—represents a higher good than anyone or anything else. Meanwhile, Di cooks dinner, Marcus sets the table, and Zoey fills in the blanks. Until Leila tells a story that takes everyone aback. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Marcus and Leila visit Sid and discuss acceptance, higher goods, and jump-starting evolution, while Sid finds new ways to defy his doctor’s orders and Di manages to keep the entire household from going off the rails. Also, in brief cameo appearances, Zoey explains the difference between tarragon and chervil and Bieca has a close encounter with a locavore, free-range chicken wing. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Marcus and Leila have a Zoom session with their Zen Master friend Kesey to try to figure out where Sid’s coming from and where he might be going. In the process, Kesey deconstructs and reconstructs assumptions about AI. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

After a visit during which Sid seemed to careen from one personality to another, Marcus goes home and spends a long summer dinner with Leila trying to figure out what Sid's really saying—and if he knows he's saying it.  Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

This background chapter provides (or undermines) the underlying esoteric/spiritual premise for “The Man Who Woke up the Buddha.” Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid gets oddly ornery as he explains to Marcus that all that is isn’t all that is. Even the Buddha wonders why Sid is going off script but since there isn’t any script he’s not all that concerned. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid makes a connection with Menes, the first pharaoh, and regales his eight-year-old grandson Casper with details about ancient Egypt, including several facts that most people think are science fiction (e.g., that the early pharaohs came from outer space and glowed), but that Sid, Casper, and the Buddha know to be true. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

At Casper’s Small Fry baseball game, Di talks with Todd the Anesthesiologist and learns that, when Sid came out from under, his first words were “Greetings humans…please remove bandages…wine gone bad…bread stale…let my spirit go…I want my mummy.” Between that, the bandages around his head, and the fact that Casper is reading a picture book about pharaohs and pyramids, Sid realizes some pharaoh is trying to get his attention. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

During a visit from his daughter-in-law Carolyn, Sid sees signs that convince him she is suffering from a mental breakdown similar to his 40 years before. With the Buddha's help, he helps her find some peace and gives her courage to carry on.  Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid, Marcus, and the Buddha ponder the purpose of winning and losing in the scheme of universal human traits as they watch a Michigan - Notre Dame football game. During the last play, with the game on the line, they come up with a powerful new mantra. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid and Willy continue their exploration of the Spanish conquistador Pizarro, focusing now on Atahualpa, the Incan king who lost his kingdom to Pizarro even though he had thousands of men and Pizarro only a couple of hundred. Willy starts reading the story to his grandpa Sid only to find himself suddenly possessed by Atahualpa. Freaked out, he beats a slow retreat from the room and Atahualpa takes over to speak for himself. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid enlisted his 13-year-old grandson Willy to help him figure out why he was mumbling "Bizarro" after surgery. In the process, Sid sang excerpts from “Stairway to Heaven” and got Willy to take on the role of the 16th-century Spanish conquistador Pizarro. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid loses a bet with his anesthesiologist, learns how to pee at 3 a.m. after surgery, makes a sad faux pas, and is assaulted by armies from all space and time. The Buddha continues to keep his own counsel as he watches his latest incarnation "learn the ropes."  Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the first episode of Season Two, in which Sid continues to deconstruct traditional spiritual assumptions—and, at times, everyday common sense—as he waits at the duck pond for Di to pick him up to go to his second surgery. Click here to read this episode.Return to Podcast Episode #1. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

The thrilling conclusion to Season 1 of The Man Who Woke up the Buddha, where we learn what just bumped into Sid, where to find dinosaurs, why it’s probably not a good idea to talk to strangers, and the esoteric wisdom of Raggedy Ann. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid continues his peace-is-every-step practice in spite of the unexpected obstacles that fate puts in his way, particularly an alluring yoga teacher who triggers a brief present-life regression, and an overwhelming desire for a cinnamon scone. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid, suddenly feeling abandoned by the Buddha, decides to try "peace is every step." After a minor mishap he ends up in a hardware store where he contemplates the uses of rope with a famous Inquisitor. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

While doing research at the local library, Sid and the Buddha discover that they haven't been given credit for many of the books they wrote; are almost run over by an oblivious teenager pushing a cart full of books; try to determine the difference between "Idiots" and "Dummies"; and eventually deconstruct and reconstruct four of the famous Eight Realizations. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Early one morning, Marcus and Sid walked to the general store to get the paper, coffee, and cider donuts. After finishing the obituaries, Sid and the Buddha collaborated on updating the Four Noble Truths. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Things get a little wild in the MRI machine at the midwest cancer center when Sid passed out, leaving the Buddha alone with one of the most murderous dictators in history. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

After wandering aimlessly around the atrium of the cancer center, admiring the art and architecture, Sid is inexorably drawn to the information desk, where a Bodhisattva in the guise of a volunteer helps guide him in more ways than one. Even the Buddha is impressed with her compassionate nature. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode of The Man Who Woke up the Buddha, Sid learns more than anyone needs to know about golf balls, testicles, and tumors He's then joined by LJ, a "park person" who shares his theories of life and marketing and gives Sid news about the latest overdose in town. He, Sid, and the Buddha shake their collective heads philosophically and speculate on how the person will reincarnate. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid, Di, and the oncologist discuss his rare cancer anaplastic ependymoma, as well as the technicalities of road biking including a ride in Vermont called L.A.M.B. which features more than 10,000 feet of climbing over 112 miles. The Buddha provides color commentary while musing on the cycles of life and death. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

It turns out learn that the Buddha is part of a long lineage of dead poets, politicians, warriors, and holy men and women who, over the years, have temporarily set up shop in Sid’s boundless imagination—including Agamemnon, Torquemada, and Harriet Tubman. Which, at times, was embarrassing for his kids and could wreak havoc at the dinner table back when he tried to get them to help him guess who the hell was invading his porous imagination. Click here to read the episode. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Sid gives his first “Dharma talk." It's by invitation only...and the only people invited are his five grandchildren, except that Di insists on attending to make sure he doesn't go off the rails in his description of the night of his stroke. Zoey keeps interrupting with know-it-all facts about Buddhism until her big sister Courtney convinces her to be quiet before her brother Junior hits her. This is the first real introduction to all the grandchildren. Click here to read the episode. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Marcus returns home in time to have a nightcap with his wife Leila who, in some ways, knows Sid best of all. Together, they reflect on Sid's idiosyncrasies including the times he impersonated Teddy Roosevelt...and later, Al Capone. Click here to read the episode. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe

Marcus stops by to see Sid before leaving the next morning. Finally, after doing endless errands for Di, he escapes. He spends most of the ride thinking about his history with Sid which includes Sid’s rather complex relationship with Marcus’s sister Julia. He calls Julia to give her an update.Click here to read the episode. Get full access to Fields of Vision at davidblistein.substack.com/subscribe