#unicyle

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Meet the 25-year-old man who is riding his unicycle around the world: http://nydn.us/UBM9kJ

'In an ongoing series examining Buddhism in America, Unicycle will be presenting the views of "The Disgruntled Yogi," a onetime student of many legendary teachers, loyal to none. DY, as he likes to be called, holds a massage certificate from Hollyhock Institute, in Canada, and three quarters of a Rolfer's licence from the New Mexico Rolfer's Union (Level One training). Known for telling crazy Vietnam stories to hungover young yogis at breakfast prep in various meditation centers, he's the guy that still smokes weed in his VW bus just outside the retreat boundary. Unicycle caught up with DY in Crestone, Colorado, last October. Here is Part One of the series.

Disgruntled Yogi, how do you feel about the state of the dharma in North America today?

It's terrible today. In my day, the blessings rained down all the time whether you liked it or not. You couldn't lean against a cave without leaving a handprint. I can't tell you how many times I woke up at the end of the empowerment to hear, "You have just received the supreme empowerment; there is none higher." Man, I miss the old days. You know, you used to be able to get laid back then. These days all the Buddhists are a bunch of theists - and the women, well, they're like tanks in shawls.

A lot of your peers became teachers themselves. Whart are your thoughts on Surya Das, Robert Thurman, and Jack Kornfield?

Those whitey teachers are a bunch of amateurs. They tell stupid jokes in very boring monotonous voices. You know, the voice you use to sound spiritual? Chogyam Trungpa and Suzuki Roshi didn't give two craps if people thought they were spiritual. Plus they knew how to put on a show; it was worth the five dollars for admission.

Do you feel overlooked by your peers?

Duh - I was Suzuki Roshi's personal driver for a whole summer, plus I attended over half the Shambhala Seminary back in 1982. Back then, attending half was enough - I could nail most hour long meditations in twenty minutes flat. So, yeah, to say I've been overlooked would be an understatement. But that's how it goes when you are humble - no one stops to recognize you for your selflessness over the years.

Do you feel the dharma is getting established in the West?

No.

Why not?

Because the kids stopped taking acid. Seriously, who finds dharma through ecstacy and beer?

UNICYCLE DISCLAIMER: If the goal of the dharma is to erode clinging to the ego, may the above offend your ego. May you experience a letting go of any grasping to that offended ego, and may you experience the bliss that comes with eroding defensiveness, righteousness, anger, or resentment.