The Buddha Freestyles: Snoop Dogg and Authenticity

The Buddha Freestyles is a new WEEKLY (yes, I’m back to writing weekly for IDP) column where I will take a quote from hip-hop and occasionally other forms of music and interpret, ironically, how it relates to living a life of mindfulness and compassion. Have a suggested lyric? Send it over.

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"With so much drama in the L.B.C.
It's kinda hard bein' Snoop D-O-double-G
But I, somehow, some way
Keep comin' up with funky ass shit like every single day."

-         Snoop Dogg, from Gin and Juice

Here Snoop Dogg illustrates the nature of samsara and the idea that we all possess buddha nature; as such we can still make a difference in the midst of great suffering. Samsara is a Sanskrit term which subsumes everything that causes us pain, from the biggies like sickness, aging, and death all the way down to having a hangnail or wishing you could meet someone you actually want to date.

In the first line of this work Snoop mentions that even with those that are close to us, such as the Long Beach City Crew, you will find drama. We all know this; we fight with our romantic partners or siblings or long-time co-workers. In fact, it seems that the closer we are with a crew, the more likely we are to butt heads with them from time to time.

Snoop Dogg goes on to point out that as a result of this cycle of suffering and drama, it’s hard to be yourself. To present yourself authentically in the midst of conflict is no easy task. However, if we shut down from the pain and confusion of our world then we are sort of missing the point, from a dharmic perspective. Instead, we should take Snoop’s advice and allow ourselves to access our own awake state, our buddha nature, and allow the power of our innate wisdom to overcome whatever drama exists in our life.

When you are able to be authentic, to be genuinely who you are, then you can slice through the bullshit that comes up on a day-to-day basis. Presenting yourself in an authentic way and being in touch with your basic goodness allows you to find fresh and creative solutions to life’s problems. If you are true to yourself then you, just like Snoop Dogg, will be able to come up with funky ass shit regardless of what your troubles may be.

Have a suggested lyric? Send it over.

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Lodro's book, The Buddha Walks into a Bar, can be found here