In this podcast, John Pendall and Dana Gornall sit down and talk with Gerald Stribling and Alex Thompson, both former marines, and both now Buddhist.
We discuss the difference in generation between both Strib and Alex, why they chose to join the military and the similarities and differences between their reasons. We also get into why they both became Buddhist and how the military can be similar in some ways to being Buddhist with the discipline involved.
Strib talks about his time spent in a monastery and how it aligns with his time being in the military. John asks the question on a lot of people’s minds about how both Alex and Strib reconcile with the idea of violence and their Buddhist practice. Listen to this awesome interview of columnists, Gerald Stribling and Alex Chong Do Thompson on being marine and Buddhist.
Photo: (source)
Editor: Dana Gornall
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- Buddha in the Gym - November 4, 2026
- Mindfulness for Perfectionists: When the Cushion Becomes a Scoreboard - October 23, 2026
- Loving-Kindness for the Weeks That Are Too Much - October 6, 2026
