The Tale of Tipu's Tiger
Episode 446, Nov 18, 2023, 04:47 PM
A great story of passion and inspiration in a 1990s American Buddhist restaurant. The trials, triumphs and tremendous impact of running an ethical business on the lives of those who served and came of age in their Dharma practice together.
Join us for a ‘90s story of inspired Buddhist practice in Missoula, Montana - of great friendship, fierce love, burnout and life lessons learned in the fire of idealism and spiritual adventure. There’s nothing quite like going through a big experience together - and Tipu’s was a very big one for so many people as a new Buddhist community took root in the United States.
Founders Buddhapalita and Varada witness to the joys, trials, sacrifices and lasting consequences of starting the first (east) Indian restaurant and explicitly ethical Buddhist ‘Right Livelihood’ business in a small midwestern city. Old friends and colleagues, Aryadrishti and Viriiylila, bring their own accounts of fortitude, loss, abandonment and resolution to the reunion. Grief and cherishing, naivety and wisdom go hand in hand as we hear the tale of Tipu’s Tiger and how much it still means all these years later.
Listen to this beautifully, sometimes achingly, resonant conversation about the good that survives long after a shared project has fallen away. Listen closely, hang onto the tail of the tiger, and you can still almost taste the best chai and channa this side of Mumbai…
Recorded in Ahuatepec, Mexico, October 2023.
Show notes
Tipu's Chai (the legacy business, no longer owned by Buddhapalita and Varada)
Wolf Water Resources (Aryadrishti's subsequent ethical engineering business)
This week’s guests
Aryadrishti
Buddhapalita
Varada
Viriyalila
***
Visit The Buddhist Centre Live (events year-round on Buddhism, mindfulness, meditation, and culture)
Come meditate with us online six days a week!
Theme music by Ackport! Used with kind permission.
Founders Buddhapalita and Varada witness to the joys, trials, sacrifices and lasting consequences of starting the first (east) Indian restaurant and explicitly ethical Buddhist ‘Right Livelihood’ business in a small midwestern city. Old friends and colleagues, Aryadrishti and Viriiylila, bring their own accounts of fortitude, loss, abandonment and resolution to the reunion. Grief and cherishing, naivety and wisdom go hand in hand as we hear the tale of Tipu’s Tiger and how much it still means all these years later.
Listen to this beautifully, sometimes achingly, resonant conversation about the good that survives long after a shared project has fallen away. Listen closely, hang onto the tail of the tiger, and you can still almost taste the best chai and channa this side of Mumbai…
Recorded in Ahuatepec, Mexico, October 2023.
Show notes
Tipu's Chai (the legacy business, no longer owned by Buddhapalita and Varada)
Wolf Water Resources (Aryadrishti's subsequent ethical engineering business)
This week’s guests
Aryadrishti
Buddhapalita
Varada
Viriyalila
***
Visit The Buddhist Centre Live (events year-round on Buddhism, mindfulness, meditation, and culture)
Come meditate with us online six days a week!
Theme music by Ackport! Used with kind permission.