Buddhist Geeks

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Buddhism and the Evolution of Religion Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

Zen teacher Norman Fischer—a teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi—joins us again to speak about the religion, evolution, and Buddhism’s unique role in both. The conversation begins with an overview of American sociologist Robert Bellah’s schema on the evolution of religion throughout the ages. We then discuss the important role that Buddhism can play in the evolution of religion in the West.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1, Buddhism May Need a Plan B.
Episode Links:
Robert Bellah ( http://www.robertbellah.com )
Everyday Zen ( http://www.everydayzen.org )
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Buddhism May Need a Plan B Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

As Buddhism transitions to the West, we see that it is doing so in a couple different ways. Some forms look more like their original Asian roots, while others are secular and non-Religious in their presentation. Zen teacher Norman Fischer, an early 2nd generation teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, calls the more traditional forms part of “Plan A” and the more secular forms, “Plan B.”
In this interview we discuss with Norman the importance of Plan B approaches, like Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction. We also discuss his personal experience teaching Plan B at places like Google. Finally, we explore how the livelihood of trained and competent meditation teachers may rely heavily on Plan B approaches.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Buddhism and the Evolution of Religion.
Episode Links:
Why We Need a Plan B ( http://bit.ly/1TOGMs0 )
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ( http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/whatMBSR.php )
Everyday Zen ( http://www.everydayzen.org )
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Peter Fenner on Entering into Natural Meditation Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

This week, I speak with non-dual teacher and former Tibetan monk, Peter Fenner. Peter was a monk for nearly a decade before he disrobed, realizing that the Buddhist practices he was engaged in weren’t leading him to what he was looking for. He then looked to Western psychotherapeutic technologies, and in the process developed a non-dual teaching that relates in part to Madhyamika, Advaita Vedanta, and Western psychology.
He calls this approach Radiant Mind, and in this episode we speak with him about the various aspects of his teaching, from a type of deconstructive inquiry based on dialoguing with him, to the formless “practice” of natural meditation. Listen in to hear more about this type of “fruition or results” based spiritual path.
Episode Links:
radiantmind.net
Landmark Forum ( http://www.landmarkeducation.com )
Radiant Mind: Awakening Unconditioned Awareness ( http://bit.ly/4a8bZQ )
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Natural Wakefulness Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

This week we speak with Shambhala acharya and cultural anthropologist, Gaylon Ferguson. Gaylon speaks about the view of Natural Wakefulness, in short that innate wisdom is there from the beginning. We also discuss the four foundations of mindfulness as they were taught by Chogyam Trungpa, and the differences between emphasizing naturalness and training on the spiritual path.
We wrap up by exploring how cultural anthropology and the study of religion fit in with being a practitioner of the dharma. And since Gaylon has done and taught all three, he has a distinctly interdisciplinary approach that you’ll probably find quite interesting.
Episode Links:
Turning the Mind Into an Ally ( http://bit.ly/19BJgj )
The Insider/Outsider Problem in the Study of Religion ( http://bit.ly/11SuEG )
Natural Wakefulness: Discovering the Wisdom We Were Born With ( http://bit.ly/MbrIM )
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Pop Buddhism & Satori Porn Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

This week we speak with Gen-X Zen teacher Brad Warner, author of the newly released Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. We talk a little bit about his book, which leads to a critique of what we might call “Popular Buddhism.” We then ask Brad about an article he wrote called, “Satori Porn”, where he argues that descriptions of enlightenment that make it sound like an experience just aren’t that helpful for students. Even so, at the end of the episode he tries his best to talk about enlightenment, while not describing it in terms of experience.
Episode Links:
Zen Wrapped In Karma Dipped in Chocolate ( http://bit.ly/ZZOxS )
Hardcore Zen ( http://amzn.to/1TOGnG7 )
Sit Down and Shut Up ( http://amzn.to/1TOGotw )
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Insights at the Edge Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

We’re joined again by Tami Simon–founder of the spiritual media company Sounds True and senior student of Vajrayana teacher Reggie Ray. This week we ask her about her new podcast series, Insights at the Edge, where she has been interviewing many of the best spiritual teachers in the world. Jokingly, Tami said that she wanted to name the show, “Grill the Guru.” Even though that was a joke, there is some truth in it, and she uses her opportunity with these different teachers to ask them tough questions about their lives.
We also ask her about some of the people that have impacted her the most during her decades of being around, and working with some of the brightest spiritual teachers of our time. She shares stories from some of her favorite luminaries, including Quaker teacher and activist Parker Palmer, Julia Butterfly Hill, Adyashanti, and finally “the living now gate,” Eckhart Tolle.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, You Will Get the Dharma You Need.
Episode Links:
Eckhart Tolle TV ( http://www.eckharttolletv.com )
Geneen Roth: No Situation is Unworkable ( http://bit.ly/1TOG2TT )
Insights at the Edge Podcast ( apple.co/1TOFNrL )
Sounds True ( www.soundstrue.com )
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You Will Get the Dharma You Need Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

In this episode we speak with Tami Simon–founder of the spiritual media company Sounds True and senior student of Vajrayana teacher Reggie Ray. Tami shares us with us the intimate details of her initial meeting with Reggie, and the amazing results that followed. She also describes what she has learned from beginning to teach the dharma to others, while also making a vow to only teach that which she truly knows.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Insights at the Edge.
Episode Links:
Dharma Ocean ( http://www.dharmaocean.org )
Meditating with the Body ( http://bit.ly/1TOFIV5 )
Insights at the Edge Podcast ( http://apple.co/1TOFNrL )
Sounds True ( http://www.soundstrue.com )
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Dharma Music Can Sound Like Anything Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

This week we speak to the Buddhist-inspired musician Ravenna Michalsen. She explains why dharma music need not sound the way we think it should (think monks chanting in Asian in a cave). Instead, Ravenna’s music crosses musical genres and stretches our notion of what dharma music is. We also discuss the life and teachings of Machig Labdron, one of Tibet’s most famous female masters and the inventor of the Chöd lineage of practice. At the end of the interview we end with a song from Ravenna’s album Dharma Song called “Ki Ki So So.”
Episode Links:
Women of Wisdom ( http://bit.ly/BZTyo )
Mindful Music ( http://www.tricycle.com/insights/mindful-music )
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The Evolution of the Mind and Life Dialogues Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

This week, Adam Engle, the business mastermind behind the Mind and Life Institute, joins us to discuss both the evolution of the project as well as its larger impact. The first Mind and Life Dialogue was held in Dharamsala, India in 1987 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since then, Adam says, it has done more than any other organization to help “legitimatize the scientific study of meditation.”
Listen in to hear more about how they’ve gone about creating an active collaboration between scientists and contemplatives, and what kind of fruit that collaboration has borne.
Episode Links:
Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century ( http://www.educatingworldcitizens.org )
Mind & Life Institute ( http://www.mindandlife.org )
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The Great Work of Western Magick Jul 21, 2015

Show notes

Alan Chapman is a Western magick practitioner, and the author of the newly released book, Advanced Magick for Beginners. Alan found his way into the field of Chaos magick through the work of Aleister Crowley and since has worked with a powerful technique called “the Holy Guardian Angel,” which very much like the guru yoga techniques of the Vajrayana schools, allows one to surrender to an external guide on the path to enlightenment.
Alan shares with us the details of the Western occult tradition, including its core purpose of enlightenment, which he calls “the great work” of magick. He also connects some of the spiritual practices of magick with the Buddhist maps and models. Finally, he shares with us some of the details of a project he has recently launched called Open Enlightenment, whose purpose is to promote a transparent and open discussion surrounding the nature of enlightenment throughout the world’s mystical traditions.
Episode Links:
The Baptist’s Head ( http://www.thebaptistshead.co.uk )
Advanced Magick for Beginners ( http://bit.ly/2v5mMu )
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