Buddhist Geeks

Latest Episodes:

Growing Up Versus Waking Up Jun 28, 2010

Show notes

We’re joined this week by clinical psychologist and Buddhist practitioner John Welwood. John has spent his entire adult life exploring the intersection between Eastern and Western psychological approaches. In our discussion we cover the following topics: the three realms of human experience, spiritual bypassing (a term that John coined), the Buddhist perfections, waking up and growing up as different tracks of human development, and the ways that spiritual awareness can be used in service of psychological growth and well-being.
Episode Links:
www.JohnWelwood.com
Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation ( http://amzn.to/bKvera )
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Working with Sexual Energy Jun 21, 2010

Show notes

We’re joined again by British meditation teacher, Christopher Titmuss, to continue our exploration into the powerful, and often challenging, realm of human sexuality. Christopher shares a couple of stories of monks dealing with sexuality, one a traditional story and the other a story of a 92 year old monk that he practiced with in Thailand. He also explains that if sexual energy, which is a natural part of our humanity, is repressed than it can wreak havoc on how we engage in the world.
Finishing up our conversation with Christopher, we ask him if there’s anything he’d like to share with the Buddhist Geeks listeners. He responds with a very interesting caution on not over-emphasizing the development of the mind, over the development of the heart and the vibrancy of our “feeling lives.”
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1, The Place of the Erotic.
Episode Links:
www.ChristopherTitmuss.org
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The Place of the Erotic Jun 14, 2010

Show notes

We’re joined this week by Insight meditation teacher and engaged activist Christopher Titmuss. Our main topic of exploration is the place of sexuality, eros, and love in the practice of Dharma. Contained within that topic we explore what is often meant by the word ‘desire’ in English, and how that differs from the what the Buddha taught as the source of suffering, tanha (often translated as thirst or craving).
Christopher explains some of the historical reasons that Buddhism has not be able to provide many helpful suggestions concerning sexuality, and also challenges what he sees as a common orthodox among Western teachers and practitioners in regards to sexuality and relationships. We conclude our conversation by exploring the importance—in a cultural climate where long-term monogamous relationships are becoming more and more rare—of treating the ending of relationships with greater care. “How,” Christopher asks, “if we are ending a relationship, can we make a transition from intimacy to that of a caring friendship?”
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Working with Sexual Energy.
Episode Links:
Bodh Gaya Retreats ( http://www.bodhgayaretreats.org )
www.ChristopherTitmuss.org
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The Buddhist Atheist Jun 08, 2010

Show notes

Secular Buddhist teacher Stephen Batchelor joins us to explore some of the ideas presented in his newest book, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. We start off by examining the two Buddhist doctrines of karma and rebirth, using the original teachings of the Buddha, especially the “imponderables” as a touchstone for the conversation. Stephen’s basic claim being that the belief in rebirth doesn’t have sufficient evidence behind it, and it actually takes away from the core practices and teachings of the Buddha. We conclude the interview by exploring the difference between agnosticism and atheism, which Stephen claims can be integrated together into what he calls an “ironic atheism.”

Episode Links:

Stephen and Martine Batchelor ( http://www.stephenbatchelor.org )

Buddhism Without Beliefs ( http://amzn.to/bHGkI7 )

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist ( http://amzn.to/9WL5X1 )

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The Mindful Therapist May 31, 2010

Show notes

This week we speak to vipassana meditation teacher, and psychotherapist Trudy Goodman. Trudy completes the story of her early Zen days, and also describes how she transitioned into becoming a vipassana teacher. She also shares some of her training in psychology, wherein she studied with the famous child developmentalist, Jean Piaget in France. She was eventually led her to work with children diagnosed with extreme developmental disorders, and with adults as well. Trudy shares how her practice of meditation was crucial in supporting people in their own therapeutic process, and how the key for all therapists who want to practice some sort of mindful therapy is to really practice and become familiar with their own mind.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Zen, Vipassana, & Psychotherapy.
Episode Links:
Jean Piaget ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget )
InsightLA ( http://www.insightla.org )
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Zen, Vipassana, & Psychology May 24, 2010

Show notes

This week we speak to vipassana and Zen teacher, Trudy Goodman. Trudy shares how she got into both Buddhist meditation and psychotherapy, and uses her story to illustrate the powerful ways that these different methods can compliment one another. Trudy also reflects on the differences between her experience in Zen training with Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn, and her practice of vipassana meditation.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, The Mindful Therapist.
Episode Links:
Zen Master Seung Sahn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seung_Sahn )
Insight Meditation Society ( http://www.dharma.org )
InsightLA ( http://www.insightla.org )
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The Dharma of Second Life Jan 01, 2010

Show notes

This week we’re joined by Zen teacher Jiun Foster, who is actively involved in teaching dharma in the virtual world of Second Life. We speak with him about what it’s like being a participant in Second Life, and what the limitations and strengths of Second Life are, compared to other social media technologies.
Finally, we patch in Adam Tebbe, the wizard behind the curtain, to share some details of the organization he helped start, that is responsible for getting so many good dharma teachers onto Second Life.
Episode Links:
Kannonji Zen Retreat ( http://kannonjiretreat.com )
Five Mountain Buddhist Seminary ( http://five-mountain.org )
Zen Sitting Group of Cincinnati ( http://cincinnatizen.org )
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Dive-Bar Dharma: Making it Fresh or Sensationalizing it? Apr 21, 2008

Show notes

Join the Geeks of the Round Table as we discuss an article published on Salon.com entitled, Dive-bar Dharma. The geeks explore several questions, sparked by this article, including whether or not we should update ancient metaphors with more contemporary metaphors? Also of interest is how far teachers should go in adapting the teachings of the Buddha to the culture and counter-cultures that they teach within? How do we discover the fine between making the dharma more fresh and relevant and of sensationalizing it?

This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Every Generation Creates the Dharma Anew.

Episode Links:

Dive-bar Dharma ( http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/02/20/dharma_in_dive_bars/ )
Buddhist Peace Fellowship ( http://www.bpf.org )

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Everything Arises in the Mind of the Yogi Apr 14, 2008

Show notes

"Real creative expression, to me, is a process of discovery … It’s entering the mystery." – Daido Roshi

John Daido Loori, Roshi continues his discussion with Robert Spellman on the intersection between contemporary art and contemplative awareness. The two teachers share revealing stories about their understanding of the importance of meditative awareness in the creative process, and of specific exercises that one can do to tap into deeper ways of seeing, participating, and merging with the creative process.

This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Zen Mountain Monastery: Zen and the Arts.

Episode Links:

The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training ( http://bit.ly/11HmaQ )
Zen Environmental Studies Institute ( http://www.mro.org/zesi/ )
Robert Spellman ( http://www.robertspellman.com )
Zen Mountain Monastary ( http://www.mro.org/zmm/ )

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Zen Mountain Monastery: Zen and the Arts Apr 07, 2008

Show notes

John Daido Loori, Roshi abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery in NY and well-known Buddhist author, joins us to discuss the history and development of his teaching, especially with regards to the key role that Art plays in Zen practice. Naropa University teacher Robert Spellman joins us as guest host to ask Daido Roshi about the 8 gates of zen, Roshi’s training with Minor White, the difference between Western and Eastern forms of art, how the wildness of nature relates to Buddha-Nature, and ethical issues of taking responsibility for one’s state of mind and their art work.

This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Everything Arises in the Mind of the Yogi.

Episode Links: