Steve Hagen was ordained a Zen priest in 1979 and in 1989 he received Dharma Transmission (formal endorsement to teach) from Jikai Dainin Katagiri Roshi. He is the author of several books on Buddhism, science, and philosophy. These include Buddhism Plain and Simple, his most popular book. In his most recent book, The Grand Delusion, he applies breakthrough Eastern insights to seemingly indelible problems in Western science and philosophy. In 1997, he founded Dharma Field Meditation and Learning Center in Minneapolis, where he continues to serve as senior teacher.

In this episode, Eric and Steve Hagen discuss his book, The Grand Delusion: What We Know But Don’t Believe

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Steve Hagen and I Discuss What We Know but Don’t Believe…

• His book, The Grand Delusion: What We Know But Don’t Believe
• Defining grand delusion: our belief in non-emptiness or substantiality
• The dichotomy of understanding that if there is something, there must not be nothing
• How there are two truths that coexist
• Understanding that it’s in the mind where reality occurs
• Realizing that we can’t actually hold anything is the beginning of awakening
• Why understanding this concept is important in our day to day life
• Peace and present mind comes by seeing that the questions are misunderstanding the experience of life
• How we can’t resolve or answer the question of what’s the meaning of life
• We don’t need to answer the questions to bring freedom
• Trying to find a logical answer to meaning of life isn’t possible
• How we are acting and seeing things in terms of wholeness
• Perception is what we process through our senses
• Conception is the meaning we give to what we perceive
• Our suffering is tied up in the way we conceptualize the world
• The freedom of knowing that what we are grasping for isn’t possible
• Conceptualizing things isn’t bad, but it can also bring suffering
• Sudden and gradual awakening
• His work and practice with koans
• Great doubt comes with the question of why is there something rather than nothing

Steve Hagen Links:

Steve’s Website

Johann’s Website

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Steve Hagen you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Steve Hagen on Perception and Conception (2018)

Original Buddhist Psychology with Beth Jacobs

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