David McMahan
Professor of religious studies at Franklin & Marshall College specializing in Buddhism, author of The Making of Buddhist Modernism and Rethinking Meditation, focusing on how Buddhist practices have been reconfigured in modern and global contexts.
Best podcasts with David McMahan
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Sep 18, 2025 • 55min
David McMahan: Rethinking Meditation & Buddhist Modernism
David McMahan, a Professor of religious studies specializing in Buddhism, delves into the evolution of meditation practices in a modern context. He contrasts traditional Pali canon aims with contemporary mindfulness, highlighting shifts towards a more world-affirming approach. The conversation also explores the commercialization of meditation and the mixing of lineages in modern practices. McMahan advocates for a balance between personal cultivation and social engagement, drawing on Western philosophical resources to inform modern Buddhist scholarship.
Dec 4, 2023 • 1h 13min
114 David McMahan on Rethinking Meditation
In this podcast, David McMahan, a professor of religion, discusses his book 'Rethinking Meditation,' which uncovers the history and context behind popular ideas about meditation. The conversation explores the variety of meditation practices, the concept of social imaginary, the purpose of meditation in the world, different approaches to practice, and the freedom to follow personal interests in academic studies.
