The Imperfect Buddha Podcast
The Imperfect Buddha podcast has been addressing anti-intellectualism and ideological capture in western Buddhism and spirituality more broadly since its inception. It provides a space for dynamic conversations designed to bring out what is so often hidden and so often despised by critics and intellectuals engaging with contemporary forms of practice. Matthew O’Connell hosts the Imperfect Buddha podcast and writes at The Imperfect Buddha site. Email: imperfectbuddha@outlook.com. Twitter: @imperfectbuddha. Facebook: @imperfectbuddha. Original street art Buddha image by Bristol's Banksy.
Latest episodes
Jul 23, 2015 • 1h 44min
03 The Dharma Overground, Get Enlightened, and the Non-Buddhists Cause a Stir
In this episode, the Dharma Oveground and Buddhist Geeks get enlightened, Francois Laurelle and the non-Buddhists speculate, Hokai Sobol and Kenneth Folk do their own thing. Matthew and Stuart cross the line and fumble over names. This is part 2 of our first real episode exploring a number of innovative elements in contemporary western Buddhism. We move on in our discussion from Tibet to look at the Pragmatists that emerged from the Dharma Underground and the intelligent destruction of Buddhism fuelled by French and German speaking philosophers in the form of Non-Buddhism. We also bring in some considerations of the significance of the claims of enlightenment made by a number of the Pragmatists and the importance of some of the critique made by Glenn Wallis and his cohorts. Enjoy and leave feedback, criticisms, complaints and observations at our Facebook page, Twitter feed or even here. The next episode will feature a special guest and discuss Buddhist cults! All show notes can be found at the Post-Traditional Buddhism site. Matthew O'Connell is a life coach and the host of the The Imperfect Buddha podcast. You can find The Imperfect Buddha on Facebook and Twitter (@imperfectbuddha). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2015 • 43min
02 Tibetan Buddhism Slowly Innovates
The second episode of the IMPERFECT BUDDHA PODCAST has been released from its cage. This episode is split into two parts. 2.1 explores experimentation within Tibetan Buddhism in the West and discusses the work of Reggie Ray, Chogyam Trunpa's American student who is doing good work and opening Tantric Buddhism to the LGBT community. We look at the Wales based Tantric Buddhists known as the Aro-Ter, whose monks and nuns are married couples and wear long hair. We also explore Unfettered Mind and Ken McLeod's project of westernising Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism. Enjoy!Matthew O'Connell is a life coach and the host of the The Imperfect Buddha podcast. You can find The Imperfect Buddha on Facebook and Twitter (@imperfectbuddha). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2015 • 9min
01 Welcome to the Imperfect Buddha Podcast
What is the Imperfect Buddha Podcast? Where does it come from? Why listen to it? All of these questions and more are presented in this introduction designed at clarifying for new listeners just what kind of podcast you are getting into. Running since 2015, the Imperfect Buddha Podcast has sought to challenge western Buddhism’s taboos, its anti-intellectualism, its friction with tradition, its enlightenment cults, Buddhist cults, dodgy teachers, flirtation with the New Age and Hinduism, and bring it all to a wonderful little thing called the Great Feast. There’s a whole episode dedicate to this place in case you’re interested.If you like critical, intelligent engagement with contemporary Buddhism, the practising life, and what it means to wake up, get enlightened, meditate and save the world, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Matthew O’Connell and put together by a vast team of Bodhisattvas and Dakinis. Each episode is guaranteed to put merit in your bank.Matthew O'Connell is a life coach and the host of the The Imperfect Buddha podcast. You can find The Imperfect Buddha on Facebook and Twitter (@imperfectbuddha). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
