Buddhist Geeks

Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer, best known for his secular or agnostic approach to Buddhism. He considers Buddhism to be a constantly evolving culture of awakening rather than a religious system based on immutable dogmas and beliefs. In this episode taken from the 2012 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Stephen delivers a keynote address on the importance, with Buddhist practice, of combining technical skill with imagination. Drawing comparisons between mindfulness practice and photography, Stephen presents meditation as the cultivation of a skill to see the sublime in every moment. He shares his view that imagination is crucial to the translation of the dharma to new cultures, and he challenges modern Buddhism to finally develop a view on Buddhist Aesthetics. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Cultivating a Democracy of the Imagination. Episode Links: www.StephenBatchelor.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scott Snibbe is a pioneering digital artist and entrepreneur whose work includes interactive apps, videos, and installations. He practices in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and his art is frequently informed by his spiritual practice. In this episode, Scott joins host Vincent Horn for an intimate conversation about Scott’s art & contemplative practice. As Scott describes his art infused childhood and the transition from Christian Science to Tibetan Buddhism, they touch on the source of creativity, the use of symbol in art and religion, and using the understanding of Emptiness as a creative tool. Episode Links: www.Snibbe.com Biophilia, the First App in MoMA’s Collection ( http://bit.ly/1DNpL8v ) Scott Snibbe on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/snibbe ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jake Davis is a philosopher and Buddhist practitioner and David Vago is a Contemplative neuroscientist. Together they are at the forefront of the scientific investigation of Enlightenment. In this episode David and Jake conclude a conversation with host Vincent Horn concerning the scientific investigation of states of Enlightenment. They elaborate on the methods and motivations involved when attempting to quantify Enlightenment, discuss the pitfalls of spiritual materialism, and invite criticism and discussion to help inform and guide this scientific inquiry. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: A Neuroscience of Enlightenment. Episode Links: “Can enlightenment be traced to specific neural correlates, cognition, or behavior? No, and (a qualified) Yes” ( http://bit.ly/1DNpwdn ) The Emerging Science of Mindfulness Meditation ( bit.ly/1DNp4vU ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Vago is a contemplative neuroscientist and Jake Davis is a philosopher and Buddhist practitioner. Together they have authored an article proposing the question of whether Enlightenment can be traced to specific neural, cognitive, or behavioral correlates–and if so what those might be. In this episode David and Jake join host Vincent Horn to discuss the article titled “Can enlightenment be traced to specific neural correlates, cognition, or behavior? No, and (a qualified) Yes”. Jake and David describe the genesis of the article, the conflict and opportunity provided by using the word “enlightenment” in the title, and the important role first person subjective experience plays in scientific inquiry. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Quantifying Mindfulness. Episode Links: “Can enlightenment be traced to specific neural correlates, cognition, or behavior? No, and (a qualified) Yes” ( http://bit.ly/1DNpwdn ) The Emerging Science of Mindfulness Meditation ( http://bit.ly/1DNp4vU ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shingon teacher Hokai Sobol and religious studies scholar Dr. Pamela Winfield join host Vincent Horn to continue a conversation that digs deeper into the paradigms of enlightenment presented in Japanese Buddhism. Beginning with an explanation of the two different paradigms for the experience of enlightenment presented in Zen and Mikkyō, the unitive & purgative, Pamela briefly describes the results of her studies. Hokai then relates his understanding of the two ideas based on his personal practice. This leads to an examination of the disparate historical and cultural contexts from which each method was developed, how each method uses imagery in practice, and how despite differences, each method hopefully leads to the same results. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: The Art of Enlightenment. Episode Links: Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism: Kukai and Dogen on the Art of Enlightenment ( amzn.to/1MwPAl8 ) Dr. Pamela Winfield ( bit.ly/1MwPD0n ) Hokai Sobol ( www.hokai.info ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Pamela Winfield and Shingon teacher Hokai Sobol join host Vincent Horn to discuss the book Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism: Kukai and Dogen on the Art of Enlightenment. By examining two different models of enlightenment–one from the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi), and the other from the pivotal Zen figure, Dōgen Zenji, the group explores the role that art & imagery play in the awakening experience. The conversation touches on how studies of texts and iconography can be complementary and how understanding the use of iconography can help scholars and practitioners understand Buddhist paths of Enlightenment in a clearer way. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism. Episode Links: Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism: Kukai and Dogen on the Art of Enlightenment ( http://amzn.to/1MwPAl8 ) Dr. Pamela Winfield ( http://bit.ly/1MwPD0n ) Hokai Sobol ( http://www.hokai.info ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Bieber is an author, political junkie, and practitioner in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In this episode Matt and host Vincent Horn conclude their conversation exploring the intersection between Buddhist practice and politics. Asking whether our political and economic systems are geared towards idealized humanity or humans as they really are, Matt and Vincent discuss what the political world might look like if built to acknowledge Buddha Nature. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one – BG 325: The Politics of Dualism. Episode Links: The Wheat and Chaff ( http://www.thewheatandchaff.com ) Matt Bieber on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/PMatty_Bieber ) Scholar Peter Hershock ( http://www.eastwestcenter.org/about-ewc/directory/peter.hershock ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Bieber is an author, political junkie, and practitioner in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In this episode Matt joins host Vincent Horn to explore politics through the lens of Buddhism. Matt shares insights gained as a speechwriter for Vice President Biden, how he began to consider the impact Buddhist thought could have on politics, and how Buddhist training helps him see the political world in a new way. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: The Politics of Buddha Nature. Episode Links: The Wheat and Chaff ( http://www.thewheatandchaff.com ) Matt Bieber on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/PMatty_Bieber ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Lange is a Los Angeles based writer and director exploring the intersections of filmmaking, technology, and transformation. In this episode Jason joins host Vincent Horn to discuss his recent article “The Coming Age of Technodelics” which explores technologies that may enable some of the same experiences that meditation and psychedelics have traditionally provided. By comparing and contrasting psychedelics and technodelics, the conversation examines the possible uses and usefulness of mind altering technologies such as the cutting edge Virtual Reality headset Oculus Rift. Episode Links: The Coming Age of Technodelics Just Say Know: A Cyberdelic History of the Future The Inside Story of Oculus Rift and How Virtual Reality Became RealitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lama Willa Miller, David Loy, and host Vincent Horn conclude a Geeks of the Round Table discussion on the intersection of Buddhism with ecological activism. They explore the idea that the Buddha was a social and political activist, what it means to acknowledge ecology as an ethical issue, and how these larger issues affect the teaching of Buddhism today. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: Eco-Dharma. Episode Links: Wonderwell Mountain Refuge ( wonderwellrefuge.org ) www.DavidLoy.org A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency ( amzn.to/1JMMy6f ) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.