Buddhist Geeks

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is an author, scholar, and Futurist most recently concerned with contemplative computing, the effort to use information technologies in ways that help one focus and be more creative, not fractured and distracted.In the second half of this interview with host Vincent Horn, Alex talks in more detail about his book The Distraction Addiction and it’s central premise of how to engage with technology in a contemplative way. Alex describes the research involved in writing the book, the conclusions he’s made about technology and mindfulness, and how the practices of contemplative computing could affect the future of wearable tech, UI design, and technology in general.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: Technological Determinism.Episode Links:Contemplative Computing Blog ( www.contemplativecomputing.org )The Distraction Addiction ( amzn.to/1MRHdh3 )@askpang ( twitter.com/askpang )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is an author, Technology Forecaster, and Futurist who applies the tools of the historian to predicting our future technology. His book, The Distraction Addiction, and blog, Contemplative Computing, are about how to use information technologies and social media so they’re not endlessly distracting and demanding, but instead help us be more mindful, focused and creative.In this interview with host Vincent Horn, Alex talks about his career as a Technology Forecaster and Futurist, and the problems he has with the idea of Technological Determinism. Alex describes how the daily rigors of his work with technology damaged his mental focus, and how he turned to meditation to regain that focus. By viewing his work through the lens of his meditation practice he was led to new questions and ideas about how to change mankind’s relationship with technology, how to go from being distracted to more focused and mindful, and the real dangers of taking a passive role in our daily relationship with technology.This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: BG 300: Contemplative Computing.Episode Links:Contemplative Computing Blog ( http://www.contemplativecomputing.org )The Distraction Addiction ( http://amzn.to/1MRHdh3 )@askpang ( https://twitter.com/askpang )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Chris Dancy is an information systems expert, a self described data exhaust cartographer, and widely known as “The Quantified Man”. His work in the Quantified Self (QS) movement has been documented in Wired and on TechCrunch, Bloomberg TV, and BG TV.In this episode, taken from the new BG TV show Contemplative Technology, hosts Vincent Horn and Mike Redmer are joined by Chris to explore the relationship between the Quantified Self (QS) movement and the deepening experience of selflessness, or egolessness, that is described on the Buddhist contemplative path. They discuss how and why Chris first began collecting his personal data, how that data collection has impacted his life, and what Chris believes the future holds for the QS movement.Episode Links:www.chrisdancy.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Douglas Rushkoff is the author of Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now, as well as a dozen other bestselling books on media, technology, and culture.In this episode, Douglas joins host Vincent Horn to discuss the book Present Shock and the underlying concept that “present shock” is the human response to living in a world where everything happens now. Douglas describes how he formed the concept of “present shock” through explorations of psychedelics, tai chi, and chronobiology, and how these areas have informed his work, life, and political and social philosophies. They talk about the many Buddhist parallels in Douglas’ ideas and experiences, and also why, despite those parallels, Douglas is fairly critical of spiritual traditions.Episode Links:Douglas Rushkoff ( http://www.rushkoff.com )Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now ( http://amzn.to/1MRH25u )The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead ( http://amzn.to/1MRH6Cj )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Meditation teacher Kenneth Folk joins Vincent Horn, Emily Horn, and Kelly Sosan Bearer to conclude a Geeks of the Round Table discussion on a recent Wired article, Enlightenment Engineers, that profiles Kenneth and the Buddhist Geeks as part of the developing meditation culture(s) in Silicon Valley.The group talks about Ken’s plan to enlighten the Illuminati with a Meditation Trojan Horse, whether or not there is a “right motivation” for maintaining a meditation practice, and how this all relates to the popular assumption that meditation should be free of a goal-oriented approach.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one BG 295: Meditating to Get Ahead.Episode Links:Enlightenment Engineers ( http://www.wired.com/business/2013/06/meditation-mindfulness-silicon-valley )Kenneth Folk ( http://kennethfolkdharma.com )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

In this episode taken from a Geeks of the Round Table Google Hangout, meditation teacher Kenneth Folk joins Buddhist Geeks Vincent Horn, Emily Horn, and Kelly Sosan Bearer to discuss a recent Wired article, Enlightenment Engineers, that profiles Kenneth and the mindfulness culture in Silicon Valley.Emily opens the conversation by asking, “Does meditation really make you more productive and wealthy? And is it a way to get ahead?” The group explores these questions and discusses how variables in an individual’s values, form of practice, and other perceptual filters affect the answers.This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: The Trojan Horse of Meditation.Episode Links:Kenneth Folk ( http://kennethfolkdharma.com )Enlightenment Engineers ( http://www.wired.com/business/2013/06/meditation-mindfulness-silicon-valley )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

David Passiak is a former religion scholar turned technology entrepreneur who has spent nearly 20 years working at the intersection of disruptive innovation and traditional conceptions of community and wisdom. David is author of Red Bull to Buddha: Innovation and the Search for Wisdom and also the forthcoming The Disruption Revolution: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the New Rules of Leadership.In this conversation David and host Vincent Horn discuss the book Red Bull to Buddha and the cycles of technological innovation that have led to major social change throughout history. In talking about the inspiration for the book, David describes visiting a temple in Thailand where bottles of the sports energy drink Red Bull were being presented as devotional offerings. He explains how examining his discovery of Red Bull in the temple led him to explore how the meaning of a brand or object is dependent on cultural context, and how culture is affected by technological advance. This leads Vincent and David to discuss how a Buddhist practice can help one to navigate a world that’s in a constant state of cultural and technological disruption.Episode Links:Red Bull to Buddha: Innovation and the Search for Wisdom ( http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp/B00E4W4C1S )Social Meditate ( http://www.socialmeditate.com )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Teachers Sofia Diaz and Trudy Goodman continue this episode of Geeks of the Round Table with host Kelly Sosan Bearer by exploring the Feminine aspect of spiritual practice from a female teacher’s point of view. The women begin by discussing qualitative differences in teaching approaches between female and male teachers, and Trudy talks about the more intimate approach she uses when teaching. Using Mother Teresa as an example of a female spiritual leader who supported many but found difficulty in finding support herself, the women discuss how the sometimes difficult role of female spiritual leader has grown and evolved. Moving on to how neglecting topics of sexuality, sexual attraction, and gender differences in spiritual practice can cause suffering for both men and women, they conclude the conversation with advice to younger generations: trust your feelings, trust your intuition, and lovingly explore the differences between yourself and others.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one Perfect Insight is Perfect Love.Episode Links:Sofia Diaz ( www.sofiayoga.com )Trudy Goodman ( www.insightla.org/about/teachers.php )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

In this episode taken from a Geeks of the Round Table Google Hangout, Sofia Diaz and Trudy Goodman join host Kelly Sosan Bearer to discuss Feminine Practice and its connections and distinctions to the masculine principle in spiritual practice. Kelly begins by asking: what is feminine practice and what is its distinction from other practices? Sofia describes feminine practice as being the devotional, feeling part of practice as compared to the masculine insight and contemplative part, though both dimensions are deeply intertwined. Both Sofia and Trudy then relate their individual longing and search for the feminine dimension of practice, how they each came to a realization of the feminine principle in their own practice, and how each approaches these energetics when teaching.This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Be the LoverEpisode Links:Sofia Diaz ( http://www.sofiayoga.com )Trudy Goodman ( https://www.insightla.org/about/teachers.php )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe

Ken Mcleod is one of the more innovative teachers of Buddhism today, known for his ability to explain difficult and subtle teachings. In the conclusion of this conversation on the “Truth”, Ken and host Vincent Horn compare and contrast various approaches to spiritual development and some hidden pitfalls one might encounter.Vincent begins by asking a fundamental question of the search for the “Truth”: by whose authority? The two then discuss some helpful qualifiers when searching for a spiritual authority, some pitfalls to avoid when trusting that authority, and the various ways study might look under various authorities and techniques. Ken describes how the spiritual path will generally progress and the importance of periodically examining one’s motivations for study. They conclude the conversation by discussing the importance of fundamentals to whatever authority or path of practice one chooses.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: Truth is a Red Herring.Episode Links:Unfettered Mind ( http://www.unfetteredmind.org )PINA ( http://www.pina-film.de/en/ )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe