In the first part of our interview with Insight Meditation teacher John Travis, he shares the story of his many years of practice and seeking in India, as well as the time after that in which he had to bring what he had learned back to America. We hope you enjoy this personal account of one “dharma bums” adventures in Asia. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2: The Dualistic Conundrum: Insight Meditation and Primordial Awareness & Part 3: With the Light Comes the Dark.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Vincent Horn continues to share his reflections and experiences of a two-month meditation retreat he recently completed. In this podcast, he discusses doing karma yoga during long-term retreats, state chasing in meditation and suffering and death in practice. We hope you enjoy this conversation with this insightful buddhist geek. This is part 2 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 1: Vince Horn on Taking the Two Month Plunge & Part 3: Leave the Pot on the Stove. Episode Links: VincentHorn.com ( www.vincenthorn.com ) Twitter: @VincentHorn ( www.twitter.com/vincenthorn )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this final segment with Genpo Roshi, Gwen Bell is guided through the Big Mind process. This final portion of the interview gives listeners a rare opportunity to listen to the Big Mind experience happen unscripted and raw. An intimate conversation and a glimpse into one Geek’s practice, beliefs and experience. This is part 3 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 1: Genpo Roshi on Big Mind & Part 2: Is Zen Enough? Episode Links: Big Mind – Big Heart: Finding Your Way ( http://bit.ly/JRp9q ) Big Mind Zen Center ( http://www.bigmind.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Ryan Oelke interviews fellow resident geek, Vince Horn, who shares his reflections and experiences of a two-month mediation retreat he recently completed. In this first podcast, Vince talks about the role of extended retreat in his personal practice, the nuts and bolts of preparing for a long retreat, and the basics of a two-month insight meditation retreat. Whether you’re a long-time yogi or considering your first extended retreat, we think you’ll enjoy these series of podcasts with this Buddhist Geek. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2: The Vipassana Vendetta & Part 3: Leave the Pot on the Stove.Episode Links: VincentHorn.com ( www.vincenthorn.com ) Twitter: @VincentHorn ( www.twitter.com/vincenthorn )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this segment, Genpo Roshi goes into an eloquent description of the role that Big Mind process, zazen, and koan practice can play in a more whole and integrated Zen training. He also touches on the develop of the spiritual practitioner, and his understanding of how one can progress through this developmental territory. This is an exciting conversation with one of the most controversial, and perhaps most brilliant, Zen Master alive today. This is part 2 of a three-part series. Listen to part 1, Genpo Roshi on Big Mind and part 3, Genpo “Big Mind’s” Gwen.Episode Links: Big Mind – Big Heart: Finding Your Way ( http://bit.ly/JRp9q ) Big Mind Zen Center ( http://www.bigmind.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Gwen Bell interviews Anne McQuade, a current student of Genpo Roshi and regular reader of our site. A large part of their conversation focuses on a controversial article that Brad Warner—who will be one of our future guests—published on suicidegirls.com, criticizing Genpo Roshi and the Big Mind process.*This is a stand-alone episode.* - Please be warned that this is a highly controversial episode, and the authors here at Buddhist Geeks are not trying to take sides for or against Genpo Roshi and the Big Mind process or Brad Warner and his approach. We simply want to probe into this very real issue of Western Buddhist teachers having strongly opposing opinions, even within the same tradition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Gwen Bell interviews Genpo Roshi, a Western Zen teacher and lineage holder of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions. He is also the author of four books, as well as an upcoming release, Big Mind, Big Heart. In this episode Genpo Roshi discusses Big Mind, his unique method of introducing practitioners to their true nature. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Genpo Roshi and be sure to share your thoughts, insights, and experiences in the comment section. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2: Is Zen Enough? and Part 3: Genpo “Big Mind’s” Gwen. Episode Links: Big Mind – Big Heart: Finding Your Way ( http://bit.ly/JRp9q ) Big Mind Zen Center ( http://www.bigmind.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fleet Maull talks about how we work with the boundaries of the self and of the heart in the maitri, bodhichitta and tonglen practices. This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1, Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Fleet Maull on Plunge Experiences. Episode Links: Peacemaker Institute ( http://www.peacemakerinstitute.org ) Dharma in Hell: The Prison Writings of Fleet Maull ( http://bit.ly/iBaRH )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our final conversation with Daniel Ingram he goes on to explore various “models of enlightenment” and weighs the relative value of these different models, which we carry around with us unconsciously. Daniel also tries to answer the all-important question of, “How does one practically go about becoming enlightened?” Dive in and enjoy this dynamic conversation that pushes the very boundaries of what we normally consider “socially appropriate” Buddhism. This is part 3 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 1, You Can Do It! and Part 2, Enlightened Teachers. Episode Links: Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha ( http://bit.ly/E1tF )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Gwen Bell interviews Buddhist teacher Sensei Fleet Maull. Fleet recently spent a month on retreat with Roshi Bernie Glassman and the Zen Peacemakers in Massuchusetts, where he became a fully empowered Zen teacher. Fleet teaches at Naropa University and leads weekly meditation sessions there. His teachings are accessible to a wide audience and his authenticity is a breath of fresh air in the world of Buddhist teachers. In this episode Fleet shares his practice background and discusses the value of plunge experiences. This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 2, Take Your Seat: The Importance of Boundaries in Practice. Episode Links: Peacemaker Institute ( http://www.peacemakerinstitute.org ) Dharma in Hell: The Prison Writings of Fleet Maull ( http://bit.ly/iBaRH ) Zen Peacemakers ( http://www.zenpeacemakers.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.