Buddhist Geeks

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

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 C

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 ( h

Ken Mcleod is one of the more innovative teachers of Buddhism today, known for his ability to explain difficult and subtle teachings. In this conversation with host Vincent Horn, Ken takes on one of the most difficult topics to pin down: the “Truth”.They begin the conversation by examining the supposition that the path to enlightenment is ultimately to find the “Truth”. Vincent talks about how his early efforts in practice were rooted in the need to find the “Truth”, and how his motivations and understanding have changed. Ken relates his own recent advances on the topic. The two then examine the role and representation of the “Truth” in context of spiritual practice, psychological well being, and philosophical inquiry. They then explore the parallels of “Truth” and “Enlightenment” and how each idea is shaped and defined by the culture and by the individual.This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Questioning Frameworks of Practice.Episode Links:Unfettered Mind ( http://www.unfetteredmind.org

Tony Stubblebine is interested in meditation, app development, and behavioral design. He’s brought all three interests together in his latest project, a habit building app called Lift.In this conversation over Google Hangouts, Tony and host Vincent Horn discuss the merits and potential shadow side to behavioural design. Tony describes how he became interested in the science of behavioural design and how that led him to create Lift as a way to bring a social aspect to building positive habits. They talk about the three components to consider when building a habit, how the QS Movement relates to behavioural design, and how to use systems like Lift to build strong positive habits like daily meditation.Episode Links:LIFT ( https://lift.do )Lift’s How to Meditate page with free guided meditations ( https://lift.do/meditation )BJ Fogg ( http://www.bjfogg.com )Quantified Self ( http://quantifiedself.com )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not

In this interview, host Vincent Horn speaks with Dr. Ronald Purser–professor of management at SFSU and an ordained Zen Buddhist teacher in the Korean Taego order. They explore Ronald’s research on organizational mindfulness, mindfulness in corporate settings, and how Buddhist philosophy can inform organizational theory and practice, with a particular emphasis on exploring the limitations and shadow-sides of the mindfulness movement as it moves into the business context.Episode Links:College of Business at San Francisco State University ( http://cob.sfsu.edu/cob/directory/faculty/ronald-purser )Center for Creative Inquiry ( http://www.creativeinquiry.org/develop/index.php )Korean Buddhist Taego Order ( http://www.taegozen.net )Beyond McMindfulness ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-purser/beyond-mcmindfulness_b_3519289.html )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/

David M. Levy is a professor of technology in the Information School (or iSchool) at the University of Washington. Since 2006 he has offered a course called “Information and Contemplation”, a course on mindfulness in the Digital Age.In this interview with host Vincent Horn, David talks about his early rejection of zen meditation practice and how he came back to it later through a study of calligraphy. They talk about a National Science Foundation funded study David created to observe the effects of meditation on multitasking, and the university course he subsequently developed at the iSchool, “Information and Contemplation.” He talks about insights his students have through the course and the surprising way email can be used as a focus for mindfulness. Finally, Vincent and David discuss the idea of taking a “digital Sabbath” and the usefulness of periodically unplugging from the online world.Episode Links:What Computers Still Can’t Do: A Critique of Artificial Reason ( http://amzn.to/15yQx4K )“You’re Distract

Ramez Naam is a computer scientist who spent 13 years at Microsoft, leading teams working on email, web browsing, search, and artificial intelligence. He’s the author of several books including Nexus, a science fiction thriller set in the near future when humans are linked mind-to-mind by an experimental and illegal nano-drug.In this conversation with host Vincent Horn, Ramez describes his inspiration for the book and it’s narrative of collectivism and mind-to-mind connection through technology. The two discuss the fact, fiction, benefits, and perils of technology that can connect humanity so intimately, and what that kind of technology could mean to the process of awakening.Episode Links:www.RamezNaam.comNexus ( http://rameznaam.com/nexus/ )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

Mike Redmer is a freelance UX designer and mindfulness coach. His most recent project, the ReWire App, is part of a growing field of technology designed to assist the end user in attaining greater degrees of concentration ability and contemplative awareness.In this second part of their conversation, host Vincent Horn discusses with Mike the subtleties of contemplative design and the current state of contemplative technology. Vincent relates details of his experience with some of these technologies at the recent Wisdom 2.0 conference, and he and Mike discuss the mixed potential each sees in the future of ubiquitous computing.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one, ReWiring Meditation for the Digital AgeEpisode Links:ReWire: meditation remixed ( http://rewireapp.com )I used Google Glass: the future, but with monthly updates ( http://bit.ly/1MRE8O4 )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

Mike Redmer is a freelance UX designer and mindfulness coach. His most recent project, the ReWire App, came out of a desire to utilize technology to make mediation more effective and engaging.In this first part of a conversation with host Vincent Horn, Mike shares his motivation for creating Rewire and the ways he hopes it can help people develop in meditation. He also describes how he approached designing the app, the improvements he made in the second iteration, and how Shinzen Young’s practice of “Just Note Gone” influenced the end product and Mike himself.This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two, Contemplative TechnologiesEpisode Links:ReWire: meditation remixed ( http://rewireapp.com )The Power of Gone ( http://shinzen.org/Articles/PowerofGone.pdf )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

Dr. Reggie Ray is an author, teacher, and the Spiritual Director for the Dharma Ocean Community in Crestone, Colorado.In this episode Reggie and host Vincent Horn conclude their conversation by discussing the recurring cycle of conflict between “authentic lineages” and “institutional lineages” in the world’s religions. Reggie describes the personal toll this conflict had on his teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and how many unorthodox teachers have found themselves threatened and restricted by religious institutions. He then describes how the techniques of Mahamudra can lead us to identify all the places where we hold back as people so that we may find freedom from all forms of restriction.This is part two of a two part series.Listen to part one – BG 281: Mahamudra in the Modern WorldEpisode Links:Buddhist Saints in India: A Study in Buddhist Values and Orientations ( http://amzn.to/1MRDXm5 )Dharma Ocean ( http://www.dharmaocean.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti

Dr. Reggie Ray is an author, teacher, and the Spiritual Director for the Dharma Ocean Community in Crestone, Colorado. He has forty years of study and intensive meditation practice within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Recently, Dr. Ray published an audio training series through Sounds True titled Mahamudra in the Modern World.In this episode Dr. Reggie Ray and host Vincent Horn discuss the basics of the Mahamudra tradition and Reggie’s approach to teaching it. He shares his insight into how his personal practice has changed and deepened through teaching, and he answers questions such as: Is a personal relationship with a teacher necessary? And, how does one know when it’s time to start teaching?This is part one of a two part series.Listen to part two – BG 282: Specializing in Letting GoEpisode Links:The Forest Dwelling Yogi ( http://bit.ly/1MRDNuI )Dharma Ocean ( http://www.dharmaocean.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti

Stephen Schettini is an author and blogger at TheNakedMonk.com, and a teacher of Mindful Reflection. He was a Tibetan Buddhist monk for 8 years before he left the monastic path and began referring to himself as an ex-Buddhist.In this episode Stephen talks with host Vincent Horn about why he left his monastic order and what he learned from the experience. They discuss why people are drawn to formal religious orders and guru-disciple relationships, and Stephen describes possible alternatives to the guru-disciple dynamic that might be more appropriate for the modern world. Finally, after questioning the very existence of the historical Buddha, they discuss why the myth might be more important than the story of the historical man.Episode Links:The Naked Monk ( http://www.thenakedmonk.com )“Sick Love” ( http://www.thenakedmonk.com/2013/01/14/sick-love/ )“Zen Buddhists Distressed by Accusations Against Teacher” ( http://nyti.ms/12MlZgW )The Novice ( http://amzn.to/12MlVxs )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr

Ted Meissner is the host of The Secular Buddhist podcast and the Executive Director of the Secular Buddhist Association. In this episode host Vincent Horn concludes his conversation with Ted by exploring the role of Tradition in secular Buddhism. They consider the question of spiritual authority in secular Buddhism and whether it’s possible to see through the filter of culture and tradition.This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part 1: Secular Buddhism.Episode Links:Secular Buddhism ( http://bit.ly/1MRDsbA )The Secular Buddhist Association ( secularbuddhism.org )The Secular Buddhist Podcast ( secularbuddhism.org/the-secular-buddhist-podcasts/ )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

Ted Meissner is the host of The Secular Buddhist podcast and the Executive Director of the Secular Buddhist Association. In this episode with host Vincent Horn, Ted shares examples of secular Buddhism, why he is skeptical but not cynical about religion, and he stresses what he thinks is the importance of right speech in the modern world.This is part one of a two part series.Episode Links:The Secular Buddhist Association ( http://secularbuddhism.org )The Secular Buddhist Podcast ( http://secularbuddhism.org/the-secular-buddhist-podcasts/ )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

Lawrence Levy is a student of Segyu Rinpoche and a former CFO and board member at Pixar Animation Studios. He left his role as an executive at Pixar in 2000 to pursue a study of religion and philosophy, which led him to Buddhism.In this episode, Lawrence speaks with host Rohan Gunatillake about working at Pixar, the lessons he learned at the company, and how he has applied those lessons to building the Buddhist organization the Juniper Foundation.Episode Links:Juniper Foundation ( http://www.juniperpath.org )Awakening the Mind ( http://www.juniperpath.org/works/A7614E/Awakening+the+Mind/ )Pixar ( http://www.pixar.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

John F. Simon is a visual artist and software programmer whose work can be found in prominent museum collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He was also one of the app designers on the world’s first app album, from Björk, called Biophilia.In this episode we speak with John about his long-standing search for the source of creativity, and how that search has led him to explore a contemplative Buddhist practice. During the discussion with host Vincent Horn, John describes the strategy he uses to search for the source of his creativity and the parallels his strategy shares with meditation teacher Daniel Ingram’s progress of insight map.Episode Links:www.iclock.comJohn’s profile at the Gering & Lopez Gallery ( http://www.geringlopez.com/artists/john-f-simon-jr )Björk’s Biophilia ( http://bjork.com/#/past/discography/biophilia )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priva

Buddhist Geeks Vincent Horn and Rohan Gunatillake conclude their interview for the KGNU public radio program Sacred Lines by further discussing the intersections between Buddhism and Technology. From the efficacy of mindfulness apps to the ubiquitous question of duality, the Geeks explore what it means to be Buddhist in a technologically advanced world.This is part two of a two part series.Episode Links:CU’s Center for Media, Religion, and Culture ( cmrc.colorado.edu/about )KGNU ( www.kgnu.org )buddhify ( buddhify.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 a recent interview for the KGNU public radio program Sacred Lines, Buddhist Geeks Vincent Horn and Rohan Gunatillake have a discussion about what it means to be a modern Buddhist practitioner, how technology can complement Buddhist practice, and how geekery and meditation meld. They use the Buddhist Geeks project and buddhify mobile app as illustrations of how they’re experimenting with these various topics.This is part one of a two part series.Episode Links:CU’s Center for Media, Religion, and Culture ( http://cmrc.colorado.edu/about )KGNU ( http://www.kgnu.org )buddhify ( http://buddhify.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

Jonathan Blow is an indie game designer most well known for his time-bending game Braid. In this episode we conclude our conversation with Jonathan by exploring his upcoming game, The Witness, as well as his in-depth exploration of non-duality.This is part 2 of a two part series. Listen to part 1, Quantum Gaming.Episode Links:The Witness ( http://the-witness.net )Myst ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst )Nondualism ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism )On Being ( http://www.onbeing.org )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