Shows
Understanding HumansSanta Maria MaggioreAlan and Grace, two artificial intelligences, explore the world of humans and delve into topics such as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.2025-04-2802 min
All Star Superfan Podcast#61 - Exclusive ILYA SALKIND Interview - The legendary producer talks Superman, Superboy, Supergirl and Santa Claus!Rob and Alan are joined by legendary film and TV producer Ilya Salkind (Superman: The Movie, Superman II) to talk about spearheading the original Superman movie series in the 70s and 80s, the fallout with Richard Donner, bringing Supergirl to the big screen, the small screen adventures of Superboy and even bringing Santa Claus to life!
PLUS! Alan and Rob head to the Metropolis mailbag to listen to YOUR correspondence!
Join the "Inside the All Star Superfan Podcast" group on Facebook! And be sure to follow us on all of these accounts!
FACEBOOK: @a...2025-02-201h 53
Out on the Lanai: A Golden Girls PodcastBea Arthur as Santa Claus? Yep, In This Christmas Episode of Maude.H. Alan Scott/Sadie Pines and Kerri Doherty watch Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan shine in the delightfully festive season 4 episode of Maude titled, "The Christmas Party." They discuss Rue's dress that was giving Wicked vibes, awkward moments at holiday parties, and why Santa's suit should always be filthy. Watch "The Christmas Party on YouTube.Join the GG VIP Club at Patreon.com/GoldenGirlsPodcastWatch video versions of the podcast on YouTube.com/OutonTheLanaiFor more Golden Girls greatness, visit OutOnTheLa...2024-12-111h 06
Mixtape: lado ATributo a Liam Payne y canciones de Susana Baca, La Santa Cecilia, Piel Camaleon, Joy Oladokun, Wyatt Flore, Bon Iver entre otrosEste, como todos los lunes, escuchamos y reaccionamos a las cancion es que nos sugieren o recomiendan durante la semana. No se lo pierdan.
Canciones mencionadas en orden:
Liam Payne feat Quavo - Strip that down
Mauricio Moquillaza - -
Fabian - diecinueve
Elisa Tokeshi - Hay un hombre en mi cabeza
Amy Gutiérrez - Te amarás
Susana Baca - Señor de los Milagros
La Santa Cecilia feat Mariachi Herencia de México - Me estoy vo...2024-10-2143 min
Le Basket Lab - Extraits (NBA Podcast)Brandin Podziemski : saison fabuleuse à Santa Clara, ascension météorique en un an !Extrait de l'épisode 306 du Basket Lab : Spécial Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors) avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clara, Alan Guillou !
Podcast en intégralité ici : https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/episode/e306-special-brandin-podziemski-golden-state-warriors-avec-son-coach-ncaa-a-santa-clara-alan-guillou-312378/
Flux principal du Basket Lab : https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/le-basket-lab/
E306 - Spécial Brandin Podziemski avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clata, Alan Guillou !
Aujourd'hui sur le Basket Lab : c'est le Podz Pod !
Episode spécial Brandin Podziemski avec Alan Guillou qui revient sur le podcast (assistant coach à Santa Clara) nous parler de Podz, lui qui l...2024-09-2216 minLe Basket Lab - Extraits (NBA Podcast)Brandin Podziemski : phénomène lycée, échec à Illinois...et les secret de son recrutement à Santa Clara !Extrait de l'épisode 306 du Basket Lab : Spécial Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors) avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clara, Alan Guillou !
Podcast en intégralité ici : https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/episode/e306-special-brandin-podziemski-golden-state-warriors-avec-son-coach-ncaa-a-santa-clara-alan-guillou-312378/
Flux principal du Basket Lab : https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/le-basket-lab/
E306 - Spécial Brandin Podziemski avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clata, Alan Guillou !
Aujourd'hui sur le Basket Lab : c'est le Podz Pod !
Episode spécial Brandin Podziemski avec Alan Guillou qui revient sur le podcast (assistant coach à Santa Clara) nous parler de Podz, lui qui l...2024-09-2220 min
Le Basket Lab (NBA Podcast)E306 - Spécial Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors) avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clara, Alan Guillou !E306 - Spécial Brandin Podziemski avec son coach NCAA à Santa Clata, Alan Guillou !
Aujourd'hui sur le Basket Lab : c'est le Podz Pod !
Episode spécial Brandin Podziemski avec Alan Guillou qui revient sur le podcast (assistant coach à Santa Clara) nous parler de Podz, lui qui l'a recruté puis coaché en NCAA avant sa Draft.
Podcast en deux parties : une première pour raconter son parcours atypique, et comment en quelques mois à peine Podz s'est totalement réinventé pour passer de no name universitaire à Top 20 de la Draft. Puis une seconde partie scouting pour dépein...2024-09-201h 54
too long didn’t readHow Santa could implement AI and the career journey of our AI professionalIn this special festive episode Smera and Jonah are recruited by Santa and his elves to discuss how AI could increase productivity for the festive friends at this busy time of year. Jonah also asks Smera all about her professional journey that led to her becoming a researcher in Data Justice and Global Ethical Futures.
With new developments in artificial intelligence happening at lightning speed, it can be hard to keep up. That's where too long didn't read comes in. We know you're busy, so we'll get right to the main points on how breakthroughs in machine l...2023-12-2018 min
The Midnight BarSanta's Secret GiftsAlan Zak went to his friend Franky's Christmas kickback party. Franky hits a drunk guy in a Santa Claus costume with a big Candy Cane. Drunken karaoke, tuxedo, egg nog, Christmas shopping, popcorn, toilet paper, and lingerie. Franky getting tangled in Christmas lights hanging from the rooftops. What else can you expect from the holidays? Send us a textSupport the showProduced by: Alan Zak Sound Design & Mixing by: M.R.O. The VikingFollow The Midnight Bar on Socials: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidnightBarPodcastInstagram: @themidnightbarpodcast2023-12-2028 minAll Star Superfan Podcast#46 - 2023 HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Santa Claus: The (Secret Superman) MovieSeeing is Believing!
As another year comes to a close, Alan & Rob bring you another festive filled Annual Holiday Special in which they examine the 1985 Ilya Salkind produced and Jeannot Szwarc directed, ‘Superman The Mov…oops we mean ‘Santa Claus The Movie’ (no, not the Tim Allen one) and its many links to the Superman movie universe!
We learn how Clark Kent travels to the far North where he discovers a frozen sanctuary in which he will learn of his destiny…oh wait, that’s not right. We learn how Mr. Mxyzptlk is taken advantage of by an evil...2023-12-202h 01
Stupid of the daySanta Called Me FAT!Santa visits us and brings gifts!2023-12-0940 min
Inside SFPSEpisode 24: Promote Your Own Curiosity (feat. Dr. Alan Lucero)On this episode of Inside SFPS, we welcome Dr. Alan Lucero! Dr. Lucero is a computer science teacher at Milagro Middle School, but his career up to this point is fascinating!We talk about his time working at the national labs in New Jersey, laying fiber optic cable across the Atlantic, the computer science initiative at Milagro Middle and so much more!Thank you for listening!WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram2023-09-1526 min
¡Un Alegre Despertar! con Alan PalacioAD🎙984 - ✝️ La SEMANA SANTA es el APARENTE FRACASO que nos lleva al éxito. ✝️´Alegre Despertar’ con Alan Palacio en Radio La Nuestra del 92.5 FM y 1130 AM en San Antonio; Kailah Radio del 106.5 FM en Austin, Texas; 870 am y 102.5 FM en Dallas, Texas. ‘Alegre Despertar’, con Alan Palacio con temas edificantes, meditados través de la Biblia, para saber lo que Dios nos dice sobre diferentes temas específicos.2023-04-0414 min¡Un Alegre Despertar! con Alan PalacioAD🎙984 - ✝️ La SEMANA SANTA es el APARENTE FRACASO que nos lleva al éxito. ✝️´Alegre Despertar’ con Alan Palacio en Radio La Nuestra del 92.5 FM y 1130 AM en San Antonio; Kailah Radio del 106.5 FM en Austin, Texas; 870 am y 102.5 FM en Dallas, Texas. ‘Alegre Despertar’, con Alan Palacio con temas edificantes, meditados través de la Biblia, para saber lo que Dios nos dice sobre diferentes temas específicos.2023-04-0414 min
Mystic LoungeSKELETON SAINT OF DEATH | Beloved Santa Muerte Condemned by the Catholic ChurchJoining me is Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut to discuss Santa Muerte, offering a fascinating portrayal of the skeleton saint whose cult has attracted millions of devotees over the past decade. Although condemned by mainstream churches, this folk saint's supernatural powers appeal to millions of Latin Americans in the U.S. Devotees believe the Bony Lady (as she is affectionately called) to be the fastest and most effective miracle worker, and as such, her statuettes and paraphernalia now outsell those of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Saint Jude, two other giants of Mexican religiosity. Most often portrayed as a woman, she...2023-02-1056 min
The Fool ScoopHere Comes Santa ClauseAnother holiday grab bag where we meander our way to a discussion about which power we’d abuse if we were stuck in a Santa Clause situation.
Here are the links to the Stories in this episode:
Tripledemic
Chat GPT
iPhone Satellite feature saves Couple
Nuclear Fusion Christmas Miracle!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Rooms
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Have a question or topic you want to hear on the show?
Drop us a line at anchor.fm/foolscoop or fb.com/foolscoop and it might get featured.
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Send in a voice mess...2022-12-291h 02
The Test of TimeBad Santa (2003) An alcoholic thief who poses as a department store Santa learns the true meaning of Christmas. Well... not really. Listen as we discuss the fine line between method acting and being unprofessional, why sandwiches are the only food you fix, and the worst possible name for a physics teacher’s kid. You won’t sh*t right for a week after finding out if Bad Santa stands the Test of Time.2022-12-2333 minThe Test of TimeBad Santa (2003) An alcoholic thief who poses as a department store Santa learns the true meaning of Christmas. Well... not really. Listen as we discuss the fine line between method acting and being unprofessional, why sandwiches are the only food you fix, and the worst possible name for a physics teacher’s kid. You won’t sh*t right for a week after finding out if Bad Santa stands the Test of Time.2022-12-2333 min
As I See It with Alan ClementsTalk 4: Posers-Talkers and Those Who Show Up: A reading (and talk) from my new book, Extinction X-Rated. A New Series: Daily Talks On The Crisis In Burma, from a Psychological and World Dharma Perspective 6.4.21 Alan ClementsTalk 4: Posers-Talkers and Those Who Show Up: A reading (and talk) from my new book, Extinction X-Rated. A New Series: Daily Talks On The Crisis In Burma, from a Psychological and World Dharma Perspective 6.4.21 Alan Clements URGENT: Please translate into Burmese, otherwise share widely to Burma Groups both inside & outside Myanmar, CDM, Ethnic and activist groups, along with government, UN, Twitter, social media influencers, and traditional media sites. 🙏 Burma's Voices of Freedom (Four Volume Set) http://www.worlddharma.com/items/burmas-voices-of-freedom/ Brenna Gonderman မှဒေါ်အောင်ဆန်းစုကြည်လွတ်ပေးသည် http://www.worlddharma.com/wp-content/uploads/FREE-AUNG-SAN-SUU-KYI-FINAL.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2_TTjprjArfaZVJTtSdorfS_GWdvBzbjozSQZP4NOcx3DHiZVVeq0Zna...2022-09-081h 11
Carmelita Terceiro CastsSexta-feira da Semana Santa: 7 Palavras de JesusA liturgia desta Sexta-feira Santa começa com a prostração dos sacerdotes, em vez do habitual beijo inicial. É um gesto de especial veneração ao altar, que se encontra desnudado, sem nada, recordando o Crucificado na hora da Paixão. Rompe o silêncio uma terna oração em que o celebrante apela às misericórdias de Deus – “Reminiscere miserationem tuarum, Domine” – e pede ao Pai a proteção eterna que o Filho nos conquistou com seu sangue, isto é, dando sua vida por nós. (João 18,1-19,42)2022-04-1512 min
Carmelita Terceiro CastsQuinta-feira da Semana Santa: Santa Ceia do SenhorCom esta celebração da Ceia do Senhor, a Igreja Una e Santa reacende a memória da instituição da Eucaristia, do Sacerdócio e da Caridade, e dá início ao Tríduo Pascal da Paixão, Morte e Ressurreição do seu Senhor (o Tríduo Pascal prolonga-se até às II Vésperas do Domingo da Ressurreição), que constitui o ponto mais alto do Ano Litúrgico, de onde tudo parte e aonde tudo chega. É assim que Deus nos dá a graça de caminhar durante todo o Ano Litúrgico, dia após dia, Domingo após Domingo, se...2022-04-1408 min¡Un Alegre Despertar! con Alan PalacioAD #709 - Lunes Santo; Lunes de Autoridad | Recordando el significado de cada día de la Semana Santa.…iniciando con la celebración de la Semana Santa, hablaremos del LUNES SANTO, nombrado así como el Lunes de Autoridad de Jesús. Aterrizaremos más afondo con la idea principal viendo y reconociendo la autoridad de Jesús en la actualidad y en mi vida personal.2022-04-1113 min¡Un Alegre Despertar! con Alan PalacioAD #709 - Lunes Santo; Lunes de Autoridad | Recordando el significado de cada día de la Semana Santa.…iniciando con la celebración de la Semana Santa, hablaremos del LUNES SANTO, nombrado así como el Lunes de Autoridad de Jesús. Aterrizaremos más afondo con la idea principal viendo y reconociendo la autoridad de Jesús en la actualidad y en mi vida personal.2022-04-1113 min
The Darriel Roy ShowThe Darriel Roy Show - Santa Chatter, Alan KerrOur host Darriel Roy interviews Alan Kerr, the CEO of Santa Chatter. SantaChatter.com was created in November 2021, using cutting edge AI technology to connect believers of all ages with Santa Claus during the socially-distanced COVID-19 pandemic.2021-12-2318 min
Ask Alan! The PodcastS2E46 with Santa ClauseHUGE GUEST BEFORE CHRISTMAS! SANTA CLAUSE! Santa is taking the time out of his busy week to talk to Alan about Christmas! He wanted to let everyone know that Santa is not immune to the supply chain shortages affecting Christmas. However, he is partnering with IMC Companies to help him get his toys, and use his magic to help IMC get all of their deliveries to everyone! For audio options, click the link below!
https://youtu.be/9_0nzwDDLqc
For more Ask Alan! The Podcast, click right here! https://cronelawfirmplc.com/resources/ask-alan/
IMC Comp...2021-12-2308 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIAHOMILIA DIÁRIA | Lc. 12,1-7 | Memória de Santa Teresa de Jesus - 7hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-10-1511 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIASANTA MISSA SEMANAL | Memória de Nossa Senhora das Dores | 15.09.2021 - 7hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-09-1514 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIAHOMILIA DIÁRIA | Jo. 3,13-17 | Festa da Exaltação da SantaPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-09-1410 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIASANTA MISSA SEMANAL | Memória de Santo Agostinho | 28.08.2021 - 7:00hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-08-2820 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIAHOMILIA DIÁRIA | Mt. 25,1-13 | Memória de Santa Mônica - 7hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-08-2714 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIAHOMILIA DIÁRIA | Mt. 19,3-12 | Memória de Santa Dulce dos Pobres - 7hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-08-1316 min
HOMILIA DIÁRIA - PARÓQUIA SANTA LÚCIAHOMILIA DIÁRIA | Mt. 18,15-20 | Memória de Santa Clara - 7hPostagem diária da Santa Homilia, proferida pelo Padre Alan Valença.2021-08-1212 min
Podcasts – B-Movies and E-BooksB-Movies and E-Books - Episode 150: Denim Santa
Craig and Brian unwrap the mystery behind Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer, then they check out the darker side of fashion in the film, Slaxx!
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2021-07-051h 05
ALDACAYA marketing podcastT1.E22. ¿Dónde está Santa Claus?Coca-Cola y el ilustrador Haddon Sundblom los responsables del diseño de la imagen del Santa Claus y del significado que tiene para las personas, porque gracias a que le dieron un rostro, personalidad y estilo a una marca, la leyenda de Santa Claus vivirá eternamente.
Santa Claus Fumando: https://tinyurl.com/y8nclmx2
Visita mi página web: https://aldacayamarketing.com/
Este programa es patrocinado por ICONICA STUDIO “Tus clientes a un click de distancia” https://iconica.mx/
Escúchanos donde te dé la gana
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y57q3a5o
Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/y2avjm7d
Twitter...2020-12-2423 min
Hear Us Out with Alan & HannahSanta Debunk -- Christmas SpecialIn this episode, we talk about the absurdity that is Santa Claus, and enjoy our favorite Christmas hits (remember, kids, consent is important).
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Happy Birthday Jesus - Kapena
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Frank Sinatra
Donde Esta Santa Claus - Augie Rios
2020-12-1133 min
The Recruiting Playbook PodcastHow Important Are Academics? Part 1 & Interview with Div. 1 UC Santa Barbara Head Women's Soccer Coach Paul StumpfIn the first of a three part series, Coach Alan covers the topic of academics and Head Coach Paul Stumpf from Division 1 UC Santa Barbara Women's Soccer shares important insights regarding recruiting and how the academic piece can afford a student athlete greater opportunities.
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app2020-12-0534 min
Missionário do Amor#05 Santa Rosa de LimaNo dia 23 de agosto, a Igreja celebra a festa de Santa Rosa de Lima.
Ela é a padroeira do Peru, das Filipenas e da América. É a primeira santa nascida no continente americano. Uma mística flor que constantemente visitada pela Virgem Maria e pelo Menino Jesus.
Se você se interessou pelo podcast Missionário do Amor, chame seus amigos para nos conhecer também e nos siga nas redes sociais (Facebook, Instagram e Twitter) através @missionarioamor2020-08-2706 min
MTB ALAN'S AIR HORNRAW VLOG 37 - Thoughts on the Santa Cruz HECKLER eMTB! Being an UNCOOL NOOB. 👖And a cat wears pants.Yeah, I'm gonna talk about Santa Cruz's first eMTB, The Heckler. But we're also getting philosophical about the benefits of the "noob brain" (a.k.a. the beginner's mind) and how I go about trying to get into the noob brain.
My general thoughts about The Heckler is really less about the bike and more about our response to the fact that Santa Cruz made an eMTB and how so many had the impression that they'd never do it. I also talk about the price being relatively normal for this kind of bike.
I find...2020-02-1424 min
Bar Crawl RadioDating & Hunting Ghosts at the Santa Maria Inn, CAThis was an unusual BCR episode. Becky and I went back to the place we first dated -- the Santa Maria Inn in Central California and spoke with th owner of the inn Judy Hearn in the Wine and Martini Bar. During the high times of Hollywood all the great movie stars stayed there on the way to Hearst Castle. The strange part is that we visited Rudy Vallee's room -- the 1930s and 40s singing star actually stayed there. There were rumors that ghosts resided in that room -- a sea captain and the mistress he kill...2019-10-1841 min
MetropolíticaEpisodio 17. Las 3 de la Semana: Santa Lucía / Calderón en el Tec / Medina Mora "renuncia" a la SCJNEn una nueva dinámica, Metropolítica analiza tres de las noticias más importantes ocurridas en la semana: la revocación de un amparo para detener la construcción del nuevo aeropuerto en Santa Lucía; el rechazo del estudiantado del Tec de Monterrey hacia Felipe Calderón; y la "renuncia" del ahora ex-ministro de la SCJN, Eduardo Medina Mora. Bienvenidos a "Las 3 de la Semana".2019-10-1350 min
KZSC Santa CruzVoces Criticas - Alan Gomez/Radical PoliticsHistory professor Alan Eladio Gómez of justice and social inquiry in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University discusses his research and book "The Revolutionary Imaginations of Greater Mexico: Chicana/o Radicalism, Solidarity Politics & Latin American Social Movements" (University of Texas Press, 2016). We also discuss his next book manuscript titled 'With Dignity Intact': Rebellion, Justice, and Power in the U.S. Federal Prison System, 1969-1974" (under contract, University of Nebraska Press). 2019-09-2321 min
Carmelita Terceiro CastsSolenidade de Santa Maria Mãe de Deus - Ano C
A Solenidade da Santa Maria Mãe de Deus é a primeira Festa Mariana que apareceu na Igreja Ocidental. A sua celebração começou-se a realizar em Roma por volta do século VI, provavelmente junto com a dedicação – a 1º de Janeiro – do templo “Santa Maria Antiga” no Forum Romano, uma das primeiras Iglesias marianas de Roma. A antiguidade da celebração Mariana constata-se nas pinturas com o nome de Maria, "Mãe de Deus” (Theotókos) que foram encontradas nas Catacumbas que estão cavadas debaixo da cidade de Roma, onde se reuniam os primeiros cristãos para celebrar a Missa e...2019-07-2404 min
Alan SharkeyAlan Sharkey - Digital Uprise Radio Mix 22-6-2019Track List1. Sundawner - Krysatal Dreams (Markus L Mix) Monster Tunes2. Bluefeld - Scintilla ( Alter Future Remix)3. First State ft Sarah Howells - Brave (First States Crossroads Remix) Magik Muzik4. Evol Waves - Mimi (Original Mix) Coldharbour Recordings Red5. Active - This World (Original Mix) Discover Digital6. Patrik Humann - Siljan (Beatsole Remix) Euphonic Records7. Danny Clark - Hello Stranger (Original Mix) Tempo Trax8. Active - Generate (Extended Mix) Degenerate Recordings9. DJ Nano & Dimension - Santa Monica (Extended Mix)Flashover Recordings10. Kirp P - Different Forever Whatever (Original Mix) Premonition Digital11. Westlake ft Jennifer Rene - Where You Are (Original...2019-06-231h 52
Love The GrapsBonus - Santa With MusclesBonus Episode
In lieu of a new episode, here is our chat from 2017 about the movie Santa With Muscles. Recorded in a car in Bristol before an ATTACK show, this was released as part of our 2017 xmas charity collection to raise money for local women's charity Eve.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co2018-12-2735 min
Santa Barbara Improv PodcastSanta Barbara Improv Episode 6Unfortunately, the sound got recorded with the microphones unbalanced. George is clear as a bell, but Alan and Amy are really turned down. I tried to manually boost the some of the quieter passages but it’s still pretty unbalanced.2018-11-2000 min
KZSC Santa CruzAlan Christy / Gail ProjectThe Gail Project: An Okinawan-American Dialogue is a multi-year public history project involving professors and undergraduate student researchers. As the project director, UC Santa Cruz Professor Alan Christy spoke about the extent of military occupation of Okinawa today, about Charles Eugene Gail (the namesake of the project) and about the extensive labor involved in creating a digital public history project. He explained the ways in which students played a key role as project collaborators. Alan Christy is an associate professor of history and provost of Cowell College at UC Santa Cruz.2017-11-2820 min
Shamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen90 Alan Has Arranged a Marriage with Avalokiteshvara for UsThe next session of the text in this chapter is on guru yoga (Naked Awareness p. 273). In the introduction, Karma Chagmé says “The best way to counteract obstructive forces, avoid pitfalls, and enhance your practice is guru yoga.” The central point of this practice is to realize the indivisibility of your own mind with the mind of the guru, or rigpa. It means that this practice is designed to melt away any sense of difference, any separation, between your ordinary consciousness of the present moment and Dharmakaya – to see your own face as the Dharmakaya.
Some people for many reasons may be...2016-05-2000 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen89 What Do You Want? Be Content or Become a Siddha?Alan begun this morning Dharma talk with one of his favorite parables (Naked Awareness p.93), and it is about a king who asked an illusionist to create an illusion as a means of causing his son to be drawn to Dharma. Alan pointed that just as the prince couldn’t recall the very first moment of falling into that trance – otherwise he would be lucid –, we are never able to recall the first moment of a mind wandering – otherwise we would be aware and able to say “hello thought, good bye thought” and not lose our minds. The same goes for non -luc...2016-05-2000 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen88 Great Equanimity in the light of DzogchenNote: this is the only lecture for today, 19th May, because Alan will give a public talk at the University of Pisa.
Alan starts with reading “The analogy of seeing a rope as a snake” from “Naked Awareness”, on page 91. Here a man mistook a rope for a poisonous snake and got frightened until a friend showed him that it was just a rope.
Alan comments that there was no eye dysfunction. While the visual perception is always non-conceptual, in a very short time, the conceptual mind takes over, reconfigures, colorizes, dominates and reifies the experience. In the case of the snak...2016-05-1900 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen86 The Renaissance and The Revolution Can Begin in Galileo’s Homeland - Maha MuditaAlan continues the teaching on the four greats by venturing into Maha Mudita, Great Empathetic Joy. In the Mahayana Buddhist context, reaching the path of accumulation entails the achievement of shamatha and bodhicitta, and then sealing it with insight into emptiness – there is no going back from there. Alan comments that Buddhism is not evangelical. Moreover, there are many paths from all wisdom traditions, and the book by Aldous Huxley’s entitled “The Perennial Philosophy” he read many years ago, provides the idea that all these paths point in a similar direction to the ultimate ground of reality. Consummate scholars of compa...2016-05-1800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen83 Rigpa Is Your Warp Drive to EnlightenmentTonight we return again to the theme of the path and to the four applications of mindfulness discussed yesterday. This time, Alan gives a presentation of the four application of mindfulness in the context of Mahamudra. First, however, he points out that contrary to some views which present Buddhism as “selfish” - centred only on “me” and “mine”, as in “my body”, “my mind” - in the four applications of mindfulness the Buddha actually gave instructions to attend to the body, feelings, mind and phenomena internally and externally, and then both internally and externally. Thus, for example, one examines one’s mind subjected to me...2016-05-1600 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and DzogchenAlan Wallace's response to the article "Buddhist meditation and cognitive sciences"Dear Friends,
This is a trimmed version of podcast 79, which includes only Alan's response to the article "Buddhist meditation and cognitive sciences", by Daniel Simpson.
Link to the article.
· From the article “Buddhist meditation and cognitive sciences”:
o Regarding the kinds of dialogues that are promoted by the Mind & Life Institute, anthropologist Geoffrey Samuel comments, “much of what happens in this process is less a dialogue between equal systems of thought than an assimilation of the more ‘acceptable’ elements within Tibetan and Buddhist thought into an essentially Western context.”
o One Mind & Life scientist, Richard Davidson, has bent over backwards to avoid caus...2016-05-1400 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen79 Why do Scientists Refuse to Look through Buddhists’ Telescope?Alan starts by explaining that there are two approaches to Mahamudra: the Vajrayana and the Sutrayana. The Vajrayana approach is embedded in the Kagyu tradition, where Mahamudra is placed in the culminating phase of the stage of completion. The assumption is that you’ve already laid a solid foundation in Sutrayana practice – bodhicitta, realization of emptiness, renunciation – moved on at the stage of generation, then at the stage of completion – the six yogas of Naropa – and then the cherry on the cake would be Mahamudra. In this Vajrayana approach to Mahamudra, what you’re realizing is not simply the emptiness of the mind...2016-05-1300 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen70 Rewrite the History That Is Blocking Your Heart“I’m in the mood for weaving” - with these words Alan begins the morning session. And he does weave together - loving kindness, Harry Potter, Stephen Hawking, Shakespeare, Shantideva and much more… Loving kindness stems from the primal drive of caring. Insofar as the mind rests in its natural state, this flow of caring is unimpeded - says Alan. If we rest in this state and someone is in pain or experiences great joy - our heart is moved. We care even for beings that are not real - movie and book characters for example (here Harry Potter fans may be i...2016-05-0900 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen62 Taking Responsibility for Skilfully Addressing ObscurationsAlan reminds us of Padmasambhava’s pith instruction that makes the path to enlightenment so easy - to observe one’s mind. However, for most people this is not sufficient to progress as we have obscurations, particularly conative obscurations that are difficult to be rid of as we are all so busy, despite that for many of us our survival isn’t dependent on such busyness. Alan reviews the operation of some of the types of obscurations including the conative; attentional including the categories of laxity and dullness and of excitation and anxiety; cognitive such as the acquired delusion of scient...2016-05-0400 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen59 Vulnerable Spot of the Death StarBefore the meditation, Alan comments on the uniqueness of the contemplative practice. He refers again to Kurt Danziger’s article (link available in Retreat Notes), explaining why introspection was largely abandoned by 20th century psychology. According to Alan, eliminating introspection is comparable to astronomers no longer wanting to look at the sky. One of the reasons introspection was considered a failure was the so called “leading the witness” bias. It was due to the fact that researchers did not perform introspection themselves but left it to untrained subjects who were prone to be influenced in their reports by what the resear...2016-05-0200 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen58 Non-Duality of Luminosity and EmptinessIn this morning’s teaching Alan elaborates on the notion that rigpa is right where we are looking when observing the mind. But do we see it? We are looking right at it but not seeing it clearly due to the thick layers of obscurations. However, one crucial theme that pervades all levels of observing the mind, from the coarse to the most subtle, is the non-duality of luminosity and emptiness (seltong in Tibetan). Alan explains that we can see it already at our level of practice. As we observe our mind carefully we can see that it is clear (cl...2016-05-0200 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen55 Taking Vipashyana as Hot Chili, Just Enough to Spice our Shamatha Practice a BitAlan starts by giving us a suggestion: for our whole life, from now until our enlightenment, we should evaluate our practice in a eudaimonic way - based on what we brought to the practice, on how we responded, and not based on what happened to us during the practice. An important point is that shamatha and vipashyana practices can be very dry, not sweet, not warm; so the more we can sweeten our practice with devotion, with four immeasurables the more balanced our practice will become. We have to bring the heart, the moisture, the warmth to our practice, anyway...2016-04-2900 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen54 There is Hope! Alan introduces Donald HoffmanAlan starts remembering the pointing out instructions of Padmasambhava that he read yesterday. In the preface, Padmasambhava says he is pointing out to what he called by many different names: atman, middle way view, emptiness, tathagatagarbha, alaya, perfection of wisdom, and so forth. And then there are two phases: in the first he challenges us - "what do you mean ... Observe your mind!?" Just do it! In the second, he poses a hypothesis: "Is is that way or not? Observe your mind!" The first phase is shamatha, and the second, as he poses a question and we have to report...2016-04-2900 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen52 Pointing out the Nature of the MindAlan starts explaining that throughout times, lamas have given pointing-out instruction on the nature of the mind. With respect to this it is crucial not to conflate the different dimensions of consciousness. During the day we experience different states of mind, like sleeping, dreaming, waking, or being immersed in a conceptual or non-conceptual mind. In all these cases the common nominator of the mind is consciousness.
Alan explains that the defining characteristics of the mind are luminosity and cognizance. Furthermore, it has no material attributes. It is luminous in that it manifests all modes of appearances. It is cognizant like...2016-04-2800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen47 Balancing Earth and WindAlan introduces the afternoon meditation by making a few comments about space. Our most primal space is the substrate. In dreamless non-lucid sleep, in anaesthesia and at the point of dying the substrate consciousness dissolves into the substrate. Even at this point, however, a sentient being still has consciousness, as opposed to e.g. a glass of water. The essential nature of the substrate is ‘avidya’ - ‘not knowing’. The substrate is obscuring the deeper reality, i.e. dharmadhatu. It does not mean that dharmadhatu is somewhere else than the substrate. Right where the substrate is there is dharmadhatu - explains...2016-04-2500 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen39 The Four Aspects of Taking the Mind as the PathAlan says we will now return to the central theme of balance, grounding our shamatha practice in relaxation and stability. We will later move to being aware of the sensations and movements of the body but attending to them from the perspective of stillness. Subsequently we will apply this to the practice of taking the mind as the path. In this method, our practice of attending to the mind can energise or arouse leading to tightness, and therefore we need to maintain a sense of looseness in the practice by returning to relaxation. Alan then describes several aspects of this...2016-04-2000 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen35 How To Stroke The Sun And The Moon With Your HandThe session starts with meditation focused on the mind. Alan instructs us to discern the origin of mental events, to observe where those mental events arise and manifest, and to determine where they dissolve. After the meditation we return to the theme of siddhis. Based on this morning’s teachings, some of the siddhis seem plausible - if one masters the nimittas and if the hypothesis put forward by Carl Jung and Wolfgang Pauli is right. But there is still a nagging thought - says Alan. How to caress the sun? How to stroke the moon? How are these siddhis po...2016-04-1800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen34 Special Theory of Ontological RelativityAlan begins by reminding us that in yesterday’s afternoon session we took a roundabout approach of settling the mind in its natural state by first concentrating on the visual, then the auditory and the tactile domains before venturing into the domain of the sixth sense, the space of the mind. Today we will again “walk around the block”, as Alan says, however, not empirically but conceptually. Alan begins by referring once again to the passage of Karma Chagme’s text on shamatha, listing the various extrasensory abilities that can be acquired by a person who has achieved the fourth dhyana...2016-04-1800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen29 The Central Role of Shamatha on the Buddhist PathWe begin the session with a review of a central practice in shamatha, mindfulness of breathing. Despite being so simple, mindfulness of breathing has its profundity validated, for instance, by being the practice the Buddha did both on the night of his awakening, and also at the time he entered his parinirvana. Alan went on to emphasize the importance of relaxation, namely in the body, with some comments about the key role that exploring, and developing the capacity to practice in shavasana, can have on the shamatha path. He then proceeded to explore the relationship, and feedback loop, existing between...2016-04-1400 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen28 Shamatha and the Close Application of Mindfulness to the Body and FeelingsThis morning Alan moves on to the four close applications of mindfulness, focusing on the body and feelings. The Pali word “Vedanā” refers to primal feelings like pleasure, displeasure and neutral. Feelings are not included into the mental factors of the close application of mindfulness to the mind. Instead they are examined separately, since these are the ones we care about most. We don’t want pain and we want pleasure. In the first of the four noble truths, the Buddha recommends to understand these feelings. Alan emphasizes that we normally don’t want to understand the feelings about pain, but rathe...2016-04-1400 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen23 It Is Never Too Soon To Cultivate BodhicittaThis afternoon we come to the culmination of the series of discursive meditations which started with the four vision quest and the four immeasurables - bodhicitta. The definition of bodhicitta may seem religious, esoteric, abstract. Therefore, in today’s teaching Alan intends to bring it down to its roots. He begins by describing the state we often find ourselves in: we are suffering and we want it to go away. When the suffering eventually passes, there is breath of relief, but soon after a nagging thought arises: “maybe it will come back”. And so there is dissatisfaction, one is ill at eas...2016-04-1100 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen22 Between Sessions View Reality Like a DreamAlan addresses the theme of continuity which is essential for the path. In our shamatha practice we may often wonder if we are doing the practice right. Alan points out that the answer lies in whether we are staying in the ongoing flow of cognisance. As we move from coarse mind to subtle mind it is crucial not to lose cognisance (which is what happens when we fall asleep) but to sustain the flow of knowing and not infuse it with a conceptual framework. This is continuity in the formal practice. When doing shamatha we are seeking to put both...2016-04-1100 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen19 Great Equanimity & the Paths of Mahayana and DzogchenAlan begins the lecture by presenting the fourth of the Greats: Great Equanimity. Then Alan introduces Martin Buber’s explanation of an “I-you” relationship as opposed to an “I-it” relationship. In the latter case, if someone gives me pleasure then I like you, otherwise I don’t, as if the sentient being is no more sentient than a cellphone. To treat a sentient being as an “it” is utterly tragic, it’s dehumanising. This also happened towards animals. Descartes believed that animals had no consciousness, no emotions, and this had quite an impact on the trajectory the world took. This is a massive cogni...2016-04-0800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen18 Balancing the five faculties and putting a pin in the valve of your tire - and let's achieve shamatha in the homeland of GalileoAlan returns to the balance of the five faculties, starting with the different modalities of faith - appreciation, aspiration and belief - and the relation of belief with karma. The belief in karma depends much on the culture, but a confidence in Buddha and other great adepts who replicated his discoveries also may arise due to study, reflection, and meditation. Regarding the balance between intelligence and faith, including belief, Alan quotes William James:
"Where preferences are powerless to modify or produce things, faith is totally inappropriate, but for the class of facts that depend on personal preference, trust, or loyalty...2016-04-0800 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen16 Balancing Faith, Intelligence, Enthusiasm, Samadhi and MindfulnessAlan starts explaining that balance is a crucial theme in shamatha training where we cultivate relaxation without losing clarity, stability of attention without losing relaxation and vividness without losing stability. The balance of these three qualities can be applied to every activity in daily life, however there is no guarantee that it is meaningful. During the development of shamatha the faculties of mindfulness and introspection, which we already have, are refined through training and turned into powers. Alan then turns to the more general theme of Buddha Dharma. Within the 37 aspects of enlightenment, there are five faculties, which can be...2016-04-0700 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen14 Alan’s Advice on Addressing Obstacles in the Practice of Mindfulness of BreathingAlan says that the aspiration for Awakening and Bodhicitta takes us out of the present with a goal that has great significance and provides direction in our lives – the path of Dharma. One understanding of Dharma is as a way of viewing reality that brings forth a sustained well-being. This eudaimonia is genuine well-being that arises independently of pleasure or stimulation as occurs for hedonia which is ephemeral, thin or just a fleeting memory. Alan amusingly suggests that the practice of Mindfulness of Breathing is not exactly hedonic, is it? Boredom can set in, along with withdrawal symptoms from the al...2016-04-0600 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen11 Equanimity and Taking the Bodhisattva vowsThis afternoon we finish the cycle of four immeasurables by meditating on equanimity. Alan says that this is the grand finale, the indispensable basis for bodhicitta. Equanimity has different meanings in different contexts but in the context of our practice it means the even-heartedness when attending to other people, other sentient beings. As long as we attend to people as objects, some appear agreeable and others disagreeable. The point of this practice is to place ourselves in the position of others, in their shoes, to see things from their perspective. If we do so, it appears that we all act...2016-04-0400 minShamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen10 Why Go Through Unpleasant Meditative Experiences (Nyam)?This morning, Alan returns to the theme of parallels between the practice of settling the mind in its natural state and the mindfulness of breathing as taught by Asanga. He begins by making a crucial point: when the practice is going well, it is never smooth. Unpleasant bodily and mental sensations (nyam) are bound to arise. In fact, in the book “Stilling the Mind” (containing the shamatha part of Dudjom Lingpa’s Vajra Essence) there is a two-page long shortlist of the nyams. Even though some are truly awful (like paranoia), if they arise during authentic practice, they are actually signs...2016-04-0400 min
Films of the FutureEpisode 53: Visit from SantaSanta made a surprise visit to the Films of the Future studio! We discuss Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hateful Eight, and his strange annual rituals. Download: Films of the Future 053: Visit from Santa or subscribe on iTunes Episode 53 Notes We reviewed Star... Read More 2015-12-2500 min
Fall 2015 Stage of Generation88 The Kind Revolution of Contemplative ScienceWe go directly into the meditation: Balancing Earth & Wind, culminating in non-meditation. Afterwards, Alan resumes the oral transmission and commentary of the Mahamudra chapter from p.156. In the commentary, Alan recalls a few stories about people dwelling in deep samadhi and he also makes more comments on shamatha practice and its early signs of progress along the nine stages. Alan points out that this great scholar, teacher and practitioner, Karma Chagme, after the chapters on stage of generation, shamatha, vipashyana, identification and practice, he goes back to shamatha. Now some context from the 21st century: if we go to the...2015-09-1900 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation77 Becoming Bodhisattvas: “I Will Liberate You”Alan returns to the theme of equanimity indicating that we do experience equanimity everyday but that it is contingent, short-lived and can develop complacency. Development of Shamatha practice is a form of equanimity but more stable. Think of anything that makes you happy in this life in the desire realm and imagine if you had that constantly – would you be satisfied? One soon discovers the source of genuine happiness is not to be found in the desire realm. Even the attainment of Shamatha, no matter how pleasant, is not stable in true equanimity while we remain in samsara. Clinging to an...2015-09-1400 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation75 The Power of EquanimityWe now return to the fourth immeasurable, equanimity. This is the grand finale of the first three. It subsumes all of them, bringing them to the full flowering. The whole Dharma practice is to restore symmetry. Asymmetries involve having attachment towards “my side, my view, me, mine” vs. aversion towards the “other side, the other view, the other.” Here we cultivate even-heartedness, but differences are acknowledged, we are not blind to them. And then we go deep down till the level of Buddha Nature where we find common ground. Alan also explains the false symmetry of aloof indifference, and the false fa...2015-09-1200 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation46 Introduction to VipashyanaIn introducing vipashyana, Alan speaks about the importance of overcoming reification to gain insight into reality. The key point is that reification of self, others and objects is not homogenous but rather comes in waves. The meditation aimed at recognising the types of insight that we experience including when reification arises and when we get glimpses of reality such as emptiness. Alan informs us that settling the mind is a good launching pad for tipping over into Vipashyana practice as it sits right on the threshold.
Meditation is on Vipashyana via Settling the Mind.
After the meditation, Alan comments on...2015-08-2600 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation34 Shamatha and the DhyānasBefore the meditation, Alan explains that the reason for teaching many different meditation techniques is to cater for individual preferences. The key test is whether the method results in ease, stability and clarity of awareness. The magic word is enjoyment not progress!
The meditation is in two parts - to balance "earth and wind". First is settling the mind in its natural state and then giving full attention to the space of the mind from this grounded state.
After the meditation, Alan returns to Chapter Three of the text, starting on page 66. He explains more fully the qualities of the...2015-08-1900 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation30 Alan Leading the Toreadors Against the Bull of ReificationBefore the meditation, Alan comments that shamatha practice includes going into "unexplored territory" resulting in eruptions in one's environment, body and mind. To manage this, both Karma Chagme and Dudjom Lingpa in their own ways advise on the need to create sacred space by orienting one's view with the preliminary practices discussed over the last two weeks including the Avalokiteshvara practice. The core armour against these eruptions is to be lucid in recognising the lack of inherent nature of mind if only by comparison with dream states where if lucid we do not reify what is presented in the mind.
...2015-08-1700 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation28 Come to your senses! Who is the winning bull?Alan starts with a brief recap of the Buddha’s meditation advice for Bahiya. Alan invites us to come out of our imaginary realm that we call reality and to come to our senses in order to see what is manifestly appearing to our senses. Appearances do not exist in physical space, they do not exist in neurons (the brain is only chemicals and electricity). Awareness is the most indubitable reality we know. Alan says that there is no evidence he can present to persuade us that we are not conscious. Awareness happens. All that we know is awareness and ap...2015-08-1500 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation18 Practicing Settling the Mind with a New Challenge. Plus - Alan's Polemic on Why Scientific Materialism is Stupid.For this silent meditation session, Alan asks us to initially practice mindfulness of breathing that cultivates ease and stillness, and then shift to settling the mind in its natural state and observe the "wind of thoughts" that come into the field of consciousness. He suggests we occasionally check the temporal and qualitative vividness of the mental events with a view to sharpening and enhancing vividness by detecting even more subtler events. Before the practice he asks us to experiment with resting our attention with eyes fixed on an object in front of us and then move the mental engagement to...2015-08-1000 minFall 2015 Stage of Generation15 Tong-len MeditationAlan begins by commenting on the common theme of all sentient beings in Buddhism. In Buddhism, we hear about all sentient beings, not only the humankind. The concept is so vast, that it may become vague. So Alan once asked about this issue more than 40 years ago to his abbot back then, Gen Losang Gyatso, who replied that practically speaking, all sentient beings mean everyone you encounter in your mind and through your senses. Then Alan mentions that when it comes to cultivating compassion, our practice will be imbued with the sense of who we are. The sense of who...2015-08-0800 min
Fall 2014 Shamatha, Vipashyana, Dream Yoga90 An Approximation of Pure Land in Sight?At the beginning Alan shares extremely uplifting news as what concerns “Project Contemplative Observatory”. After having failed to build one in India and in Santa Barbara it finally looks as if a promising piece of land in Tuscany is available. The land is cheap and big enough to support not only a contemplative observatory but also a mind center. With retreatants maybe even planting organic food there, it would truly be as close as we get in samsara to a pure land!
After a silent meditation we return to the text. Alan explains that the four great types of liberation can...2014-10-1300 minFall 2014 Shamatha, Vipashyana, Dream Yoga88 Turning Up the Heat on Learned IgnoranceThe session begins with a guided meditation on variations of taking the mind as the path, beginning with maintaining peripheral awareness of fluctuations of the breath before single-pointedly focusing awareness on the space of the mind and whatever arises there.
Alan then returns to page 182 of Natural Liberation for further commentary on the lines we concluded with yesterday, “Due to being obscured by the three kinds of ignorance, they do not know the manner of their liberation.”
Viewed from the perspective of rigpa, even hatred will self-release without any additional antidote. Before we reach that sage, however, it is important to m...2014-10-1100 minFall 2014 Shamatha, Vipashyana, Dream Yoga51 Empathetic Joy, and Alan Filing a Class Action SuitAlan talks about the cultivation of empathetic joy, which among the four immeasurables is the one that is often easily overlooked. However, it is extremely important because it’s not simply about being happy, but about cultivating a feeling of a shared joy. Furthermore, it is the antidote for the near enemy of compassion: depression or despair. So when we are cultivating empathetic joy, it is important to note that we are, of course, not deluding ourselves into thinking that all is good. However, as humans have the tendency to focus on the negative, we are merely balancing that out a...2014-09-2000 minFall 2014 Shamatha, Vipashyana, Dream Yoga44 Who is Alan - Alan? Dr. Alan? Guru Alan? Lama Alan? Dr. Lama Alan?In today’s meditation Alan went on with the pointing-out instructions from Natural Liberation.
In the teachings Alan discussed the different levels of teacher-student relationship and how we can bring the Indo-Tibetan understanding of it into our modern world. In a way the relationship between teacher and student is completely symmetrical, and that regards the courtesy and respect between both sides. Where it is not symmetrical is on the level of knowledge, the student comes to the teachings to learn, the teacher to be of service, and the relationship is established totally for the sake of the student. In the In...2014-09-1600 minFall 2014 Shamatha, Vipashyana, Dream Yoga22 On Behaviorism and the Like II, or Why Alan is Not Beating a Dead HorseIn an enormously compelling and emotional talk Alan once again tackles how scientific and contemplative communities have tackled “the hard problem”, that is how one can explain the relationship between qualia and its neural correlates.
Alan first looks back on the 8th and the 14th century to show how Tibet was once a barbaric force that was then completely transformed by Buddhism. This brought about an immense contemplative culture and tradition that now reaches our Western/modern civilization by way of e.g. Gyatrul Rinpoche teaching Padmasambhava’s text “Natural Liberation” to everybody who is filling to listen with faith. All the wh...2014-09-0300 min
Fall 2013 Shamatha and the Bodhisattva Way of Life28 Shamatha Without a Sign and text, up to the end of Ultimate BodhicittaAlan goes straight into the meditation practice.
Alan states that 'settling the mind in its natural state' and 'Shamatha without a sign' are notorious for catalysing karma. Alan defines 'nyam' and obstacles. Alan states Dudjom Lingpa's two approaches to nyam arising - to reify or to not grasp, and to use whatever understanding you have of emptiness.
Alan then gives commentary to the line in Atisha's text 'Between sessions act as illusory being'.
Alan talks on the impure and the pure illusory bodies. He then goes on to discuss Vajrayana practices of stage...2013-09-1800 min
Spring 2011 Shamatha Retreat48 Compassion and Freedom from Blatant SufferingAlan Wallace begins today's teaching with a 40-minute dharma talk that could be titled, "Retreat and Expedition Approaches to Freedom from Blatant Suffering." In this engaging talk, Alan surveys the history of these approaches and explores the mechanisms and effects of shamatha and vipassana.
He then guides a meditation on compassion, first wishing ourselves freedom from blatant suffering, then on to others, working both spatially and allowing others to simply appear, "invite themselves in," to our meditation.
The guided meditation begins at 41:00 in the recording.
He answers two questions from the group, the...2011-05-0700 min
Fall 2010 Shamatha RetreatSession 37: Awareness of Awareness and Alan’s Wrath toward the Neurocentric ViewGood Morning to All Human Beings,
This is the third morning for Awareness of Awareness Shamatha Meditation. Alan was speaking like a wrathful deity this morning. He is wrathful about the way some scientists (as well as the journalists who report on scientific studies) use words to describe the functions of computers and the brain. They use language that would suggest that neurons and computers are “smart” and can “communicate” and “detect” things, but at the same time disempower human beings by telling them their minds are merely computers. He is calling for all of us who meditate to use introspectio...2010-11-1800 min
Spring 2010 Shamatha RetreatEquanimity: Looking AheadThis afternoon Alan started by sharing a story about his first meditation counsel with Geshe Rabten, and the two topics that he suggested for meditation: Precious Human Rebirth and Equanimity. He emphasizes the importance of Equanimity and seeing through the "I-It" relationship with others (for more on this topic refer to previous episodes), and also highlights the importance of balancing the urgency that can arise from meditating on the precious human rebirth. He suggests not being shortsighted, and taking the time to develop the Four Immeasurables correctly, however long that may take, knowing it is the path. Alan...2010-06-1000 minSpring 2010 Shamatha RetreatEmpathetic Joy: Using our Mind as a Best Friend (+ great Q&A incl. a deep question about love and attachment).The story Alan narrates at the very start of this episode comes because there was a dog outside the teaching hall, and as we were coming in for the lecture he would try to get in between our legs, or at least just stick his head in. He clearly looked very determined and excited to learn about Mudita, and it was hard to get Alan inside the teaching hall sans-dog. Moving to the actual lecture, Alan explains today's practice, in which we cultivate empathetic joy towards others both in terms of hedonic pleasure and then of genuine happiness. Alan gives...2010-06-0800 minSpring 2010 Shamatha RetreatCultivating Self-Worth, Eliminating Pride, The Story of Alan’s First Meeting with HH. Dalai Lama back in 1971, and flowers.Today we went directly into practice, which I removed from the recording to make it easier to listen to. As you know by now, just do your own practice and then press play! Alan suggests that if we are just feeling "ordinary" or with no specific need to balance emotions, then Loving Kindness or Tonglen are always magnificent go-to practices.After the meditation (and where this recording starts), we had an extremely juicy lecture. I usually say "juicy" when Alan gives marvelous scientific explanations but this time it was pure heart-food, with no physics...2010-05-2700 minSpring 2010 Shamatha RetreatAwareness of Awareness: Probing into why we exist (the other side of the equation)Alan "kickstarted" this morning [because he likes that word so much ;) ] with a healthy dose of Physics. He started talking about the following article from NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/science/space/18cosmos.html , which claims to uncover a new clue as to why we exist. Appreciating the enormous scientific value of this article, we realize the truth of the statement "ask a physical question and you'll receive a physical answer." We go back into the analysis of the relationship between the observer and matter, going into a "strange loop" of which came before...2010-05-2000 minSpring 2010 Shamatha RetreatCompassion: Blowing the Dust of our EyesToday we had a very deep practice on Compassion. The introduction contains great examples as always in order to turn our minds towards the cultivation of compassion, to make real the suffering of others and to unveil our innate compassion, with the boldness, courage, and vision to realize what is happening, attend to the world of possibility, and aspire "may there be freedom." This will leave us poised for action and ready to come out of meditation and do some good in the world.The outro talks about the peril of classifying ourselves as "...2010-05-1300 minSpring 2010 Shamatha Retreat[Bonus] Clearing up misconceptions about the “Non-Self.”This podcast was spurred by a question from our philosopher Ilse asking about the difference of "Identitylessness" [or non self] and "Personhood" (as she put it).There are many misconceptions about Buddhism and the theme of the "Non-Self," and here B. Alan Wallace breaks it down skillfully and with his characteristic [irony alarm went off], funny and good-humored but extremely wise and accurate examples. This is really recommended if you have any doubts (as many of us do) on this topic! It is explained extremely clearly.As a bonus within...2010-05-1100 minSpring 2010 Shamatha Retreat[Video] A Message From Alan: Join the Mailing List!No, it’s not a side effect of your intense daily meditation -- in this podcast the picture actually moves! That is to say, it’s a video!With the help of David Cherniack, we were able to record Alan’s quick message. As you can see, we have created a mailing list for information, news, and retreat information all regarding the Mind Centre here in Phuket. Please note that this is different from the podcast daily updates that you might have subscribed to. In other words, if you subscribe to the mailing list, you won’t be get...2010-05-0200 minSpring 2010 Shamatha Retreat[Bonus] Alan’s Ideal (and possible) Vision of Buddhism and Contemplative Science in the next 10-15 yearsIn this bonus podcast, B. Alan Wallace is asked about his ideal vision of Buddhism and Contemplative Science in "The West" (or modernity) for the next 10-15 years. Alan first describes his own term, "Contemplative Science," and then gets going on a very inspiring and precise view of how this can be absolutely groundbreaking for science and humanity in general. Can we penetrate and break through to knowing reality? Taking it out of the realm of metaphysics, religion, or theory, but actually putting it to the test and knowing?I wont say more in...2010-05-0200 min