Shows
Buddhist GeeksIs the Insight Tradition Complicit in Genocide?Vince Fakhoury Horn reflects on his experiences within the Insight meditation tradition, as an authorized teacher in the lineage, arguing that its senior leaders have remained complicit, through their silence, on the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.đŹ TranscriptVince: Today I want to speak to you as an authorized representative of the Insight meditation tradition. I was authorized to teachâempowered to teachâby Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield in a public ceremony in Los Angeles several years ago.This is largely going to be a story about my experience with the Insight meditat...
2025-11-2659 min
Buddhist GeeksMeditating on PalestineIn this Buddhist Geeks episode, Vince Fakhoury Horn and Robert Wright explore the intersection of Buddhism, ethics, and geopolitics as they reflect on Palestine, Jewish-Buddhist responses, moral responsibility, and the role of mindfulness amid global violence. Get full access to Buddhist Geeks at www.buddhistgeeks.org/subscribe
2025-10-1059 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Flavors of JhÄnaVince Fakhoury Horn: The Flavors of JhÄnaâI canât remember where I first heard this term. I think it was from you or from Kenneth [Folk].Brian Newman: Maybe we should start there. You came to me and said, âWhat should we call the retreat?â And I said, âHey, youâre the one who wanted to do it in Portugalâwhat should we call it?â You threw it back at me, and I said, âCan we call it the name of my half-written book?âSo folks, this all comes from a story thatâs part of a lineage. Th...
2025-09-1836 min
Buddhist GeeksThe 9th JhÄna: Framing the UnframableVince Fakhoury Horn: I was thinking about where to start with the 9th JhÄna, and I think the first thing to say is that the 9th JhÄna is not a state. So why in the world are we within a community of practice called The JhÄna Community, which is explicitly aimed at developing and cultivating certain states of mind, or states of consciousness, why would we be focusing on something which is not a state?Let me let me share a little bit where this term came from. So I'm borrowing this term from a r...
2025-09-1118 min
Buddhist GeeksTPOT, Palestine, & True BodhisattvahoodThis episode of Buddhist Geeks features a candid and heartfelt conversation between Vince Fakhoury Horn and Tasshin Fogleman about Palestine, the TPOT subculture, and what it means to embody true Bodhisattvahood. They explore the limitations of online discourse, especially around contentious issues, and reflect on the importance of good-faith dialogue, friendship, and spiritual integrity in times of crisis.Join Vince Fakhoury Horn and Brian Newman outside of Lisbon, Portugal at the beginning of 2026 for a 10-day intensive jhÄna retreat. There, weâll be exploring The Flavors of JhÄna.Episode TranscriptVince:
2025-08-011h 22
Buddhist GeeksThe Completion of Vipassana JhÄnaBy Vince Fakhoury HornToday, in The JhÄna Community, I want to center our exploration around the completion phaseâalso known as enlightenment.What is the relationship between enlightenment and jhÄna? Thatâs what weâll explore.The Goal of Vipassana JhÄnaIn Vipassana jhÄna practice, the goal is insightâclearly seeing the way things are. This clear seeing leads to awakening, within the Buddhist frame.Trudy Goodman uses a beautiful metaphor for this, comparing the phases of insight to the phases of the moon:âCan we...
2025-05-0611 min
Buddhist GeeksConsensus Buddhism, Pragmatic Dharma, and the Next Turn of the WheelOverview: In this episode, Vince Horn and Daniel Thorson explore the evolving landscape of Western Buddhism, unpacking the tensions between Consensus Buddhism and Pragmatic Dharma, while reflecting on ethics, teacherly authority, and the possibilities for a more integrated future.Vince Horn: I'm here with Daniel Thorson, hanging out in your office-slash-bedroom. You've been in the Asheville area for whatâa year now?Daniel Thorson: Almost two years, actually.Vince: Whoa, really? Thatâs wild! And this is our first time recording together since you moved here. Doing it in person feels weirdâso hyper-intimate.Dani...
2025-04-221h 11
Buddhist GeeksTrudy Goodman on KĆbun Chino OtogawaVince Fakhoury Horn is joined again by dharma teacher Trudy Goodman, founder of InsightLA, to share reflections on her beloved teacher, KĆbun Chino Otogawa. Kobun (February 1, 1938 â July 26, 2002), also known as Chino Otogawa Roshi, was a Japanese Zen priest who brought his unique and deeply compassionate teachings to America. Renowned for his unconventional approach, he emphasized practicing dharma within daily life, often blending traditional Zen wisdom with a quiet, everyday presence that resonated with many students. In this conversation, Trudy shares stories of Kobunâs compassionate presence, his devotion to helping those suffering, and his profound yet playful approach to te...
2024-11-181h 09
Buddhist GeeksTechnological Metamodernism with Stephen ReidIn the episode on "Technological Metamodernism," Vince Fakhoury Horn and Stephen Reid discuss the intersection of technology, metamodernism, and the potential middle paths that navigate between techno-optimism or e/acc and eco-dystopianism or doomerism. They explore how emerging technologies can be aligned with deeper values, such as sovereignty, relationality, and wholeness, while also addressing the challenges of our current technological trajectoryâ.Episode Links:đ€ StephenReid.netâïž Stephen Reid in Correspondence - Stephen's substackđ Futurecraft - The site where the Technological Metamodernism course is being hostedâ.đ€ Support the open sourcing of the Technological...
2024-08-1658 min
Buddhist GeeksJhÄna Drama with Vince F. HornIn this episode of Buddhist Geeks, Vince Fakhoury Horn shares his experience of working with the meditation startup Jhourney, and raises concerns about their insufficient training and appropriation of Buddhist meditation practices, advocating for a more responsible and deeply informed approach to secularizing JhÄna meditation.Episode Links:đ The Second Generation of Mindfulness by Vince F. Hornđ The Meditation Research Projectđ The Jhana.communitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Get full acces...
2024-06-1037 min
The Mind Bod Adventure PodMultiplayer Meditation with Vince Fakhoury HornSome very inventive practice exploration today, friends! Weâre joined by dharma teacher and Buddhist Geeks founder Vince Fakhoury Horn, who leads us in a smorgasbord of short âsocialâ practices, all designed to tap into the goodness of meditation in a bouncy, fun and interactive way. We explore Kenneth Folkâs social noting, try out a microdose-sized practice of loving kindness, and finally, an imagination-rich social âMindCraft,â where we build a world together.If you like these adventures in consciousness, consider supporting our work with a paid subscription!Our wide-ranging conversation includes Vinceâs experience o...
2024-03-2051 min
Buddhist GeeksSeveral Ways to Meditate with Vince F HornIn this episode, recorded during a Buddhist Geeks Retreat, Vince Fakhoury Horn teachings on several ways to meditate, including Concentration, Mindfulness, Heartfulness, Inquiry, Awareness, Embodiment, and Imaginal forms of practice. Each approach to meditation leads to different results, even as the ultimate goal remains the same, which is to realize the essential nature of mind, and be able to embrace the ongoing journey of exploration and growth.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...
2023-12-2853 min
Buddhist GeeksContemplating the Anomalous with Vince F HornThis talk, titled "Contemplating the Anomalous" was given by Vince Fakhoury Horn on a Buddhist Geeks retreat in July, 2023. It explores the stages of a paradigm shift in understanding, going from ignoring the anomalous, to encountering anomalies and experiencing resistance, to exploration, and finally toward genuine transformation. Using examples from both Science and Meditation Vince attempts to illustrate the learning process as itâs experienced from each point of view. This talk also touches on the topic of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and the potential for a collective paradigm shift in our understanding of the Universe and our place in...
2023-10-0934 min
Buddhist GeeksWhy Meditatewith.ai?Meditatewith.ai is a web app prototype, aimed at demonstrating the possibility of learning Multiplayer Meditationâan out-loud, social, interactive, & trauma-informed protocolâwith an AI partner first. The purpose of the company behind this prototype, Interbeing Inc, is to improve the mental health and well-being of all humans using interpersonal meditation practices. In this episode, recorded during an event inside the Buddhist Geeks Network, co-founders Vince Fakhoury Horn & Chris Ewald introduce what theyâve been working on for the first time in public, and then field a wide variety of questions from participants.Episode Links...
2023-09-1345 min
Buddhist GeeksKenneth Folk on Bill HamiltonVince Fakhoury Horn is joined by long-time teacher, Kenneth Folk, to share about his beloved teacher, Bill Hamilton, who American dharma teacher Shinzen Young referred to as "an unsung hero of Western Mindfulness." Bill was an enigmatic dharma teacher who practiced in the Insight-Theravada tradition. He was the founder of the Dharma Seed library, did more than 7 years of silent retreat practice, and wrote an excellent contemporary dharma book called "Saints & Psychopaths."Episode Links:đ€ Kenneth Folkđ€ Vince Fakhoury Hornđ Saints & Psychopaths by Bill Hamiltonđ Dharma Seedđș Remem...
2023-04-191h 09
Buddhist GeeksTrudy Goodman on SeungsahnVince Fakhoury Horn is joined by dharma teacher Trudy Goodman, founder of InsightLA, to share reflections on her beloved teacher, Seungsahn. Seungsahn Haengwon (Sungsan Haeng'weon Daeseonsa, August 1, 1927 â November 30, 2004), born Duk-In Lee, was a Korean Seon master of the Jogye Order and founder of the international Kwan Um School of Zen.Episode Links:đ€ Trudy Goodmanđ€ Seungsahnđș Bob Newhart Therapy: Stop It!đ€ Maha Ghosanandađ§ Zen Predatorđ Sex in the Forbidden Zone by Peter RutterMemorable Quotes:"What am I?" â Seungsahn...
2023-02-221h 06
Buddhist GeeksVince Fakhoury Horn on Our Beloved TeachersIn this episode, hosted by Vince Fakhoury Horn, we kick off a new series called Our Beloved Teachers. In this episode Vince explains how this a new kind of community podcast series, aimed at exploring the true nature of the teacher-student relationship, while preserving the oral history of BuddhaDharma, in the digital era. We call it a "community podcast series" because anyone can submit a recording to the seriesâall you need are the production skills to pull off the recording, and the connections to find a suitable guest. Episode Links:...
2023-01-2316 min
Buddhist GeeksVince Fakhoury Horn on Our Beloved TeachersIn this episode, hosted by Vince Fakhoury Horn, we kick off a new series called Our Beloved Teachers. In this episode Vince explains how this a new kind of community podcast series, aimed at exploring the true nature of the teacher-student relationship, while preserving the oral history of BuddhaDharma, in the digital era. We call it a "community podcast series" because anyone can submit a recording to the seriesâall you need are the production skills to pull off the recording, and the connections to find a suitable guest. Episode Links:...
2023-01-2315 min
Buddhist GeeksThis Great Network of Interbeing, with Vince F HornââTo beâ is to inter-be.â â ThĂch Nháș„t HáșĄnhIn this episodeâtaken from a Dharma Talk at the Garrison Institute in 2022âVince Fakhoury Horn teaches on the complexity of Interbeing, looking at "it" from 3 distinct perspectives:Interbeing within OurselvesInterbeing with OthersInterbeing inside NatureTaken together, these three form a great network of Interbeing, one which opens us to the self-similar & fractal nature of interdependence. At every scale, we inter-are.Episode Links:ThĂch Nháș„t HáșĄnhWhat is Social Meditation?The Roots of 'Radical'Networkologies: A Philosophy of Networks for a Hyperc...
2022-08-1743 min
Buddhist GeeksMagic and the Four Immeasurables, with Vince F HornIn most modern contexts the topic of magic is taboo, because it isnât Rational. Here, Vince Fakhoury Horn makes the claim that magic can also be understood and practiced in a Transrational way. He does this by unpacking several perspectives on magic, and then links those with the Buddhist teachings on the open heart: The Four Immeasurables.This episode was recorded during a recent Buddhist Geeks Retreat on Heart Magic. Join us from August 3â10, 2022 at the Garrison Institute in NY for a week-long retreat on the same topic!Episode Links:đ Hea...
2022-07-0649 min
The Nishant Garg Show#192: Vince Fakhoury Horn â New Age Spirituality, Reverse Engineering of Enlightenment, Awareness Training, Waking up vs Cleaning up, 6 ways to Meditate, Meditation on Psychedelics, and MoreVince Fakhoury Horn is part of a new generation of teachers, facilitators, & translators bringing dharma to life. A computer engineering dropout turned full-time contemplative, Vince spent his 20s co-founding the ground-breaking Buddhist Geeks podcast, while simultaneously doing a full year, in total, of silent retreat practice. Vincent began teaching in 2010 and has since been authorized in both the Pragmatic Dharma lineage of Kenneth Folk, and by Trudy Goodman, guiding teacher of InsightLA. Vince has been called a âpower player of the mindfulness movementâ by Wired magazine and was featured in Wired UKâs âSmart List: 50 people who will change the worl...
2022-03-101h 02
Buddhist GeeksWe Were Made For These Times, with Kaira Jewel LingoIn this episode of Buddhist Geeks, Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in dialogue with Kaira Jewel Lingo, mindfulness meditation teacher, mentor, and author of the recently released book, "We Were Made For These Times". Here they discuss the unique times of peril and opportunity that humanity current faces, and how the teachings on equanimity, or inclusiveness, might just be the only thing that we can reliably fall back on.Episode Links:đ€ Kaira Jewel Lingođ "We Were Made For These Times: 10 Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption" by Kaira Jewel...
2022-01-121h 08
Buddhist GeeksMetaSangha Matters w/ Charlie Awberry, Jared Janes, & David ChapmanIn the 2nd part of our conversation with the Evolving Ground crew, we talk about the importance of comparing and contrasting what we're up to in our respective Sanghas. We explore some of the obvious overlaps between Evolving Ground and Buddhist Geeks, in terms of our mutual commitment to meta-systematicity, bringing up the tantalizing question of why MetaSanghaâa Sangha of Sanghasâmatters today.Episode Links:đ Evolving Groundđ Buddhist Geeks Networkđ The Cofounders by David Chapmanđ Meta-Sanghas by Vince HornSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...
2022-01-0328 min
Buddhist GeeksEvolving Ground w/ Charlie Awberry, Jared Janes, & David ChapmanIn 2020 Charlie Awberry & Jared Janes came together to start a new kind of Vajrayana Sangha, called Evolving Ground. In this conversation, Vince Horn, was joined by both Charlie & Jared, as well as by Charlie's partner David Chapmanâwho has been becoming more involved in the project as of lateâto explore what they've been up to this past year. In addition, they discuss some of the similarities between what is happening in Buddhist Geeks and with Evolving Ground, both of which are communities that are striving to approach things from a meta-systematic point of view.Ep...
2021-12-201h 05
Buddhist GeeksDharma Lineages in the 21st Century w/ James Landoli & Daniel IngramIn this episode of Buddhist Geeks, we're re-sharing a conversation that happened on the Meta-Perspective show, hosted by James Landoli, in which James invited Vince F Horn and Daniel Ingram into a far-ranging dialogue, exploring some of the meta-perspectives and real human complexity that goes along with discussing dharma lineage in the 21st century.Episode Links:đș Meta-Perspectiveđ€ Daniel Ingramđ The Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortiumđ§ Shinzen Young on Remembering William (Bill) HamiltonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art1...
2021-12-031h 23
Buddhist GeeksThe 2nd Great Iteration of Buddhism, with Vince F HornIn this dharma teaching, given to a cohort of teachers-in-training, Vince F. Horn gives a broad strokes introduction to the 2nd Great Turning, or Iteration, of Buddhism, known as Mahayana Buddhism. Vince speaks about the 2nd Iteration's emphasis on emptiness (sunyata), the understanding of emptiness as interdependence, and the two equal wings of liberation: emptiness & compassion. Finally, he explores the primary ideal of the Mahayana tradition, the Bodhisattva.Episode Links:đ€ Vince Fakhoury Hornđ Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharmađ€ Judith Simmer-Brownđ€ NÄgÄrjunađ MĆ«lamadhya...
2021-10-2723 min
Buddhist GeeksDharmas & DAOs, with Kevin OwockiKevin Owocki, founder of GitCoinâa decentralized platform & organization focused on building and funding the open webâjoins Vince Horn co-founder of Buddhist Geeks, to explore the potential of bringing together the world of Dharma and the world of DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations).Episode Links:đ GitCoinđ What is Web 3.0?đ Decentralized autonomous organizationđ NFTs, explainedđĄ Join the SanghaDAO GroupSee 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 a...
2021-10-0254 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Gradual and Sudden Tracks, with Vince F HornIn this pragmatic dharma retreat talk Vince Fakhoury Horn explores Meditation Track Aâthe gradual trackâand Meditation Track Bâthe sudden track. 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
2021-09-2751 min
Buddhist GeeksHow to Find your People in an Unjust World, with Kate JohnsonIn this conversation, Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined by Buddhist meditation teacher Kate Johnson, author of Radical Friendship, a newly released book which found its roots in a talk that Kate gave in 2013 at an in-person Buddhist Geeks Conference, entitled Waking Up to Power & Privilege in Our Communities. Vince & Kate speak about a variety of topics related to practicing dharma and living together in an unjust world.Episode Links:đ€ Kate Johnsonđ Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World by Kate JohnsonđThe...
2021-09-131h 12
Buddhist GeeksJhanas and Ăanas, with Kenneth FolkIn this talk, recorded during a Pragmatic Dharma Retreat, Kenneth Folk lays out a meta-system for understanding the different understandings of deep Jhana or meditative absorption and their relationship to the Theravada Buddhist system, the progress of insight knowledges (aka Ăanas).memorable links:đŹ "So we could call this olympic level, nut job jhana." â Kenneth FolkđŹ "The insight knowledges are jhanic states." â Kenneth Folkepisode links:đ Kenneth Folk Dharmađ Meditating in the Goldilocks Zone, with Vince F. Hornđ The Progress of Insight by The Ve...
2021-08-2033 min
Buddhist GeeksMeditating in The Goldilocks Zone, with Vince HornIn this dharma talk, Vince Fakhoury Horn talks about the Goldilocks Principle as it's applied to meditation. He illustrates this Goldilocks Zoneâjust the right amountâby talking about a spectrum between Concentration and Investigation. How do find the middle way, i.e. the Goldilocks Zone, in our own practice?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
2021-07-2850 min
Buddhist GeeksEvolving Dharma, with Tasshin Fogleman & Vince Fakhoury HornIn this episode of the Buddhist Geeks Podcast Vince Horn is interviewed by Tasshin Foggleman. The episode originally appeared on Tasshin's Reach Truth Podcast, and is now airing here on Buddhist Geeks. During the interview Tasshin asks Vince to share about the evolution of the Buddhist Geeks organization, including an in-depth exploration of Transparent Generosity, Holacracy, & Open Source Dharmaâthree of the elements of the Buddhist Geeks organization that make it particularly unique. This conversation is framed in terms of the evolution of dharma, looking at how dharma evolves not just through updates to the language of it...
2021-06-091h 28
Buddhist GeeksEvolving Dharma, with Tasshin Fogleman & Vince Fakhoury HornIn this episode of the Buddhist Geeks Podcast Vince Horn is interviewed by Tasshin Foggleman. The episode originally appeared on Tasshin's Reach Truth Podcast, and is now airing here on Buddhist Geeks. During the interview Tasshin asks Vince to share about the evolution of the Buddhist Geeks organization, including an in-depth exploration of Transparent Generosity, Holacracy, & Open Source Dharmaâthree of the elements of the Buddhist Geeks organization that make it particularly unique. This conversation is framed in terms of the evolution of dharma, looking at how dharma evolves not just through updates to the language of it...
2021-06-091h 30
Buddhist GeeksA Compassionate Conversation, with Gabriel Menegale WilsonIn this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined by Gabriel Menegale Wison, one of the authors of the recently released book, âCompassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart.â In this dialogue, we explore Gabrielâs background as an Integral Zen practitioner & Facilitator, looking specifically at how he brings the art of conversation into difficult areas of relationship. Our conversation centers particularly around how to have difficult conversations related to racial identity.Memorable QuotesâI want to engage in the exploration of more radical identities that can cohere us cooperatively so that w...
2021-04-141h 29
Buddhist GeeksLove & Rage, with Lama Rod OwensIn this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in dialogue with Lama Rod Owens, author of the newly released book, Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation.Memorable QuotesâTo begin with this is not a mindfulness book on how to bypass anger and focus on happiness. Nor is this a book about using any other spiritual path to transform the nature of anger into something more profound or transcendent. This book is about facing our anger and welcoming it as a teacher and friend so it can help us to benefit ou...
2021-01-261h 14
Buddhist GeeksBrightmind đ€ Better World, with Toby SolaIn this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in dialogue with CEO and Head Teacher at the popular meditation app Brightmind, Toby Sola. Memorable Quotes"The broader mission of Brightmind is to help you establish positive feedback between your meditative practice and your ability to make the world a better place." - Toby SolaEpisode Linksđ± Brightmind Meditationđ€ Toby on Twitterđ Monastic Academyđ€ Shinzen Youngđ€ Soryu Forallđ Tom Brown Jr.âs Tracker Schoolđ Forte Labsđ Sacre...
2020-12-1454 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Fascism this Time, with Theo HoreshIn this timely episodeâreleased just weeks before the 2020 US Electionâhost Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined by human rights advocate, public intellectual, and old friend Theo Horesh. Theo is a long-time meditator, was one of the earliest guests on Buddhist Geeks, and is author of several books, including the one that serves as the basis for this conversation: âThe Fascism this Time : And the Global Future of Democracy.â During this conversation Vince & Theo explore what Fascism isâboth historically & philosophicallyâhow nihilism and despair are playing out in global society right now (especially in America), the many dimensions of human ident...
2020-10-151h 13
Buddhist GeeksThe Reality of Materiality, with Greg ThomasIn this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in dialogue with journalist, educator, & scholar Greg Thomas to meditate together on race. Gregâs work is informed by Integral Theory, the philosophies of Albert Murray and Ralph Ellison, and draws upon the rich history of the African American experience and Jazz. In this dialogue, Greg shares his reflections on race, from an integral perspective, exploring the potential for liberationâespecially from racial ignorance & animusâon personal, cultural, & institutional levels.Memorable QuotesâRace is just one more tool of the ego to separate and to create...
2020-10-071h 10
Buddhist GeeksDeconstructing Decentralised Organizing, with Richard D. BartlettIn this episode, Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in conversation with Richard D. Bartlett. Rich is the author of Patterns for Decentralised Organising and a contributing author for Better Work Together. He is a co-founder of Loomio and The Hum. He is a Director and longstanding member of Enspiral. In finding where convergence resides among them, Vince and Rich explore many interesting topics including Decentralised Organising, Microsolidarity, Fractal Narcissism, and the Occupy Movement.Memorable QuotesâIn a time of massive disruption, where the stakes are really high and everyone has skin in th...
2020-09-301h 07
Buddhist GeeksMeditating on Race, with Emily HornIn this episode, Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined by long-time partner, and Teaching Lead of Buddhist Geeks, Emily Horn, to meditate together on race. They discuss the unique opportunity for transformation presenting itself to white people, and share some of their personal stories regarding racial conditioning, and how/why this largely invisible conditioning makes this conversation on difference so difficult to engage in.  Memorable QuotesâI know that trust is earned, I canât just put up a sticker on my wall and call it safe, no matter how much Iâm dedicated...
2020-07-2856 min
Buddhist GeeksRegenerating Both Culture & Land, with Jason SnyderIn this episode, Vince Horn is joined in conversation with Jason Snyder, PhD. Co-host of the Both/And Podcast and an adjunct lecturer at ASUâs Department of Sustainable Development, Jason joins Vince in a sit-down conversation, where they discuss the topics of memetic mediation, metamodernism, integral theory, responding to the meta-crisis, sensemaking and more.Memorable Quotes:"We are all complicit in history whether we like it or not. Both the good parts and the bad parts. I think that speaks to the notion of interconnectedness." â Jason Snyder"How do we re...
2020-06-031h 28
Buddhist GeeksYou've Got to Remember that God is an Idiot, with Vinay GuptaFrom practicing hindu tantra with a guru he met at a new age bookstore in Chicago, to building open source hexayurts on the playa of burning man, to helping launch the second biggest crypto-network, Vinay Gupta is a man on a mission. Bringing a Vaderesque approach to spiritual, social, cultural, & engineering topics, Vinay offers an ultra-compelling apocoloptimistic vision of the future. -Vince Fakhoury HornMemorable Quotes:"Social problems can be fixed with social change, and engineering problems have to be fixed with better technology. And most of what's wrong with capitalism is...
2020-04-241h 30
Buddhist GeeksEverything the Same, Everything Different, with Diane Musho HamiltonIn this episode, Vince Horn is joined in dialogue, once again, by Diane Musho HamiltonâZen teacher, professional meditator, and Integral facilitator. The conversation begins with Vince's reflections on an Integral Facilitator Training that he attended with Diane, where a bulk of the training centered around facilitating small group conversations around issues related to differences of identity. After discussing a number of topics that are often taken up in the Social Justice movement, and an Integral perspective on these topics, the conversation turned toward the role of the Teacher, and on transmission, hierarchy, embodiment, feedback, and projection.
2020-03-111h 09
Buddhist GeeksEco-Meta-Dharma, with David LoyIn this episode, Vince Horn is joined in conversation by long-time mentor and friend, David Loy, to explore his latest on, "EcoDharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis." Their discussion centers around how this EcoDharma work relates to our current exploration of Metadharma, which we describe as any approach to dharma practice that intentionally seeks to respond to the overlapping crises that humanity now faces. Quotes:"The real problem of humanity is the following: we have paleolithic emotions; medieval institutions; and god-like technology." - E.O. Wilson"I see social...
2020-02-121h 22
Buddhist GeeksSix Ways to Meditate, with Vincent HornWhat practice(s) should I do? When should I switch-up my practice? How do I practice well, with so many choices available? Recorded during a week-long Buddhist Geeks Retreat, Vince Horn addresses these super-common questions by introducing Six Ways to Meditate. The purpose of this meditative meta-model is to give freelance meditators and DIY practitioners a way to orient to the vast diversity of techniques available in the Buddhist wisdom tradition.Memorable Quotes:"The untrained mind has a hard time gathering and collecting its full potential in one place.â - @VincentHorn...
2020-01-0158 min
Buddhist GeeksWhy Metadharma?, Pt. 1, with Michael W. TaftIn this latest addition to the Metadharma series, Vince Horn is joined by Michael W. Taft to explore the (meta)reasoning around Metadharma. Why do we need another Dharma? What does Metadharma respond to that Modern and Postmodern forms of Dharma havenât? What do we need to jettison in order for a genuine Metadharma to emerge? And how does Metadharma relate to the very real social crises we face, including the ecological emergency, runaway capitalism, an over-dependence on rationality, growing racial resentments, and systems of oppression?This is part 1 of a 2-part podcast series. Continue listening to the...
2019-08-011h 01
Buddhist GeeksThe Dharma of Collapse, with Daniel Thorson"Climate change", as a term, no longer captures the real danger that climate scientists say that we as a species, along with our fellow creatures, face today. Already the impacts of climate change have turned into a genuine ecological crisis. A growing group of people are asking out loud, if the recent string of dire government-backed climate reports are too conservative to accurately describe the real dangers ahead of us. What if, in fact, we are on the fast track toward both an ecological & civilizational collapse, and it's already too late? What would it mean to practice dharma in "...
2019-07-221h 25
Buddhist GeeksSameness & Difference in American Dharma, with Ann GleigIn this deep dive into the emerging territory of American Dharma, scholar-practitioner Ann Gleig joins with Buddhist Geeks host Vince Horn to explore a plurality of perspectives, some overlooked and marginalized, some debated for millennia. Over 2 hours of deep dialogical podcasting, Ann & Vince explore the larger territory of postmodernism in relation to American Dharma from multiple philosophical vantages, including the âpost secularâ, the âpostcolonialâ, and also in this conversation the âmetamodern.âFavorite Quotes:"It can be challenging to mediate closeness with critique.â - Ann GleigâForm is Empt...
2019-07-112h 11
Buddhist GeeksMetadharma: Set & Setting, with Vince HornIn this episode Vince Horn kicks-off a new series on Buddhist Geeks on "Metadharma." Sharing his journey from working with integral philosopher Ken Wilber in the early aughts, to deconstructing grand metanarratives with inquiry meditation and developmental psychology, to returning back to a metaphilosophical orientation in recent years.This series, on Metadharma, will explore the ways that the three jewels of the Buddhist contemplative tradition, the Buddha, Dharma, & Sangha, may be understood in light of the emergence of a Integral/Metamodern orientation.Memorable Quotes:"It's totally within the history of thi...
2019-04-2947 min
Buddhist GeeksThe SF Dharma Collective, with Kathryn "Kati" DevaneyIn this episode, Vince Horn is joined by Kathryn "Kati" Devaney, one of the founders of the newly formed student-led sangha, SF Dharma Collective. Â In addition to being practitioner, and community organizer, Kati is also a neuroscience researcher who has specialized on studying human visual attention. Â In this discussion Kati describes the origin story of the SF Dharma Collective and talks about what makes it an entirely new kind of sangha-experiment.A short note from Vince: After visiting the SF Dharma Collective in October 2018, where I met Kati, and offering a short teaching in th...
2019-04-1058 min
Buddhist GeeksPsychedelics, Technology, and the Future of Meditation, with Michael Taft, Mikey Siegel, & Vince HornWhat is the future of consciousness hacking? Organic molecules, blinky machines, good old fashioned meditation, or some combination of them all? In this episode, recorded live in San Francisco on October 24th 2018, Michael Taft of Deconstructing Yourself, Vincent Horn of Buddhist Geeks, and host Mikey Siegel of Consciousness Hacking discuss the possibilities, the challenges, and the many ways forward in the transformation of human consciousness. Audience dialogue and questions took center stage in this event, so you'll hear plenty of back-and-forth between the presenters and the audience on psychedelics, technology, and the future of meditation....
2018-12-131h 38
Buddhist GeeksThe Timeless Tradition of Spiritual ApprenticeshipIn the last part of our discussion with Buddhist teacher and scholar Hokai Sobol, we wrap up our exploration on some of the important influences and forces that shape Western Buddhism. As part of that we discuss the fluid nature of his consumer-client-colleague model. We also talk about the deep problems that have arisen from adopting traditional models, instead of current ones, and how this has generated a multitude of scandalsâincluding scandals of power, sex, and also of the generational problem of their being so few young practitioners today. Finally, we talk about how to reinvigorate âthe timeless trad...
2015-07-2330 min
Buddhist GeeksExchanging Dharma: Client and Colleague MindsetsWeâre joined by Buddhist teacher and scholar Hokai Sobol, as we continue exploring the different mindsets that we often take, while exchanging Dharma here in the West. In the last episode he described the Consumer mindset, and in this one goes on to speak about the Client and Colleague mindsets. He explores the healthy and unhealthy versions of each, as well as how each of the three mindsets differ from one another.This is part 3 of a multi-part series. Listen to part 1, The Invisible Forces that Shape Western Buddhism and part 2, Exchanging Dharma:The Consumer Mindset.Episode Li...
2015-07-2320 min
Buddhist GeeksExchanging Dharma: The Consumer MindsetWeâre joined again this week by Buddhist teacher and scholar Hokai Sobol, to continue our exploration of the hidden mindsets and cultural forces that shape Western Buddhism. In this episode Hokai explores a tradition of exchanging knowledge, which is at least 1,000 years old in Europe, that of the âmaster & apprentice.â Hokai describes the process by which Europeans used to, and in some cases still do, learn a particular trade, by first becoming a novice apprentice, eventually striking out on oneâs own as a journeyman, and then finally coming back to become part of the local guild, as a full mas...
2015-07-2320 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Invisible Forces that Shape Western BuddhismIn the first part of a multi-part discussion with Buddhist teacher and scholar Hokai Sobol, we explore the invisible, and rarely discussed, forces that shape Western Buddhism. In particular what we call âcultureâ shapes our institutions and communities in ways that we rarely see with clarity.Hokai spends a good bit of this initial discussion exploring the traditional story that has been handed down to us. This story includes the various cultural assumptions surrounding the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, in the different countries and time periods in which they existed. These norms include the what it means to h...
2015-07-2335 min
Buddhist GeeksAn Evidence-Based Spirituality for the 21st CenturyWeâre joined by Charles Tart, one of the founders of the branch of psychology known as transpersonal psychology. Dr. Tartâs life work has to do with putting forward an âevidence-based spirituality for the 21st century.â In this conversation we explore the evidence that he explored for phenomena like reincarnation, as well as the âbig fiveâ of telepathy, clairvoyance, pre-cognition, psychokinesis, and psychic healing. With all of these phenomena Charles warns about adopting a âscientisticââas opposed to scientificâview of reality, which says that none of those things can be real, simply because they donât fit into the mainstream view of...
2015-07-2329 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Core of WisdomWeâre joined again this week by professor and meditation teacher Roger Walsh. This week we dive into his study of the common practices seen in all of the worldâs wisdom traditions. He shares each of these practices, and then also explores with us the ancient tradition of Shamanism, which is estimated to be tens of thousands of years old. We explore how ancient Shamanism relates to the neo-shamanism and core shamanism practices being taught in the West today, how Shamanism might have been repressed during recent times, and also the difference between meditation, mental disorders, and shamanistic states....
2015-07-2225 min
Buddhist GeeksA Technology of TranscendenceThis week we speak with professor and teacher Roger Walsh. Roger shares his journey from being a hardcore neuorscientist and psychiatrist to becoming an avid meditator and mystic. Once Walsh discovered that at the core of all the religious traditions was âa technology of transcendenceâ he jumped head-long into vipassana meditationâbringing, as he put it, his personality into his practice. Following that he practiced Shikantaza in the Zen tradition, and then also spent many years practicing in the Vajrayana tradition, which he now teaches alongside Lama Surya Das.Roger also explores with us a model of human needs and de...
2015-07-2223 min
Buddhist GeeksEnlightened SocietyThis week weâre joined by the President of Shambhala, Richard Reoch. Along with overseeing the Shambhala organization, Richard is also a long time human rights, activist, and environmental leader. With this unique background, we thought it would be particularly relevant to explore the topic of âenlightened society.â Enlightened society was an idea presented by Chogyam Trunpa, but which he said was originally taught by the Buddha. We explore what Trungpa meant by the term, and how it has evolved over the past few decades in the Shambhala community.We also look at the parallels, between the path of the ac...
2015-07-2224 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Most Fundamental DualityWeâre joined again by Zen Master Diane âMushoâ Hamilton, this time to explore the most fundamental duality of masculine and feminine. Diane points out that if you have an objection to looking at it in these terms, you can also think of it as the polarity between receptivity and activity or between personal and impersonal. She describes this polarity, how itâs been helpful for her as a Zen teacher, and also how to look at compassion from this perspective.Finally we talk about an approach that goes beyond these dualities, but doesnât shy away from them. This appro...
2015-07-2223 min
Buddhist GeeksIntegral ZenWeâre joined by Zen Master, Diane âMushoâ Hamilton, to explore an approach to spiritual practice called âIntegral Zen.â In our interview we explore several related topics, including the difference between a path of renunciation and one of transmutation. As part of this we also look at the role that the shadowâa term coined by psychologist Carl Jungâplays in our spiritual practice. In addition we examine how different Buddhist traditions have, or have not, incorporated an understanding of the shadow. We also explore the role that community plays in helping wake each other up, and the verticality of the teacher-st...
2015-07-2232 min
Buddhist GeeksI Vow to Feed All HungerWeâre joined this week by one of the pioneers of the socially engaged Buddhist movement, Zen Master Bernie Glassman. Although he grew up in a family that valued social action, after some years of Zen practice he had an experience that amplified his calling to serve those in need. At that point he made a vow to feed all hungers. We speak about the interconnectionâand accordingly to Bernie, the inseparabilityâbetween contemplative practice and social action.He shares details of many of the projects he has been part of, including the Greystone project in Yonkers, New York, which...
2015-07-2228 min
Buddhist GeeksWhat Young People WantâWe always talk about the Sangha as part of the triple gem, but I think it is the least developed part of Buddhism in the West.â â Sumi Loundon KimWeâre joined this week by Sumi Loundon Kim, author of Blue Jean Buddha and The Buddhaâs Apprentices, to explore what young people want from spiritual communities. We explore young peopleâs need for belongingness, their natural spiritual inclination, and the big questions that they are asking.Sumi, who is in her mid-30âs now, gives several suggestions for how Buddhist communities can engage more effectively with a younger popula...
2015-07-2224 min
Buddhist GeeksI'm Not Babysitting Your EgoWe finish up our discussion with spiritual teacher Adyashanti, focusing on several topics relevant to contemporary seekers. We start off by exploring his thoughts on questions of power & hierarchy in the student-teacher relationship. Adyaâs approach is to put power back on the student, encouraging them to be their own inner authority from the beginning.We also explore a type of writing meditative inquiry practice that Adyashanti has done, and which he teaches others. He explores how this type of inquiry can be used in conjunction with silent meditation practice to eliminate roadblocks on the spiritual path.This is...
2015-07-2226 min
Buddhist GeeksNow That's ZenWeâre joined by spiritual teacher Adyashanti to discuss his 15 years of training with Zen teacher Arvis Joen Justi. He shares details from his initial awakening at 25âwhere he realized that he was what he was seekingâto the end of the search several years later at 31. Itâs at that point that Arvis asked Adyashanti to begin teaching, and as he shares with us, his teaching evolved and changed fairly quickly. He shares how it changed, and how he saw it as a natural evolution of his Zen training, rather than an entirely new form.This is part 1 of a two...
2015-07-2222 min
Buddhist GeeksContributing to the Gross National HappinessRichard Brownâa long time Buddhist and contemplative educatorâjoins us to share some of the details from his recent involvement in helping the small Buddhist country of Bhutan reform their public education system. Bhutan, which since the early 70âs has had as its main goal to increase Gross National Happiness, wants to create an education system that pulls the best from the West. The main principles theyâre holding with this reform, include Contemplation, a Holistic approach, Sustainability, Cultural Integrity, and Critical Intellect. Theyâre aim is to educate their populace in such a way that theyâre prepared for the onsl...
2015-07-2227 min
Buddhist GeeksHappiness: There's an App For ThatIn this episode weâre joined by Soren Gordhamer, long time tech writer, and author of Wisdom 2.0: Ancient Secrets for the Creative and Constantly Connected. Soren often writes for the Huffington Post and Mashable (a social media blog) on the relationship between the inner world with technology and social media. He explores with us some of the potential shadow sides of technology, as well as some of the remedies that can be used in balancing our internal life with our external. He suggests that focusing more consciously on our internal world actually puts us in a position where we can us...
2015-07-2219 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Jedi Mind Training of ConcentrationIn this episode we wrap up our discussion with meditation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder, two of the only lay Western teachers authorized to teach the jhana system of Pa Auk Sayadaw. They share the deeper purpose of concentration practice, which isnât to attain any particular states, but rather is to serve as a purification of the mind stream, what they describe as the âthinning of the me.âThey describe the 8 jhanas as states that progressively reach toward the unconditioned, with the 8th jhana, neither perception nor non-perception, as a realm that is as close as you can ge...
2015-07-2229 min
Buddhist GeeksMastering the JhanasThis week we speak with Theravada mediation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. In 2005, while on a 2-month retreat, they were the first Western lay practitioners (i.e. non-monks) to complete the traditional concentration practices of Pa Auk Sayadaw, a well-regarded Burmese jhana master. The Sayadaw encouraged them to teach what theyâve learned, and they have, as a result, starting leading retreats and have written a book entitled, Practicing the Jhanas. In this episode they share the progressive practice that they did with Pa Auk Sayadaw, which includes all sorts of traditional practices from the Pali Ca...
2015-07-2223 min
Buddhist GeeksCan Dharma Help Us Turn the Corner?This week we share a public talk given by Integral spirituality teacher Terry Patten and Vajrayana teacher Hokai Sobol, on the question of whether traditional Dharma can (or can not) help us turn the corner in a high-speed world. The talk was given in 2009 at the Boulder Integral Center, and was hosted by Buddhist Geeks. A description from the event:In an imbalanced, accelerating world-in-crisis we face problems that cannot be solved, as Einstein famously said, âfrom the same level of consciousness that created them.â Many contemporary practitioners have turned to the Dharma as a source of that higher cons...
2015-07-2243 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Zen of Zen HistoryJames Zito is a Buddhist film-maker, and the director of a newly released documentary on the history of Zen Buddhism, Inquiry Into the Great Matter. James joins us to discuss his new film, focusing primarily on what he learned while making the film. He shares some specifics on the lives of the famous Zen masters, Daito Kokushi and Ikkyu Sojun. While quite different, each masters reflected very important aspects of Zen Buddhism.We conclude our discussion, exploring the state of Zen in Japan today, which compared to times in the past several hundred years, has declined greatly. Will traditional...
2015-07-2222 min
Buddhist GeeksUnifying Developmental Enlightenment with Timeless RealizationWeâre joined again this week by Kenneth Folk, a long-time Theravada practitioner and meditation teacher. Kenneth completes his harrowing spiritual story, all the way to the point, where he says that he, "got off the ride and was done." He speaks about how uncommon it is, in Western Buddhist circles, to believe that enlightenment is possible, a phenomenon that his teacher Bill Hamilton described as the "mushroom culture."Kenneth then goes on to describe two different ways of understanding enlightenment: one as a developmental process, much the way his path is described, and then two, as a...
2015-07-2231 min
Buddhist GeeksOrdinary People Can Get EnlightenedWeâre joined this week by Kenneth Folk, a long-time Theravada practitioner and meditation teacher, who describes in exquisite detail his spiritual journey. It began in earnest at the age of 24, when having done several hits of LSD, he had a life-altering experience that put him squarely on the path of seeking. Several years later, he really began gaining some traction, when he met his teacher Bill Hamilton, who claimed that enlightenment was something that could be systematically attained by applying a technique. By dedicating himself completely to those techniques, and through doing years of intensive meditation pr...
2015-07-2238 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Mountain of SpiritThis week weâre joined by Zen-inspired dharma teacher, Michael McAlister. Michael is the leader of the Infinite Smile sangha, just east of Berkeley, in what Michael calls, âthe hard edge of suburbia.â After many years of Zen practiced with the San Francisco Zen Center, Michael set up to teach a form of dharma that wasnât bound by tradition.Some of the topics we discussed with Michael include climbing the mountain of spiritâa stirring and ancient metaphor for the spiritual journey, the 7th, 8th, and 9th spiritual senses, and finally the things that Michael has learned while endeavorin...
2015-07-2229 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Dharma OvergroundDaniel Ingram, Theravada meditation teacher, joins us today to discuss the online community he and Buddhist Geeks host, Vince Horn helped create, The Dharma Overground. Daniel shares how the Dharma Overground has been a grand experiment in discussing practical, down-to-earth, and empowering dharma out in the open and the results of that experiment thus far. This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book. Episode Links: The Dharma Overground ( http://www.dharmaoverground.org ) Interactive Buddha ( www.interactivebuddha.com ) Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha ( bit...
2015-07-2120 min
Buddhist GeeksRebel BuddhaDzogchen Ponlop Rinpocheâa dynamic and engaging Gen X Tibetan Lama who has spent half of his life living in the Westâjoins us to explore several key points related to the development of a more contemporary Buddhism. We explore some ideas from his newest book, Rebel Buddha, including the idea that there is an essential aspect to Dharma that goes beyond culture, the ways that teachings on emptiness are often confused or misunderstood, and the nature of enlightenment and the possibility of awakening in the here and now. Episode Links: Rebel Buddha ( http://www.rebe...
2010-11-1619 min
Buddhist GeeksLive the QuestionsWeâre joined this week by Buddhist teacher Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel to explore some of the topics from her most recent book, The Power of an Open Question. Elizabeth speaks about the nature of questioning, and why questioning is one of the best ways to come in accordance with the way things are. She also explores the qualities of faith & doubt, how questioning fits in with both, and how skepticism and openness are related. We finish the discussion off by looking at how the quality of ânot knowing,â that often gets developed through sincere questioning, might manifest in our hu...
2010-11-0925 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Lazy Path to EnlightenmentWeâre joined this week by author, teacher, and Tibetologist Glenn Mullin. During our conversation with Glenn we focus primarily on a system of teachings in the Tantric tradition called The Six Yogas of Naropa. He speaks about each aspect of the practiceâincluding such practices as sexual yoga, dream yoga, and bardo yogaâand also explains why he thinks the 6 yogas are a perfect compliment for the modern lifestyle. Episode Links: www.GlennMullin.com The Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa ( http://amzn.to/cEm5jP )See Privacy Policy at htt...
2010-11-0125 min
Buddhist GeeksMaking Joy Our DefaultInsight meditation teacher James Baraz joins us to explore the many facets of joy, happiness, and well-being. We begin by finding out how joy became an important part of Jamesâ practice, since in his early years with Buddhism he was, in his own words, âdead serious about practice.â It turns out that part of what helped him break the spell was the Advaita Vedanta teacher, H.W.L Poonja, as well as the teachings that the Buddha himself gave on joy and well-being. We also look at the positive psychology movement, which James pulls from often in his teachings on Joy...
2010-10-1926 min
Buddhist GeeksLiving as a RiverBodhipaksa is a teacher from the Triratna Buddhist Community, formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. He joins us this week to explore the Buddhist teachings on impermanence and âchange blindness.â We also explore one of the central practices that he teaches, called the 6-elements practiceâone of the primary methods found in the earliest strata of Buddhist teachings. Finally, we explore the importance of enlightenment in his teaching, what is traditionally called stream-entry, but which he refers to as âentry-level enlightenment.â Episode Links: www.bodhipaksa.com Living As a River: Finding Fearlessne...
2010-10-1237 min
Buddhist GeeksLiving in Buddha Standard TimeWe speak with Lama Surya Das this week about what it takes to integrate spiritual understanding into our lives as 21st century citizens. He explores the question of whether our sense of time has sped up in the âover-information age,â and how we can change our relationship to time. He also shares the outlines of what he calls the Six Building Blocks of a Spiritual Lifeâa post-traditional model aimed at integrating the inner and outer dimensions of life. We conclude our discussion by looking at what he calls, âPositive Buddhism.â Positive Buddhism is a formulation of the Buddhist teachings...
2010-10-0522 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Tao of TwitterWhen it comes to leveraging the technologies of our time, Lama Surya Das is one of the most active American Buddhists around. He blogs, tweets, skypes, hosts webinars, and participates in virtual retreats. And yet he acknowledges that if it were completely up to him, heâd be leading meditation retreats in-person and writing books. We speak with Surya Das on why he has decided to engage these technologies, as opposed to treating them merely as distractions or as ânecessary evils,â as so many teachers do. We explore both the upsides and downsides of what he refers to as, âbeaming...
2010-09-2931 min
Buddhist GeeksIntimacy through PracticeWeâre joined this week by Flamenco guitarist and Zen practitioner Ottmar Liebert. Ottmar shares the story of how he broke with his childhood religion of Catholicism, started doing Transcendental Meditation, and then found his spiritual home in the Zen tradition. We also discuss the nature of practice, and compare how it manifests in both music and meditation. We also explore the distinction between solitary practice and performance, seeing what parallels to music we might find in Zen. Episode Links: www.OttmarLiebert.com Petals on the Path ( http://www.ottmarliebert.com/music/album/pe...
2010-09-1422 min
Buddhist GeeksNon-Meditation and the Nature of ThoughtâYou need not make efforts to create non-conceptuality. You need not regard thoughts as a fault. And so that your practice does not succumb to famine, from the beginning have a bountiful crop. Not searching for a state that is calmly resting, vividly clear, and filled with bliss, bring into your experience whatever arises without taking it up or discarding it.â â Orgyenpa Weâre joined again this week by one of our favorite Buddhist Geeks, Robert Spellman. In our discussion with him, we delve into the often tenuous relationship that meditators have to their own thoughts. Robert shares a...
2010-09-0715 min
Buddhist GeeksA Different Way of Approaching MeditationWeâre joined again by meditation teacher Jason Siff to conclude our exploration of the fundamental ideas and practices behind his unique approach of Unlearning Meditation, or what he calls Recollective Awareness. We begin with exploring what recollection, or mindfulness, is and how it can be harnessed through a practice of meditative journaling. Jason continues his deconstruction of the type of prescribed practices which suggest doing something âall of the timeâ and suggests instead that we find out for ourself what meditation is about and where it is leading. We wrap up the discussion by exploring a differ...
2010-08-3125 min
Buddhist GeeksUnlearning MeditationâMeditation instructions that disallow thinking, reflection, or being open to the full range of experience usually imply a distrust of the mind.â â Jason Siff Weâre joined by meditation teacher and author Jason Siff, to explore what happens when meditation instructions and techniques get in the way. Jason explains that meditation instructions and rules contain within them certain limitations, that can lead to impasses in our practice. We explore Jasonâs approach, Recollective Awareness, as well as discussing the role that both trust and intention play in untangling these unhelpful meditation habits. This is part 1 of a two-p...
2010-08-2425 min
Buddhist GeeksBodhisattva, SuperstarWeâre joined this week by filmmaker Michael Trigilo, to explore some of the themes from his newest allegorical documentary, âBodhisattva, Superstar.â Included in our conversation are questions around what it means to be âspiritual but not religiousâ, what purpose Religion serves and what difficulties come with it, and why anger is such a hot topic in the Buddhist tradition? We also discuss controversy in spiritual communitiesâwith Michael highlighting his own experience of disappointment and disillusionmentâand how these controversies and scandals can become opportunities for a more transparent âcultural conversationâ to occur. Finally he shares what he hopes both Buddhis...
2010-08-1731 min
Buddhist GeeksGrowing Up Versus Waking UpWeâre joined this week by clinical psychologist and Buddhist practitioner John Welwood. John has spent his entire adult life exploring the intersection between Eastern and Western psychological approaches. In our discussion we cover the following topics: the three realms of human experience, spiritual bypassing (a term that John coined), the Buddhist perfections, waking up and growing up as different tracks of human development, and the ways that spiritual awareness can be used in service of psychological growth and well-being.Episode Links:www.JohnWelwood.comToward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal an...
2010-06-2931 min
Buddhist GeeksWorking with Sexual EnergyWeâre joined again by British meditation teacher, Christopher Titmuss, to continue our exploration into the powerful, and often challenging, realm of human sexuality. Christopher shares a couple of stories of monks dealing with sexuality, one a traditional story and the other a story of a 92 year old monk that he practiced with in Thailand. He also explains that if sexual energy, which is a natural part of our humanity, is repressed than it can wreak havoc on how we engage in the world.Finishing up our conversation with Christopher, we ask him if thereâs anything heâd like t...
2010-06-2217 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Place of the EroticWeâre joined this week by Insight meditation teacher and engaged activist Christopher Titmuss. Our main topic of exploration is the place of sexuality, eros, and love in the practice of Dharma. Contained within that topic we explore what is often meant by the word âdesireâ in English, and how that differs from the what the Buddha taught as the source of suffering, tanha (often translated as thirst or craving).Christopher explains some of the historical reasons that Buddhism has not be able to provide many helpful suggestions concerning sexuality, and also challenges what he sees as a common orthod...
2010-06-1525 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Buddhist AtheistSecular Buddhist teacher Stephen Batchelor joins us to explore some of the ideas presented in his newest book, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. We start off by examining the two Buddhist doctrines of karma and rebirth, using the original teachings of the Buddha, especially the âimponderablesâ as a touchstone for the conversation. Stephenâs basic claim being that the belief in rebirth doesnât have sufficient evidence behind it, and it actually takes away from the core practices and teachings of the Buddha. We conclude the interview by exploring the difference between agnosticism and atheism, which Stephen claims can be integ...
2010-06-0827 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Mindful TherapistThis week we speak to vipassana meditation teacher, and psychotherapist Trudy Goodman. Trudy completes the story of her early Zen days, and also describes how she transitioned into becoming a vipassana teacher. She also shares some of her training in psychology, wherein she studied with the famous child developmentalist, Jean Piaget in France. She was eventually led her to work with children diagnosed with extreme developmental disorders, and with adults as well. Trudy shares how her practice of meditation was crucial in supporting people in their own therapeutic process, and how the key for all therapists who want to practice...
2010-05-3123 min
Buddhist GeeksZen, Vipassana, & PsychologyThis week we speak to vipassana and Zen teacher, Trudy Goodman. Trudy shares how she got into both Buddhist meditation and psychotherapy, and uses her story to illustrate the powerful ways that these different methods can compliment one another. Trudy also reflects on the differences between her experience in Zen training with Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn, and her practice of vipassana meditation.This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, The Mindful Therapist.Episode Links:Zen Master Seung Sahn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seung_Sahn )Insight Meditation Society ( http://www.dharma.org )
2010-05-2424 min
Buddhist GeeksNeuroscience and The Enlightenment MachineIn this episode we spoke with neuroscientist and Buddhist meditator Daniel Rizzuto. Vince and he discussed a number of topics including the link between contemplative and scientific methodologies, some of the potential technologies that could emerge for the neuroscientific research, including Danielâs favorite, an empathic training device. Daniel also shared some of the meditation research he was aware of, including Dr. Sara Lazarâs research out of Harvard where she found that meditation actually affected the structural basis of the brain, as well as some of the recent meditation research that was conducted using EEG devices. We t...
2007-10-2929 min
Buddhist GeeksCroatia, Alabama, and Colorado Collide!In this episode Vince Horn speaks with two of Buddhist Geeks most active users: Daniel Ingram and Hokai Sobol. They discuss the reasons that people get into Buddhist practice, what really inspires one to âgo for itâ, and what hinders one from doing so. They finish off their conversation touching on the differences between Western Psychology, and the territory that contemplative practice covers. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2: Are you Stuck? Get Unstuck! & Part 3: Lacking Leadership, Lacking Conceptuality. Episode Links: Hokai Sobol ( www.hokai.info ) Mastering the Core Teachings of t...
2007-07-3019 min
Buddhist GeeksMass Producing MeditatorsIn this episode Vince talks with Theo Horesh and Duff McDuffee, two S.N. Goenka practitioners. They discuss the effects of what can be called the mass production of meditators. They also explore the differences in using a single technique or multiple techniques for realization. This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1: Entrepregurus and the Meditation Factory. Episode Links: Vipassana Meditation by S.N. Goenka ( http://www.dhamma.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. ...
2007-07-2319 min
Buddhist GeeksEntrepregurus and the Meditation FactoryIn this episode Vince interviews Theo Horesh and Duff McDuffee, two S.N. Goenka practitioners. They discuss the techniques of the Goenka tradition and how one might see it as a meditation factory. In the next episode, they discuss the power of the Goenka approach and possible criticisms of the practice. This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 2: Mass Producing Meditators. Episode Links: Vipassana Meditation by S.N. Goenka ( http://www.dhamma.org )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...
2007-07-1618 min
Buddhist GeeksLeave the Pot on the StoveIn this final episode with Vince Horn, he continues to share his reflections and experiences of a two-month meditation retreat he recently completed. In this podcast, he discusses the relationship between dharma study and mindfulness practice. Vince also describes his experience of leaving retreat and transitioning back into the relative world. Finally, he leaves listeners with some parting words of encouragement for those aspiring to do long-term retreats. We hope you enjoy this conversation with this insightful Buddhist Geek. This is part 3 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 1: Vince Horn on Taking the Two Month Plunge...
2007-05-2113 min
Buddhist GeeksThe Vipassana VendettaIn 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...
2007-05-0717 min
Buddhist GeeksVince Horn on Taking the Two Month PlungeIn 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 youâre a long-time yogi or considering your first extended retreat, we think youâll enjoy these series of podcasts with this Buddhist Geek. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2: The Vipassana Vend...
2007-04-2317 min