Buddhist Geeks

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

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

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

Buddhist Geeks Vincent Horn and Rohan Gunatillake conclude their interview for the KGNU public radio program Sacred Lines by further discussing the intersections between Buddhism and Technology. From the efficacy of mindfulness apps to the ubiquitous question of duality, the Geeks explore what it means to be Buddhist in a technologically advanced world. This is part two of a two part series. Episode Links: CU’s Center for Media, Religion, and Culture ( cmrc.colorado.edu/about ) KGNU ( www.kgnu.org ) buddhify ( buddhify.com )

In a recent interview for the KGNU public radio program Sacred Lines, Buddhist Geeks Vincent Horn and Rohan Gunatillake have a discussion about what it means to be a modern Buddhist practitioner, how technology can complement Buddhist practice, and how geekery and meditation meld. They use the Buddhist Geeks project and buddhify mobile app as illustrations of how they’re experimenting with these various topics. This is part one of a two part series. Episode Links: CU’s Center for Media, Religion, and Culture ( http://cmrc.colorado.edu/about ) KGNU ( http://www.kgnu.org ) buddhify ( http://buddhify.com )

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

Jonathan Blow is an indie game designer most well known for his time-bending game Braid. In this episode Jonathan describes his journey from a kid fascinated with playing video games in arcades to a game developer concerned with game design as a spiritual practice. This is part one of a two part series. Episode Links: Braid ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braid_(video_game) ) The Witness ( http://the-witness.net )

Michaël Harboun wants to design products that find a balance between inner contemplation and external technology. In this conversation we explore things like transpersonal social networks and speak about the way that gaming can be contemplative (Michael would like to simply call video games “experiences”). We also discuss the idea of “Contemplative Design”, how it works, and how it can lead to innovation in consumer products. This is part two of a two part series. Episode Links: www.MichaelHarboun.com Transcendenz ( https://vimeo.com/25771444 ) www.IDEO.com

“We can only see what we’ve become conscious of.” – Michaël Harboun Michaël Harboun wants to design products that find a balance between inner contemplation and external technology. The concept video for his augmented reality project Transcendenz illustrates the positive potential of finding such a balance. In this episode Michaël and host Vincent Horn discuss the philosophical goals of Transcendenz, the fact and fiction of the current state of some of the technologies portrayed in the concept video–like augmented reality and computer brain interfaces–and finally the way that Buddhist thought has influenced this project. This is part one of a two part series. Episode Links: www.MichaelHarboun.com Transcendenz ( https://vimeo.com/25771444 ) www.IDEO.com Thomas Nagel’s Bat Experiment ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nagel ) Augmented Reality ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality ) Google’s Project Glass ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Glass ) Emotiv ( http://emotiv.com ) InteraXon : Th

David Frenette is a senior teacher in the Centering Prayer movement–a contemplative Christian practice that was designed by Father Thomas Keating. He’s also the spiritual director at the Center for Contemplative Living in Denver, and the author of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God. In this episode, David describes the similarities and differences between Buddhist and Christian practice, the benefit of surrender, and the Christian Contemplative tenet of “the God within serves the God in other people.” This is part two of a two-part series. Episode Links: The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God ( http://amzn.to/VFpGRY ) Incarnational Contemplation ( http://www.incarnationalcontemplation.com ) Center for Contemplative Living in Denver ( http://www.contemplativeoutreach-co.org )

David Frenette is a senior teacher in the Centering Prayer movement–a contemplative Christian practice that was designed by Father Thomas Keating. He’s also the spiritual director at the Center for Contemplative Living in Denver, and the author of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God. In this episode, David describes his path from Zen to Christianity and how he uses the practice of Centering Prayer to deepen his experience of God. This is part one of a two part series. Episode Links: The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God ( http://amzn.to/VFpGRY ) Incarnational Contemplation ( http://www.incarnationalcontemplation.com ) Center for Contemplative Living in Denver ( http://www.contemplativeoutreach-co.org )

In this episode, taken from the Buddhist Geeks Conference 2012, Daniel Ingram talks about the ways that contemplatives could learn from the Naturalists. The Naturalists excelled in meticulous exploration, descriptive science, and classification. Their example can serve as the foundation for the next step in contemplative advancement, where the vast spectrum of inner experience, could be described and cataloged in an entirely new way. Episode Links: Daniel Ingram ( http://www.integrateddaniel.info ) Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha ( http://amzn.to/Ri7No5 )

Willoughby Britton, contemplative scientist and neuroscience researcher, spoke at the Buddhist Geeks Conference 2012 about mixing Dharma with scientific enterprise. Scientific research of meditation is undoubtedly one of the forces behind the proliferation of the Dharma, and offers much promise as a “Dharma technology”. However, Britton asserts that significant challenges remain before we can harness the full power of scientific enterprise. Episode Links: Willoughby Britton at Brown University ( http://research.brown.edu/myresearch/Willoughby_Britton ) Britton Lab ( http://www.brittonlab.com )

In this episode, taken from the Buddhist Geeks Conference in 2012, Martine Batchelor explores the process of grasping and its amplifying/exaggerating effects. She also goes into how meditation can help us to de-grasp/release our holding thus allowing for a more creative engagement and creative response. Episode Links: www.martinebatchelor.org

What is the message of Buddhism today? Self-improvement? A fulfilling life? An understanding of the mysteries of the human condition? How does McLuhan’s famous dictum “the medium is the message” apply now that people are connecting with Buddhism in radically different ways? In this episode, taken from the Buddhist Geeks Conference in 2012, Ken McLeod explores how McLuhan’s famous dictum “the medium is the message” might apply to Buddhism. Episode Links: Unfettered Mind ( www.unfetteredmind.org )

Richard Eskow is a writer, consultant, and musician, who is a senior fellow with a public policy group. In this episode, Richard discusses with host Vincent Horn a recent article he wrote for Tricycle Magazine called DNA Sutra. For the piece he had his DNA analyzed to have his ancestry traced all the way back to the “first mother”. He describes how the process has led him to a greater understanding of karma, the conditions that connect himself with his adversaries, and his greater connection to all of humanity. Episode Links: DNA Sutra ( http://www.tricycle.com/feature/dna-sutra ) 23andme ( https://www.23andme.com ) Tricycle Magazine ( http://www.tricycle.com )

David Vago, an instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, has held the position of Senior Research Coordinator for the Mind & Life Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering dialogue and research at the highest possible level between modern science and the great living contemplative traditions. In this episode David relates how his personal mindfulness practice has integrated with his professional scientific research. He talks about the thriving community of scientists interested in mindfulness that has taken root in contemporary academia and research, and he highlights some current projects and lines of inquiry that have benefited from this uniquely supportive atmosphere. Episode Links: www.ContemplativeNeurosciences.com Mind and Life Institute ( http://www.mindandlife.org ) The Dark Night Project ( http://bit.ly/1gc7P2j ) Mapping the Mindful Brain ( http://bit.ly/1gc7Weo ) Contemplative Mind in Life ( http://contemplativemind.wordpress.com )

Seth Greenland is an author, playwright, and screenwriter. For two seasons he was a writer-producer on the Emmy-nominated HBO series Big Love. His latest novel, The Angry Buddhist, is the story of an ex-policeman seeking guidance from an online Buddhist teacher. The novel is currently in development with Showtime as a possible series for the network with Greenland writing and producing. In this episode Greenland speaks with host Vincent Horn about the book, what messages he hopes to convey with the Showtime series, and how Buddhism is making its way further into the pop culture landscape. Episode Links: www.sethgreenland.com The Angry Buddhist ( http://amzn.to/MX4OSI ) Showtime Develops ‘Angry Buddhist’ Series ( http://www.deadline.com/2012/04/showtime-develops-angry-buddhist-series )

Gary Weber has been a scientist, military officer, senior executive in industry and academia, and is the author of the book Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening. He has practiced Zen meditation, yoga, and philosophy for more than thirty-five years. In 1998, after over 20 thousand hours of various contemplative practices, his thoughts stopped (or very nearly so). We speak with him about what it has been like since then, experiencing nearly no self-referential thoughts or emotions. We also speak with Weber about how he is working with scientists to bring enlightenment to the Facebook Generation. Episode Links: Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening ( http://www.happiness-beyond-thought.com/thebook/thebook.html ) Happiness Beyond Thought Blog ( http://happinessbeyondthought.blogspot.com ) Mapping the Mindful Brain ( http://bit.ly/1gc7Weo )

Dr. Judson Brewer is an assistant professor at Yale in psychiatry and a contemplative scientist studying the effects of meditation on the brain. He and his colleagues believe they have found a way to use FMRI to give meditators real time feedback on their mindfulness practice. This feedback has led to increased efficacy and efficiency in mindfulness practice. Since making these discoveries, Brewer has joined the Contemplative Development Mapping Project in hopes of creating a common language between meditation traditions to more easily discern progress in meditation practice. In this episode, Brewer describes to Vincent Horn how his work in addiction treatment led to these discoveries. They discuss the difficulty in objectively marking progress on the path to awakening, how that led to his participation in the Contemplative Development Mapping Project, and how using FMRI to understand mindfulness practice may eventually affect Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Episode Links: The Dark Night Project ( http://b