Buddhist Geeks

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://bit.ly/1gc7P2j )

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Keith Martin-Smith is an author, martial artist, and ordained Zen priest. His latest book is “A Heart Blown Open”, the biography of his teacher Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi. In this episode, Vincent Horn talks with Keith about the book and Jun Po’s “Mondo Zen” approach, which aims to join the path of awakening with emotional maturity.
Episode Links:
www.keithmartinsmith.com
A Heart Blown Open ( http://amzn.to/1gc7Ins )
Mondo Zen ( http://www.mondozen.org )

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John Peacock is a scholar and Associate Director of The Oxford Mindfulness Centre. His studies of the earliest Buddhist writings have revealed to him a very human Buddha and a very different Buddhism than we know today.
In a conversation with Hokai Sobol, Peacock describes the historical Buddha as a very practical teacher and a radical social reformer. He cites passages of the earliest writings that describe a very human and emotional Buddha that enjoyed satire. He calls the Buddha the “First Psychologist” and relates to him as a teacher who was more interested in practical psychology than philosophy.
This is Part 1 of a 2 part series.
Episode Links:
Oxford Mindfulness Center ( http://oxfordmindfulness.org )
Hokai Sobol | 21st Century Dharma ( http://www.hokai.info )
Sutta Nipata ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/index.html )
Ariyapariyesana Sutta ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html )

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Jane McGonigal is an author and game designer who wants to change the world through gaming. In this second part of a presentation recorded during the 2011 Buddhist Geeks Conference, she shares the details about games where people are going into the world and using gamer virtues for real life good. From better community organizing, to solutions for regional famine, to possible treatments for cancer, McGonigal and her gamers are changing the world one epic win at a time.
She concludes the presentation by inviting to the stage her twin sister Kelly McGonigal. Together they give the audience an inside look at the ongoing conversation the sisters have had about the possible convergence of gaming and Buddhist practice.
This is part two of a two part series.
Episode Links:
www.janemcgonigal.com
Awakening is an Epic Win [video] ( youtu.be/uI46wbjrVc0 )
Reality is Broken ( amzn.to/1gc7qgv )
Fold It ( http://fold.it/portal/ )
Ground Crew ( http://gameful.org/groups/groundcrew/forum/ )
Evoke ( http://www.urgentevoke.com )
Living Compassion ( http://www.livingcompassion.org )

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Jane McGonigal is an author and game designer who describes herself as “23% Buddhist, 77% geek.” She begins the presentation, originally given at the 2011 Buddhist Geeks Conference, by asking three questions:
Do Buddhists and Game Designers share goals?
Do Buddhists and Game Designers share methods?
Could Buddhists and Game Designers share practices?
She then shares some fascinating insights into the measured benefits of gaming, after which she has the audience join her in a game of “massive multiplayer thumb wrestling.” Jane closes her talk by drawing some striking parallels between the goals and benefits of gaming with the goals and benefits of Buddhist practice.
This is part 1 of a 2 part series. Listen to part 2 (airing next week).
Episode Links:
www.janemcgonigal.com
Awakening is an Epic Win [video] ( https://youtu.be/uI46wbjrVc0 )
Reality is Broken ( http://amzn.to/1gc7qgv )

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Kelly Sosan Bearer speaks with Ed Halliwell, journalist, teacher, and author, about his new book The Mindful Manifesto and its themes of mindfulness, Buddhism, and Science. Ed describes his personal experience with stress and depression and his journey to Buddhism and mindfulness practice as a way to get healthy. He defines “mindfulness” and then leads the Geeks through a ”3 step breathing space practice” meant to reduce stress.

Episode Links:

The Mindful Manifesto: How Doing Less and Noticing More Can Help Us Thrive in a Stressed-Out World ( http://amzn.to/1gc7gWq )

The Guardian ( http://www.guardiannews.com )

Integral Chicks ( http://www.integralchicks.com )

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In this episode Rohan Gunatillake speaks with Buddhist teacher Rob Burbea on the topic of Climate Change. Rob wonders why the Western Buddhist community is largely silent on the topic, and over the course of the discussion Rohan and Rob explore several questions, including: How does dharma practice relate to the topic of Climate Change? What is the consequence of Buddhists not addressing this issue? What example should Buddhist teachers and leaders show in relation to climate change?

Episode Links:

• The Meditator as Revolutionary
• Dharma and Climate Change
• Gaia House
• www.21awake.com

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Ken McLeod and Vincent Horn continue their conversation about the student-teacher relationship by examining communication mediums. They begin by examining the value and limitations of video chat as well as the benefits and dangers of practice via social networking. Vincent and Ken explore why it’s important for students and teachers to meet in the middle of communication gaps, and what happens when they don’t.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Crossing the Generational Divide.
Episode Links:
Unfettered Mind ( http://www.unfetteredmind.org )
Pragmatic Buddhism ( http://bit.ly/1S1bMYw )
www.openpractice.me

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Ken McLeod joins Vincent Horn for the start of a conversation examining some of the painful generational gaps that occur between students and teachers. They begin by exploring the question of how to skillfully deal with this gap, and in particular what kinds of gaps are most common. Vincent brings up some of the tensions he has felt and noticed, many of which are usually only discussed “behind closed doors”. This leads into one of the most pressing areas where tension is felt between the generations, with that of technology.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, The Communication Gap.
Episode Links:
Pragmatic Buddhism ( http://bit.ly/1S1bMYw )
Philosophy as a Way of Life ( http://amzn.to/GQsNQ8 )

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Rob McNamara is a psychology professor, zen practitioner, and strength trainer who works at the intersection of strength training and contemplative practice. In this episode McNamara explains how his experiences in the gym helped him understand the purpose of meditation, and how both inner and outer strength are deeply intertwined. He describes how strength training can stretch both the upper and lower boundaries of the ego, helping us learn how to not check out when things get uncomfortable, nor space out when we have an opportunity to relax deeply and let go.
Episode Links:
www.robmcnamara.com
Strength to Awaken ( http://amzn.to/ysYV4H )

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