Buddhist Geeks

Insight Meditation teacher, Diana Winston, joins us to discuss an extremely relevant topic: Buddhism & Money. We explore whether or not spirituality and money are incompatible (as they are often seen) and if not how they might go together.
Diana shares with us some of the original, though not so well known, teachings that the historical Buddha gave on money. She also discusses why both Buddhist teachers and practitioners should work with money and become familiar with it, and recounts her own journey with spiritual practice and money and how she has been able to bring the two together.
Episode Links:
The Dighajanu Sutta ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.than.html )
Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume ( http://bit.ly/1IjV3V )
Wide Awake: Buddhism for the New Generation ( http://bit.ly/S7BlN )

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We continue our discussion with insight meditation teacher and author, Richard Shankman. In this episode we continue to dissect the different kinds of samadhi and their respective fruits–what in the Theravada tradition are called jhana (or “meditative absorption”). According to Shankman there are two ways of approaching the attainment of jhana, one as was taught in the original canonical texts of the Theravada, the Pali Suttas, and the other from the later commentaries on the Buddha’s teachings, the Vishudimagga. As a result we get two different forms of jhana–one called Sutta jhana and the other called Vishudimagga jhana. This two-fold understanding, though geeky, shines light on the different methods of practicing both samadhi and vipassana meditation and offers a unitary model for understanding the two together.

We also briefly touch on a term called “vipassana jhana,” which is used by notable Burmese and American insight meditation teachers, and relate the development of insight (via vipassana) to these two jhana systems. For those folks who have experience practicing or studying in the Theravada tradition you will likely find your understanding of the tradition deeply enriched. For those in other traditions you will almost certainly find this an interesting glimpse into the detailed intricacies of a one of the oldest Buddhist traditions of meditation.

This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, The Power of Samadhi.

Episode Links:

• The Visuddhimagga
• The Pali Suttas
• RichardShankman.org
• The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation

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Richard Shankman, a teacher in the insight meditation tradition and the author of the recently released book The Experience of Samadhi, joins us to discuss the various teachings and approaches to what in the Theravada tradition is called samadhi or concentration meditation.

During this episode Richard shares some of his personal background with samadhi practice and also explains two different forms of deep samadhi, called jhana in the Theravada tradition–one from the time of the Buddha as captured by the Pali Suttas and another which arouse hundreds of years later and which is captured in the authoritative text, the Visuddhimagga. Listen in to find out about these different forms of deep concentration and absorption, which are a hallmark of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism…

This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Different Types of Jhana: Sutta, Vishudimagga, & Vipassana.

Episode Links:

• richardshankman.org
• The Visuddhimagga
• Mahasi Sayadaw
• The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation

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In this episode, we continue our dialogue with Shingon teacher Hokai Sobol. We begin our conversation by dropping a difficult question on Hokai, asking him how the Vajrayana traditions (both the Japanese and Tibetan) can maintain relevance in our post-modern and rapidly changing world. He suggests that we must develop a “Vajrayana in Plain English,” one that is germane to the particularities of this time and space.
And as the 1st generation of Buddhist teachers and leaders near retirement-age, now is the only time that we have to do so. Listen in to hear his take on making the Vajrayana not only more relevant, but on it becoming a pioneering force and cultural leader in today’s world. This includes the way that Buddhist teachings, practice, & even creative expressions are presented. It includes nothing less than a bold transformation of the tradition.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Japanese Shingon: The True Word School.
Episode Links:
Hokai.info
Mindfulness in Plain English ( http://bit.ly/a7Z4L )

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In this episode we are joined by one of our favorite Buddhist Geeks, Hokai Sobol. Hokai who is a teacher in the Shingon Buddhist tradition–a form of Vajrayana found in Japan–joins us today to speak about the Shingon school. Hokai shares with us a brief history of Shingon tradition and its main teacher Kukai, the artistic dimension of Shingon, and also begins to explain the basic teachings and practices of the lineage.
Similar to the Tibetan Vajrayana approaches Shingon harnesses things like mudras (gestures), mantras (sounds), and mandalas (visualizations)–which lines up with the three-fold Body, Speech, & Mind. Speaking about mantras specifically Hokai brings us through the three distinct dimensions of mantra practices and shows us how we can understand and practice with the basic mantra of “om”-“ah”-“hum.”
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Vajrayana in Plain English.
Episode Links:
Hokai.info

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“Meditation is the royal road to the unconscious.” – Carl Jung
Gerry Shishen Wick, Roshi joins us today to finish the discussion on koan training, Rinzai and Soto Zen, and on a method of training he uses to help people deal with certain psychological issues–called the Great Heart Way. He sees all of these methods as leading toward a more genuine and embodied Zen.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Koan Training and the Different Styles of Zen.
Episode Links:
The Great Heart Way: How To Heal Your Life and Find Self-Fulfillment ( http://bit.ly/16ZWG7 )
Great Mountain Zen Center ( http://www.gmzc.org )
The Book of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans ( http://bit.ly/la3Lt )

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Gerry Shishen Wick, Roshi is a dual-lineage holder of both the Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen. His teacher Maezumi Roshi passed along both lineages, and so we take this unique opportunity to ask Roshi to compare these two different approaches. He talks about shikantaza (Just Sitting) and also about koan practice–sometimes referred to as logical paradoxes.
He explains that the koan system includes many different kinds of koans, each with different purposes. Some are meant to reveal the oneness of reality, while others are point to the multiplicity within that oneness. He also discusses the difference between “live words” and “dead words,” and why that distinction is so important in the practice of Koan training.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Embodied Zen.
Episode Links:
The Three Pillars of Zen ( http://bit.ly/dTTbS )
Great Mountain Zen Center ( http://www.gmzc.org )
The Book of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans ( http://bit.ly/la3Lt )

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Joseph Goldstein–one of the primary figures in the development of the Insight Meditation movement–finishes up his conversation with us by sharing his perspective on the recent cross-pollunation of the Buddhist meditation with scientific investigation. He shares some of the recent studies that he has contributed to–including an in-depth study at the Insight Meditation Society–and also discusses a few research possibilities that he has recommended to scientists. Finally he shares an interesting idea he had for creating a “virtual bardo machine.”
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Joseph Goldstein on the Benefits of Long Term Practice.
Episode Links:
Mind and Life Institute ( http://www.mindandlife.org )
One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism ( bit.ly/kELk5 )
Insight Meditation Society ( www.dharma.og )

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Joseph Goldstein–one of the primary figures in the development of the Insight Meditation movement–joins us today to discuss the unique benefits of long-term practice. He touches in on the need the train the mind, and hence the need for long periods of dedicated training. He also shares some of the background and vision behind the long-term retreat facility that he helped start called the Forest Refuge–a place where people can come and do long, self-guided retreat practice.
Finally, we touch in on the future of the insight meditation tradition, and really the development of Western Buddhism in general.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Joseph Goldstein on the Science of Insight.
Episode Links:
The Forest Refuge ( http://www.dharma.org/meditation-retreats/forest-refuge )
One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism ( http://bit.ly/kELk5 )
Insight Meditation Society ( http://www.dharma.og )

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Reginald Ray, Tibetan Buddhist scholar and teacher, is back with us this week to discuss some pretty big topics. We explore the break that he made, several years ago with the Shambhala tradition, and the larger implications of becoming a Western teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Connected with that we explore the whole issue of Westerners not being regularly empowered to be teachers, and several of the factors involved in that dynamic. We also touch on whether or not Westeners make the best practitioners, and what seems to keep them from going deep.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, The Forest Dwelling Yogi.
Episode Links:
Dharma Ocean ( www.dharmaocean.org )
Your Breathing Body – Vol 1. ( bit.ly/1HOKNVR )
Your Breathing Body – Vol 2. ( bit.ly/1HOKR81 )
Touching Enlightenment ( bit.ly/ia0sJ )

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