Buddhist Geeks

In this episode we bring back the Geeks of the Round Table segment. Joining us is one of our regulars Duff McDuffee, and a new geek to the lineup, Mike LaTorra. Mike is the resident teacher of the Soto Zen Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
During this conversation we discuss an article written by Shambhala Acharaya Judy Lief entitled, Glimpses of Awakening. We discuss the ideals surrounding awakening, and use the classic three trainings model (of ethics, concentration, & wisdom) to explore what enlightenment is about.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, The Particularities of Awakening.
Episode Links:
“Glimpses of Awakening” by Judy Lief ( http://www.lionsroar.com/glimpses-of-awakening-2/ )
The Zen Center of Las Cruces ( http://www.zencenteroflascruces.org )

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Philosopher and long-time Buddhist practitioner, Ken Wilber, continues his discussion of the meditative terrain and of his spiritual philosophy in general. He finishes off his discussion of the meditative maps with an exploration of what it actual takes–both in terms of time and effort–to master these various stages of consciousness.
He also explains the difference between what he is now calling “horizontal enlightenment” (which is basically everything we’ve explored up to this point) and “vertical enlightenment” which encompasses other areas of human development that can’t been developed while on the cushion. According to him the traditional notion of Buddhist enlightenment isn’t he be-all-end-all of human development.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, The Meditative Maps: Happy Mornings and Dark Nights.
Episode Links:
Integral Life ( www.integrallife.com )

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Philosopher and long-time Buddhist practitioner, Ken Wilber, shares with us a 10,000 foot view of the terrain of meditative experience. He describes several of the most common Buddhist maps and their progression, including the one presented in the Visuddhimagga (one of the most prevalent in the Theravada tradition), the 10 ox herding pictures in the Zen tradition, and the Anuttara Tantra from the Tibetan tradition.
He also gives an overview of the very difficult stages of practice called the Dark Nights. These are periods where after being plunged into a whole new experience of reality we have it stripped from us and feel like we have lost what was once discovered. Another meaning of the dark night has to do with dis-identifying with previous levels of consciousness, and the difficult journey of releasing our grasping and addiction to these lower levels.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Horizontal and Vertical Enlightenment.
Episode Links:
Integral Life ( https://www.integrallife.com )

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Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins, one of the most important figure in the development of Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the United States, joins us to discuss the importance of academic studies. We explore what Buddhist studies are like in the West, the relationship between being a scholar and practitioner, and the broader role that Buddhist academia plays in Western Buddhism.
This is part 2 of a two-part series Listen to part 1, The Practice Adventures of Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins.
Episode Links:
Tsong-Kha-Pa’s Final Exposition of Wisdom ( http://bit.ly/yIAVZ )
Light of Berotsana Translation Group ( http://berotsana.org )

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Today we speak with Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins, Professor Emeritus of Tibetan & Buddhist Studies at University of Virgina. Dr. Hopkins is a prolific translator–with 40 books translated in his career–and a committed meditation practitioner.
In this episode we ask him to share some of the details of his early practice. He shares with us his experience doing sky meditations and dark retreats, all of which he did before being exposed to Tibetan Buddhism. He also shares some of the details of his meeting the Dalai Lama and working with him on translating some of his books to English, as well as being his translator.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, Buddhist Studies in the West.
Episode Links:
Tsong-Kha-Pa’s Final Exposition of Wisdom ( http://bit.ly/yIAVZ )

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Join us as we finish up our dialogue with Venerable Robina Courtin, the highly energetic Tibetan Nun, who some refer to as a “Dharma CEO”. In this episode she continues to share the specific logistics behind her approach to balancing wisdom and compassion in today’s world.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Venerable Robina Courtin: Bodhisattva CEO.
Episode Links:
Liberation Prison Project ( http://www.liberationprisonproject.org )
Chasing Buddha Pilgrimage ( http://www.chasingbuddhafilm.com )

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Join us this week as we converse with one of the most energetic and high-powered Nuns that we know, Venerable Robina Courtin. A long-time Nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Robina shares with us the importance of approaching work in the world, from the “Bodhisattva perspective” while also maintaining a firm grounding in emptiness.
Listen in to find out more about the work that Robina does, and more importantly, how she approaches her work.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to part 2, The Logistics of Being a Bodhisattva.
Episode Links:
Liberation Prison Project ( http://www.liberationprisonproject.org )
Chasing Buddha Pilgrimage ( http://www.chasingbuddhafilm.com )

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We’re joined again by CEO and Founder of Twine.com, and long-time Dzogchen practitioner, Nova Spivack. In this episode we discuss the short-comings of the Western traditions understanding and pursuit of consciousness, especially with regards to finding an ultimate particle in physics. We also explore the strengths and limitations of technology to aid in the process of awakening.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, Does the Web have Buddha Nature?

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This week we are joined by CEO and Founder of Twine.com and long-time Dzogchen practitioner Nova Spivack. Nova has been a student of many of the world’s most well-known Rinpoches while simultaneously being one of the first pioneering entrepreneurs on the web.
In this episode Nova shares with us his background as a Buddhist practitioner and launches into a discussion on the intersection between Buddhist practice, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and the future of the world wide web. He shares a unique perspective on the evolution of the web and tackles the question of whether or not the web will ever become sentient.
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Listen part 2, Technology Makes our Delusion More Functional.

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Join us this week as we speak with Dr. Peter Grossenbacher, director of the Consciousness Laboratory at Naropa University, about the difference between Eastern and Western modes of inquiry, sensory awareness practice, and of the importance of contemplative education.
Peter ties together the Eastern and Western schools of thought by pointing out that they are both loosely interested in the empirical, or what is observable. He also explains the sensory awareness practice that he guides students through, and in our first guided practice here on Buddhist Geeks, leads us through a few minutes of sensory awareness practice. We finish our discussion with Peter touching briefly on the role of “contemplative education,” or in an education that is attempting to bring together conceptual and non-conceptual modes of learning.
This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1, The Consciousness Laboratory.
Episode Links:
The Naropa University Consciousness Laboratory ( www.naropa.edu/consciousness )

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