Buddhist Geeks

We continue our discussion with Buddhist teacher and author, B. Alan Wallace, on the impact of the recently completed Shamatha Project. Dr. Wallace shares the astounding levels of concentration that were achieved during the 3-month retreats he led and tells us more about the achievement of shamatha. Find out how deep the students on this retreat went, and why nearly %20 of them decided to continue on with intensive retreat practice after it was over!Dr. Wallace also discusses the potential impact that a study of this magnitude could have on the scientific community as well as the culture-at-large. Questions that the study aimed to answer included, “Is it possible to train attention?” & “Does meditation have an effect on ethics?”. While the answers may be obvious to meditators, having them scientifically validated could have a major impact on the fields of education, mental health, and psychology.This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1: Reverberations from The Shamatha Project.Episode Links:The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind ( http://bit.ly/HIW1o )Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality ( http://bit.ly/1at9hH )Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies ( http://www.sbinstitute.com )AlanWallace.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

B Alan Wallace, author of “The Attention Revolution” and “Embracing Mind”, joins us to discuss the initial results from The Shamatha Project—one of the most extensive studies on the long-term benefits of meditation practice ever conducted. The terabytes of data that were collected during the course of the retreat-study included physiological and psychological measurements, thousands of entries from student journals, and the ongoing evaluations from Dr. Wallace as he interviewed with the students. Find out what his evaluations were, and how deeply the yogi’s progressed over the course of their 3-month retreats. Also listen is in to hear Dr. Wallace’s perspective on the relationship between shamatha and vipassana, and whether deep states of shamatha are necessary pre-requisites for the advanced practices of insight found in the Buddhist tradition. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 2: Unwavering Samadhi: Meditative Achievement and Its Impact in the World. Episode Links: The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind ( http://bit.ly/HIW1o ) Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality ( http://bit.ly/1at9hH ) Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies ( http://www.sbinstitute.com ) AlanWallace.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever considered what it would be like to cultivate, what in the Buddhist tradition are called the siddhis or magical powers? Buddhist magic is an endlessly fascinating topic, and in this episode we speak with Daniel Ingram, one of our favorite guests here on Buddhist Geeks, about the powers.We cover their historical treatment by some of the major traditions, including the Zen, Tibetan, and Theravada. Daniel also gives us his first-hand experience having explored the powers, and considers the implications of doing public magic, and whether or not this kind of magic is “objectively real”. We also discuss the ethical issues involved in using magic and issues of reproducibility.Finally, we take a look at the ancient text, The Fruits of the Homeless Life, and explore what was said in that text about the powers, especially about the greatest power of all, the power of insight.Episode Links:Mahasi Sayadaw ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasi_Sayadaw )InteractiveBuddha.com Pa Auk Sayadaw ( http://www.paauk.org )The Fruits of the Homeless Life ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html )Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha ( http://bit.ly/E1tF )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2007 Dr. Wallace will be leading a joint scientific project named The Shamatha Project. A battery of studies will be conducted in two 3-month meditation retreats (one retreat is a control group), and the results will be submitted to the most prestigious academic journals. In our final podcast with Alan Wallace he discusses this project, both in terms of its structure and his hypotheses.This is part 3 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 1, Alan Wallace on Achieving Shamatha and Part 2, Get a PhD in Contemplative Science.Episode Links:The Attention Revolution ( http://bit.ly/HIW1o )Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies ( http://www.sbinstitute.com )The Shamatha Project ( http://www.sbinstitute.com/research_Shamatha.html )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our first interview featuring scholar-practitioner B. Alan Wallace, we asked Dr. Wallace to give us the low-down on his spiritual journey, as well as describe the stages of deepening relaxation and vividness of attention leading to the culmination of an attainment he calls shamatha. This is Part 1 of a three-part series. Listen to Part 2, Get a PhD in Contemplative Science and Part 3, The Shamatha Project. Episode Links: The Attention Revolution ( http://bit.ly/HIW1o ) Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Consciousness Studies ( http://www.sbinstitute.com ) The Shamatha Project ( http://www.sbinstitute.com/research_Shamatha.html )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Vimalakīrti Sūtra is a Mahayana Buddhist text from the 2nd century CE that explores the nature of enlightenment and the teachings of the Buddha. In this contemporary commentary on the Vimalakīrti Sūtra, Pragmatic Dharma teacher Kenneth Folk shares his personal understanding of what he refers to as “a magical spell.”Episode Links:Watch the Video Version of this Talk on YoutubeKenneth Folk DharmaThe Vimalakīrti Sūtra, translated by Burton WatsonPragmatic Dharma TrainingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this dharma talk–taken from a Pragmatic Dharma Retreat–Kenneth Folk speaks about Bahiya, the best student in the history of the world, and about the worst student in the history of the world, none other than the Buddha himself. At the end, Kenneth leads this 4-part practice:1) Inventory - Ask yourself: is there any unpleasant tension in the body? "Yes, there's tension in my neck, forehead, arm pits, mid-back, right hip, etc."2) Release tension consciously3) Surrender fully to the experience4) Releasing & surrendering are last ditch efforts to control. Things are as they are, "in the sensed is only the sensed."Episode Links:Kenneth FolkBahiya SuttaMemorable Quotes:"Mara doesn't get to have an opinion about that." – Kenneth FolkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this dharma teaching / guided meditation–given during a Pragmatic Dharma Retreat in 2018–Kenneth Folk re-enacts the Anupada Sutta, an early Buddhist text in which the Buddha recounts a tale of Sāriputta moving through each of the 8 jhanas (meditative absorptions), completing the series with the attainment of nibanna. May you awaken while contemplating these instructions!Episode Links:👤 Kenneth Folk📜 The Anupada SuttaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this pragmatic dharma retreat talk Vince Fakhoury Horn explores Meditation Track A–the gradual track–and Meditation Track B–the sudden track. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 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 Ñanas).memorable links:💬 "So we could call this olympic level, nut job jhana." – Kenneth Folk💬 "The insight knowledges are jhanic states." – Kenneth Folkepisode links:🔗 Kenneth Folk Dharma🎙 Meditating in the Goldilocks Zone, with Vince F. Horn📄 The Progress of Insight by The Venerable Mahasi SayadawSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special guided meditation, recorded during a Pragmatic Dharma Retreat, Kenneth Folk does a masterful job of pointing out the four progressive stages of meditative absorption, colloquially known as jhana. For best results, we suggest finding a place to listen to this episode, where you can remain undistracted.episode links:Kenneth FolkMindfulness Retreats Onlinememorable quotes:"Like a skilled wine taster, one day you will learn to recognize these flavors." – Kenneth FolkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this dharma talk, Vince Fakhoury Horn talks about the Goldilocks Principle as it's applied to meditation. He illustrates this Goldilocks Zone–just the right amount–by 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.

In this Our Beloved Teachers episode Emily Horn speaks with Spring Washam about her relationship with Harriet Tubman, and the teachings she has received from her. Spring speaks about the importance of faith and courage in navigating challenging times and the connection to the unseen world, while emphasizing that Harriet Tubman is not just an ancestor for African Americans, but for everyone. She encourages people to tap into the strength and resilience that Harriet represents to better support each other in these transformative times.Episode Links:📖 The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground by Spring Washam🎙️ Our Beloved TeachersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vince 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:👤 Kenneth Folk👤 Vince Fakhoury Horn📖 Saints & Psychopaths by Bill Hamilton🔗 Dharma Seed📺 Remembering Bill Hamilton with Shinzen Young📺 Remembering Bill Hamilton Featuring Daniel IngramMemorable Quotes:📺 "Enlightenment. Highly recommended, can't tell you why." – Bill Hamilton📺 "Suffering less, noticing it more." – Bill Hamilton📺 "You don't have to go looking for suffering." – Bill Hamilton📺 "You could get enlightened rubbing that tape box." – Bill Hamilton📺 "They're doing psychology." – Bill Hamilton📺 "There's more than one objection of mindfulness." – Bill Hamilton📺 "This is the ultimate self-improvement project, even beyond one's self." – Kenneth FolkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vince 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 – 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:👤 Trudy Goodman👤 Seungsahn📺 Bob Newhart Therapy: Stop It!👤 Maha Ghosananda🎧 Zen Predator📖 Sex in the Forbidden Zone by Peter RutterMemorable Quotes:"What am I?" – Seungsahn"Your Body already a corpse." – Seungsahn"That is Great Faith." – Seungsahn"This is how it happens." – Trudy GoodmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 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 series–all you need are the production skills to pull off the recording, and the connections to find a suitable guest. Episode Links:🔗 Our Beloved Teachers👤 Vince Fakhoury Horn🔗 Open Source Dharma📄 Creative Commons: Understanding Free Cultural Works🔗 Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 International👤 Silvia BastosSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 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:👤 Kate Johnson📖 Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World by Kate Johnson🎙The Dharma of Difference, with Kate Johnson📺 Waking Up to Power & Privilege in Our Communities, with Kate JohnsonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined by Gabriel Menegale Wison, one of the authors of the recently released book, “Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart.” In this dialogue, we explore Gabriel’s 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 Quotes“I want to engage in the exploration of more radical identities that can cohere us cooperatively so that we can forge worlds together.” - Gabriel Wilson“I think there is a lot of beauty to the creative frictions between our different identities and I think if you want to work with them, they will literally produce more dynamic identities that can include those differences.” - Gabriel WilsonEpisode Links👤 Gabriel Menegale Wilson📖 “Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart” by Diane Musho Hamilton, Gabriel Menegale Wilson, and Kimberly Loh🎧 Everything the Same, Everything Different, with Diane Musho Hamilton👤 Diane Musho Hamilton👤 Kimberly LohSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 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 Quotes“To 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 ourselves and others.” – Lama Rod OwensEpisode Links👤 Lama Rod Owens👤 Lama Rod on Twitter📖 Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation by Lama Rod Owens📖 Black and Buddhist - Lama Rod Owens (contributing author)🔗 Dr. Joy Degrew’s theory on Post Traumatic Slave SyndromeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined in dialogue with journalist, educator, & scholar Greg Thomas to meditate together on race. Greg’s 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 liberation–especially from racial ignorance & animus–on personal, cultural, & institutional levels.Memorable Quotes“Race is just one more tool of the ego to separate and to create structures–whether it’s subjective, inter-subjective or objective structures–to separate, divide and categorize.” - Greg Thomas“There is a truth to the fact that we all are one, and that we share in the ineffability of the source, of the fullness of emptiness.  And all these things that signify–because we’re using human language–that our origins, our source, from and through which all things come and flow, and towards which we’re moving.  But in-between time, on this human level, in this particular incarnation we have to deal with the reality of materiality, of the material plane that we’re on.  That materiality itself, is going to bring suffering.  Duality will do that.  Non-duality is Oneness.  We have to navigate skillfully, using skillful means.  And that’s where we get to Wisdom.  Wisdom allows us to be able to play with these dualities. ... [Wisdom] takes into consideration I, We, & It, it takes into consideration the dual & the non-dual, it takes into consideration the reality of the oneness and the particularity of the many.” - Greg Thomas“They have planted and we ate. We plant and others will eat.” - Siddho Ahmad Fakhoury, Vince’s Great-Grandfather on planting olive treesEpisode Notes:👤 Greg Thomas’s Online Portfolio👤 The Jazz Leadership Project👤 Greg Thomas @ Integral Life🔗 Integral Life👤 Diane Musho Hamilton👤 Anthony Appiah👤 Danielle Allen @ Twitter📃 Ralph Ellison📖 “My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menakem📖 “Turning the Wheel: Essays on Buddhism and Writing” by Charles Johnson👤 Bell Hooks🔗 Essentialism📖 “Mindful of Race” by Ruth King📃 Jazz vs. Racism by Greg Thomas📖 “The Ethics of Identity” by Kwame Anthony AppiahSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.