Archive for November 2014
Thich Nhat Hanh, Secular Buddhist
Those of us who gathered for Social Circle last Friday evening spent a fair amount of time talking about Thich Nhat Hanh, whose recent hospitalization made headlines after rumors of his death had circulated online. The way the Internet lit up with expressions of concern and well wishes for the Vietnamese Zen monk, known to…
Read MoreLearn Comedy From The Buddha
So the Buddha walks out from under the bodhi tree and turns out to be a comedian. No seriously, give me some respect here. I’ve been reading lots of the oldest stories we have about the Buddha in his day, and have been surprised to realize that some of the stories he tells, and some…
Read MoreEpisode 213 :: Erik Braun :: The Birth of Insight: Meditation, Modern Buddhism, and the Burmese Monk Ledi Sayadaw
Erik Braun Professor Erik Braun joins us to speak about The Birth of Insight: Meditation, Modern Buddhism, and the Burmese Monk Ledi Sayadaw. Insight meditation is arguably one of the most common practices in contemporary Buddhism. But, where did this modern version come from, what are the roots of what we see in the West?…
Read MoreMindful America: A Review
I was by turns excited, puzzled and exasperated as I read Jeff Wilson’s Mindful America: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture. This first attempt at an academic look at the rise of the mindfulness movement is a fascinating, provocative and often entertaining read, but its cultural studies methodology can be questionable and…
Read MoreEpisode 212 :: Winton Higgins :: Four Frontiers for Secular Buddhists
Winton Higgins Our returning guest, Winton Higgins, speaks with us about some key challenges facing secular Buddhists in contemporary society. Hi, everyone. Before we get started with today’s episode, I want to remind the listeners that we’ve started a new podcast which may also interest you. It’s called Present Moment: Mindfulness Practice and Science, and…
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