Posts by Dana Nourie
Ted Interviewed by Buddhist Geeks
Ted Meissner is the host of The Secular Buddhist podcast and the Executive Director of the Secular Buddhist Association. In this episode with host Vincent Horn chief geek at Buddhist Geeks, Ted shares examples of secular Buddhism, why he is skeptical but not cynical about religion, and he stresses what he thinks is the importance of…
Read MoreSkillful Versus Unskillful Thinking
For the past two months, I’ve had a lot of time to think, perhaps too much time. At any rate, thinking is natural to us all, and sometimes the way people write about it, you could get the impression that thinking is wrong in Buddhism. Not so. Buddha was clear that there is skillful thinking…
Read MoreRight Speech in This Digital Age
“And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.” — SN 45.8 “Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people. Which five? It is spoken at the right time. It…
Read MoreTed Meissner: Secular Buddhism (podcast)
Our very own Ted Meissner was recently interviewed by Ginger Campbell, the host of the Brain Science podcast, and Books and Ideas podcast. In this interview, Ginger asks Ted about Buddhism, what it is, what the practice is, and how it differs from secular Buddhism. More Information: Virginia Campbell, MD Brain Science Podcast
Read MoreTribute to Our Mentor and Dear Friend, Jan Ford
I first met Jan Ford as Sung Hifeng in Second Life (SL). I’d bounced around various Buddhist sanghas in that virtual 3D environment, when I happened upon one called Skeptical Buddhists. The title nabbed my attention, and as I entered and sat, I found myself curious about the avatar of an old man beside me.…
Read More"Occupy Buddhism" Notes from the Buddhist Geeks Conference, 2012
Ted and I attended the Buddhist Geeks 2012 conference this month, and I must say it was better than I expected. It definitely spoke to both the Geek and the Buddhist in me! There were Buddhists of many traditions in attendance, and geeks of all kinds from scientific to computing, and combinations of both. It…
Read MoreBody Meditation
Buddha directed people to contemplating the body frequently, and for good reasons. Meditating on the body: Helps get you out of your head Reminds us of our physical nature and characteristics Provides several points to settle busy minds Shows us the direct experience of impermanence and not self For the next couple of weeks,…
Read MoreStaying in the Body and Out of the Mind
We’ve all been there. An argument with a relative erupts, and on your drive home you relive the experience repeatedly, so when you arrive, you realize you weren’t aware of most of the drive. For the rest of the night, you replay that argument mentally, say the things you wish you’d thought of then, and…
Read MoreThe Practice of Buddhist Meditation is Not for the Fainthearted
We’re hearing about studies that boast meditation reduces stress, lowers high blood pressure, and calms the mind. These all sound great, and perhaps over the course of time, meditation has that effect, but that is not the purpose of Buddhist meditation. In fact, if your meditations are relaxing and cozy, I’m going to be bold…
Read MoreIf Not-Self Then What?
The Buddha’s teachings on not-self truly are impressive, especially when you consider those were times in which people were immersed in beliefs about the supernatural, an essence of self that is everlasting, and a multitude of gods. For Buddha to point out the parts of the body as not self, the emotions as not self,…
Read More