The Secular Buddhist Podcast
Episode 97 :: Adam Tebbe :: Sweeping Zen
Sweeping Zen founder Adam Tebbe joins us to speak about contemporary issues in Buddhism.
Many of you have heard me say in the past, “Question with confidence.” That is, we should foster the development of an environment to have open and free inquiry into our beliefs, even those deeply cherished. That idea, question with confidence, was put very well long ago by Thomas Jefferson, who said, “Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”
Read MoreEpisode 96 :: Tim Gard :: Pain Attenuation Through Mindfulness
Tim Gard speaks with us about a new study just released on pain attenuation through mindfulness.
Hi, everyone. As we mentioned in last week’s episode, we’re fortunate this week in having the author of a new study just released. This study helps shed some light on what happens in the brain when we feel pain, what happens in the brain when we feel pain while in a mindfulness state, and how this is different than what we see in placebo responses to pain. We also examine some of the subtle differences between studies of this kind, and why these distinctions matter.
Read MoreEpisode 95 :: Britta Hölzel :: Mechanisms of Mindfulness
Dr. Britta Hölzel speaks with us about her recent paper about the potential mechanisms of mindfulness.
What are the mechanisms of a mindfulness state? A recent paper suggests, as a starting point of discussion, that four significant components may be Attention Regulation, Body Awareness, Emotion Regulation, and Sense of Self. As we look at the positive benefits of meditation, it is valuable for us to hypothesize about these qualities of the process, as that can help us think creatively about new areas for scientific investigation.
Read MoreEpisode 94 :: Sue Blackmore :: Skepticism, Meditation, and Consciousness
Professor Sue Blackmore joins us to speak about meditation, consciousness, and her move from belief in the paranormal to skepticism.
It is fairly well-known that I’m a skeptic. Not to be confused with a cynic, or a denier. As host of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast, Dr. Steven Novella of the New England Skeptical Society, has described:
Read MoreEpisode 93 :: Philippe Goldin :: Brain Changes with Meditation
Dr. Philippe Goldin Dr. Philippe Goldin speaks with us about changes in the brain from meditation, why psychological studies deal with placebo effects, and parent child mindfulness meditation training on family relationships. Hi, everyone. It’s been a very active few weeks with the release of the new Secular Buddhist Association website, and we’re seeing active…
Read MoreEpisode 92 :: Tony Bernhard :: Culture Independent Buddhist Retreats
Tony Bernhard Tony Bernhard speaks with us about facilitating a-cultural Buddhist teaching and retreats. Hi, everyone. As we’ve seen in the growth and popularization of Buddhism in the West, the teaching and practice takes on forms that may not fit with the cultural background from which they’ve come. Our commitment to Buddhism does not, as…
Read MoreEpisode 91 :: Noah Levine :: The Heart of the Revolution
Dharma Punx founder Noah Levine speaks with us about his new book, The Heart of the Revolution.
Many of us who come to a Buddhist practice in contemporary Western society, come to it from many directions. We’re interested in the culture of Japan. We have a martial arts practice. We have some suffering in our life, and whatever we’ve been doing just isn’t working. Often this suffering manifests in unhealthy ways, increasing our pain rather than helping us find release.
Read MoreEpisode 90 :: Dana Nourie :: Secular Buddhist Association Website
Dana Nourie Hi, everyone. As we mentioned last week, today’s episode is going to be dedicated to the new Secular Buddhist Association website, some of the reasons why we’ve created a new and improved web presence for our secular Buddhist community, and what the features are to address those needs. I’m also very happy to…
Read MoreEpisode 89 :: Ken McLeod :: Unfettered Mind
Ken McLeod Ken McLeod speaks with us today about humanity in institutions, and his organization Unfettered Mind. Hi, everyone. Glad you’re here, particularly for this episode. There have been some very positive things happening recently, including the podcast having over 100,000 downloads, and our Halloween episode last week with our friend David Chapman being referenced…
Read MoreEpisode 88 :: David Chapman :: Buddhism for Vampires
David Chapman David Chapman speaks with us about Buddhism for Vampires in our second Halloween special. Hi everyone, and happy Halloween! Today we’re going to celebrate my personal favorite holiday with our second Halloween special. The focus is on David Chapman’s website, Buddhism for Vampires. David is educated and has worked in the fields of…
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