The Secular Buddhist Podcast
Episode 77 :: Matt Lowry and Dana Nourie :: Fun With Physics and Walking Through Walls
Dana Nourie and Matt Lowry join us to speak about physics, the natural world, and quantum misperceptions.
Lately, there seems to be an unfortunate mixing of Siddhattha Gotama’s teaching and practice around the existential experience of dissatisfaction, and science. Certainly we do see wonderful scientific studies about what’s going on in the brain during meditation, for example, but that’s a far cry from levitation and walking through walls. Buddhism is not about physics, despite our seeing false patterns of synchronicity between the two.
Read MoreEpisode 76 :: Dave Smith :: Meditation Nashville Style
Dave Smith Dave Smith talks with us about growing up a dharma brat, and meditation Nashville style. Hi, everyone. As many of you know, I was fortunate enough to attend a Secular Dharma retreat at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies recently, led by Stephen and Martine Batchelor. One of the best aspects to that retreat,…
Read MoreEpisode 75 :: Eugenie Scott :: National Center for Science Education
Dr. Eugenie Scott Dr. Eugenie Scott from the National Center for Science Education speaks with us about keeping faith traditions separate from science in our classrooms. Hi, everyone. There’s a topic I don’t get to talk about very much on this podcast, something I’m quite passionate about because it is paramount in the distinction between…
Read MoreEpisode 74 :: Erik Storlie :: Psychedelics and Western Zen's Roots
Erik Storlie Dr. Erik Storlie joins us again, this time to speak about his book Nothing on My Mind: Berkeley, LSD, Two Zen Masters, and a Life on the Dharma Trail, about psychedelics and Western Zen’s roots. Many of us have some interest in the recent past in the Zen tradition’s start in the West.…
Read MoreEpisode 73 :: Dr. Cathy Kerr :: Modulating Somatosensory Attention
Dr. Cathy Kerr Dr. Cathy Kerr joins us to speak about her recent study on the effects of mindfulness meditation training on anticipatory alpha modulation in primary somatosensory cortex. Hi, everyone. Today, with this episode as with many others, I learned something. Only this time, it was very unexpected, and helped me assess my own…
Read MoreEpisode 72 :: David McMahan :: The Making of Buddhist Modernism
David McMahan David L. McMahan talks with us about The Making of Buddhist Modernism. Hi, everyone. Over the past year or so of the podcast, many of you have heard me use terms regarding the ‘evolution’ of Buddhism in contemporary culture. Some of us also use terms like ‘adaptation’, but the underlying principle is the…
Read MoreEpisode 71 :: Carol Tavris :: Delusions and Cognitive Dissonance
Carol Tavris Carol Tavris speaks with us about how cognitive dissonance can lead to unhealthy conceptual attachments. Fairly frequently I get email from listeners, asking for recommendations on books that have been particularly helpful with practice. Often, there is an interest in books that are more secular in nature, and I’m happy to ask a…
Read MoreEpisode 70 :: Steve Hagen :: Faith and Belief
Steve Hagen Steve Hagen speaks with us about faith and belief, a wee bit of Nagarjuna, and a big ol’ rock. Hi, everyone. Today I write this sitting by myself in the farmhouse at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, after a week long seminar on Secular Dharma. And it was wonderful, if you ever get…
Read MoreEpisode 69 :: Dr. Roland Griffiths :: Psilocybin and Meditation
Dr. Roland Griffiths Dr. Roland Griffiths speaks with us about his work studying psilocybin’s intersection with meditation. Many of our Buddhist centers here in the United States got their start and found practitioners in the psychedelic 60’s. Literally. The culture of the time had an exploration of pharmacologicals, especially those which could produce altered perceptions…
Read MoreEpisode 68 :: Stephen Schettini :: It Begins with Silence
Stephen Schettini Stephen Schettini speaks with us about his new book, It Begins with Silence – The Art of Mindful Reflection. Meditation can be very challenging, not the least of which is understanding what it is we’re trying to do. Empty the mind, use the mind, both, or neither? Seeing that meditation can be many…
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