Buddhist Geeks

The Buddhist Geeks Conference has been a meeting place for contemplative thinkers, scientists, and technology experts since 2011. During this Q&A for the Contemplative Technology panel from the 2014 conference, conference goers expand the conversation to include tech-induced human evolution and the possibility of shortcuts on the path to enlightenment. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one: The Near Future of Contemplative Technology. Episode Links: www.VincentHorn.com www.mindtraining.io Katherine MacLean, PhD : Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ( http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry ) Jacob Redmond : Emotiv ( https://emotiv.com ) Mikey Siegel ( www.MikeySiegel.com ) Neema Moraveji : Spire ( http://www.spire.io )

The Buddhist Geeks Conference has been a meeting place for contemplative thinkers, scientists, and technology experts since 2011. In this panel discussion from the 2014 conference, Vincent Horn hosts a panel filled with contemplatives, technologists, and research scientists to discuss the past, present, and possible future of the field of Contemplative Technology. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Discussing Contemplative Technology. Episode Links: www.VincentHorn.com www.mindtraining.io Katherine MacLean, PhD : Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ( http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry ) Jacob Redmond : Emotiv ( https://emotiv.com ) Mikey Siegel ( www.MikeySiegel.com ) Neema Moraveji : Spire ( http://www.spire.io )

Vincent Horn is part of a new generation of teachers who are translating the wisdom traditions of the past into 21st century code. In this talk from a recent San Francisco Consciousness Hacking Meet-Up, Vincent introduces himself to the group and describes the questions that have led to a new project: Mindtraining.io. What does it mean to meditate in the digital age? What does the contemplative path look like right now and how do we want it to look? And finally, how do we bring the sacred and secular together in a way that works? Episode Links: www.MindTraining.io Consciousness Hacking San Francisco Meetup ( http://www.meetup.com/Consciousness-Hacking-San-Francisco/ ) video recording of the meetup with post-talk open discussion ( http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/60364099 )

Dr. Reggie Ray is an author, teacher, and the Spiritual Director for the Dharma Ocean Community. In the conclusion to a recent conversation with host Vincent Horn, Reggie shares his thoughts on technology and human development, transhumanism, and the danger of not being human enough. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one BG 357: Shikantaza Practice. Episode Links: Dharma Ocean ( http://www.dharmaocean.org )

Dr. Reggie Ray is an author, teacher, and the Spiritual Director for the Dharma Ocean Community. In this conversation with host Vincent Horn, Reggie discusses the Shikantaza practice he has developed. He describes the basic instructions and experience of Shikantaza, the Tibetan practice elements he has incorporated, and the powerful effects of this hybrid practice on the spiritual life. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Befriending the Human Experience. Episode Links: Dharma Ocean ( http://www.dharmaocean.org )

Daniel Ingram is a Buddhist teacher and the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. In this keynote from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Daniel speaks on the visual, auditory, physical, and psychological phenomena referred to as powers, or siddhis. He provides examples of power manifestation, why and how powers appear, and the effects of powers on the individual and community levels. Episode Links: Daniel Ingram ( http://integrateddaniel.info ) Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book ( http://amzn.to/1MUQyEW )

Susan Piver is a Buddhist teacher and a New York Times bestselling author. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Susan relates the genesis of The Open Heart Project, dispels common misconceptions about meditation practice, and shares her insights on the development of online practice communities. Episode Links: www.SusanPiver.com The Open Heart Project ( http://susanpiver.com/open-heart-project/ )

Susan Kaiser Greenland developed the Inner Kids mindful awareness program for children, teens and their families. She is author of The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate (Free Press, 2010). In this keynote from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Susan shares some of the tools she uses to connect with students and teachers, and the three important components to the Inner Kids training: worldview, practice, and community. Episode Links: www.SusanKaiserGreenland.com The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate ( http://www.susankaisergreenland.com/book.html ) Crap, I Forgot to Be Mindful Again ( http://slate.me/1MUQoNU )

Dr. Charles T. Tart has been involved with research and theory in the fields of Hypnosis, Psychology, Transpersonal Psychology, Parapsychology, Consciousness and Mindfulness since 1963. In this keynote from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Dr. Tart shares research that supports the serious consideration of the paranormal and addresses the convergence of spirituality, science, and scientism. Episode Links: Charles T. Tart Home Page and Consciousness Library ( http://www.paradigm-sys.com ) The End of Materialism: How Evidence of the Paranormal Is Bringing Science and Spirit Together ( http://amzn.to/1MUQkOj )

Vincent Horn is a mind hacker & buddhist geek. In this keynote from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference Vincent explores the unbundling of components like meditation and mindfulness from contemporary Buddhism. He then explores the process of re-bundling and what the future of both Buddhist and Buddhist-inspired models may look like as new combinations of knowledge come together in novel, and sometimes timeless, ways.Episode Links:

JoAnna Harper is a Buddhist teacher with Against the Stream and Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In this episode JoAnna joins host Emily Horn to explore inclusivity and diversity in the Buddhist community, starting with an examination of how the Buddha taught inclusivity in the first sanghas. The conversation expands to highlight teachings and strategies that help foster open communication in diverse groups, how to build environments where it’s safe to make mistakes when learning to communicate compassionately, and the importance of holding our opinions and views lightly. Episode Links: Against the Stream ( http://www.againstthestream.org ) Spirit Rock ( http://www.spiritrock.org ) JoAnna Harper on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/joannaharper65 )

Soryu Forall is a teacher and leader at the Center for Mindful Learning. The second part of Soryu’s conversation with host Vincent Horn delves into the spaces between tradition and innovation. Soryu shares his gratitude for the traditional teachings he learned in Asia, and explains how useful those teachings are today. This leads to an exchange of ideas on rebirth and karma, teaching secular mindfulness in schools, and exploring the feedback loops that lead to the end of feedback loops. This is part two of a two part series. Listen to part one BG 349: Awakening is the End of All Feedback Loops. Episode Links: Center for Mindful Learning ( http://www.centerformindfullearning.org ) Modern Mindfulness ( http://www.modmind.org )

Soryu Forall is the Director of Mindfulness Education at the Center for Mindful Learning. He also leads a unique “modern monastery” training program for those who want to integrate awakening and responsibility. In this conversation with host Vincent Horn, Soryu describes life within the CML Residential program, what it means to come to an end of all feedback loops, and how awakening is directly linked to personal discipline and responsibility. This is part one of a two part series. Listen to part two: Conserve & Adapt. Episode Links: Center for Mindful Learning ( http://www.centerformindfullearning.org ) Sanskara ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskara ) Autocatalysis ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocatalysis )

Mikey Siegel is a meditator, technologist, and pioneer in the field of “Enlightenment Engineering”. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Mikey explores the idea that enlightenment can be engineered through the use of applied contemplative science. Presenting various examples of technology applicable to a contemplative path, he states enlightenment is real, science can quantify it, and technology can facilitate it. Therefore, Mikey asks, what better use of technology in the service of humanity than the end of suffering? Episode Links: www.MikeySiegel.com BioFluent Technologies ( http://www.biofluent.com )

Robin Arnott is an indie game designer and interactive artist. In this presentation from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, he speaks about applying game design to meditation. Robin first explains how a state of trance is central to both the experience of meditation and the experience of game play. He then shows how game mechanics might be utilized in meditation practice to support a trance, and how these ideas are already being explored in the video game industry. Episode Links: SOUNDSELF ( http://soundselfgame.com ) Robin on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/VideoDreaming )

Bodhipaksa is a Buddhist meditation teacher, author, and founder of Wildmind.org, an online meditation resource. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Bodhipaksa explores ways to identify and correct “bugs” in traditional Buddhist teachings. Providing specific examples of bugs and solutions, he encourages the audience to personally use scholarship and experiential practice to verify teachings and stop clinging to incorrect understandings of Buddhist teachings. Episode Links: www.Wildmind.org Bodhipaksa on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Bodhipaksa )

Hokai Sobol is a teacher in the Shingon tradition of Japanese Vajrayana and a long time mentor to the Buddhist Geeks team. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Hokai speaks about the relationship between imagination and Buddhism. He explains why imagination is important to spiritual practice, he gives examples of the creative process found in Buddhist tradition, and he presents an examination of the state of contemporary Buddhist Art. Episode Links: www.Hokai.info Hokai on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/hokaisobol )

John F. Simon is a visual artist and software programmer. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, John shares how he uses the simple act of drawing as a powerful contemplative practice. Detailing the process and growth he’s experienced from daily drawing, he examines how his artistic practice has led to a spiritual practice that in turn feeds back into his creative process. Episode Links: www.iclock.com Every Icon Project ( http://www.numeral.com/eicon.html )

Katherine MacLean, PhD. is an academically trained research scientist and meditation practitioner with a long-standing interest in the brain, consciousness and the science of well-being. As a postdoctoral research fellow and faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she worked on the largest study to date combining psychedelics and meditation. Her research on psilocybin and personality change suggests that psychedelic medicines may play an important role in enhancing mental health and promoting openness and creativity throughout the lifespan. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Katherine presents her experience of studying psychedelics. She shares personal travel stories of mystical experiences in the Himalayas, research results from facilities around the world, and potential therapies for the injured and dying using psilocybin, MDMA, and other psychedelics. A proponent of psychedelic use for therapy and mental health, Katherine encourages the audience to rethink wha

Lama Karma (Justin Wall) graduated from Columbia University with degrees in Religious Studies and Literature and has been practicing Buddhism for over 12 years. He completed two traditional three-year retreats under the direction of Lama Norlha Rinpoche at Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery in New York, studying and practicing in the Karma Kagyu, Shangpa Kagyu and Nyingma Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. In this talk from the 2014 Buddhist Geeks Conference, Lama Karma describes the gap between the modern mindfulness movement and the Mahamudra tradition. He argues that the presentation of secular mindfulness teachings without the context of Buddhist tradition can lead practitioners to mistakes resulting in harmful dualistic perception. He then presents a framework in which these mistakes of secular mindfulness can be addressed through the Mahamudra teachings. Episode Links: Milarepa Dzong Retreat Center ( http://www.mocd.org )