All Blog Comments

Bear Albrecht - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Bear Albrecht — Fri, 8 Mar 2013 02:14:00 +0000

The Zynga-Zen thing has me recalling the Phillip Glass statement: "The problem with listening, of course, is that we don't. There's too much noise going on in our heads, so we never hear anything. The inner conversation simply never stops. It can be our voice or whatever voices we want to supply, but it's a constant racket. In the same way we don't see, and in the same way we don't feel, we don't touch, we don't taste." And I'm reminded of a strange "argument" that happened in my office a few years ago. I was just sitting at my desk watching and listening as three colleagues were passionately defending their particular approaches to the problem; there appeared to be no agreement, but to me, listening across the room, they were all saying the same thing and not really hearing each other.

likesofme - The Power of Mindfulness

likesofme — Thu, 7 Mar 2013 21:14:59 +0000

I just started reading Kelly's book on Willpower. Love her work!

cherrin12 - The WIRED World 2013: Popular Technology to Manage Your Mind

cherrin12 — Thu, 7 Mar 2013 05:55:30 +0000

The AccessoryGeeks has your Apple iPhone 5 holder available in all colors, and styles. You can choose from a Apple iphone 5 car holder, or an armband ...

Cristina - BG 277: Start-up Thinking and Buddhist Lineage

Cristina — Wed, 6 Mar 2013 18:24:54 +0000

Interesting comments. USeful fo those trying to startup a community of Buddhist studies.

cherrin12 - BG 267: It’s a Jungle in There

cherrin12 — Wed, 6 Mar 2013 06:13:40 +0000

GSM Phone, which is an abbreviation of Global System for Mobile Communications, is a feature that is frequently advertised in newer cell phone models sold in the ...

cherrin12 - What is Buddhist Geeks?

cherrin12 — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 06:29:09 +0000

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James - BG 150: Self is a Network Phenomenon

James — Mon, 4 Mar 2013 18:02:19 +0000

It appears you actually do get to this point later -- I jumped the gun in harping on you. My bad. :) I do think the dualistic view espoused -- "two possibilities, basically, either, that there is material existence that consciousness is independent of, or, the mind is just inventing all of this in some strange and marvelous way" -- are contrary to buddhist thought, and still follow the Western/Descartian dualistic paradigm. Something that is important to really "get" the point of Buddhism and Nirvana (at least as I understand it) is to abandon that dualism between matter and mind. Don't throw either out, just recognize that they're the same thing -- matter is the "external" observation of forces through empirical/scientific inquiry. Mind/experience is the "internal" observation of mind-states, which neuroscience shows clearly correlate to brain states. Neither of these are fundamental or "real", Kantian-style things in themselves...they're both aggregates. As such, when you "die", when the pattern of your body ceases to perpetuate itself, similar to the way the matter isn't destroyed, neither is the experience. It simply changes from one form to another, and that form it changes to, according to Buddha, is Nirvana.

James - BG 150: Self is a Network Phenomenon

James — Mon, 4 Mar 2013 17:23:25 +0000

In light of the idea of aggregates, or in the modern scientific view of fundamental forces (gravity, nuclear strong and weak, electromagnetism), there is no "real" person. The statement, "Without a doubt, there is a person" is what you need to doubt. The profoundness of buddhism is the recognition that we are not a distinct entity, and there is no hard boundary between "us" and "the world". It's all just a relationship of fundamental forces. "My" hand are just particles. "My" thoughts are just thoughts. "My" memories? Just memories. All of them are phenomenal, not personal. The old adage, "I think, therefore I am" goes a couple of steps too far. In reality, the only thing beyond doubt in that thought is, "There are thoughts". Here is another thought that I think is erroneous, " I think you can’t prove it either way, but of the two possibilities, basically, either, that there is material existence that consciousness is independent of, or, the mind is just inventing all of this in some strange and marvelous way" There is another possibility; that both are real, and not independent. Or, going a step further, neither are real -- they are both composed entities made up of the same fundamental forces. Phenomenal experiences, which "thoughts" are composed of, which "mind" is composed of, are inextricably tied together with matter/externally observable relationships -- which give rise to subatomic particles, eventually atoms, and eventually bodies, and so on. Everything above the fundamental forces/experiences are not "real" in the same way those fundamentals are. Realizing/accepting/believing this leaves you with a somewhat panexperientialist perspective on universe. There is material. There is experience. They are the same. This can help to remove the fear of death/nonexistence, when you realize that "I" don't exist, "thoughts" don't exist, "memory" doesn't exist, "body" doesn't exist, and so on. "You" were never "born" in any way except an abstraction, illusory, imaginary way. The show will go on, without "you". But that doesn't mean experience ends -- experience, which is inextricably linked with fundamental forces, is not dependent on "you" -- because "you" don't exist. So, we're at a funny place, as humans. We conceive ourselves to be alive, a consequence of the patterns which compose our experiences. However, in recognition that vitalism is untrue, and that "life" per se, doesn't exist, we are somewhat freed from suffering. Of course, our ability to recognition the "untrueness" of vitalism will go away. "We" will no longer be coherent, self-aware selves. We will simply experience -- we will be fundamentally incapable of not living in the moment. This is nirvana.

sebastian buettrich - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

sebastian buettrich — Sun, 3 Mar 2013 14:45:47 +0000

dear all, a few thoughts, triggered by this discussion. and, like others here, at times uneasy about some aspects of Wisdom2.0 and related. As a buddhist practicioner in technology, working with sensors and all that - i feel we should strongly ask whether meditation. compassion and sincere intention needs all the technological support and justification. if my mind did not tell me that my breathing improved during sitting, the sensors sure will not add anything. if my mind doesnt become calmer through practice, a calmer X-Y-graph on screen adds little. Are we just cycling into yet another round of spiritual materialism? (i m not criticizing from the outside - i m just part of a project working on exactly these things, sensor enhanced practice dresses for yoga, etc ;) - it s great fun!) Mindfulness techniques surely help us focus and be more efficient. They might greatly aid the drone pilot on his path to a killing. Without compassion and beneficial attention, they are meaningless techniques. Should they be put in use for goals of profit maximisation? a side aspect: Is money really generated by creating value? Is it not rather always just an exchange, a transformation in a zero sum game? So, do we need to connect these things? Will a Wisdom 3.0 have to start to work with the root intentions and incentives? And, will this not have to transform capitalist business rather than improving its techniques? Gratefully, wishing all the best to you and those around you, s.

janet - The WIRED World 2013: Popular Technology to Manage Your Mind

janet — Sat, 2 Mar 2013 05:45:45 +0000

Technology is really fast growing and many software application today is implemented. Smartphone such as Samsung and Apple is racing with their sales as of today, technology has become an integral part of our daily life.

@leeclemmer - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

@leeclemmer — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 16:26:26 +0000

Hi Vince, thanks for this right-up, definitely gave me a few things to ponder. I've been thinking about the topic of bridging the gap between spiritual practice and technology myself as I work in the software industry and am also starting to think about Right Livelihood. It's very tricky I think. A successful business that supports people's livelihoods must make money (at least in the economic system as we have it today). Money is generated by creating value, enough that someone is willing to part with their money for it. Now the purpose of a business that above and beyond making money also does real good in the world should - perhaps - be to foster and promote mindfulness. But what better way to cultivate mindfulness and compassion than through meditation? Well, meditating is free, as is a lot of teaching on meditation. So the question then becomes, what technology is so valuable in promoting my mindfulness practice, being more effective than or simply enhancing my meditation, that I would actually pay money for it? The other question we should ask, however uncomfortable, is whether buddhism and technology necessarily need to be connected? Sure technology as a form of communication to spread the dharma seems positive and helpful. But does technology really hold the promise of aiding the hard work of spiritual practice, or does it simply get in the way? Thanks again, - Lee

Chris - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Chris — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 16:12:04 +0000

Vince, I attended Wisdom 2.0 last year - thanks for selling me your tickets - and my observation was that the wisdom folks and the technology folks were very clearly talking at cross purposes. I think that's natural, and I'm not sure that Silicon Valley, for all the supposed differences between that place and other places (from a business POV) can be expected to be fundamentally different. Yes, things move faster, risk is rewarded and failure is better tolerated, but the fundamental incentives are the same - make money, satisfy investors and shareholders. In Silicon Valley there is an often stated desire to do bigger, maybe better things, but those motives are, at least in my observation, subservient to the profit motive that drives capitalist ventures. I'm not saying this is good or bad or otherwise. It just is. So I left Wisdom 2.0 last year wondering, "Why this?" Glad to see that may be changing, albeit slowly.

Nancy - BG 256: Will the Real Buddha Please Stand Up?

Nancy — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 15:54:25 +0000

I appreciate his perspective and this form of one upmanship is not a real effective way to advertise your article.

website - BG 273: The Witness

website — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 10:13:58 +0000

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dissertation outline - Creativity Without Grasping

dissertation outline — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 07:09:27 +0000

Creativity without grasping will teach you on hot to explore or think more in what you do. That will bring out the best in you.

Aydın Özer - BG 266: Mindful Binge Drinking and Blobology

Aydın Özer — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 06:48:39 +0000

Willoughby Britton needs to get off her high horse and meditate more.

cherrin12 - McLuhan and Buddhism | How is the Medium Changing the Message?

cherrin12 — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 03:47:21 +0000

The olloclip is a quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPod touch that includes fisheye, wide-angle and macro iphone 5 lens in one ...

Jack - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Jack — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:22:26 +0000

I really appreciate your user's report on the Muse headband. I've been watching Ted-Talks and such about the kind of training these new sensors make possible, and had exactly the same reaction: cool, but it doesn't seem to overlap with the state of meditation as I know and conceive it. I'll reserve judgment, too, and look forward to play with these machines and for the market place to give its feedback so that the the devices mutate and their purposes proliferate. It would be nice to think that technology will soon "get" meditation, and be an aid. I guess it's also possible that meditation as we know it might change in response to the technology-mediated mind states that will come into existence as machines and practice merge and transform each other.

Danny - BG 144: Turning Your Back to the Buddha

Danny — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:51:15 +0000

What a great interview.

cherrin12 - Emily Horn : New Buddhist Geek(ette)

cherrin12 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:08:53 +0000

TP Link router, TL-WR1043ND Ultimate Wireless N300 Router .... TP-LINK TL-WR841N Wireless N300 Home Router, 300Mpbs, IP QoS, WPS Button ...

All Blog Comments

Bear Albrecht - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

likesofme - The Power of Mindfulness

cherrin12 - The WIRED World 2013: Popular Technology to Manage Your Mind

Cristina - BG 277: Start-up Thinking and Buddhist Lineage

cherrin12 - BG 267: It’s a Jungle in There

cherrin12 - What is Buddhist Geeks?

James - BG 150: Self is a Network Phenomenon

James - BG 150: Self is a Network Phenomenon

sebastian buettrich - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

janet - The WIRED World 2013: Popular Technology to Manage Your Mind

@leeclemmer - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Chris - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Nancy - BG 256: Will the Real Buddha Please Stand Up?

website - BG 273: The Witness

dissertation outline - Creativity Without Grasping

Aydın &Ouml;zer - BG 266: Mindful Binge Drinking and Blobology

cherrin12 - McLuhan and Buddhism | How is the Medium Changing the Message?

Jack - Wisdom 2.0 | Are We There Yet?

Danny - BG 144: Turning Your Back to the Buddha

cherrin12 - Emily Horn : New Buddhist Geek(ette)

Aydın Özer - BG 266: Mindful Binge Drinking and Blobology