Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot

In this dharma talk, Sensei Kozan dives into Dogen’s “Mountains and Rivers Sutra”. In this esoteric fascicle, Dogen engages in the impossible task of naming the unnamable – the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. Rather than trying to understand the sutra intellectually, Kozan calls us to listen to the present moment through the sutra. We can experience “joy of reading Dogen as if listening to the river. We understand even if we don’t know what it is we understand.” Kozan calls us into a deeper relationship with mountains and waters – one that acknowledges our non-separation. The sutra speaks of mountains and waters as being ancient Buddhas that “abide in their unique conditions” – they embody what they are with no resistance, jealousy, or insecurity, So too do we abide in our unique conditions, whether we like those conditions or not. “There’s no way to be anything but who and where we are”, and yet we resist, we form hardened beliefs, and we close ourselves off. Like mountains and rivers, how can we learn to abide in our conditions?

This is John’s part of the dialogue led in two parts by Richard Davidson and John Dunne explores topics on meditation beyond commodification, the transformation in neuroscience, and the importance of flourishing for ethical engagement. The speakers highlight the importance of social engagement and service, and the four pillars of human flourishing. The discussion also explores the limitations of AI, the role of touch in human development, and the importance of broadening the conversation to include all forms of life. Other topics like subjectivity, sentience, reflexivity, and the construct of self are also mentioned.

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This is Richard’s part of the dialogue led in two parts by Richard Davidson and John Dunne explores topics on meditation beyond commodification, the transformation in neuroscience, and the importance of flourishing for ethical engagement. The speakers highlight the importance of social engagement and service, and the four pillars of human flourishing. The discussion also explores the limitations of AI, the role of touch in human development, and the importance of broadening the conversation to include all forms of life. Other topics like subjectivity, sentience, reflexivity, and the construct of self are also mentioned.

To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

In this lecture physicist Adam Frank delves into the blind spot in science, a concept that has led to a crisis in physics and issues in quantum mechanics. The discussion explores quantum mechanics, interpretations of it, and the impact of the blind spot philosophy. It also highlights critiques by Alfred North Whitehead and Edmund Hersel, and introduces the concept of science beyond the blind spot, emphasizing the need for a new image of nature.

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This is Kristin’s part of the two lectures given by Evan Thompson and Kristin Andrews delve into the concept of life as sensemaking and its implications for artificial intelligence (AI) and consciousness. The speakers discuss the importance of embodiment, organizational closure, and autonomy in living systems. They explore the unique characteristics of living systems and their relationship with the environment. The discussion also covers topics such as the limitations of AI systems, the ethical implications of assuming all life is sentient, and the power dynamics in AI. Additionally, the conversation delves into understanding consciousness in animals and the need for a secure theory of consciousness.

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This is Evan’s part of the two lectures given by Evan Thompson and Kristin Andrews delve into the concept of life as sensemaking and its implications for artificial intelligence (AI) and consciousness. The speakers discuss the importance of embodiment, organizational closure, and autonomy in living systems. They explore the unique characteristics of living systems and their relationship with the environment. The discussion also covers topics such as the limitations of AI systems, the ethical implications of assuming all life is sentient, and the power dynamics in AI. Additionally, the conversation delves into understanding consciousness in animals and the need for a secure theory of consciousness.

To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.