Redesigning the Dharma (RTD) explores the evolution of contemplative practice from traditional models (Proprietary Dharma) to open sourced approaches to contemplative practice and Dharma communities. As an American expat who has lived in Thailand for over ten years, I’m interested in both how The Dharma is evolving in Western countries, as well as how Buddhist traditions and practices are evolving in more traditional contexts in Asia.
While RTD has a clear Buddhist bent, it’s also for those interested in conversations between other contemplative traditions and Buddhism, as well as the dialogue between various traditions and schools within Buddhism. Finally, the podcast will also consider how to work with plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Soma through Buddhist and contemplative perspectives.
See all episodes at SahajaSoma.com/redesigning-the-dharma.
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Redesigning the Dharma (RTD) explores the evolution of contemplative practice from traditional models (Proprietary Dharma) to open sourced approaches to contemplative practice and Dharma communities. As an American expat who has lived in Thailand for over ten years, I’m interested in both how The Dharma is evolving in Western countries, as well as how Buddhist traditions and practices are evolving in more traditional contexts in Asia.
While RTD has a clear Buddhist bent, it’s also for those interested in conversations between other contemplative traditions and Buddhism, as well as the dialogue between various traditions and schools within Buddhism. Finally, the podcast will also consider how to work with plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Soma through Buddhist and contemplative perspectives.
See all episodes at SahajaSoma.com/redesigning-the-dharma.
Finding Enlightenment Through Disenchantment with Erik Davis
Redesigning the Dharma
58 minutes 6 seconds
1 year ago
Finding Enlightenment Through Disenchantment with Erik Davis
Episode 8 of Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma features a conversation with Erik Davis, an author and founding member of The Alembic (https://berkeleyalembic.org/) at Berkeley. The discussion begins with an introduction to Davis’ recent work on an upcoming book about LSD blotter art and his Substack 'Burning Shore.' They delve into the contemporary dharma scene, the strengths and weaknesses of the younger generation of practitioners, and how psychedelics play a role in this landscape. Erik shares about the intersections between Zen practice, the non-dual awareness traditions, and psychedelics, emphasizing the importance of a pluralistic and open-minded approach to spirituality. The dialogue encapsulates a rich discussion on the challenges and opportunities within modern spiritual practices, the evolving landscape of psychedelic experiences, and the balance between tradition and innovation.Episode Highlights:* 00:00 Introduction, Guest Background, Erik’s Current Projects* 02:18 Insights From The Alembic: Observations on Young Dharma Practitioners* 12:16 Disenchantment and Enchantment in Psychedelic Experiences* 30:42 The Participant Observer: A Journey of Discernment and Non-Duality* 44:10 The Open Source Approach to Spirituality and Its Challenges* 50:55 Embracing Pluralism and Mystery in Spiritual PracticeGuest Bio:Erik Davisis an author, award-winning journalist, sometimes podcaster, and popular speaker based in San Francisco. He is the author of five books, including High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the 70s; Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica; The Visionary State: A Journey through California’s Spiritual Landscape; and the 33 1/3 volume Led Zeppelin IV. His first and best-known book remains TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information, a cult classic of visionary media studies that’s still in print.Erik’s scholarly and popular essays on California, music, technoculture, drugs, and spirituality have appeared in scores of books, magazines, and journals, and his writing has been translated into over a dozen languages. Davis has spoken widely at universities, conferences, retreat centers, and festivals, and has been interviewed by CNN, the BBC, NPR, and the New York Times. He graduated from Yale University in 1988, and earned his PhD in religious studies at Rice University in 2015. He currently writes the Substack publication Burning Shore.CONNECT WITH ERIK (https://twitter.com/erik_davis)SUBSCRIBE TO BURNING SHORE (https://www.burningshore.com/)THE ALEMBIC (https://berkeleyalembic.org/)SEE ALL EPISODES (https://www.sahajasoma.com/redesigning-the-dharma)
Redesigning the Dharma
Redesigning the Dharma (RTD) explores the evolution of contemplative practice from traditional models (Proprietary Dharma) to open sourced approaches to contemplative practice and Dharma communities. As an American expat who has lived in Thailand for over ten years, I’m interested in both how The Dharma is evolving in Western countries, as well as how Buddhist traditions and practices are evolving in more traditional contexts in Asia.
While RTD has a clear Buddhist bent, it’s also for those interested in conversations between other contemplative traditions and Buddhism, as well as the dialogue between various traditions and schools within Buddhism. Finally, the podcast will also consider how to work with plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Soma through Buddhist and contemplative perspectives.
See all episodes at SahajaSoma.com/redesigning-the-dharma.
