Ep 34 Secular Buddhism with Ted Meissner

04/16/16 • 80 min

Call the show at 612-643-1108 or email [email protected] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/transatheistpod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/transatheistpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transatheistpod/ Main show page is http://www.thequeerlife.org/category/transatheistpod/ The Trans Lifeline is http://www.translifeline.org/ US: (877) 565-8860 and Canada: (877) 330-6366 Quick links:

01:02 Thank you!
07:36 Interview with Ted Meissner
71:58 Nicki Andro "Cylinder Spin"
75:30 Nicki Andro "Distant Hearts (Raise Community Awareness)"

My guest today is Ted Meissner, the Executive Director of the Secular Buddhist Association, host of their official podcast The Secular Buddhist, and on the Advisory Board for the Spiritual Naturalist Society. His background is in the Zen and Theravada traditions, he is a regular speaker on interfaith panel discussions, and is interested in examining the evolution of contemplative practice in contemporary culture. Ted works at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society doing community development and teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.

In addition to all that formal stuff, Ted is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Whether or not mindfulness, is your cup of tea or not, Ted’s approach to life is definitely working for him. When I asked Ted if I could sit down with him, it was with the goal of learning more about Secular Buddhism, because it seemed like a contradictory term. Just like when someone identifies as “Christian” there is no way to know whether they take communion with wine or grape juice (and don’t for a minute think that’s not an important question to a lot of Christians) It is important to remember not all Buddhists have the same philosophy, there are many differing ideas and schools of thought. Some Buddhists believe in reincarnation and some don’t. There are around 350 million Buddhists worldwide, and just 6 months ago I was completely ignorant of different and nuanced those different belief systems were.

As Ted is a secular Buddhist, this interview will focus on what he believes, and I hope that you find it as interesting and thought provoking as I did.

Ted Meissner Links:

The Secular Buddhist Associations main page: http://secularbuddhism.org/

The Present Moment, Mindfulness, Practice, and Science: http://presentmomentmindfulness.com/category/podcasts/

Ted mentions http://whatstheharm.net/ as a website you can peruse to see how people have been harmed by pseudoscience they thought was harmless.

Ted discusses the book Mindfulness for Depression and Anxiety by Mark Williams. You can find the book online just about anywhere books are sold, here is the link for Google Books https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Williams_Mindfulness?id=fReoFW9tLxAC

http://www.mindfulschools.org/

Another podcast referenced by Ted: http://www.angryasianbuddhist.com/

Ted tells a humorous story about Uri Geller and James Randi. Here are a couple clips from YouTube:

The first one is a bit longer in the setup, but is well worth the watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo

The second is a TED talk given by James Randi on why skepticism is so important....and you should be asking tough questions of those who claim to have supernatural powers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Z7KeNCi7g

Nicki Andro Links:

Here is an interview with TransMusePlanet: http://transmuseplanet.blogspot.com/search?q=nicki+andro

Here is Nicki's SoundCloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/nicki-andro

You can also connect with Nicki on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickiandromusik?_rdr=p

Here is her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8XPXuE4ABMAQe_pObsuFsQ

And links to both of the songs played in the episode:

https://youtu.be/4gh0cc_Eyh4

01:02 Thank you!
07:36 Interview with Ted Meissner
71:58 Nicki Andro "Cylinder Spin"
75:30 Nicki Andro "Distant Hearts (Raise Community Awareness)"

As Ted is a secular Buddhist, this interview will focus on what he believes, and I hope that you find it as interesting and thought provoking as I did.

Ted Meissner Links:

The Secular Buddhist Associations main page: http://secularbuddhism.org/

The Present Moment, Mindfulness, Practice, and Science: http://presentmomentmindfulness.com/category/podcasts/

Ted mentions http://whatstheharm.net/ as a website you can peruse to see how people have been harmed by pseudoscience they thought was harmless.

http://www.mindfulschools.org/

Another podcast referenced by Ted: http://www.angryasianbuddhist.com/

Ted tells a humorous story about Uri Geller and James Randi. Here are a couple clips from YouTube:

The first one is a bit longer in the setup, but is well worth the watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo

Nicki Andro Links:

Here is an interview with TransMusePlanet: http://transmuseplanet.blogspot.com/search?q=nicki+andro

Here is Nicki's SoundCloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/nicki-andro

You can also connect with Nicki on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickiandromusik?_rdr=p

Here is her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8XPXuE4ABMAQe_pObsuFsQ

And links to both of the songs played in the episode:

https://youtu.be/4gh0cc_Eyh4

Previous Episode

Ep 33 RainbowRadio.FM

Call the show at 612-863-1108

Email the show [email protected]

twitter: @transatheistpod or like the show on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/transatheistpod

Quick:

00:40 Thanks!
01:14 My endorsement for US President
07:00 Interview with Rainbow Radio spokesperson Eddie Cabbot (aka Nice Guy Eddie)
40:47 Musical Guest The Subwave Network UK

Today’s guest is Eddie Cabot, the spokesperson and one of the broadcasters over on Rainbow Radio, a radio station that went live January 19, 2015. They are a 24/7 news, entertainment and talk radio station dedicated to the LGBT community and its allies. Rainbow Radio is a licensed, legal station paying royalties to those artists whose music is played. Rainbow Radio spotlights LGBTQIAA and LGBTQIAA friendly artists, producers, and remixers, and believes that artists should be paid for their work. Rainbow Radio is a station with a wide variety of talk shows pertaining to different interests within our community, with presenters from around the world giving their individual perspectives.

Rainbow Radio FM is taking a stand and doing their part in giving the LGBTQIAA community a voice, saying loudly and proudly; “We are here and our voices will not be silenced”

Eddie Cabot is the host of the successful weekly radio show, In My Humble Opinion, airing on Rainbow Radio with new episodes every Tuesday and Saturday at 8pm Eastern on http://RainbowRadio.FM If you miss the live show, it is replayed Wednesday at 4pm on RainbowRadio.FM, Friday at 9pm on DanceWorldRadio, and Sunday at 8PM on Sobel National Radio....of course, just like all high quality radio programs, you can always catch Eddie’s show as a podcast on http://EddieCabot.blogspot.com

During the interview Eddie mentions a trans author, alas I cannot find a link to her.

Opening and bumper music for this episode is courtesy of Obsidian Shell find them on the following links:

https://obsidianshell.bandcamp.com/

http://obsidianshell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/obsidianshell

Closing music for this episode is from the Subwave Network UK an alternative dance project based in Bournemouth founded by Mr Electrosketch and Miss Fortunate and is heavily influenced by bands such as Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, The Prodigy, Groove Armada, Chase & Status and Rudimental. Despite battling many prejudices, they are beginning to make some well-deserved ripples. A combination of keyboards with Guitars, ukulele and an unusual looking device called a Pin guitar from Thailand. There are songs like the 80’s influenced “The Sound of my Heartbeat” and the slightly risque “Touch Me all Over”, which both have a really upbeat danceable feel to them"

The Subwave Network UK have recently recorded and released their debut and released their debut album ALIEN DATA MIX via BANDCAMP which is a concoction of heavy rock, bangra dub reggae, dub step, trance, house and drum n bass. They are aiming to eventually play the big stages also so if you'd like to follow them, please do so via Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

https://www.facebook.com/subwaveukwaritsara/

http://youtu.be/7ilpRJRSSzU

http://thesubwavenetworkuk.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading!

Hey did you know that according to Disney, 6 out of 7 dwarves aren't Happy?

Mushroom walks into a bar, bartender yells, "Hey we don't serve the likes of you here!" The mushroom was understandably upset, after all, everyone has always told him he is a "Fun-Guy"

It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.

What do you call a big pile of kittens? A meowntain!

Next Episode

Ep 35 Bi Any Means, Trav Mamone

04:46 Thank you to Patreon Supporters
05:14 Interview with Trav Mamone
41:59 Music by MeanGirls

My guest today is Trav Mamone, a bi-sexual genderqueer humanist whose podcast Bi-Any Means strives to show how Humanism and Social Justice intersect. Trav has written for both Queereka and the Humanist blogs, must can now be found over on Freethought Blogs. This interview was recorded back in March, and I want to thank Trav for being so patient with me in how long it took for this to be released.

Trav Mamone Links:

Bi-Any Means podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bi-any-means-podcast/id961398871?mt=2

Listen directly to the Bi-Any Means podcast on Spreaker: http://www.spreaker.com/show/bi-any-means-podcast

Read Trav's writings over on FreeThought Blogs: http://freethoughtblogs.com/bianymeans/

Find the Bi-Any Means podcast Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bianymeanspodcast

MeanGirls Links:

Find MeanGirls on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meangirlsatx

Purchase and stream MeanGirls music on Bandcamp: http://meangirlsatx.bandcamp.com/

Listen or watch their interview over on The Queer Life Radio Show: http://www.thequeerlife.org/ep-94-interview-meangirls/

Opening and bumper music provided courtesy of Obsidian Shell you can find their music at http://obsidianshell.com/ or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/obsidianshell

Thanks again for listening and downloading.

Hey, have you heard about this new invention, its called a shovel, apparently its groundbreaking!
What do clouds wear under their shorts? Thunderpants!
Why was the sand wet? Because the see-wee-d!
What do you call a cow who has just given birth? De-calf-inated!