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Cynicism and Magic

A panel discussion on traveling the Buddhist Path

Trungpa and Ram Dass

Photo by Rachel Homer


WHEN:  Sept. 20, 2021, 7pm – 8:30pm EDT

WHERE:  Zoom Link Will Be Sent After Registering TEACHERS:  Susan Piver, David Nichtern, Michael Carroll

HOSTED BY:   Al San Valentin, and Bill Moriarty

"As long as a person has a cynical attitude, everything presented by the Buddha develops organically, automatically. It is workable."

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The new book “Cynicism and Magic” explores  Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s early teachings during the turbulent 1970’s as Eastern spirituality and Western culture clashed, mingled and transformed themselves.  During this 90-minute panel discussion we will explore some of the core questions addressed in these groundbreaking and distinctive teachings:

  1. What is “spiritual materialism” and how does it undermine our aspiration for spiritual fulfillment? 

  2. What is “sitting meditation” and how does it dismantle psychological confusion? Why is such a simple act indispensable for traveling the spiritual path?

  3. What is the role of critical intelligence in pursuing a spiritual discipline?

  4. Why does the Buddhist tradition consider compassion to be essential to discovering spiritual freedom?  

Teachers

David Nichtern

David Nichtern was one of the original Western students of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 50 years. He is the founder and CEO of dharmamoon.com, a mindfulness based education platform and global community. He is also a Grammy nominated and Emmy Award winning composer/producer/guitarist.


Susan Piver

Susan has an international reputation for being an exceptionally skillful meditation teacher. She has been a student of Buddhism since 1995, graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004 and was authorized to teach meditation in 2005. In 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project, the world’s largest online-only meditation center.

Michael Carroll

Michael is a co-founder of The Wisdom Seat, the author of “Awake at Work” and “The Mindful Leader” and is a teacher in the Kagyu-Nyingma Buddhist lineage. He began practicing meditation in 1976 after receiving instruction from his first teacher HH Dudjom Rinpoche, and graduated Buddhist Seminary in 1980 under the guidance of his root teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Cynicism and Magic book cover


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