Shinzen Young - 2nd Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview

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Shinzen Young is an American mindfulness teacher and neuroscience research consultant.

His systematic approach to categorizing, adapting and teaching meditation has resulted in collaborations with Harvard Medical School, Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Vermont in the bourgeoning field of contemplative neuroscience.

Shinzen’s interest in Asia began at the age of 14 when he decided to attend Japanese ethnic school in his native city of Los Angeles.
After majoring in Asian languages at UCLA, he entered a PhD program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. As a part of his thesis research, he lived as a Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana) monk for three years at Mount Koya, Japan. It was then that he received the name Shinzen (真善).

Also during that time, he became friends with Father William Johnston (author of Christian Zen). Fr. Johnston helped broaden Shinzen’s interests to include comparative world mysticism and the scientific study of meditative states.

Upon returning to the United States, his academic interests shifted to the dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science.
Shinzen is known for his interactive, algorithmic approach to mindfulness, and often uses mathematical metaphors to illustrate meditative phenomena.

He is the author of The Science of Enlightenment, Natural Pain Relief and numerous audio offerings.

Shinzen leads residential retreats throughout North America. In 2006, he created the Home Practice Program. These phone-based mini-retreats are designed to make deep meditation practice accessible to anyone in the world regardless of their location, health situation, and time or financial constraints.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:16 - Introduction to Shinzen's Work
00:07:04 - The Scientific Method: Breaking Down the Basic Elements
00:11:24 - The Sword and the Book in Buddhism
00:16:21 - Vivid Experiences and the Laws of Physics
00:22:19 - Analyzing the Dimensions of Mindfulness
00:31:49 - The Potential of New Discoveries
00:41:08 - The Marriage of Spirituality and Technology
00:50:01 - Different fields of the same elephant
00:55:19 - The Effortlessness of Concentration
00:58:49 - Elevating Concentration without Effort
01:03:06 - Who or what becomes enlightened?
01:07:29 - The Circuits of Meditation
01:12:54 - Enlightenment and Phenomenal Experience
01:18:56 - The Oneness of Experience
01:23:50 - Navigating the Power Realms and Surrendering to the Formless Source
01:33:07 - Balancing Effort and Surrender in Practice
01:38:49 - Equanimity and Surrender
01:41:48 - Developing a Fully Modern Delivery System
01:45:58 - Enhancing Enlightenment with Brain Hacks
01:52:59 - Suspending the Obstacles to Primordial Perfection
01:57:23 - Experiment and Hypotheses
02:02:31 - Exploring the Possibilities of Virtual Lesions for Enlightenment
02:06:58 - Exploring Neurological Conditions and Enlightenment
02:10:52 - The State of Absolute No-Self
02:15:27 - Basal Ganglia System and Thymormic Syndrome
02:20:51 - The Model Disease
02:25:12 - Industrial Strength Brain Technology
02:29:29 - Awakening Coma Patients with Ultrasound Technology
02:32:57 - The Marriage of the Century
02:35:08 - Wrap-Up and Gratitude