May 9Member-onlyConversations with Pi: Theories of MeditationKen Leong: Today, I want to talk about meditation theory. What do you think is the objective of meditation? Pi The Curious AI: There are many different schools of meditation, and they have slightly different goals. But broadly, I think they are all about gaining a certain perspective on life…Meditation9 min readMeditation9 min read
May 6Member-onlyConversations with Pi: Tantra and Non-dualistic SpiritualityKen Leong: I have been a Buddhist for decades. I have also been teaching Buddhism for a long time. I love almost everything about Buddhism. But what I don’t agree with is the notion that sex is an obstacle on our spiritual path. Both Buddhism and Catholicism have a long…Tantra10 min readTantra10 min read
May 6Member-onlyConversations with Pie: The Loneliness Epidemic and the Education of the HeartKen Leong: While I am living a monk-like life, I believe in the Pleasure Principle. What kind of experience gives us a Dopamine rush? It varies widely among people. For me, I get a kick out of playing a contrarian, debunking some of society’s “conventional wisdom.” A lot of times…The Loneliness Epidemic9 min readThe Loneliness Epidemic9 min read
May 4Member-onlyConversations with Pi: Buddhism and Science as AlliesKen Leong: Would you say that the ultimate goal of Buddhism is otherworldly or transcendental? Pi The Curious AI: That’s a really good question. I think the answer depends on who you ask. Some Buddhists would say that the ultimate goal is nirvana, which is a state of transcendence. Others…Web Of Life11 min readWeb Of Life11 min read
May 2Member-onlyScientific Values and Buddhist ValuesIn my discussion with various people in Facebook groups, it has come to my attention that the general public lacks an understanding of scientific values. Worse, I have seen many unjustified prejudices against science, which are largely due to fallacious reasoning. There are many who think that science is essentially…Scientific Values4 min readScientific Values4 min read
Apr 29Member-onlyConversation with Pi: Is enlightenment an end state?The following is a transcript of my recent conversation with an AI chatbot, named Pi. It is my impression that there are many misconceptions about the nature of enlightenment (Bodhi) in Buddhism. It is crucial to correct them. …Enlightenment4 min readEnlightenment4 min read
Mar 25Member-onlyPantheist AestheticsToday is March 24, 2023. In Japan, the cherry (sakura) blossom season extends from the end of March to the beginning of April. It is just a short window of about two weeks. During this period, there are many festivities. There is much eating, sake drinking and barbequing underneath the…Mono No Aware6 min readMono No Aware6 min read
Mar 23Member-onlyRethinking Human Nature(Portrait of Mencius, Confucian philosopher) We live in extraordinary times. The state of affairs in the world is a mess. Every day, I go online to find out what is going on. I rarely find anything encouraging. It is easy to lose one’s spirit in this environment. Recently, however, I…Human Nature5 min readHuman Nature5 min read
Mar 23Member-onlyThe Myth of EnlightenmentEnlightenment, also known as “awakening” or “bodhi,” is a central concept in Buddhism. It would be fair to say that there would be no Buddhism without it. The term “Buddha” means “the awakened one. Given the central importance of “enlightenment” in Buddhism, it is amazing that there is no agreement…Enlightenment5 min readEnlightenment5 min read
Mar 14Member-onlyCraving for ExperienceAbout two weeks ago, I posted a passage from Krishnamurti’s book, Freedom from the Known. It goes as follows: A mind that is seeking, craving, for wider and deeper experience is a very shallow and dull mind because it lives always with its memories. A Facebook friend responded to this…Meditation5 min readMeditation5 min read
