394. Culadasa (John Yates)

There is some controversy surrounding Culadasa. Here’s a message from the organization he headed: Important Message from the Dharma Treasure Board of Directors

His 33-page response and much discussion can be found on this Reddit board.

Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.) was the director of Dharma Treasure Buddhist Sangha in Tucson, Arizona and author of The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness. A meditation master with over four decades of experience in the Tibetan and Theravadin Buddhist traditions, Culadasa also taught physiology and neuroscience for many years. He combines the original teachings of the Buddha with an emerging, scientific understanding of the mind to give students a rich and rare opportunity for rapid progress and profound insight.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded 4/1/2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Interview with Culadasa (John Yates)
  • 00:03:36 – The Path of a Truth-Seeker
  • 00:08:21 – From Catholicism to Eastern Religions
  • 00:13:32 – Ananda Bodhi and the Recognition of Tulku
  • 00:18:23 – Traditional vs Modern Meditation Techniques
  • 00:22:44 – The Mechanics of Meditation
  • 00:27:44 – The Two Ways of Knowing
  • 00:32:29 – Focusing during Meditation and Alluring Objects of Attention
  • 00:36:46 – Training the Mind’s Attention
  • 00:40:18 – Unifying the Mind through Meditation
  • 00:44:02 – The Blissful State of Samatha
  • 00:48:34 – The Neurophysiology of Meditation
  • 00:52:51 – The Radical View of Consciousness
  • 00:57:17 – The Unique Information Exchange in the Mind
  • 01:01:31 – Accessing the Field of Consciousness
  • 01:05:27 – The Continuation of Spiritual Evolution
  • 01:10:10 – Tapping into Collective Wisdom and Past Lives
  • 01:13:46 – The Mistake of Choosing the Wrong Child
  • 01:18:04 – Subtle Extensions of Consciousness
  • 01:21:50 – The Rigpa and the Clear Light of the Mind
  • 01:26:15 – Fallen Awakened Teachers and the Mind System Theory
  • 01:30:02 – Awakening and Changes in Behavior
  • 01:33:48 – The Relationship Between Compassion and Wisdom
  • 01:37:36 – Neurological Transformation and Compassion
  • 01:41:11 – Buddhism’s View on God and Atheism
  • 01:46:24 – The Mystery of Existence
  • 01:49:44 – Vertical Dimensionality of Creation
  • 01:53:52 – The Importance of Openly Communicating Attainments and Enlightenment
  • 01:58:04 – Theoretical Possibility of EEG Test Development
  • 02:01:55 – Exploring the Mind and Teaching Offerings
  • 02:05:37 – Thanking Culadasa

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