Host Michael Taft speaks with Michael Owens, a Buddhist teacher and author, about being a monk in Taiwan, Buddhist sutras as portals to alternate realities, understanding dependent origination, the nondual ground and extreme psychedelia of the Mahayana sutras, the Vimalakirti Nirdeśa Sutra, explaining the “inconceivable,” Suchness as the opposite of Emptiness, and more.
Michael Charles Owens is a Buddhist teacher, translator, and author. Michael uses a sutra-based curriculum that draws from a variety of traditions to teach the history, philosophy, and practice of Buddhism. His teaching style weaves humor and storytelling with modern scholarly research to create a unique learning experience. He teaches regularly for the San Francisco Dharma Collective and he also runs Lotus Underground, a repository of his teaching activities, audio recordings, and writings.
MC Owens – Lotus Underground on Soundcloud
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Another great episode. I’ve tried reading sutras in the past and the repetition and pedantic nature had put me off. I never thought I’d enjoy reading one. However, Michael’s (the other Michael) enthusiasm rubbed off on me and I listened to his talks on the Vimalakirti sutra and loved it. I’m sure I’ll be reading that one and probably listen to him explain more sutras.
Yes, his enthusiasm is infectious! Enjoy.
Watched episode 2 of MC Owens’ series on the VNS. In this one, the amazing Vimalakirti comes up with a cure for COVID-19: understand it’s true nature, the coronavirus is Empty of existence! It does not exist, nor are there any truly existing sick people. Who knew it could be that easy! Pandemic gone!
Haha. Yes, I think that interpretation might be a wee bit facile, as you’re implying, Shaun.
This feels very much like Hermetic style initiations; where one enters into what is described, and becomes a participant. (Also fairly clearly something which exists in many religions and occult traditions.) When successful this is extremely powerful, and if such things as astral realms, etc… exist, it has effects in those places. The tread of many people, over and over, makes such scenes/archetypes/stories more and more powerful, or at least, such is the theory, and possibly the actuality.