Are you allergic to the ancients? What images do the words ‘wisdom’ and ‘participation’ evoke for you? What’s at stake in our models of truth?

This month’s episode of Samsara Audio sees your host Matthew in a reflective conversation with Jonatan Anabalon, a Norwegian middle school teacher with a Master's in Anthropology from the University of Bergen. Matthew and Jonatan met through Samsara Study Group's ongoing Kyoto School reading group, which lead to this conversation about the tensions in various models and analogies for how we approach truth.

This dialogue delves into modern versus ancient philosophical outlooks, the concerns with conceptualizing truth as "beyond," the process of seeking and participating in truth, and much more. Matthew and Jonatan devote time to an exploration of the metaphorical imagery of the ox-herding pictures in Zen Buddhism as a framework for understanding personal and educational growth, trying to read this sequence from both Hegelian and Platonic angles.

This discussion seeks to work through some tensions in Matthew and Jonatan’s perspectives, and taps into some of the reasons why we might be allergic to the ancients and their conception of truth as a higher wisdom to be pursued. However, Jonatan also challenges Matthew and the listener to grapple afresh with the call of truth, goodness, and beauty in light of modern developments in critical philosophy.

Time stamps

00:00 Welcome

00:51 Purpose of the conversation

02:29 Diving into the Ox Herding Pictures

33:43 The Power of Myths and Symbolism in Understanding Reality

42:08 Energy as the intersection of Spirit and Technology

42:56 The Mystery of Brain Entrainment and Energy Transfer

43:54 The Unique Contribution of the Subject in Networked Realities

48:52 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in a Complex World

51:05 Seeking Agency and Goodness Amidst Global Systems

52:55 Participating in the Good, True, and Beautiful

55:06 The Challenge of Truth in a Postmodern World

01:01:17 Comparing Buddhism and Christianity on Suffering and Emptiness

01:09:24 The Historical Development of Religious Toleration

01:20:06 Embracing a Participatory Conceptualization of Truth

01:24:22 Encouragement and Future Collaborations

Subscribe to Samsara Audio: https://samsara.substack.com

Learn more about Samsara Study Groups: https://www.samsara.clinic/introducing-samsara-study-groups/

Follow Matthew's writing at Samsara Diagnostics: https://samsara.clinic

Order Matthew's book: https://www.samsara.clinic/ideology-and-christan-freedom-is-live/

This month’s episode of Samsara Audio features a conversation with Cleo Kearns (PhD, Columbia) who writes about continental philosophy, science, and the book of Genesis at her Substack. Cleo has taught and published for decades about the psychology of religion, the anthropology of ritual, and the reading of the Abrahamic Scriptures. Cleo is a sister in Christ and an esteemed colleague, so I’m particularly delighted to share this conversation with you.

Right out of the gate we get to hear Cleo’s critiques of Rene Girard, before we transition to explore the virgin Mary’s sacrifice and her role in overseeing Christ’s passage from the imaginary to the symbolic. Cleo deftly guides us through a theory of sacrifice, as well as through the differences between the priest and the shaman, including her belief that the prophet is a sub-type of the shaman. Finally, she briefly provokes us with a suggestion about Deleuze’s value for theological work.

I highly recommend Cleo’s book The Virgin Mary, Monotheism, and Sacrifice.

Samsara Audio is the audio vision of Samsara Diagnostics, a newsletter about religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Subscribe for free, or sign up for a paid subscription to support my ongoing work.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:53 Critiquing Girard: Delving into Mimetic Theory and Sacrifice

06:58 Marian Sacrifice vs. Abrahamic Sacrifice: A Theological Exploration

15:38 Mary's Role and Theology: A Deep Dive into Marian Dogmas

23:46 Vatican II and Its Impact on Catholic Doctrine

31:18 Ecumenical Dialogues and Personal Journeys of Faith

38:52 Exploring Liturgical Energy and Sacrifice

39:06 The Role of Sacraments and Liturgy Across Traditions

40:43 Diving Into Theology: Eucharist and Church Divides

42:37 Anthropological Perspectives on Sacrifice

45:04 The Symbolic and the Real: Navigating Tradition

52:07 Mary's Role and the Question of Sacrifice

57:07 Shamanism and Ritual: A Personal Journey

59:27 Shamanism vs. Priesthood: Understanding Different Roles

01:07:06 The Challenge of Sharing Esoteric Insights

01:11:42 Deleuze's Contribution to Theological Thought

01:17:33 Final Thoughts and Future Conversations

This week Samsara Audio welcomes Mark Gerard Murphy, author of The Direction of Desire: John of the Cross, Jacques Lacan, and the Contemporary Understanding of Spiritual Direction. Mark teaches mysticism, psychoanalysis, and continental philosophy at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, and is also actively involved in spiritual direction within the Roman Catholic Church.

Together we explored the integration of Lacanian psychoanalysis into the Christian tradition of spiritual direction, particularly exploring Mark’s critique of “experientialism” which pushes back against the heavy emphasis that contemporary spirituality places on experiences and affects, arguing instead for a renewed focus on the power of speech, both in listening and speaking.

We also discuss what the figure of Teresa of Avila can contribute to our understanding of disruptive speech and community, and why Mark contends that we must place negativity within the context of Teresa’s cosmic optimism. Finally, don’t miss Mark’s beautiful argument for the value of prayer precisely in its uselessness!

This conversation touched on a number of questions that run deeply through my own work, so I’m excited to share it with you. I love that Mark is wrestling with the vital question of how to bring the insights from psychoanalysis into pastoral theology to be mobilized within the ecclesial context for the formation of Christian disciples. This dialogue is only just the beginning!

Samsara Audio hosts conversations about religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Follow us at Substack or listen on your favorite podcasting app. I also write regularly at Samsara Diagnostics (subscribe for free), and offer a free online community Samsara Study Groups. Currently we’re reading Kitaro Nishida’s An Inquiry into the Good. Don’t be shy about joining us!

This week I’m excited to share a conversation I had with Daniel Tutt, a Marxist and psychoanalytic theorist, and also a professor of philosophy at George Washington University, about his recently published book How to Read like a Parasite: How the Left got High on Nietzsche.

His book provides a much needed intervention in Nietzsche studies by rigorously insisting on reading Nietzsche in his political context as an enemy of the socialist and Marxist movements for equality in his time. Daniel also helped me work through some questions I had related to Marxism and egalitarianism. What especially stood out to me was the way in which access to active leisure posed a key battleground for both Nietzsche and Marx.

You can purchase Tutt’s new book here (affiliate link), as well as check out how to support him and his work over at his Patreon. I’m personally a subscriber at Daniel’s Patreon, and I benefit from his interviews with prominent thinkers in Marxism, psychoanalysis, and more.

Books recommended by Daniel near the end of the podcast:

* Nietzsche's Political Economy by Dimitri Safronov

* Deconstructing Postmodernist Nietzscheanism: Deleuze and Foucault by Jan Rehmann (affiliate link)

As always, don’t forget to subscribe to Samsara Audio to get new episodes directly in your inbox, and you can also follow my free monthly newsletter on religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis at Samsara Diagnostics. Thanks!

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:50 Introducing Daniel Tutt

02:10 Exploring Nietzsche's Relationship with the Left

03:23 Daniel Tutt's Personal Journey with Nietzsche

04:42 Nietzsche's Influence on Young Intellectuals

06:26 Nietzsche's Political Context and Opposition to Equality Movements

09:12 The Role of Nietzsche in Modern Society

12:49 The Problem with Rights Framework

15:01 The Struggle for Equality and Freedom in Nietzsche's Philosophy

18:35 The Role of Nietzsche in the Formation of Modern Society

34:45 The Problem of Egalitarianism and Excellence

45:57 Revisiting Aristotle and Marx: The Question of Leisure

46:26 The Role of Leisure in Socialism and Liberalism

47:09 The Impact of Capitalism on Social Class and Marriage

48:24 Nietzsche's Views on Tradition and Hierarchy

49:25 The Cultural Impact of Capitalism and the Importance of Leisure

50:24 Nietzsche's Opposition to the American Revolution's Promise of Happiness

52:04 The Practical Implications of Capitalism and the Need for Change

53:56 The Role of Nietzsche in Understanding Political Myths

55:02 The American Dream: A Myth or a Possibility?

56:37 The Struggle for Stability and Human Flourishing in a Capitalist Society

57:59 The Oppressive Norms of Capitalism and the Need for Change

01:01:34 The Role of Nietzsche in Understanding and Overcoming Resentment

01:06:18 The Influence of Nietzsche on Various Communities

01:09:06 The Importance of Active Leisure in a Communist Society

01:14:18 The Need for Rationality and Expression in Politics

01:17:51 Closing Remarks and Future Projects

01:19:18 The Intersection of Freud and Marx in Understanding Society

In this long overdue episode of Samsara Audio, my old friend Joel Carini (“The Natural Theologian”) joins me to discuss his piece “Berating the Godfearers” which raises a host of questions close to both our hearts — how does the Christian ideology of “worldview” get conversion wrong, and consequently disable real conversation along the way?

This conversation was born out of years deep inside particular communities which eschew empirical observation and experimental procedures for axiomatic assertions and pious certainty. We want to move past the stance which starts with the answers, and instead find ourselves in the trenches with others who are working on finding better questions.

Check out Joel’s Substack “The Natural Theologian” (subscribe for free or sign up to support his work with a premium subscription) to read more of his timely and highly readable interventions.

Links:

Joel’s Substack “The Natural Theologian” — https://joelcarini.substack.com

Samsara Diagnostics (Matthew’s newsletter) — https://samsara.clinic

Watch this podcast on YouTube at Samsara Diagnostics’ channel.

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:37 Diving into the First Episode of Samsara Audio of 2024

02:38 The Journey of Online Writing and Intellectual Growth

03:55 The Tragedy of Academia: A Discussion

04:59 The Power of Peer Review and the Potential of Substack

06:27 The Humanizing Aspect of Scholarship and Its Challenges

07:28 The Divide in Academic and Religious Institutions

08:53 The Dark Wizard in the Ivory Tower

12:44 Berating the God Fearers: A Conversation

17:05 The Journey of Conversion: A Personal Perspective

23:20 The Role of Fear in Christian Discourse

28:46 The Concept of Worldview in Christian Circles

34:46 The Need for a Transition from Apologetics to Philosophy

40:57 The Challenge of Interdisciplinary Knowledge

41:13 The Limitations of Apologetics

44:39 The Role of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Understanding

46:54 The Problem of Consistency in Worldview Discourse

56:30 The Dangers of Ideological Thinking

01:17:38 The Role of Free Speech in Encountering New Perspectives

01:21:27 The Value of Diversity in Christian Denominations

01:25:01 Conclusion: Diagnosing Our Maladies

I’ve wanted to have Quinn Whelehan on for a while, and now it’s finally happened. This week Quinn joins me on Samsara Audio to talk about studying at a Buddhist university, understanding the basic structure of Nagarjuna’s four-fold logic, and how to put Buddhist philosophy in dialogue with Hegel.

If you’d like to hear more from Quinn, I recommend his excellent presentations “Hegel, Buddhism, and the Becoming of Spirit,” and “The Living Contradiction.” You can interact with Quinn, myself, and other quality interlocutors by joining the seminars at PhilosophyPortal (we’re reading Lacan’s Écrits right now). The community at PhilosophyPortal is truly unique, drawing a diverse group of thinkers I wouldn’t have been able to encounter otherwise — people like Quinn!

This is Samsara Audio, the audio division of Samsara Diagnostics. Samsara Audio is committed to interrogating the freedom of finitude through dialogue with religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Subscribe for free email updates, or purchase a premium subscription to gain access to episode transcripts.

I’m joined on Samsara Audio this week by my long-time Twitter mutual Shinkyū, a working class Zen practitioner and a teacher at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple. You can follow Shinkyū on Twitter/X, and you can find some of his dharma talks on his YouTube channel.

This week’s conversation brings the reader into a different religious perspective — Zen in small town America where the ancient tradition of Buddhism finds itself in dialogue with Christian (and post-Christian) culture.

Shinkyū introduces us to the different ways to interpret re-birth, why dependent origination actually demands a higher moral standard, and what’s it like to practice meditation for two decades before finally finding a teacher.

This is Samsara Audio, the audio division of Samsara Diagnostics. Follow on Substack where you can also purchase a premium subscription to gain access to episode transcripts. Thanks for listening and for your ongoing support!

Two episodes in one month? It’s been crazy here at Samsara Audio, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome my friend Dimitri Crooijmans to the podcast to discuss not only his work on a Hegelian “forward return to the self,” but also his latest piece “How to Regrow the Soul’s Wings.”

I highly recommend Dimitri’s written work at Actual Spirit, but I would be remiss to pass over his high quality material on YouTube, such as “The Birth of the Spirit Child“ and “Hegel’s Concept of True Infinity.” Dimitri is doing yeoman’s work closely reading and applying Hegel’s work to our contemporary understanding.

If you want to explore the ideas in this podcast more, you might be interested in subscribing to Samsara Diagnostics, my weekly newsletter dedicated to recovering the freedom of our finitude through a dialogue with religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Thanks for listening!