What is a practitioner today?

This question runs through the unexpectedly rich conversation I had with this episode’s guest, Jason M. Wirth. Jason is a philosophy professor at Seattle University and a Zen Priest. He is extremely well-versed in Western Philosophy, including those mischievous folks that make up the continental tradition, and his engagement with them has informed his relationship with Zen, the Buddha path and the practising life. Likewise, his Zen has shaped the contours of his interest in philosophy. Jason uses the term co-illuminating to describe this exchange and fratellanza, I would simply say that old Jason is a regular diner at the Great Feast.

We cover Nietzsche among Buddhas, nihilism and its challenges, Gramsci and his good sense, Dogen recast as one of the world’s greatest philosophers, ideology, the Kyoto School and its incredibly deep thinkers and practitioners, and Critical Buddhism. There’s more, but that’s enough to paint a picture of where we wandered in this episode.

Come along to the Great Feast, you won’t be disappointed.

P.S. I made a rooky error with the microphone so I will sound a little off for the first two questions. Then after it returns to the quality you’re used to.

Listening Options

As always, you can listen from this site by clicking on the player to your right, or at the bottom of your screen if you are mobile. You can use Spotify, or listen and download from the New Books Network site. You can also use Google Podcasts.

Listen on the Spotify: here

Listen on Google Podcast: here

Listen on the New Books Network: here

For more on Jason M. Wirth’s book Nietzsche and other Buddhas: here