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CyBuddha News


The Biointelligence Explosion

George Dvorksy offers Online Seminar on Transhumanism

Stelarc Ear-on-Arm Suspension (warning: not for the squeamish!)

(Enhancing) The Moral Brain: Day Three (J.‘s Notes)

The Moral Brain: Day Two Afternoon (J.‘s Notes)

The Moral Brain: Day Two Morning (J.‘s Notes)

The Moral Brain: Day One (J.‘s Notes)


CyBuddha Events


Genetic Engineering and Human Dignity

2012-08-02 - 05
Pasadena, CA USA


Hughes Keynotes @ Bioethics: Religious and Spiritual Approaches
2012-08-23 - 25
Claremont, CA USA





Cyborg Buddha Resources


Scientific Study of Consciousness and Neurotechnology
  • Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness
  • NeuroInsights a neurotechnology consulting firm directed by Zack Lynch
  • Mind and Life Institute Works on establishing research partnerships between modern science and Buddhism, especially the Dalai Lama.
  • Wisebrain.org The "neurodharma" project of psychologist Rick Hanson and neurologist Rick Mendius, both of whom are Buddhist meditators. They teach a "Train the Brain Course" and have a many talks, slides, and articles at the site.

  • Neuroethics and Cognitive Liberty

  • Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics
  • Wikipedia on Cognitive Liberty
  • Neuroethics Society scholars, scientists and clinicians who share an interest in the social, legal, ethical and policy implications of advances in neuroscience.
  • Neuroethics at UPenn a source of information on neuroethics, provided by Martha Farah of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Happiness, Positive Psychology and The Virtues

  • Positive Psychology Center at UPenn, directed by Martin Seligman
  • Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman.
  • Wikipedia on Positive Psychology
  • Ethics of Mood Enhancement NY Academy of Sciences
  • The Hedonistic Imperative Advocates the development of neurotechnology to permit the elimination of all suffering
  • Abolitionist SocietyPromotes eliminating involuntary suffering and increasing lifelong individual happiness through science

  • Altered States of Consciousness and Transcendence

  • Trans-Spirit list a transhumanist research program into religion and spirituality. It seeks to understand religion and spirituality in terms of cognitive science and evolutionary psychology, and to project the future of religion and spirituality in the dawning transhuman era.
  • "Trans-Spirit: Religion, Spirituality and Transhumanism," Michael LaTorra, Journal of Evolution and Technology 14(1) August 2005: 39-53.
  • Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Promoting clinical research on psychedelics
  • Council on Spiritual Practices


  • Cyborg Buddha Project

    IEET Executive Director James Hughes - a former Buddhist monk and attenuated Buddho-Unitarian - is writing a book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha: Using Neurotechnology to Become Better People.

    IEET Board member Mike LaTorra - a Zen priest and author of A Warrior Blends with Life: A Modern Tao - runs the Trans-Spirit list promoting discussion of neurotheology, neuroethics, techno-spirituality and altered states of consciousness.

    IEET Board member George Dvorsky - a practicing Buddhist - writes and podcasts frequently from a rationalist, transhumanist, and Buddhist point of view, winning him an award this year as one of the best Buddhist blogs.

    The three of us are launching the IEET Cyborg Buddha Project to combine our efforts and promote discussion of the impact that neuroscience and emerging neurotechnologies will have on happiness, spirituality, cognitive liberty, moral behavior and the exploration of meditational and ecstatic states of mind.


    Mar 21, 2012

    After Happiness, Cyborg Virtue

    by J. Hughes

    Although I have used a version of utilitarianism to argue for both transhumanism and social democracy, and for the technoprogressive hybrid of the two, research in hedonic psychology and emerging neurotechnologies make utilitarianism an unattractive moral logic. Instead, I now argue that a version of Sen and Nussbaum’s capabilities approach better supports the technoprogressive endeavor.  The capabilities approach argues for both social and technological enablement of human abilities. When the capabilities approach is combined with the idea that virtues are social capabilities, one conclusion is that “moral enhancement,” the use of neurotechnologies to enhance moral sentiment, cognition and behavior, is a social obligation.  A schema of virtues to be enhanced, and relevant therapeutic morally enhancing neurochemicals, are discussed.

    Full Story...


    Mar 18, 2012

    ‪Jonathan Haidt: Religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence‬

    TEDtalksDirector

    Psychologist Jonathan Haidt asks a simple, but difficult question: why do we search for self-transcendence? Why do we attempt to lose ourselves? In a tour through the science of evolution by group selection, he proposes a provocative answer.

    DOWNLOAD/LISTEN/VIEW


    Mar 8, 2012

    Buddhist Feminism (Part 4)

    by J. Hughes

    Western Buddhists, taking Asian Buddhism and attempting to shape a modern Buddhism from it, have different challenges and opportunities. For instance, for better or worse, we do not have strong norms to guide the relations of the sexes as in Buddhist countries. Sadly, we must even beware of the sexual abuse of power by Buddhist teachers.

    Full Story...


    Mar 7, 2012

    Buddhist Feminism (Part 3)

    by J. Hughes

    When the Hindu Tantric tradition began to seep into Buddhism, with its complicated sexual yogas and meditation, it had a radical effect on certain Buddhists’ attitude toward women. The earthiness and sensuality attributed to women, which the sexist side of Buddhism saw as their spiritual weakness, became a spiritual power in Tantric Buddhism. The female yogi, “yogini”, who channels her sexual energy into meditation in the midst of the sex act was seen as one of the most important teachers a Tantric monk could have (an idea reflected in Herman Hesse’s novel SIDDHARTHA). For instance, the Tantric master Marpa, and his wife, shared a “long and highly fruitful relationship” with the consort-guruess Da-me-ma, and the Tantrist Savari was taught by two sisters, Logi and Guni, who, As Tantric consorts, helped him to important breakthroughs on his path.

    Full Story...


    Mar 6, 2012

    Buddhist Feminism (Part 2)

    by J. Hughes

    To modern feminists who have grown up in an era of relative sexual freedom it is difficult to understand that till the present virtually the only way a woman could be free of being a sex object for males was to renounce sexuality altogether. As this song from the Therigatha illustrates, the Buddhist teachings helped empower women to cut through the tangle of humiliating sexuality:

    Full Story...


    Mar 5, 2012

    Talking With a Buddhist Nun

    Empty Mind Films

    This is Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo who opened a nunnery for refugee Tibetan Women. Her story became a best selling book about her 12 year retreat in a Himalayan mountain cave.

    DOWNLOAD/LISTEN/VIEW


    Mar 5, 2012

    Buddhist Feminism (Part 1)

    by J. Hughes

    I was raised in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, which combines an openness to the wisdom of all faiths, Enlightenment skepticism about the supernatural, and a commitment to liberal and egalitarian political values. When I became a Buddhist (Tibetan originally) and political radical (Yippie, then socialist) in high school I brought along a very UU orientation. I began trying to puzzle out what the relationship could be between my socialist-feminism and Buddhism’s proposals of overcoming suffering through moral and psychological reform, a concern with connecting the micro and macro that I am still working on in various ways.

    Full Story...


    Feb 8, 2012

    I Want a God-Like Brain

    by Hank Pellissier

    Is the human brain a magnificent, near-miraculous organ?  Or a flawed, forgetful, feeble-minded, under-achieving blob? My POV is the latter.  Brain 1.0 is laughably dysfunctional, teeming with weaknesses even in our finest specimens. Memories are dust in a hurricane, logic is lunatic, empathy thinner than the neocortex on a sociopathic toddler. I want Brain 2.0. Are you with me? Eager for an upgrade?

    Full Story...


    Jan 24, 2012

    Hybriduality and Geoethics (part 1)

    by Martine Rothblatt

    Contrary to what we’ve been taught, and contrary to what we fervently believe to be true, there is not just one I. We are not individuals; we are hybriduals. Each of us is a compound, collective, hybrid being.

    Full Story...


    Jan 18, 2012

    The Neuroscience Of Creativity And Insight—The Good, The Bad, & The Absolutely Ridiculous

    by Andrea Kuszewski

    —A Critical Look at Recent Studies of Creativity and Insight—

    Full Story...


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    Email: director @ ieet.org     phone: 860-297-2376