In this talk Douglass Smith shares his personal journey into Buddhism.
Raised in a secular household, Doug was initially fascinated by various myths, science, and philosophy.
His interest in Zen began with Douglas Hofstadter’s “Gödel, Escher, Bach”, which introduced him to Zen concepts and prompted further exploration into Buddhism.
During his undergraduate studies, Doug encountered challenges due to limited resources and the academic demands of early Buddhist studies.
Although he was drawn to Buddhism and engaged in Zen practice, he shifted his focus to a Philosophy degree after encountering a philosophy professor with a literalist view of Buddhism.
Years later, during his wife’s chronic pain crisis, Doug revisited Buddhism.
He found that Buddhist meditation and teachings provided significant support and insight during this challenging time.
His interest evolved from mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to secular approaches to the Dharma.
Influenced by Steven Batchelor’s “Confession of a Buddhist Atheist,” Doug explored how Buddhism could improve his life in the present moment rather than focusing on speculative aspects.
Doug eventually connected with a local Buddhist community, New York Insight, and began teaching and creating content about early Buddhism.
In the conversation, he reflects on how Buddhism has transformed his life, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, compassion, and inner peace.
