Glenn Wallis

Welcome

What I do

Speech and silence interest me equally. The speech that I have in mind hovers around ideas–from philosophy, literature, poetry, classical Buddhism, non-buddhism, and beyond. The silence that I have in mind is something like meditation, but without all of the swaggering braggadocio that that term too often displays.

Useful things begin to happen when we discuss ideas with others. For instance, it is usually necessary for us to clarify our thinking; we stumble over our own hidden beliefs; and, whether we like it or not, we are shown new perspectives. Through silence–again, whether we like it or not–we become more fully present to our environment, more sensitive to sounds, feelings, touch–to what it is to be alive.

In my writing and teaching, I explore what both cultivated silence and engaged dialogue might offer the individual and society. And what might that be? I don't know. But I do find the exploration to be the most bountiful when all participants courageously range between the searing sizzle of idea and the creative coolness of the still.

What else do I do? Well, is saying doing? I use expressions like: passion; rollick; who knows?; beautiful; look! bullshit; guffaw; do you really believe that?; is it really so important; what's the point? soar; flight of imagination; who knows?; don't take my word for it; ha ha ha! enough already . . .

The older I get, the more I shrug my shoulders.

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News

* Un-Mindful Collusion. New post at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* “I’d dream to touch," by Georges Bataille, at Ovenbird.

* "On the Faith of Secular Buddhists." At Speculative Non-Buddhism.

*"Anicca as the Truth of Extinction." At Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* "Practicing Myopia." An essay by Adam S. Miller at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* "Samsara as the Realm of Ideology." An essay by Tom Pepper at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* "No More Meditation!" An essay by Matthias Steingass at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* "Come On, X-Buddhists, Pump Up the Polemes." New post at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* Georges Bataille poem, "The Dung among the Head," at Ovenbird.

* "Mindful Lobotomy," my new post at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* A new post, "Extrapolating Equanimity" at Speculaitve Non-Buddhism.

* "Meditation and Control," a provocative article by Matthias Steingass, is featured at Speculative Non-Buddhism.

* "Feast, Interrupted:" also at Speculative non-Buddhism presents a review by Tom Pepper of Alan Wallace's ironically (cynically?) titled new book., Meditations of a Buddhist Skeptic.

* I just completed an article called "Nascent Speculative Non-Buddhism." Click below.





Painting on top bar, called “The Thinker,” is by Louis Vuittonet.