From January 28th, 2020 at SF Dharma Collective

The modern world is seeing unparalleled growth in the desire and potential to alter and transform human consciousness. Through the mass global distribution of ancient tools like meditation and psychedelics, and developments in new transformative technologies like advanced biofeedback, brain stimulation and VR, there exists a real potential for people to awaken on a scale never before seen.

And yet, why has technology not lived up to its promise, and humanity seems more asleep, distracted and disconnected from one another than ever before? Clearly something is not working. Who or what is to blame?

Join Erik Davis and Michael Taft, two modern-day wizards of countercultural spiritual geekery, for this special Consciousness Hacking event as they attempt to weave together the different cultural and spiritual threads that form the complex tapestry of the modern "technocultures of consciousness.” They will discuss the history that brought us to this moment, the unique merging of psychedelics, Eastern Spirituality, experimental psychology, and modern technology that began in the 60s and 70s, and what happened when this beautiful vision ultimately had to reckon with the implacable power of American capitalism. Bringing a critical eye to the current landscape and our vision of the future, we will explore what is happening with the mainstreaming of meditation and psychedelics, how this connects to technology, and ask what can we do to help ensure these potent tools are used for the highest good? And is it possible for modern technology to actually support this vision for healing and awakening, or is it simply a distraction?

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Erik Davis is an author, podcaster, award-winning journalist, and independent scholar, whose unique and diverse work focuses on the intersection of technology, religion, mysticism, psychedelics, modern culture and media. He graduated from Yale University and recently completed his PhD in religious studies at Rice University. He is the author of several books, and his essays on music, technoculture, and spirituality have appeared in many books, magazines, and journals. He also hosts the long-running podcast Expanding Mind on the Progressive Radio Network and the monthly Psychedelic Sangha in San Francisco. His newest book, High Weirdness: Drugs, Visions, and Esoterica in the Seventies was published in Spring of 2019. Learn more about Erik at http://techgnosis.com/

Michael Taft is a maverick meditation teacher, author, podcaster and neuroscience junkie, specializing in secular, science-based mindfulness training. He is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek and Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept as well as the editor of such books as Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson and The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young. He has taught meditation at Google, worked on curriculum development for SIYLI, and is currently core faculty at Wisdom Labs in San Francisco. Michael is also a featured teacher on the Simple Habit app, an official advisor to the Therapeutic Neuroscience Lab, and hosts a weekly sangha at the SF Dharma Collective. Learn more about Michael at https://deconstructingyourself.com/