Explore Gregory Bateson´s influence on AI through his pioneering work in cybernetics, systems theory, and the study of human cognition. #AI

Gregory Bateson

Gregory Bateson & Artificial Intelligence

Dear friends, in memory of Joanna Macy, who passed away on July 19th, we are republishing episode 12 of The Way Out Is In podcast series, with an introduction by Jo Confino.

A scholar of Buddhism, systems theory, and deep ecology, Joanna Macy (1929 -2025), PhD, was one of the most respected voices in the movements for peace, justice, and ecology. She interweaved her scholarship with learnings from six decades of activism, had written twelve books, and laught an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects. 

In episode 12 (November, 2021), presenters Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and lay Buddhist practitioner and journalist Jo Confino were joined by Joanna Macy to discuss the relevance of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings to the crises we face today as a species; the energy of simplicity; truth-telling and the power of facing the truth; the grounds for transformation; impermanence; interbeing. 

Joanna recollects what Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings and activism have meant to her, and shares a special meeting with him in the early 1980s, during a UN peace conference, when Thay read one of his essential poems in public for the first time. Joanna’s activism, forged during many campaigns, and her practice and study of Theravada Buddhism, shine through in her priceless advice about facing the current social and ecological crisis, grieving for all creation, and finding the power to deal with the heartbreaking present-day reality. She also addresses how grief and joy can coexist in one person, and how to be present for life even in the midst of struggle.

The episode ends with a guided meditation by Joanna Macy.

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🔔 The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living is a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. 🔔

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The podcast is co-produced by the Plum Village App:
https://plumvillage.app/
And Global Optimism:
https://globaloptimism.com/
With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: 
https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ 

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Resources:

Plum Village Community ➛ https://plumvillage.org/
Thich Nhat Hanh ➛ https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/
🎙️ Joanna Macy ➛ https://www.joannamacy.net/
🎙️ Brother Phap Huu ➛  https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/
🎙️ Jo Confino ➛  https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en

Lotus in a Sea of Fire (1967) ➛ https://plumvillage.org/books/1967-hoa-sen-trong-bien-lua-lotus-in-a-sea-of-fire/
Call Me By My True Names ➛  https://plumvillage.org/books/call-me-by-my-true-names/
Celestial Bodhisattvas ➛  https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/buddhas-and-bodhisattvas-celestial-buddhas-and-bodhisattvas
Rainer Maria Rilke ➛  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainer_Maria_Rilke 
Duino Elegies ➛  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duino_Elegies 
The Tenth Elegy ➛ https://www.tellthestory.co.uk/translatedpoemduino10.html 
The Book of Hours ➛  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Hours 
Satipaṭṭhāna ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana 
World as Lover, World as Self ➛  https://www.parallax.org/product/world-as-lover-world-as-self-a-guide-to-living-fully-in-turbulent-times/
‘The Shambhala Warrior’ ➛  https://www.awakin.org/read/view.php?tid=236 
The Shambhala Warrior Prophecy ➛ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14dbM93FALE 
Bardo ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo 
‘Entering the Bardo’ ➛ https://emergencemagazine.org/op_ed/entering-the-bardo/ 
Maitreya ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya 
Ho Chi Minh ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh
Śūnyatā ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9A%C5%ABnyat%C4%81
Svabhava ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svabhava
Kṣitigarbha ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%E1%B9%A3itigarbha 
Ānāpānasati ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati 
Satipaṭṭhāna ➛ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana

Special Edition: Joanna Macy's Message of Hope | TWOII podcast

The AI VIPs page is a tribute to those pioneers—from the early architects like Alan Turing and John McCarthy, who laid the groundwork for AI, to the modern-day innovators who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Plum Village is a new, free mindfulness app with Buddhist insights and guided meditations offered by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community: https://plumvillage.app/

New tracks tagged #SystemsTheory