Episode 4 - We’ve taken our modern worldview as far as it will go: Discovering ‘Mind Space’ with Dr. Ron Purser
This episode features Dr. Ron Purser, professor of management at San Francisco State University and author of multiple books including 'McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality', and the newly released 'Mind Space: Discovering Meditation Without the Meditator'. We discuss his background and the influence of the Time Space Knowledge (TSK) vision on his life. Topics include the critique of McMindfulness, limits of the modern worldview, and Descartes' perspective on the self. The conversation explores cultural angst and the impact of mindfulness without ethics. It explores the dimensions of space and time, and how ethics arise from wonder.
Key Topics
Critique of McMindfulness and corporate mindfulness
Introduction to Mind Space and its principles
The role of space, time, and ethics in perception
The impact of the modern worldview and neoliberalism
Practices for experiencing higher space and openness
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:12 An impenetrable book
06:01 Stealth Zen at the fringes of organizational studies
10:18 What is McMindfulness?
14:09 We've taken our modern worldview as far as it will go
16:37 We're suffering from a very cramped worldview
18:26 Lost in productivity
22:04 It's so close that it seems too good to be true
23:04 Breakout mentality and focal setting
29:41 Staying stuck in the heroic approach
32:24 What Descartes forgot
33:47 Agency
34:30 Identity is a high-maintenance activity
35:48 Overcompensation and reality projects
39:16 Polluted mind streams
41:00 Exploring Mind Space
47:08 The interplay of wonder and ethics
51:54 Encounter as a meeting of value
56:57 Space and time have your back
58:39 Closing questions
01:09:50 Outro
Learn more about Dr. Purser here: https://ronpurser.com/
Keywords: Mindfulness, McMindfulness, Mind Space, space and time, ethics, modern worldview, spirituality, management, Buddhism, societal change
Theme music is “Building Without Materials” by Aaron Vaurio Jackson: https://aaronvauriojackson.com/home
This conversation was recorded on March 5, 2026
*These show notes were generated with help from an AI