Cultivating Authentic Intelligence (the Other AI)
With Dave Smith
December 3 - 6, 2026
In an age of algorithmic certainty and digital noise, we have entered a “crisis of meaning” where purpose feels like a relic of a forgotten world. While Artificial Intelligence processes information, Authentic Intelligence cultivates meaning.
This multi-day program is designed to help you get “untrapped.” It is a move away from the artificial and toward an “ecology of practices” that actually works. We aren’t looking for a single, simple fix; instead, we are conducting an honest inquiry into what it truly means to be human.
Dave will lead this exploration by blending three core perspectives:
Early Buddhist Texts: Investigating mindfulness in the Pali Canon for pragmatic tools to understand the mind’s function and purpose.
Affective Science: Shifting the view of emotions from things to be “managed” to the very grounds for transformation. Emotions are not obstacles; they are guides toward a life of deep contentment.
Existential Philosophy: Confronting the radical responsibility of our condition. By grappling with modern cultural critiques, we find a secular path toward freedom, moving beyond the urge to conform to social norms.
Through interactive teaching, shared dialogue, and extended practice, we will bridge contemplative discipline with our emotional lives.
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for both new and experienced practitioners seeking a rigorous, “no-nonsense” approach to living well. Participants from all backgrounds are welcome to join this journey from the digital to the analog.
Click here for a brief overview and introduction from the Instructor and workshop schedule.
About the Leader
Dave Smith
For nearly 30 years, Dave Smith has held a practice rooted in the Insight Meditation (Vipassana) tradition. He was empowered to teach through the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, is a certified teacher for Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) which combines contemporary emotion based scientific research with contemplative practices and psychology drawn from Buddhism and […]
Learn more about Dave SmithCategories : Ghost Ranch Program, Healing and Wellness