BJ Bell
Writer, Coder, & Analyst
I write fiction, essays on Buddhist practice and technology, and code. Currently working on The Kalachakra IP, a cyberpunk novel series exploring the challenges of modern society and the role of community and spirituality.
Recent Writing
Building This Site
How I rebuilt bjbell.com as a FastAPI app with content authored in Obsidian and deployed via git push.
essayI, Aggregate: Using the Non-Self to Manage Craving, Anger, and Desire
From the Ship of Theseus to the five aggregates -- a practical technique for using the concept of non-self to cope with craving, anger, and desire.
essayMeditation Retreat, Check! Now What?
A post-retreat primer: four simple practices to deepen your spiritual life beyond the cushion.
essayMeditation Creates Space: What That Means in the Context of Anxiety
How vipassana meditation creates a buffer between stimulus and response, and what that means for those of us with anxiety.
Interests
Buddhist Practice
Vipassana meditation, the three marks of existence, and how contemplative practice informs creative work and daily life.
Technology & Ethics
Surveillance, autonomy, AI ethics, and the invisible systems that shape our choices before we know we're choosing.
Coding
Python, FastAPI, systems thinking, and building tools that make creative work easier and more intentional.