Michael LaTorra (1953-2026) was a retired professor of English at New Mexico State University. He was actively involved in the transhumanist community, having previously served on the boards of Humanity Plus (formerly the World Transhumanist Association) and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. His academic work explored the intersection of transhumanism, religion, and spirituality.
LaTorra’s publications include the paper “Trans Spirit, Religion, Spirituality, and Transhumanism” in the Journal of Evolution and Technology, and the book A Warrior Blends with Life, A Modern Tao. His presentation at the MTAConf 2014, titled “Where is Heaven?”, delves into the philosophical aspects of transhumanism, exploring the concepts of meliorism, satisficing, and the Buddhist Two Truths doctrine in relation to achieving ultimate reality.
Beyond his academic pursuits, LaTorra was an ordained Zen Buddhist priest and previously served as the abbot of the Zen Center of Las Cruces in New Mexico. He was also a formal devotee of Avatar Adi Da Samraj, further underscoring his deep engagement with spiritual traditions.
