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Why Scientific Scrutiny is Vital to Buddhist Practice

Why Scientific Scrutiny is Vital to Buddhist Practice

by , Published on September 3, 2011, with 4 Comments

In secular Buddhist practice, it’s essential that we welcome scientific scrutiny on our practices, and that we approach our own practices with skepticism and scientific methodology. So much of our practice involves subjective experience, and experimentation therein. Science has shown repeatedly how incredibly easy it is to fool oneself, and to create experiences derived of [...]

Four Truths, Four Vows

Four Truths, Four Vows

by , Published on August 22, 2011, with 8 Comments

This is another in my series of discussions of ideas Stephen Batchelor has been presenting in dharma talks since late 2010. You can hear them at dharmaseed.org. One of the attractive ideas to come out of Stephen Batchelor’s recent teaching is a mapping of the Four Noble Truths onto the Four Bodhisattva Vows of the [...]

Cankī on Preserving Truth

Cankī on Preserving Truth

by , Published on September 18, 2012, with 24 Comments

All paths of practice must begin with a simple question. How do we know where to start? How do we know what is correct to believe? In the Cankī Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 95; I rely on the Ñāṇamoli/Bodhi translation), the Buddha debates a young Brahmin named Kāpaṭhika, who has faith in the Vedas as his [...]

Practice: The Four Strivings

Practice: The Four Strivings

by , Published on January 23, 2013, with 9 Comments

When we practice, we strive to become proficient. The Sanskrit term for meditation, “bhāvana”, actually means “development” or “cultivation”, near synonyms for “practice” itself. Indeed, meditation is central to the Buddhist path: to meditate is to develop wholesome mental states through mindfulness and concentration. In the Cūḷavedalla Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 44.12), the lay follower Visākha [...]

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Episode 139 :: Chris McKenna :: Bardo

Episode 139 :: Chris McKenna :: Bardo

by , Published on October 21, 2012, with 0 Comments

Chris McKenna Author Chris McKenna speaks with us about his new Buddhist themed fiction book, Bardo. More and more, we’re seeing an increase in the mainstream media of Buddhist practices and ideas. There is Buddhist inspired rock and roll, art sites that focus on Buddhist themes, and happily for those of us who are avid [...]

Episode 44 :: Chris Mitchell :: Asperger’s Syndrome and Mindfulness

Episode 44 :: Chris Mitchell :: Asperger’s Syndrome and Mindfulness

by , Published on December 24, 2010, with 1 Comment

Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell speaks with us about his book, Asperger’s Syndrome and Mindfulness. According to the Asperger’s Disorder website, “… affected individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication.” Think about that. When you’re growing up, you not only have the [...]

Episode 33 :: Theo Koffler :: Mindfulness Without Borders

Episode 33 :: Theo Koffler :: Mindfulness Without Borders

by , Published on October 8, 2010, with 0 Comments

Theo Koffler Theo Koffler joins us to speak about Mindfulness Without Borders, a collaborative for teaching mindful awareness and social-emotional intelligence to educators, parents, students and healthcare providers. How many of us have found remarkable value in the practice of mindfulness? It helps us be more aware, see things as they are, and make better [...]

Episode 150 :: Bob Isaacson :: Dharma Voices for Animals

Episode 150 :: Bob Isaacson :: Dharma Voices for Animals

by , Published on January 5, 2013, with 41 Comments

Bob Isaacson Social activist and dharma teacher Bob Isaacson speaks with us today about his efforts with the organization, Dharma Voices for Animals. Hi everyone. Welcome to the new year 2013, and episode one-hundred and fifty of The Secular Buddhist. I’d like to thank everyone for listening, joining us on FaceBook, following us on Twitter, [...]

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Working with Repetition (Jason Siff)

Working with Repetition (Jason Siff)

by , Published on October 21, 2011, with 0 Comments

Does a formulaic approach to meditation get in the way of discovering exactly what’s going on? In this talk Jason talks about how we respond when our mind gets stuck in a groove, answering questions from those taking part.

Unlearning Buddhism (Stephen Batchelor)

Unlearning Buddhism (Stephen Batchelor)

by , Published on October 21, 2011, with 3 Comments

A reflection on the difficulties involved in and the methodology of a secular approach to Buddhism, followed by a reading of and comments on the Kalama Sutta, considered as a primary source text for secular Buddhism

Healing Ecology – A Buddhist Perspective on the Eco Crisis (David Loy)

Healing Ecology – A Buddhist Perspective on the Eco Crisis (David Loy)

by , Published on October 21, 2011, with 0 Comments

There are precise and profound parallels between what Buddhism says about our individual predicament and our collective predicament today in relationship to the rest of the biosphere.

What is this Path of Mindfulness? (John Peacock Talk)

What is this Path of Mindfulness? (John Peacock Talk)

by , Published on May 4, 2012, with 0 Comments

This talk covers the relationship of mindfulness to the three marks of existence as well as the the three ‘fires’ of greed, aversion and delusion. The question is also raised as to how we want to live our lives and our commitment to that vision.

I highly recommend that you listen to this talk. John does an excellent job of talking about what the Buddha taught, explaining words from the Pali Canon, and most importantly how this all fits into the reality of the lives we live every day, in this life.

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Uncertain Minds: How the West Misunderstands Buddhism

Uncertain Minds: How the West Misunderstands Buddhism

by , Published on November 14, 2011, with 3 Comments

Stephen Batchelor and John Peacock address the challenges of Buddhism in the west, how it differs from traditions, how Buddhism was misunderstood from the very start, partly because it was viewed through the filter of Christianity. Please join us in discussion below …

Traditional Dhamma, Secular Dhamma – Stephen Batchelor and Bhante Sujato

Traditional Dhamma, Secular Dhamma – Stephen Batchelor and Bhante Sujato

by , Published on March 11, 2012, with 37 Comments

This video shows a dialogue between Stephen Batchelor and Bhante Sujato about the practice of Buddhism and its relevance at the dawn of the new millennium. Moderated by Tina Ng. Of course much of the discussion is over the topic of Rebirth . . .

The New Science of Mindsight (Daniel J. Siegel)

The New Science of Mindsight (Daniel J. Siegel)

by , Published on October 21, 2011, with 0 Comments

This interactive talk will examine two major questions: What is the mind? and How can we create a healthy mind? We’ll examine the interactions among the mind, the brain, and human relationships and explore ways to create a healthy mind, an integrated brain, and mindful, empathic relationships.

Living with the Devil — Stephen Batchelor

Living with the Devil — Stephen Batchelor

by , Published on January 10, 2012, with 0 Comments

This is the introduction to a 13 part series of talks with Stephen Batchelor, hosted by the New Zealand Secular Buddhists. The topic is Stephen’s book, Living with the Devil.