Archive for September 2016
Idle Chatter About Kings: Political Speech
With the first debate last night, we’re in the thick of political season in the US, a once every four year cycle of presidential agita that dominates the news for months. It’s natural to bemoan the foolishness of it all, to wax satirical or cynical on the state of the nation, but the inconvenient truth…
Read MoreEpisode 258 :: Alexander Wynne :: Historical Authenticity of the Buddha
Alexander Wynne Alexander Wynne returns to speak with us about historical authenticity of the Buddha. What would it mean to your practice if we discover our historical understanding of Buddhism was not correct? Not in a little way, getting someone’s name a little wrong, but something larger, something that might change the accuracy of the…
Read MoreSecular Buddhism's Roots in South Asia
A recent article notes a raft of modern innovations taking place at Longquan Monastery in China, including a robot that answers visitors’ questions. These modernizations make the teaching more accessible to laypeople, and are part of a growing movement that “preaches connectivity instead of seclusion and … practical advice over deep philosophy.” Similar modernizations take…
Read MoreEpisode 257 :: Andrew Olendzki :: Integrated Dharma Institute
Andrew Olendzki Andrew Olendzki joins us to speak about his Integrated Dharma program, and his upcoming book Untangling Self. Hi, everyone. Before we begin today’s episode, I would like to mention that this podcast and the supporting website, discussion forums, our live, online Practice Circle and other services provided by the Secular Buddhist Association are…
Read MoreTaking a Second Look at Radical Dharma Through the Lens of Social Class
Mark Knickelbine’s positive appraisal of the recently-published book, Radical Dharma: Talking, Race, Love and Liberation, highlights the authors’ emotional honesty and integrity in navigating the relationship between Buddhism and radical activism in the context of pervasive systems of oppression which mark American society. I had a similarly positive reaction to that aspect of the book,…
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