Stephen Batchelor's "After Buddism": A Review

Stephen Batchelor, the controversial author and Buddhist teacher, has a new book just out this month from Yale University Press: After Buddhism, Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age.  Mr. Batchelor, an advocate of a secular Buddhism, is probably best known for his books Buddhism Without Beliefs and most recently, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist.…

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A Culture of Awakening

At the end of May I attended a four day workshop at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe called “A Culture of Awakening.” It was led by Stephen Batchelor with Roshi Joan Halifax. I will try to discuss the ideas presented and my impressions of them. For those that are interested, all seven of the…

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Running on Emptiness: A Layman's Take on the Two Truths

I was first introduced to the Two Truths doctrine with the common simile of the wave and the ocean. Phenomena, including my own sense of self, were like waves on the ocean, perceived by everyday persons like me as discrete things and not merely the temporary manifestations of the ocean that they actually were with…

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