Posts by Doug Smith
Secular Buddhism & Secular Humanism
For more information about secular humanism, see the Council for Secular Humanism‘s website.
Read MoreThe Two Major Kinds of Buddhist Meditation
Now with better quality video! More info about a couple of folks mentioned: Leigh Brasington Jon Kabat-Zinn
Read MoreWhat is Buddhist Awakening?
Here is a short video on the Buddhist notion of awakening, a/k/a enlightenment, nirvāṇa, nibbāna, etc.
Read MoreGood Books on Early Buddhism
Here are the books mentioned in the video: Bhikkhu Bodhi: In the Buddha’s Words Rupert Gethin: The Foundations of Buddhism Williams, Tribe, Wynne: Buddhist Thought Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught Richard Gombrich: What the Buddha Thought Richard Gombrich: Theravāda Buddhism, 2nd Ed. Johannes Bronkhorst: Buddhist Teaching in India Anālayo: Satipaṭṭhāna, the Direct Path to…
Read MoreThe Buddha on Politics and Society
Here I refer to Bhikkhu Bodhi’s new anthology, The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony. Please enjoy!
Read MoreComparing Greek and Early Buddhist Thought
For a good intro to classical Greek philosophy see the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s page. Thanks for watching!
Read MoreWhat is Secular Buddhism?
This is a short experiment, a video I’ve cobbled together and put up on YouTube on the question “What is secular Buddhism?” where I try to explain both what it is, and how it has come about historically. It’s quite short, seven and a half minutes long, so I don’t go into a whole lot…
Read MoreBuddhist Activism and Quietism
Many of us are looking for the right way to engage with contemporary political concerns. What does Buddhism have to teach us? A couple of recent articles have taken this question in opposite directions. In “Let’s Stand Up Together”, Bhikkhu Bodhi argues that Buddhism has a number of important ethical lessons to teach that rise above simple notions…
Read MoreThe Buddha Before Buddhism: Review of Fronsdal
In his new book The Buddha Before Buddhism, Gil Fronsdal undertakes a translation of the Aṭṭhakavagga or Book of Eights, one of the Buddha’s most profound and enigmatic teachings, also widely considered one of his earliest. As is to be expected from his previous translation of the Dhammapada (2005), Fronsdal’s book is lucid and readable, one that should…
Read MoreInsight Buddhism is Secular Buddhism: Reviewing Heartwood
Wendy Cadge’s 2005 book Heartwood: The First Generation of Theravada Buddhism in America is a fascinating look at the way this form of Buddhism is adapting to contemporary American life. Although the book stems from her PhD dissertation it is readable, filled with descriptions of practitioners and their approaches. Cadge spent several years doing…
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