Articles
Embracing Joy and Sorrow Fearlessly by Letting Go
I recall when I first started studying Buddhism how surprised and unsettled I felt at all the talk of dispassion and letting go.
Read MoreResponse to Faith and Belief in Secular Buddhism
What follows below is taken from an email I received today from Geoff, regarding one of the threads on Sujato’s Blog. I thought this audience might be interested in the full response, and I’ll also see if I can find the spot on Sujato’s site to respond there as well. Many of the topics here…
Read MorePop Quiz: What Is Dependent Arising?
Dependent Arising (paṭicca samuppāda, also known as Dependent Origination, Interdependent Arising, &c) is of special interest to me. The other day while I was browsing various online forums, I found a monk expressing amazement that anyone could think it was about — well, I’m not going to say what he was amazed by, but suffice…
Read MoreA Letter to Traditional Buddhists
Over the past few months The Secular Buddhist podcast site and its blogs have received increased attention. We are grateful for that and welcome the many new secular Buddhists into the community. But surprisingly, at least to me, we’ve also gotten a lot of heat from traditional Buddhists. I’ve been both disappointed and surprised by…
Read MoreKnowing When to Speak Up or Shut Up!
Part 2 of a series on communicating controversial topics In the last month, I’ve had online conversations with a Muslim who tried to convince me Allah is the only and true god, a Christian who tried to persuade me that Jesus is my Savior, several traditional Buddhists who insist that by not believing in reincarnation…
Read MoreHow to Engage Effectively in Controversial Discussions
Part 1 of a series on communicating about controversial topics At The Amazing Meeting (TAM) 2011 this year, a theme emerged in many of the talks and panel discussions. That theme was how to engage effectively in controversial discussions. I emphasize the word effectively. It got me thinking on…
Read MoreBuddhism Without Buddha
by Mark Knickelbine One of the topics we get into with some frequency is what the relationship is or ought to be between Secular Buddhism and the Buddha. Is dharma practice inextricably linked to the smiling sage beneath the Bo tree? Is it possible for the core practices to be presented entirely outside the framework…
Read MorePutting Buddhist Practice Under a Microscope
Disclaimer: This method is how I approach my practice, and is not necessarily the views of other Secular Buddhist. That said, these methods fit well within the context of the secular Buddhist practices. Occasionally I am accused of being a reductionist. So I admit here and now, I do indeed take a reductionist approach to…
Read MoreThe Four Foundations of Secular Buddhism
by Mark Knickelbine This is another in a series of posts in which I have been discussing ideas presented by Stephen Batchelor in a series of dharma talks in late 2010. I encourage you to check them out at dharmaseed.org. While Stephen Batchelor has often written and talked about his vision of a Buddhism that does…
Read MoreTurning the Skeptic Inward
I often tell people that while science taught me to be skeptical of the world, Buddhism taught me to be skeptical the inner world. But more accurately, I couldn’t be a good skeptic until I was able to turn skepticism inward and tame this overactive mind. Because while others may fool us with stories, lies, and misinformation, the biggest deceptions happen within our very own heads!
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