COURSES & RETREATS
Exploring secular Buddhism through courses and retreats
For those who want an introduction to secular Buddhism, or who wish to explore key ideas in secular Buddhism more thoroughly, there are a number of excellent courses and retreats to choose from. They range from self-paced, online courses to the two-year course on secular dharma offered by Bodhi College.
On this page you will find the variety of courses and retreats available on secular Buddhism.
RECOMMENDED COURSES
AFTER BUDDHISM
Exploring a secular dharma with Mike Slott
The Tuwhiri Project and SBN’s Mike Slott have created an online course exploring the key ideas and practices of secular Buddhism, an important trend that has emerged in western Buddhism in recent years.
This online course is based mainly on Stephen Batchelor’s recent book, After Buddhism: rethinking the dharma for a secular age and the companion book published by The Tuwhiri Project, After Buddhism: a workbook by Winton Higgins.
Stephen and Martine Batchelor, Winton Higgins, Mike Slott, Jim Champion and Linda Modaro explain the thinking and philosophy behind this course in this short video.
They talk about its origins in the groundbreaking book After Buddhism and the process of revisting and rethinking the teachings of the Buddha for a modern age.
OBJECTIVES
The courses key objectives are to:
- Identify and explain the key concepts of secular Buddhism
- Compare secular Buddhism with traditional, institutional forms of Buddhism
- Sketch a vision of secular Buddhist practice for individuals and communities
MIKE SLOTT
COURSE LEADER
The course is presented by Mike Slott. A part-time lecturer in labor history at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, Mike is a long-time political and labor movement activist who began a meditation practice in 2010.
He is a member of and practice leader at New York Insight.
The course is available through this website for individual self-study and for people to go through in a group.
We encourage communities to enrol groups of their members in the course together, allowing them the opportunity to exchange views and experiences. Contact us to discuss.
The course will be accessible in three ways:
AVAILABLE NOW: Self-paced
– for individuals to go through it on their own.
COMING SOON: Community
– for people to go through with a group of friends.
COMING SOON: Group
– for individuals to go through at the same time with a cohort of others.
After Buddhism: exploring a secular dharma is offered without a fixed fee; when you have completed it, you will be invited to make a donation which will ensure that others can go through the course also.
If you are interested in taking this course as an individual (Self-paced) click on the link below:
If you are interested in participating in the course as part of a learning cohort, with opportunities for discussion and feedback, please get in touch with us through the form on our Contact page.
OTHER COURSES
Buddhist Voices for Immigration Justice: A Virtual Town Hall on November 20
The Buddhist Coalition for Democracy, in partnership with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on Immigration Justice: Compassion in Action on November 20.
By Kathryn Koehl
Stephen Batchelor’s Dharma Talk on Mindfulness of the Body, and a Few Reflections
Karsten Struhl discusses a recent dharma talk by Stephen Batchelor on mindfulness of the body at the Community Meditation Center in New York City.
By Karsten J. Struhl
Stephen Batchelor on Secular Dharma
In a chapter from his new book, Buddha, Socrates, and Us, Stephen Batchelor presents the core elements of a secular approach to the dharma.
By Stephen Batchelor
Insights: Exploring Secular Dharma #73 October 2025
Welcome to our October 2025 newsletter. This month we feature articles by Vince Cavuoto, Tom Cummings, Nan DiBello, Robert M. Ellis, Linda Modaro, Mike Slott, Karsten Struhl, and Sharon Tobias. We also highlight Ted Meissner's 2018 interview with Bernat Font on the topic of secular mindfulness and Buddhism.
By SBN Editor
Stephen Batchelor on his New Book: Buddha, Socrates, and Us
Tom Cummings reports on a talk by Stephen Batchelor on his new book, Buddha, Socrates, and Us: Ethical Living in Uncertain Times.
By Tom Cummings
EXPLORE COURSES & RETREATS
Buddhist Voices for Immigration Justice: A Virtual Town Hall on November 20
By Kathryn Koehl
Stephen Batchelor’s Dharma Talk on Mindfulness of the Body, and a Few Reflections
By Karsten J. Struhl
