Welcome to our December 2025 newsletter.
This month we feature articles by Bernat Font, Winton Higgins, and Mike Slott. We also highlight Ted Meissner's 2020 interview with Lama Rod Owens and a discussion between Stephen Batchelor and Donald Lopez Jr. on their visions of the Buddha.
Goodbye to the Historical Buddha?
Bernat Font discusses the controversy over whether the Buddha can be considered a historical figure.
The Dharma of Civic Virtue
Winton Higgins examined the dharma of civic virtue in a dharma talk given to the Kookaburra Sangha in Sydney, Australia on November 8, 2025.
Ted Meissner's The Secular Buddhist Podcast
Over fifteen years and 337 episodes, Ted Meissner's Secular Buddhist podcast provided those interested in the secular dharma with fascinating and insightful interviews with meditation teachers and writers. This month we feature Ted's interview with Lama Rod Owens on his book, Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger, originally aired on May 22, 2020.
Lama Rod Owens is a self-described Black Buddhist Southern Queen with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors and Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care.
Secular Buddhism and Mindfulness Based Ethical Living
Mike Slott discusses the relationship between a secular approach to the dharma and Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL).
Sign Up for SBN's Exploring a Secular Dharma Course
Secular Buddhist Network's free online course, Exploring a Secular Dharma, will run from January 5 to February 9, 2026. The course explores the key ideas and practices of secular Buddhism, an important trend that has emerged in Buddhism in recent years.
The Life of the Buddha with Stephen Batchelor and Donald S. Lopez Jr.
On Thursday, November 13, Donald S. Lopez Jr. and Stephen Batchelor discussed their differing visions of the Buddha, laid out in their new books. The online event was organized by Tricycle magazine.
While Lopez highlights the Buddha’s superhuman qualities and his status as a mythic figure, Batchelor depicts the Buddha as a practical thinker focused on the ethics of living a good life in an uncertain world.
Connect with the Secular Buddhist Network
Looking for a sangha? - To facilitate the development of local sanghas, SBN has established a listing for individuals looking to meet others in their geographical area. Click here.
SBN's Monthly Discussion Group - Meets the third Thursday of each month on Zoom. Click here.
Sunday Morning Meditation Group - Meets every Sunday at 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. Click here.
Sunday Evening Practice Circle- A long-time offering of the Secular Buddhist Association, meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday every month, 8:00 p.m. Central Time (9:00 p.m. Eastern). Click here.
SBN Reading Groups- SBN sponsors two reading groups. Book, article, video and podcast selections for both groups focus on topics related to secular Buddhism. Click here.
Exploring Aging from a Secular Buddhist Perspective- Meets the second and last Monday of each month on Zoom. Click here.
Secular Dharma and Political Activism - Meets the first Friday of every month on Zoom. Click here.
Secular Buddhist Zen Pub - Meets every Saturday, 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. Click here.
SBN online course on Exploring a Secular Dharma- Click here to learn about the basic ideas and concepts of secular Buddhism through a free online course.
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