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SBN Editor

Stephen Batchelor: dharma talks and interviews
Stephen Batchelor is the most prominent proponent of secular Buddhism. Beginning with his book Buddhism Without Beliefs , Stephen has played a crucial role in the development of a secular dharma relevant to our contemporary society.
Bodhi College’s After Buddhism and Beyond Course
Bodhi College's self-study, online course, After Buddhism and Beyond, will offer a comprehensive series of Stephen Batchelor's lectures, reflections, and discussions on the theme of Secular Dharma. The course includes videos with talks and Q&As, Stephen’s notes, questions for self reflection, and a resources guide.  
A practitioner’s journey to secular Buddhism: Craig
Craig Murphy encountered Buddhist-inspired meditation practices through John Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR approach in the early 1990s. Craig has found that a secular approach which eschews metaphysics to be most consistent with his perspective toward life and society.
A taste of reflective meditation
If you would like to learn more about the reflective meditation approach, Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer are offering an introduction to reflective meditation on 20 September and 23 October.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #48 September 2023
Welcome to our September 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight new articles by Pedro Bellora, Tom Cummings, and Linda Modaro/Nelly Kaufer. In addition, we introduce a new tool to facilitate the formation of local sanghas and highlight a workshop on secular Buddhism and socially engaged Buddhism..
SBN’s online discussion group: meeting summaries
SBN's online discussion group meets the third Thursday of each month. For those who cannot attend, we provide summaries of the topics discussed at each meeting.
Looking for a sangha?
Many secular dharma practitioners are looking for in-person sanghas to enrich their practice. To facilitate the development of local sanghas, SBN has established a listing for individuals looking to meet others in their geographical area.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #47 August 2023
Welcome to our August 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight new articles by Tom Cummings, Ira Rifkin, and Cedar Thokme. In addition, we have an interview with Dave Smith about his new MBEL program and announce the opening of the registration period for our Fall 2023 course on secular Buddhism.
An interview with Dave Smith on his 2024 MBEL program
In a 10 July interview with SBN, Dave Smith, an insight meditation and secular mindfulness teacher, discussed his new program on Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL), which will begin January 2024.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #46 July 2023
Welcome to our July 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight new articles by Colette Descent and Keith Jackson, and provide an update on the development of a Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL) course based in the secular dharma.
Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL): an update
Since November 2022, eighteen people from twelve countries have been developing a new online course, Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL). The course will offer an ethical and philosophical framework for a flourishing life, based on a secular interpretation of the Buddhist foundation of mindfulness.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #45 June 2023
Welcome to our June 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight new articles by Pedro Bellora, Katya de Kadt, Colette Descent, and Caspar Harris,  as well as a practitioner's account of his journey to secular Buddhism.
A practitioner’s journey to secular Buddhism: Tom
Tom Cummings initially practiced Vipassana meditation, but he has found that secular Buddhism's emphasis on our present human life as the one and only existence we have aligns well with the agnostic humanist perspective he has embraced for many years.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #44 May 2023
Welcome to our May 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight new articles by Kirk Mason and Mike Slott,  a practitioner's account of his journey to secular Buddhism, and a workshop by Dave Smith on mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths.
Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths
At an online program sponsored by New York Insight Meditation Center, Dave Smith presented the Four Noble Truths as four tasks for engaging in an ethical, flourishing life.