SBN Editor, Author at Secular Buddhist Network

POSTS:

SBN Editor

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #29 February 2022

Welcome to our February 2022 newsletter. This month we feature a new article on the core tasks of a radically engaged Buddhist by Mike Slott, Katya de Kadt, and Karsten Struhl, as well as Winton Higgins's response to the article. We also highlight new articles by Bernat Font-Clos, Stefano Bettera, and Robert M. Ellis. Finally, we announce the formation of a new reading group sponsored by the Secular Buddhist Network.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #28 January 2022

Welcome to our January 2022 newsletter. This month we feature new articles by Alex Carr, John Danvers, and Jonathan Golden. We also announce the opening of registrations for SBN's online course on secular Buddhism and a new program offered by Dave Smith. Finally, we provide an update on SBN's monthly discussion group.

SBN’s online discussion group: an update

SBN's monthly, online discussion group had its first meeting in January 2021 and has become an important forum and source of connection for a group of secular Buddhists in various regions of the world. The group is making some changes for the 2022 meetings and a new reading group is being formed.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #27 December 2021

Welcome to our December 2021 newsletter. This month we feature a dialogue regarding 'truths' and 'tasks' in secular Buddhism with Mike Slott, Winton Higgins, and Stephen Batchelor. We also highlight dharma talks by Stephen Batchelor on a secular reinterpretation of the Eightfold Path, an interview conducted by James Shaheen with Winton Higgins on his new book on secular Buddhism, an article by David Patten on varied secular sources for an understanding of not-self, and three SBN contributors who appear in the latest issue of Tricycle magazine.

Reexamining ‘truths’ and ‘tasks’ in secular Buddhism: a dialogue

Mike Slott, Winton Higgins, Stephen Batchelor, and Jonathan Golden discuss the relationship of truths and tasks in a secular approach to the dharma.

Interview with Winton Higgins on his new book, ‘Revamp: writings on secular Buddhism’

Winton Higgins, a meditation teacher, member of the Tuwhiri Project editorial board, and contributor to the Secular Buddhist Network website, was interviewed by Tricycle magazine editor James Shaheen on 18 November 2021 about his new book, 'Revamp: writings on secular Buddhism'.

Stephen Batchelor’s dharma talks on a secular reinterpretation of the eightfold path

At Buddha-Stiftung's fifth study retreat, which was held in October 2021, Stephen Batchelor discussed a secular reinterpretation of the Eightfold Path that is appropriate and helpful for our contemporary world. As part of this reinterpretation, Stephen suggested a different order of the limbs of the Eightfold Path and offered a new interpretation of each limb.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #26 November 2021

Welcome to our November 2021 newsletter. This month we highlight a recent dharma talk by Stephen Batchelor, an SBN interview with meditation teacher Dave Smith, an article by Alex Carr on meditating during the time of COVID, and an article by Anna Delacroix on a daily online meditation group led by reflective meditation teachers Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer. We also note an article by Winton Higgins in an upcoming issue of the newsletter, Creative Dharma and an interview with Winton, scheduled for 18 November, on his new book, Revamp: writings on secular Buddhism.

Interview with Dave Smith on teaching during COVID and a secular approach to the dharma

Dave Smith is an internationally recognized Buddhist meditation teacher, addiction treatment specialist, and published author. We recently interviewed Dave about the impact of COVID on his teaching programs and his evolving understanding of secularity and a secular dharma.

Stephen Batchelor on the ‘Parable of the Snake’ and the need to reimagine Buddhism

Stephen Batchelor led a meditation and offered a dharma talk to the Community Meditation Center (CMC), an Insight meditation center based in New York City, USA. Stephen's talk was on the 'Parable of the Snake,' a sutta in which Gotama, the historical Buddha, discussed different ways of approach the dharma.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #25 October 2021

Welcome to our October 2021 newsletter. This month we highlight the unique path of a secular Buddhist monastic, an early experiment in a more secular approach to the dharma in Japan. an interview with a meditation teacher active in the climate group Extinction Rebellion, and an online event featuring an artist engaging in the ecological crises of our time. Finally, we explain why we've changed the name of this newsletter.

Two years of SBN: an update

The Secular Buddhist Network (SBN) website and our monthly newsletter went 'live' two years ago. In this article we assess the progress made in achieving the goals for SBN that we initially established and two recent changes. We also ask for your feedback.

Reimagining Community newsletter #24 September 2021

Welcome to our September 2021 newsletter. This month we highlight a critical review of a book published by Shambhala Publications on secularizing trends in Buddhism, two articles on a secular approach to meditation, and an account of an Argentinian sangha combining forms of Vajrayana Buddhism with a democratic and participatory mode of functioning.

Reimagining Community newsletter #23 August 2021

Welcome to our August 2021 newsletter. This month we highlight an interview with Linda Modaro on the need for ethical reflection by meditation teachers and dharma group leaders, a last call for registration for SBN's Fall 2021 online course on Exploring a secular dharma, and two articles which connect secular Buddhism with broader, socially engaged perspectives and practices.

Reimagining Community newsletter #22 July 2021

Welcome to our July 2021 newsletter. This month we highlight a discussion on secular Buddhism and Robert M. Ellis's Middle Way Philosophy, the opening of registration for SBN's Fall 2021 online course on Exploring a secular dharma, and a new book by Paul Andrew Powell which explores the connection between Zen and our secular world.