Secular Buddhist Network

POSTS:

SBN’s half-day online meditation retreat

The Secular Buddhist Network (SBN) held a half-day, online meditation retreat on 4 February 2024. Unlike most traditional meditation retreats that are led by one or several teachers, who give meditation instructions and dharma talks, SBN's retreat was peer-led, with three people providing brief introductions for silent meditation periods.

Secular Humanist Buddhism

Kirk Mason argues that secular humanist Buddhism, a synthesis of secular humanism and secular Buddhism, weaves together secular humanism's emphasis on reason, ethics, and human values with secular Buddhism's focus on mindfulness, meditation, and compassion.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #53 February 2024

Welcome to our February 2024 newsletter. This month we feature new articles by Jack Chamberlin, Colette Descent, Carmel Shalev, and Karsten Struhl. We also highlight several offerings from SBN: a course, a retreat, and a new online group.

SBN’s new online group: the Secular Buddhist Zen Pub

SBN is starting a Saturday morning weekly zoom that is easy to drop in on, and rewarding through dharma insights and practical applications (including friendships).

A Middle Way: a response to comments on ‘Reflections in a time of war’

Carmel Shalev received many comments regarding her reflections on Israel/Palestine posted on the SBN website. In this article she responds to several of the critical comments.

SBN’s Secular Dharma and Political Activism Group

The Secular Buddhist Network has formed a discussion group for those who wish to share their experiences of and discuss new possibilities for bringing secular Buddhist ideas, ethics, and practices to community groups, social service organizations, and political movements.

Using nonviolent communication (NVC) within right speech

Colette Descent explains why Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication approach provides a valuable tool for secular Buddhists.

Socially Engaged and Radically Engaged Buddhism

Karsten Struhl argues that Buddhists need to focus not just on the problem of existential-psychological suffering but challenge and transform social institutions. which cause various forms of harm and suffering.

From Anglican Catholic to secular Buddhist

Jack Chamberlin explains why he rejected the Anglican Catholicism of his youth and ultimately embraced a secular Buddhist perspective on life and death.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #52 January 2024

Welcome to our January 2024 newsletter. This month we feature new articles by Edward Morey,, Carmel Shalev, and Cedar Thokme. We also highlight an upcoming online retreat sponsored by the Secular Buddhist Network and a "job posting" from Tuwhiri, a secular Buddhist publishing imprint.

Man of Peace – The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet

Cedar Thokme introduces Man of Peace, an historical, graphic novel about the Dalai Lama that was produced by Tibet House US.

Behavior, choice, and well-being: economics and Buddhism

In his new book, Edward Morey explores the relationships between behavior, choice, and ethics in welfare economics and Buddhism.

Reflections in a time of war

Based on a secular Buddhist ethic of care, compassion, and radical uncertainty, Carmel Shalev offers her reflections on the current situation in Israel/Palestine.

Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #51 December 2023

Welcome to our December 2023 newsletter. This month we highlight an interview with Seth Zuihō Segall about his new book, The House We Live In, and an article by John Danvers. We also feature a practitioner's account of her journey to secular Buddhism and Bodhi College's course offerings for 2024.

An interview with Seth Segall on his new book, The House We Live In

SBN interviewed Seth Zuihō Segall about his new book, The House We Live in: Virtue, Wisdom, and Pluralism. In this book Seth offers a theory of ethics and flourishing based on Aristotle, Buddha, and Confucius.