POSTS:


Happiness Myths Exposed
Lenorë Lambert discusses the myths surrounding happiness and the need to embrace life as it is in an interview on the Redefining Wisdom podcast.
Stephen Batchelor and Gil Fronsdal Discuss “Buddha, Socrates, and Us”
Stephen Batchelor and Gil Fronsdal met on July 29 for a 90-minute online conversation to explore the themes of Stephen’s upcoming book, Buddha, Socrates, and Us: Ethical Living in Uncertain Times.
The Mango That Wouldn’t Ripen: (A Rwamiti Way Story about Patience, Control, and Quiet Fruitfulness)
Petero Wamala's story highlights the value of patience and recognizing our limited control over life's events, two important Buddhist insights.
Reconstructing the Dharma: An Axiomatic Approach to Buddha’s Teachings
Kenneth Leong argues that two core Buddhist concepts - non-self and this-that conditionality - provide the axiomatic foundation for all Buddhist concepts and doctrines.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #71 August 2025
Welcome to our August 2025 newsletter. This month we feature: articles by Ayda Duroux, Jesus Perez, Marc Symons, and John Tate; Ted Meissner's 2020 interview with Matteo Pistono about his book, Roar: Sulak Sivaraksa and the Path of Socially Engaged Buddhism; and two courses that will be offered in September.
Cultivating Ethical Mindfulness — Reflections from Our Hong Kong Workshop 
Ayda Duroux discusses a workshop on Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL) that she and Stephen Batchelor offered at the International Conference of Mindfulness - Asia Pacific (ICMAP) 2025.
MBEL Pilot Course to Begin in September
A ten week, online course on Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL) will be offered beginning in September 2025.
Stephen Batchelor: books, articles, and interviews
Stephen Batchelor's books, articles, and dharma talks have offered a compelling vision of a secular dharma based on individual transformation and creating a “culture of awareness” in this world.
A Secular Buddhism Based on the Lotus Sūtra
John Tate offers an alternative foundation for secular Buddhism through a new interpretation of the Lotus Sutra.
Exploring Awareness During Daily Life
Marc Symons discusses how the practice of receptive awareness enables us to be more mindful and less reactive off the cushion and in our daily lives.
A Critique of Secular Buddhism
Jesus Perez argues that secular Buddhism is characterized by a sense of cultural superiority over non-western cultures and reflects a worldview shaped by commercialism and individualism.
Exploring a secular dharma: SBN’s online course
SBN's free online course on explores key concepts a secular dharma. Participants in the course will go through the course modules, discuss the topics in each module with each other, and meet on Zoom every two weeks with the instructors for the course.
Rethinking the Dharma / Reimagining Community #70 July 2025
Welcome to our July 2025 newsletter. This month we feature articles by Linda Blanchard, Winton Higgins, Ira Rifkin, and Petero Wamala, as well as Ted Meissner's 2019 interview with Oren Jay Sofer about his book, Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.
Grieving the eclipse of western ethics
In a recent dharma talk Winton Higgins discusses the contradiction between western ethical ideals which embrace our common humanity and the violence, inequality, and cruelty so prevalent in western societies.
The Woman Who Hated Temples but Loved the Silence
Petero Wamala offers a story about love, mindful presence, and kindness.