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Towards a flourishing-based ethics
Seth Zuiho Segall brings together the virtue ethics systems of Aristotle, the Buddha, and Confucius with the pragmatists' emphasis on provisional truths and democracy to offer a new flourishing-based ethics.
The five principles of the Middle Way
Robert M. Ellis offers five principles of the Middle Way as a useful model for practice and as a set of principles that focus on judgment as a process rather than on beliefs in ultimates or absolutes.
Mindfulness for Everyone: an online course
Dave Smith, a Buddhist meditation teacher and co-founder of the Secular Dharma Foundation, is offering a new online course, Mindfulness for Everyone. This self-paced course offers a dynamic and comprehensive understanding of mindfulness from a secular perspective.
My research on the impact of mindfulness
Harry Somaraju discusses some of his recent research on the impact of mindfulness meditation on the alleviation of stress and the cultivation of positive mental and emotional qualities.
An interview with Nelly Kaufer and Linda Modaro on Reflective Meditation
In an interview with SBN, Nelly Kaufer and Linda Modaro discussed dharma teaching, their reflective meditation approach, and their new book, Reflective Meditation: Cultivating Kindness and Curiosity in the Buddha's Company.
Secular monks?
Dennis SengTing Oliver, a secular monk in the Centre for Pragmatic Buddhism in Scotland, offers a balanced assessment of the reasons for and against having secular monks within the Buddhist community.
A practitioner’s journey to secular Buddhism: Ronn
Ronn Smith began an intensive study of Buddhism at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (BCBS) in 2008 and then gravitated toward a secular approach through an engagement with Stephen Batchelor's writings. For Ronn, the ethical and philosophical dimensions of secular dharma are crucial; in particular, the emphasis on flourishing and care rather than on suffering.
Learning, awakening, and empowerment
John Danvers argues that the development of secular approaches to Buddhist practice involves not only a radical reconsideration of institutional goals and structures but the development of more effective, transformative and egalitarian modes of learning.
Zen’s two paths
Seth Zuiho Segall highlights how in Zen the path of the gradual cultivation of wisdom and virtue and the path of immediate presence, are complementary, each facilitating and enriching the other.
A practitioner’s journey to secular Buddhism: Steve
Steve Holdsambeck and his family were deeply involved for many years in the southern (USA) Methodist Church. However, through a very emotional and difficult transition, he began to question his Christian faith and developed an increasing interest in meditation, which eventually led to an interest in Stephen Batchelor's books and secular Buddhism.
Secular Buddhism: to be or not to be a ‘Thing’
Lenorë Lambert argues that if we want to share the benefits of the secular dharma with others, we need to define ourselves more clearly and offer some of the benefits provided by organized groups.
Stephen Batchelor’s program on Mindfulness Based Human Flourishing
Stephen Batchelor offered a series of four workshops last month on the topic of ‘Mindfulness Based Human Flourishing (MBHF): The Ethics and Philosophy of Mindful Living’. The workshops explored the role of mindfulness practice as a key to flourishing in every aspect of human life.
A practitioner’s journey to secular Buddhism: Keith
Keith Clanton's initial religious experience was with Christianity but he has been interested in Buddhism for many decades. He finds that Buddhist teachings in a secular/agnostic form fit well with how he sees the world. Keith has taken vows with a group called the Secular Buddhist Tradition (SBT) and is also active in various SBN groups.
On our fixation with the early texts
Arguing against the widespread view that the commentaries on the suttas are ossified and scholastic readings of the teachings, Bernat Font-Clos urges us to be open to finding in them important insights for our practice.
What’s the problem? Not ‘suffering’ but absolutization
Robert M. Ellis argues that absolutization, the assumption that we have the whole story, is the basis for our failure to respond optimally in problematic situations. By synthesizing Buddhist insights and other perspectives, we can avoid absolutization and live more skillfully.
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