COURSES & RETREATS
Exploring secular Buddhism through courses and retreats
For those who want an introduction to secular Buddhism, or who wish to explore key ideas in secular Buddhism more thoroughly, there are a number of excellent courses and retreats to choose from. They range from self-paced, online courses to the two-year course on secular dharma offered by Bodhi College.
On this page you will find the variety of courses and retreats available on secular Buddhism.
RECOMMENDED COURSES
AFTER BUDDHISM
Exploring a secular dharma with Mike Slott
The Tuwhiri Project and SBN’s Mike Slott have created an online course exploring the key ideas and practices of secular Buddhism, an important trend that has emerged in western Buddhism in recent years.
This online course is based mainly on Stephen Batchelor’s recent book, After Buddhism: rethinking the dharma for a secular age and the companion book published by The Tuwhiri Project, After Buddhism: a workbook by Winton Higgins.
Stephen and Martine Batchelor, Winton Higgins, Mike Slott, Jim Champion and Linda Modaro explain the thinking and philosophy behind this course in this short video.
They talk about its origins in the groundbreaking book After Buddhism and the process of revisting and rethinking the teachings of the Buddha for a modern age.
OBJECTIVES
The courses key objectives are to:
- Identify and explain the key concepts of secular Buddhism
- Compare secular Buddhism with traditional, institutional forms of Buddhism
- Sketch a vision of secular Buddhist practice for individuals and communities
MIKE SLOTT
COURSE LEADER
The course is presented by Mike Slott. A part-time lecturer in labor history at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, Mike is a long-time political and labor movement activist who began a meditation practice in 2010.
He is a member of and practice leader at New York Insight.
The course is available through this website for individual self-study and for people to go through in a group.
We encourage communities to enrol groups of their members in the course together, allowing them the opportunity to exchange views and experiences. Contact us to discuss.
The course will be accessible in three ways:
AVAILABLE NOW: Self-paced
– for individuals to go through it on their own.
COMING SOON: Community
– for people to go through with a group of friends.
COMING SOON: Group
– for individuals to go through at the same time with a cohort of others.
After Buddhism: exploring a secular dharma is offered without a fixed fee; when you have completed it, you will be invited to make a donation which will ensure that others can go through the course also.
If you are interested in taking this course as an individual (Self-paced) click on the link below:
If you are interested in participating in the course as part of a learning cohort, with opportunities for discussion and feedback, please get in touch with us through the form on our Contact page.
OTHER COURSES
Our wonky wheel: Why Buddhist practice is a response to bias
Robert M. Ellis's recent book, Bias and the Middle Way, explores how mindfulness, the Middle Way, and psychological theories can help us avoid biases which cause suffering.
By Robert M. Ellis
The Dharmic Imperative Towards Radical, Socially Engaged Buddhism
Alexandra Cain argues that Buddhist practice should not stop at the individual but challenge the craving and greed that drives exploitative and oppressive social institutions.
By Alexandra Cain
THE USA & CANADA
Check out the list of secular Buddhist groups and communities in the USA.
By SBN Editor
The Heart Sutra from a Secular Buddhist Perspective
The Heart Sutra is renowned for its central teaching: "Form is emptiness; emptiness is form." In secular Buddhism, this statement does not describe a supernatural realm but points to the insight that all things are impermanent, contingent, and interconnected.
By Ed Geraty
MBEL – Mindfulness Based Ethical Living: From Interdependence to Ethical Habits
Jochen Weber discusses a new version of the Mindfulness Based Ethical Living (MBEL) course which translates the four tasks and eightfold path into a culturally accessible, habit-based practice model.
By Jochen Weber
EXPLORE COURSES & RETREATS
MBEL – Mindfulness Based Ethical Living: From Interdependence to Ethical Habits
By Jochen Weber
