Welcome to our April 2026 newsletter.
This month we feature: articles by John Danvers, Ramsey Margolis, and Noah Rasheta; a podcast discussion between Dave Smith and Mike Slott on secular Buddhism; upcoming SBN events; and news from Tuwhiri, the secular Buddhist publishing imprint.
Climate Action & Eco-Grief
John Danvers discusses global warming, climate action and "eco-grief". He contends that individual and collective actions rooted in dharmic values can transform potential despair into a more hopeful outlook.
Upcoming SBN Events
SBN is offering a half-day online meditation retreat on Sunday, April 12, from 11 am to 3 pm US Eastern Time, on the theme of cultivating mindfulness. Facilitated by Marc Symons and Sharon Tobias, the retreat will include periods of silent meditation and group discussions. Click here to register for the retreat.
Linda Modaro, the guiding teacher of Sati Sangha, will be a guest teacher at SBN's Sunday meditation group on May 3. To learn more about her approach to meditation, click here.
SBN's introductory course on secular Buddhism, Exploring a Secular Dharma, will run from June 15 to July 20. The course explores the key ideas and practices of secular Buddhism, an important trend that has emerged in Buddhism in recent years. Click here to register for the course.
We're All Downstream
Noah Rasheta, who hosts the popular Secular Buddhism podcast, discusses how Buddhism has evolved, his view of the term "secular Buddhism", and a new offering on his website, eightfoldpath.com.
Dave Smith’s interview with Mike Slott on Secular Buddhism & SBN
On March 5, Dave Smith, a Buddhist meditation teacher and the co-founder of the Secular Dharma Foundation, interviewed SBN Editor Mike Slott on his Secular Dharma Foundation podcast. Dave and Mike discussed the current status of secular Buddhism, the notions of secularity and spirituality, and the development of the Secular Buddhist Network since the website went public in October 2019.
A New Online Group from SBN: Exploring the "Secular" Side of Secular Buddhism
Secular Buddhists have varying views of the nature of secularity and its connection with Buddhism in secular dharma practice. For those of you who are interested in focusing on the secular dimension of secular Buddhism, SBN is initiating a new online group. To sign up for this new group, click here.
News from Tuwhiri
Tuwhiri Reading Group: Tuwhiri, publisher of books on early Buddhism, its retrieval, and the ongoing development of a secular dharma, is hosting a What is This? reading group beginning April 19 (Chicago time) and running through July 19 at a time suitable for people in time zones between the US and Australia/East Asia. The group will culminate with a Q&A session on July 26 with Martine & Stephen Batchelor. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, please email paul@tuwhiri.org.
Two New Books from Tuwhiri:
- The Secular Path to Well-Being: practical dharma for today, by Jeffrey Fracher, is due out April 2026.
- Living Life on Life’s Terms: turning the wheel of secular dharma, by Stephen Batchelor, Martine Batchelor and Bernat Font, is due out May 2026.
Connect with the Secular Buddhist Network
Looking for a sangha? - To facilitate the development of local sanghas, SBN has established a listing for individuals looking to meet others in their geographical area. Click here.
SBN's Monthly Discussion Group - Meets the third Thursday of each month on Zoom. Click here.
Sunday Morning Meditation Group - Meets every Sunday at 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. Click here.
Sunday Evening Practice Circle- A long-time offering of the Secular Buddhist Association, meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday every month, 8:00 p.m. Central Time (9:00 p.m. Eastern). Click here.
SBN Reading Groups- SBN sponsors two reading groups. Book, article, video and podcast selections for both groups focus on topics related to secular Buddhism. Click here.
Exploring Aging from a Secular Buddhist Perspective- Meets the second and last Monday of each month on Zoom. Click here.
Secular Dharma and Political Activism - Meets the first Friday of every month on Zoom. Click here.
Secular Buddhist Zen Pub - Meets every Saturday, 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. Click here.
SBN online course on Exploring a Secular Dharma- Click here to learn about the basic ideas and concepts of secular Buddhism through a free online course.
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