Welcome to our November 2026 newsletter.
This month we feature articles by Jan Bover, Piero Falci, Jeffrey Fracher, Marc Symons, and Petero Wamala.
Action Tames Anxiety
Piero Falci urges us to integrate our mindfulness meditation practice with sustained engagement and political activism.
According to Falci, "true practice asks us to bridge the gap between inner peace and outward engagement—to move from the quiet refuge of self-soothing into the active work of service."
The Chair With My Name On It
Petero Wamala's fictional story about an older man's relationship to a chair offers a valuable lesson on the suffering we experience from a certain form of attachment.
Four Experiences of the Present
Jan Bover discusses four highly distinct ways of living and experiencing the present, although the boundaries between them are blurred and the transition from one to another is always gradual, never abrupt.
After the Storm (and why I still don't have answers)
Jeffrey Fracher points out that when we undergo a painful experience, we have to be willing to experience unknowing, the instability of identity, and the bittersweetness of change.
Enhancing the SBN Sangha Community – A Caring Group
The Secular Buddhist Network is exploring the establishment of what we are calling a Caring Group, which would be focused on reaching out to individual SBN members who have gone missing from their usual SBN activities to check if they are okay.
Click here if you are interested in participating in the Caring Group - either as someone who might receive support or as someone who reaches out to others, or both.
Book Launch for When stuck happens
Secular Buddhist Network’s Daily Life Practice Group is pleased to launch Tuwhiri’s newest book, When stuck happens: How we get caught, soften, and come back to life, by Cathryn Jacob.
On November 15, the author will be in conversation with Elizabeth Lancaster, former head of Learning and Development at CBC/Radio Canada. Cathryn will take questions towards the end of the hour.
Connect with the Secular Buddhist Network
Submit a newsletter article - We welcome articles on a range of topics related to a secular or naturalistic approach to the dharma. As we aim to foster discussion and debate, articles can be either supportive or critical of this approach. Click here to read our guidelines for article submissions. Click here to submit an article.
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.
Exploring Secularism - Meets the last Thursday of every month, 12 Noon US Eastern Time on Zoom. For more information, click here.
Daily Life Practice Group - Meets the first and third Tuesday of every month, 1 pm US Eastern Time on Zoom. For more information, click here.
SBN online course on Exploring a Secular Dharma- Click here to learn about the basic ideas and concepts of secular Buddhism through an online course.
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