Welcome to our February 2024 newsletter.
This month we feature new articles by Jack Chamberlin, Colette Descent, Carmel Shalev, and Karsten Struhl. We also highlight several offerings from SBN: a course, a retreat, and a new online group.
From Anglican Catholic to secular Buddhist
Jack Chamberlin explains why he rejected the Anglican Catholicism of his youth and ultimately embraced a secular Buddhist perspective on life and death.
Using nonviolent communication (NVC) within right speech
Colette Descent explains why Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication approach provides a valuable tool for secular Buddhists.
New from SBN: A course, a retreat, and a new online group
SBN's free online course, Exploring a Secular Dharma, will run from 14 March to 9 May 2024. 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 sign up for the course.
SBN will be offering a half-day, online retreat on 4 February 2024, from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm US EST. It will consist of a variety of meditation practices, including two sitting meditations, a mindfulness eating meditation practice, and a walking meditation. There will be opportunities for discussions and sharing between meditations, and a final wrap-up discussion at the end of the retreat. Click here to register for the retreat.
SBN is starting a Saturday morning weekly zoom (11 am US EST) that is easy to drop in on, and rewarding through dharma insights and practical applications (including friendships). Click here if you are interested in the Secular Buddhist Zen Pub.
Socially Engaged and Radically Engaged Buddhism
Karsten Struhl argues that Buddhists need to focus not just on the problem of existential-psychological suffering but challenge and transform social institutions. which cause various forms of harm and suffering.
A Middle Way: a response to comments on ‘Reflections in a time of war’
Carmel Shalev received many comments regarding her reflections on Israel/Palestine which were posted on the SBN website. In this article she responds to several of the critical comments.
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. When you join the listing, you'll have access to a private listing of individuals who are seeking sangha-mates.
SBN's monthly discussion group - meets the third Thursday of each month on Zoom. It’s a great opportunity for secular Buddhists and those who are interested in learning more about a secular approach to the dharma to connect with each other and to discuss key issues.
Sunday meditation group - meets every Sunday at 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. After brief meditation instructions, we meditate silently for 30 minutes, followed by a period of sharing our experiences with each other.
SBN reading group - meets the first Thursday of each month on Zoom. The readings are chosen by the participants and focus on issues related to a secular Buddhism, including basic concepts of a secular approach, meditation, mindfulness, and the relationship between secular Buddhism and traditional Buddhist lineages and practices.
Exploring aging from a secular Buddhist perspective - meets the last Monday of each month on Zoom. The group shares experiences of aging and how we can use our practice to respond skillfully to the process of aging.
Secular Dharma in the Community - meets the first Friday of every month on Zoom. This discussion group is for those who wish to share their experiences of and discuss new possibilities for bringing secular Buddhist ideas, ethics, and practices to community groups, social service organizations, and political movements.
Secular Buddhist Zen Pub - meets every Saturday, 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom. A weekly drop-in which will reward participants with dharma insights and practical applications (including friendships).
SBN online course on Exploring a secular dharma - Learn about the basic ideas and concepts of secular Buddhism through a free online course.
Upcoming Events, Workshops, and Retreats
SBN's Calendar of Meetings and Courses - A calendar of SBN sponsored discussion and meditation groups, as well as SBN's courses on secular Buddhism.
Upcoming courses and retreats - Click here for a listing of upcoming courses, programs, and retreats of interest for secular Buddhists and socially engaged Buddhists.
If you are on Facebook, we would be grateful if you would 'like' and 'share' any item in this newsletter that you think is valuable or the newsletter itself. Look out for Secular Buddhist Network on Facebook.
