Before it was a religion, a culture, or even a system of meditation, what was Buddhism? On Buddhism Without Beliefs, celebrated teacher, translator, and former Buddhist monk Stephen Batchelor takes us back to the first years after the Buddha's awakening to reveal the root insights of Buddhism hidden beneath centuries of history and interpretation.
In eight compelling sessions of self-inquiry - including many fascinating exercises and practices - we learn how to awaken and refine our senses, introduce the essential spirit of curiosity into the practice of awareness, and comprehend with both our hearts and our minds the Buddha's astonishing (and often misunderstood) revelations on emptiness, compassion, and the self. Before he died, the Buddha did not appoint a successor. He simply remarked that each of us must be responsible for our own freedom.
Buddhism without Beliefs is an invitation to hear what the Buddha taught - and to trust yourself on your own path to liberation.
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"A tad scholarly (many complain that the author is infatuated with his own vocabulary), this book started the humanist, secular movement in modern Buddhism. For anyone wanting the more philosophical/psychological side of Buddhism (as opposed to the more religious), this is the book for you." — Zen (5 out of 5 stars)
"A tad scholarly (many complain that the author is infatuated with his own vocabulary), this book started the humanist, secular movement in modern Buddhism. For anyone wanting the more philosophical/psychological side of Buddhism (as opposed to the more religious), this is the book for you."
" A simple book, provides an entry point for those somewhat uncomfortable with typical religiosity but intrigued by the practice of mindfulness ... Another on the list of "life changer " books for me. "
" This was a down-to-Earth, wonderful book on Buddhism and how we can incorporate a dharma practice into our everyday life, even here in the West. This will be a book that I'll keep on my nightstand, for sure. "
" To use a strictly Buddhist term, Stephen Batchelor is a bad-ass. "
" I usually like books like this, but I read this almost 2 years ago and the only notation I made was bor....ing. That could explain why I don't remember anything about this book. "
" Starts off very insightful but gets a bit esoteric at the end. Still definitely worth a read. "
" I was disappointed in this book. It seemed unfocused and was hard for me to stay interested in. I didn't feel I learned much of anything from it, either. "
" Lots of new insight for me. Inspiring and a great start "
" This is an interesting book. It's main theme is that Buddhism is a practice and not a religion, which I think falls in line with what Siddhartha taught. "
" Very , very good overall "
" If you only read one book on Buddhism, it should be this one. "
" I disagreed with him in a lot of areas but I think he takes an interesting stance in regards to Buddhism in America. "
" As a man without faith I found this book much to my liking. I know that I am not yet as free from want as one might hope, but the author has nonetheless given me much to think about and strive towardsas I continue my life's path. "
" Great beginning Buddhism book. "
" buddha created a way of understanding and overcoming human suffering and anguish. the religion came later. reminds me of Marxism. Batchelor discusses the possibilities for buddhist thought to lead to personal and social liberation. "
" Excellent source on secular/agnostic Buddhism. Writing in common vernacular that is easy to understand without a great deal of foreign words/concepts. Not too long and definitely well worth the read. "
" I studied buddhist meditation with a zen priest for 2 years with a group on cape cod and we used this as our discussion piece every time we met. I learned alot but unless you have someone helping you with this book you may have a hard time understanding it. "
" Clear and concise, good as an introduction to Buddhism or as a practical guidebook through the basic agnostic tenants of Buddhist practice. "
" One of my three favorite books about Buddhism. Clear, accessible, and wonderfully rational. Not a breath of sentimentality, but great breadth of genuine sentiment. "
" Excellent presentation of secular Buddhism, focusing on keeping your practice personal, living, and creative. "
" i heart this book. i read it whenever i need some centering and a good dose of humility. i've let so many people borrow it i think this is my third copy now? anyway, i highly recommend it. there are parts i skip but the meat of it is priceless. "
Stephen Batchelor is former Buddhist monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions. A writer, translator, and artist, his most recent publications are After Buddhism, Secular Buddhism, and The Art of Solitude. He is a contributing editor of Tricycle magazine, and cofounder of Bodhi College, where he teaches Secular Dharma. He lives in southwest France and lectures and conducts meditation retreats worldwide.
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