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Areligious Buddhism: Is there such a thing?

Areligious Buddhism: Is there such a thing?

A talk given at The Buddhist Library in Singapore.

  • The difference between the secular mindfulness movement and mindfulness practice in Buddhism
  • Buddhism as a religion
  • How secular Buddhists interpret the Buddha’s teachings in an evidentialist manner: karma, rebirth and liberation
  • Secular Buddhism and the teachings on ethics
  • Abandoning the hierarchical features of Buddhism in favor of democratic ideals
    • Institutional hierarchy
    • Gender equality
    • Monasticism
  • Monastic teachers and lay teachers
  • The happiness of this life comes and goes quickly, spiritual practice is transcending this

Areligious Buddhism: Is there such a thing? (download)

http://www.youtu.be/8bQUwK9vcRE

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.

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