Dear DC:

You mentioned Secular Buddhism. I just read from secular buddhist network. org, and would like to share it with you: Secular Buddhism is based on Secular Dharma, which “is both radical in its reconstruction of Buddhism while respectful an appreciative of traditional perspectives and practices”. Stephen Batchlor, in his 2015 book After Buddhism, Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age offered ten theses of secular dharma, a few of which are:

“1. A secular Buddhist is one who is committed to the practice of the dharma for the sake of this world alone.

2.  The practice of the dharma consists of four tasks: to embrace suffering, let go of reactivity, behold the ceasing of reactivity, and cultivate an integrated way of life.

3.  All human beings, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, nationality and religion can practice these four tasks. Each person, in each moment, has the potential to be more awake, responsive and free.

4. The practice of the dharma is as much concerned with how one speaks, acts and works in the public realm as with how one performs spiritual exercises in private.

..7. The community of practitioners is formed of autonomous persons.. In this network of like-minded individuals, members respects the equality of all members while honoring the specific knowledge and expertise each person brings

8. A practitioner is committed to an ethics of care, founded on empathy, compassion and love for all creatures who have evolved on this earth.

9. Practitioners seek to understand and diminish the structural violence of societies and institutions as well as the roots of violence that are present in themselves.

10.  A practitioner of the dharma aspires to nurture a culture of awakening that finds its inspiration in Buddhist and non-Buddhist, religious and secular sources alike.

I read lots of books and writings about Buddhism, but all before 2015, and I don’t remember coming across the term Secular Buddhism until you mentioned it, nor did I come across  Secular Buddhist Network, so thank you!

anita