Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening o...
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Jun 09, 2008
Kat
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Batchelor is not pro-Buddhism as a religion, or pro-religion at all. He advocates gently but incisively for a "passionate agnosticism"--admitting that you don't know and probably never can, but that this doesn't let you off the hook, since the attempt to find out is necessary to your mental/spiritual survival. He presents Buddhist techniques as common-sense, highly effective ways of dealing with existential problems, and Buddhist philosophy as a framework for understanding things tha
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Feb 22, 2009
Wayne
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To join the Big Clubs or Cults of Catholicism, Hill Song, the Evangelicals etc. etc one must accept a certain set of so-called truths which in no way impinge on the ethical. (I've known plenty who swear by the Virgin Birth but cheat on their wives.)
Buddhism, shorn of its religious trappings of prayer wheels, exotic names, orange robes, priesthoods, hierarchies and consequent blinding fog etc. becomes no set of beliefs but a way of behaving, which we often stumble upon ourselv More...
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Jun 08, 2008
Adrian
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As this gem of a book points out, "Buddhism without beliefs" is a redundancy. Batchelor cuts to the heart of what sets Buddhism apart from other world religious traditions: It encourages practitioners to question, to penetrate, to rigorously examine everything -- even the Buddha's teachings themselves -- and not to take things on blind faith. In other words, just because a religious leader hands you a doctrine and tells you to believe in something, that isn't good enough. The goal of B
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Oct 30, 2011
Craig
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This is my second reading of this book. I can't remember exactly when I read it the first time; the early ohs, probably. But given some of the comments I'd made in the margins, I expected to disagree-perhaps violently-with a lot of it. I was pleasantly surprised.
One thought that kept occurring to me as I read was to try to figure out if the book was appropriate for beginners to Buddhism, or strictly for more experienced sorts. Honestly, I'm still not sure about that, because exactly More...
One thought that kept occurring to me as I read was to try to figure out if the book was appropriate for beginners to Buddhism, or strictly for more experienced sorts. Honestly, I'm still not sure about that, because exactly More...
Oct 04, 2010
I might use this as my standard recommendation both for
1. Fellow atheists and sort of Reason-oriented folks with a mistrust of religion. Point isn't try Buddhism, it's Different; as getting the point across about what Buddhism is about/after.
2. Folks who have embraced Buddhism but seem to have gotten the wrong idea about it (ha! as if I knew what the right idea was)
Quotes I found helpful:
"Dharma practice can never be in contradiction with science, no More...
1. Fellow atheists and sort of Reason-oriented folks with a mistrust of religion. Point isn't try Buddhism, it's Different; as getting the point across about what Buddhism is about/after.
2. Folks who have embraced Buddhism but seem to have gotten the wrong idea about it (ha! as if I knew what the right idea was)
Quotes I found helpful:
"Dharma practice can never be in contradiction with science, no More...
Jun 01, 2010
Greg
rated it: 
In my personal and soon to be trademarked ethical system, Don't be an Asshole, this book would garner a thumbs up and I'd recommend it as a guidebook for not being an asshole, with Meditation! Or if that is grammatically suspect using meditation to not be an asshole. Not how to use meditation in an non-assholically manner, but that might be the case too.
For some reason this book took me two months to read. At 120 pages, that means I averaged a whopping two pages a day. Yay, me! More...
For some reason this book took me two months to read. At 120 pages, that means I averaged a whopping two pages a day. Yay, me! More...
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May 17, 2010
DJ
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Reading this book was a bit like listening to my grandpa rant about LBJ's foreign policy decisions - he's probably right, but without the background to appreciate his frustrations, all I can do is listen and squirm awkwardly in my chair.
Batchelor's book is a polemic against the modern transformation of Buddhism into something as dogmatic and unquestioning as Western religions. He points out that Buddhism is a personal practice of continual awareness and questioning, not a set of bel More...
Batchelor's book is a polemic against the modern transformation of Buddhism into something as dogmatic and unquestioning as Western religions. He points out that Buddhism is a personal practice of continual awareness and questioning, not a set of bel More...
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Jan 25, 2010
Harri
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I bought this book because I'm going to attend a course of mediation organized by local Buddhist group. My aim is to learn concentration skills, set loose some creativity and achieve more self-awerness. I feel a bit uneasy with anything "religious", but like the fundamental ideas of Buddhism (or the little I knew about it) much more mature than e.g. christianity. Therefore, the title of the book sounded a good introduction for me.
Not feeling "enlightened" or havin More...
Not feeling "enlightened" or havin More...
Jun 29, 2008
Claudia
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Batchelor is one of many who shares the wisdom and teachings of Buddhism as a guide to life rather than a religion. He argues for an "agnostic" Buddhism by discarding the traditional (Eastern) tenets of reincarnation and karma. His sections on mindfulness, awareness, and compassion are excellent and his suggestions for meditations and what you'll get from them are clear and inviting.
Aug 02, 2011
Nathan
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I've had an increasing interest in the "secularization" of Buddhism in the same way the West has extracted and secularized practices like yoga. Turns out I live in ground zero for this, as San Francisco and the Bay Area are home to a number of Western Buddhist centers, particularly the SFZC (which I remember reading about at 20 at the end of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values ).
Anyway, Stephen is a voice for, as he calls it, "secular Budd More...
Anyway, Stephen is a voice for, as he calls it, "secular Budd More...
Dec 08, 2007
Neal
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Like most of my Buddhist books, if you like Zen shit, you'll like this. It's like a comfort book for me. Very existential, very short, light reading. I'd recommend it, and you will probably like the underlying concepts of Buddhism more after reading it.
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Sep 01, 2010
Ronny
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A great book for those who wish to explore Buddhism, but don't believe in (or are agnostic about) things like karma, reincarnation, etc... The main drawback is at times the book gets a bit wishy-washy. For instance, the author discusses how Buddhism is about confronting these questions as opposed to getting answers. However, isn't Buddhism about overcoming suffering? Why even get into the search for meaning, especially since in an agnostic context, it seems like said meaning may not come? Wh
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Sep 08, 2010
John
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Simply wonderful. I really enjoyed his phrasing of the ideas and how he logically dealt with the issue of agnosticism. I felt he was a bit harsh on atheists who I think at times can be just as thoughtful as the emphatic "I don't know" of this type of buddhist approach. However too many times I felt myself in awe with the profundity of his observations on life. It made me feel liberated from ideas I had about astrology, which now I can see don't have any place in my life. Not that they
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Aug 12, 2010
Jennifer
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I bought this book because I wanted to expand my Buddhist reading list beyond Shambhala books. I figured that would give me a fuller perspective that would help me both personally and professionally.
The book started off strong, but I have to admit it lost me. I like the idea of Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a religion, but beyond that there wasn't much in this book that inspired new thinking. I wasn't writing down quotes from it as I normally do when I like a book and want More...
The book started off strong, but I have to admit it lost me. I like the idea of Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a religion, but beyond that there wasn't much in this book that inspired new thinking. I wasn't writing down quotes from it as I normally do when I like a book and want More...
Dec 20, 2011
Kathy
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Helped me understand more about Buddhism. I especially liked the information about how Buddhism was changed/corrupted from its original teachings, to include more dogma, hierarchy, and institutionalism. Sounds just like my opinion of Christianity. This book helped me understand more about basic Buddhist principles. Deep, but not written from a religious point of view. I liked the concept of being an agnostic, not denying God, but always searching and questioning and never really being certa
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Sep 28, 2011
John
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Something of a guide to Buddhist meditation and practice. Batchelor discusses what it means to him to practice in the modern world the path described by the Buddha. He says that Buddhism has changed throughout history and that modern westerners can profitably discard archaic beliefs that have accreted around Buddhist culture and thought.
He argues that the Buddha's acceptance of reincarnation is due to his culture and points out that Buddha always said that dharma practice is valuable even i More...
He argues that the Buddha's acceptance of reincarnation is due to his culture and points out that Buddha always said that dharma practice is valuable even i More...
Jan 07, 2012
Matt
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As a modern reader skeptical of metaphysics yet long vexed by the problems of living as a conscious being aware of its own finitude, I've found this book to be one of the most enriching I have read in a long time.
I've been drawn to Buddhism because it coheres well with certain lines of inquiry that I've found useful over the years: philosophical traditions that begin with the Stoics, run through Nietzsche and Heidegger, and continue into modern discussions of epistemology and in certa More...
I've been drawn to Buddhism because it coheres well with certain lines of inquiry that I've found useful over the years: philosophical traditions that begin with the Stoics, run through Nietzsche and Heidegger, and continue into modern discussions of epistemology and in certa More...
Nov 22, 2011
Steve
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Stephen Batchelor is an important author for anyone interested in Buddhism to become acquainted with. Many of the primary tenets of Buddhist practice are quite difficult for westerners to get to grips with and this book is probably the best primer I have seen. He strips away all the jargon and the religious mumbo jumbo that often keeps people from direct contact with a way of thinking and living life that has probably saved mine. The exercises he presents here provide an opportunity for first co
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Mar 26, 2011
Karen
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A concise and straightforward introduction to the practice of meditation, awareness, compassion, integrity. It steers away from dogma on the parts that might trouble the sceptic such as Karma and reincarnation, recommending a resounding "I don't know" as the only possible reasonable attitude - which is fair enough I suppose, since no-one can know. I have to say that the first part, Basics, was fine with me, but I began to have the allergic reaction in the second and third sections, whe
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Dec 23, 2010
Mark
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Originally posted to my blog: http://marklindner.info/blog/2010/12/23/...
This is the 7th book in the 12 Books, 12 Months Challenge that I have finished. For another view, see my list at Open Library.
I began this back on 22 March and got halfway before stopping back in April or so due to wedding and move planning/prep. I started again from the beginning on 11 December and finished it on 18 December 2010.
I am a real neophyte when it comes to Buddhism. I read Siddhart More...
This is the 7th book in the 12 Books, 12 Months Challenge that I have finished. For another view, see my list at Open Library.
I began this back on 22 March and got halfway before stopping back in April or so due to wedding and move planning/prep. I started again from the beginning on 11 December and finished it on 18 December 2010.
I am a real neophyte when it comes to Buddhism. I read Siddhart More...
Jul 22, 2010
Lori
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"I am confused." writes Stephen Batchelor. "I am confused by the sheer irrationality, ambiguity, and abundance of things coming into being at all. I am confused by having been born into a world from which I will be ejected by death. I am confused as to who or why I am. I am confused by a labyrinth of choices I face. I don't know what to do."
He goes on: "This confusion is not a state of darkness in which I fail to see anything. It is partial blindness r More...
He goes on: "This confusion is not a state of darkness in which I fail to see anything. It is partial blindness r More...
Jun 04, 2010
Christoph
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Buddhism Without Beliefs is a slim, easy read that without much effort can be finished in an afternoon; the reading is light and focused. That said the substantive notions in the book are impressive and upon reflection the depth of these concepts are immense.
Batchelor essentially provides an analysis of Buddhist tradition from the neutral guise of agnosticism. In so doing, he removes the dogma and mysticism from one of the must humanist religions on Earth which provides a glimpse into More...
Batchelor essentially provides an analysis of Buddhist tradition from the neutral guise of agnosticism. In so doing, he removes the dogma and mysticism from one of the must humanist religions on Earth which provides a glimpse into More...
Nov 21, 2009
Emily
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Most people consider Buddhism to be an “Eastern religion.” Stephen Batchelor, however, views it as a teaching. According to Batchelor, the Buddha was not a god--he was someone who found the way to ease human suffering and it led him to peace; he then wanted to share this path with others. Students of Buddhism must study this path and do their best to incorporate its truths into their lives. Unfortunately, too often, these truths are turned into statements of fact, and “students” become “believer
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Aug 11, 2011
Scott
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If you are a non-believer that has flirted with Buddhism, you should pick this book up. For me, it's the final nail in the coffin for dogma. The book details an agnostic take on Buddhism which necessarily throws out several metaphysical ideas such as rebirth and the cosmic view of karma. There isn't anything intrinsically wrong with the text, but once all that is stripped out, there is only a weak practice of meditation and philosophical discussion on craving.
Aug 25, 2009
Annabel
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Inspirational Stuff!
I found his writing on basic principles of buddhism could
be applied generally in life and also to specific disciplines.
He cleared up a lot of confusion for me over incompatibilities
between extreme Eastern mysticism and
so called Western reasoning, while still encouraging
imagination and 'aesthetic appreciation'. Not bad!
(He's a photographer too, and has valueable things to say about the
importance of both imagination and culture
I found his writing on basic principles of buddhism could
be applied generally in life and also to specific disciplines.
He cleared up a lot of confusion for me over incompatibilities
between extreme Eastern mysticism and
so called Western reasoning, while still encouraging
imagination and 'aesthetic appreciation'. Not bad!
(He's a photographer too, and has valueable things to say about the
importance of both imagination and culture
Dec 27, 2011
Clara
rated it:
A thoughtful and intelligent perspective on Buddhism by a knowledgeable writer and one of the leading figures of secular Buddhism. I'd rate it a must-read for anyone who wants to a multi-faceted view of Buddhism. Batchelor gets a little esoteric in the final chapters, but I suppose that's relative to the reader's knowledge of the subject. Recommended.
Mar 29, 2009
Greig
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When I first read this I loved it. However, I read an interview with the author and took his advice and read up on traditional Buddhism. I found that the things I liked about this book were mainly its Zen aspects. Since getting into Zen I've tried re-reading this book and struggle to finish it! It is very negative about traditional Zen, unfairly so in my opinion. The 'western' version of Buddhism the author outlines is very much Zen light. I'm unsure whether this is a reflection of the author dr
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Dec 10, 2010
Wit
rated it:
Very good stripped down, back to basics book on Buddhism. It gets rid of a lot of the liturgy and dogma that have diluted the Buddha's original teachings. A bit heady to read compared to my other current read on Buddhism 'Dharma Road' but it gets you on your way to discovering and understanding what real Buddhism is all about.
May 11, 2010
Wendy
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This was the first book I read about Buddhism. It spoke directly to my interests in Buddhism as an affirming, compassionate, and open approach to life. Wonderful book for those who don't want to get caught up in the trappings of the -ism and who want to understand the value of the Buddha's teachings.
Mar 09, 2008
Jimi
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I just finished re-reading this book (Feb, 2008) and was pleased to find that it is still as simple, straighforward, and cleanly insightful as I remembered from my first reading. A great view of Buddhism from a slightly less followed yet authentic perspective written by a highly respected translator, writer, and practioner of buddhism in the west.
It covers all the basics of buddhist practice while stripping buddhism of a belief system that possibly was not Shakyamuni Buddha's (the hi More...
It covers all the basics of buddhist practice while stripping buddhism of a belief system that possibly was not Shakyamuni Buddha's (the hi More...
