Secular Buddhism

[Wu Wei]

I have been reading a lot about Secular Buddhism of late as well as listing to the Secular Buddhist PodCast...

There are a couple stories, that I am sure many have heard before, but I haven't, and just incase you haven't either I thought I would share them

Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

And

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

A HINDU FABLE.

I.

IT was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

II.

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me!—but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

III.

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho!—what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 't is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

IV.

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

V.

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'T is clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

VI.

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

VII.

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

VIII.

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.

So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

 

[Secret Chief]

The elephant story also appears in Buddhism.

Not quite getting the connection between these stories and secular Buddhism?

(Podcast sounds interesting - care to give directions?)

 

[Twilight Hue]

Nice post. Secular Buddhist is an excellent podcast although I think they put too much emphasis on intellectualism though.

 

[crossfire]

I thought this might be Stephen Batchelor podcasts (because of his book Secular Buddhism,) but it is something different.

 

[Wu Wei]

I thought this might be Stephen Batchelor podcasts (because of his book Secular Buddhism,) but it is something different.

I am actually going through the fist 5 of the podcasts here, this is where I came across those
What is Secular Buddhism

 

[Secret Chief]

I am actually going through the fist 5 of the podcasts here, this is where I came across those
What is Secular Buddhism

Good stuff.

As @crossfire alluded to, if you wish to read further I would definitely recommend Stephen Batchelor's books, perhaps "Buddhism Without Beliefs."

 

[Wu Wei]

Good stuff.

As @crossfire alluded to, if you wish to read further I would definitely recommend Stephen Batchelor's books, perhaps "Buddhism Without Beliefs."

Will look into it, but I will soon be reading Secular Buddhism by Noah Rasheta. After that I will look into the Stephen Batchelor book

 

[Twilight Hue]

I thought this might be Stephen Batchelor podcasts (because of his book Secular Buddhism,) but it is something different.

I put it alongside Buddhist Geeks.

 

[Secret Chief]

I put it alongside Buddhist Geeks.

Ah, that's new to me. I see they've had Brad Warner as a guest. His book "Sit Down and Shut Up" was fun.