Secular Buddhism

"Batchelor’s work will undoubtedly appeal to many 'spiritual, but not religious' readers."—Publishers Weekly

“A thoughtful, conversational, and accessible volume.”—Choice

“This wide-ranging anthology will appeal to anyone interested in exploring Buddhism within a framework that is both conversant with and challenging to a Western intellectual heritage.”—Library Journal (a Best Book of 2017 choice, Religion & Spirituality category)

"What Batchelor calls 'secular Buddhism' or 'Buddhism 2.0' is a delicate balancing act. . . . Batchelor’s reimagination is Janus-faced, simultaneously looking backward and forward. On the one hand, if it loses sight of the past, it risks losing the capacity of 'Buddhism' to challenge and transform contemporary culture . . . On the other hand, if it does not look forward, the Dharma becomes confused with the cultural and metaphysical beliefs and strategies of long-gone ages. . . . This Janus-faced stance is a new manifestation of the Buddhist Middle Way, negotiating what remains powerful, even revolutionary, in the tradition, while creatively transforming it to resonate not only in new cultural soil, but also to be able to respond to contemporary exigencies."—Jason M. Wirth, Los Angeles Review of Books
 

"Brilliant, illuminating, and thought-provoking, After Buddhism deserves the ultimate compliment for a work of this kind: it is useful. In probing the ancient scriptures in search of a Buddha we can relate to, Batchelor makes his dharma come thrillingly alive. A masterful achievement."—Mark Epstein, author of Thoughts without a Thinker

"In this remarkable book, Stephen Batchelor transcends Buddhist dogma to surface a vision of the dharma that goes right to the heart of our contemporary global culture. Through diligent scholarship and years of practice, the author sheds new and revelatory light on the dharma. This is a must-read for all students of Buddhism."—Joan Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center

"With exemplary lucidity, Stephen Batchelor demonstrates the relevance of an ancient thought and practice in our own era. There is much in it that illuminates and clarifies—for those acquainted with Buddhism as well as those coming to it for the first time."—Pankaj Mishra

"Drawing on insights gleaned during decades of intensive practice, study, and writing, Batchelor’s essays demonstrate conclusively how the ancient texts of Buddhism speak directly to the needs of contemporary people living active, engaged lives in the world."—Robert E. Buswell, Jr., University of California, Los Angeles

"An audacious disquisition on Buddhism, universal dharma, reality, and suffering for the 21st century. Batchelor posits that for the deep wisdom of Buddhism to serve humanity fully in our time, it may have to transcend itself."—Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living and Coming to Our Senses