Episode Description: In this opening session, Roshi Joan Halifax and Stephen Batchelor discuss the meaning of the topic of this program, “After Buddhism.” Roshi Joan introduces a vision of a non-Buddhistic Buddhism, or Dharma beyond sectarianism. She then describes the format of this program as it will unfold over the course of the week. Stephen then elaborates his own approach to a Buddhism outside of the “container of creedal thinking.”
Teacher BIOs : Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer, best known for his secular or agnostic approach to Buddhism. Stephen considers Buddhism to be a constantly evolving culture of awakening rather than a religious system based on immutable dogmas and beliefs. Through his writings, translations and teaching, Stephen engages in a critical exploration of Buddhism’s role in the modern world, which has earned him both condemnation as a heretic and praise as a reformer. Stephen spent his young adult life ordained as a Buddhist Monk, first in the Tibetan tradition, and later in Korean Zen. He has been the co-ordinator of the Sharpham Trust and since 1990 has been a guiding teacher at Gaia House Meditation Center. Stephen is the translator and author of various books and articles on Buddhism including the bestselling Buddhism Without Beliefs and Living with the Devil: A Meditation on Good and Evil . His most recent publication is Confession of a Buddhist Atheist.
Joan Halifax Roshi is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and author. She is Founder, Abbot, and Head Teacher of Upaya Zen Center, a Buddhist monastery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She received her Ph.D in medical anthropology in 1973. She has lectured on the subject of death and dying at many academic institutions, including Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Medical School, Georgetown Medical School, University of Virginia Medical School, Duke University Medical School, University of Connecticut Medical School, among many others. A Founding Teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order, her work and practice for more than three decades has focused on applied Buddhism. Her books include: The Human Encounter with Death (with Stanislav Grof); Shamanic Voices; Shaman: The Wounded Healer; The Fruitful Darkness; Simplicity in the Complex: A Buddhist Life in America; Being with Dying; and Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (with Kazuaki Tanashashi).
To access the entire series, please click on the link below:
After Buddhism Series: All 12 Parts
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I have to run to a cardiac exercise class, but–I’ll get to it–Batchelor and Halifax are not people I turn to for Buddhist teachings, or even anything about “social justice.” Not that I don’t think they have useful things to say. I just have little time, and less energy left. I’d rather put my energy and time into reading and meditating with Trungpa, Longchenpa, the granddaddy of Trungpa, and Ponlop, Dzigar, et al, those other genuine Vajra Masters, Then, continue to explore various Marxists (Samir Amin, Istvan Merszaros, Louis Althusser in particular) in the context of Trungpa’s teaching, which I know very well.
I appreciate your perspective. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.