- Buddhist Rebirth as Symbol and Metaphor
How do you approach the concept of Buddhist rebirth? Traditionally it's understood literally, which is how the Buddha saw it. But there is another option open to us, which is to take it as a resonant metaphor for the changeable nature of…
- Faith vs. Knowing in Early Buddhism
What's the relation between believing something based on faith, and having knowledge of something, in early Buddhism? We'll consider the role of faith vs. that of knowledge, looking at several early suttas.
- "Only This Is True": a Phrase the Buddha Questioned
When does certainty become a problem? Is it always a problem? We'll look at what the Buddha had to say about some people who expressed certainty and the extent to which the Buddha himself did so.
- Is Philosophy Still Relevant? It Needs Taking Back
Philosophy in the West needs broadening. We'll look at a recent book by Bryan Van Norden that argues that Western philosophy has for far too long been parochial in its outlook towards non-Western thinkers. We'll consider the history…
- What Might the Buddha Say About Secular Buddhism?
What might the Buddha have thought about secular approaches to Buddhism? We will take a look at arguments found in a couple of early texts, the Apaṇṇaka and Sandaka Suttas, as jumping-off points. Our trip will take us through perhaps the…