Buddhism without Beliefs

A Contemporary Guide to Awakening

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A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike

In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.
Buddhism Without Beliefs - Stephen Batchelor Preface
Ground
Awakening
Agnosticism
Anguish
Death
Rebirth
Resolve
Integrity
Friendship
Path
Awareness
Becoming
Emptiness
Compassion
Fruition
Freedom
Imagination
Culture
Sources and Notes
Stephen Batchelor is a former monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions and the author of books including Alone with Others, The Faith to Doubt, The Awakening of the West, Buddhism Without Beliefs, and Living with the Devil. He lives with his wife, Martine, in southwestern France and lectures and conducts meditation retreats throughout the world. View titles by Stephen Batchelor

About

A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike

In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

Table of Contents

Buddhism Without Beliefs - Stephen Batchelor Preface
Ground
Awakening
Agnosticism
Anguish
Death
Rebirth
Resolve
Integrity
Friendship
Path
Awareness
Becoming
Emptiness
Compassion
Fruition
Freedom
Imagination
Culture
Sources and Notes

Author

Stephen Batchelor is a former monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions and the author of books including Alone with Others, The Faith to Doubt, The Awakening of the West, Buddhism Without Beliefs, and Living with the Devil. He lives with his wife, Martine, in southwestern France and lectures and conducts meditation retreats throughout the world. View titles by Stephen Batchelor