Secular Buddhism

Introduction

Secular Buddhism is a more recent approach to Buddhism that emphasizes its philosophical and ethical teachings while setting aside supernatural beliefs and ritual practices.

I became interested in Buddhism a few years ago. While I connected with concepts like Mindfulness Meditation and appreciated the ethical and moral values of The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path, I had little interest in supernatural beliefs such as karma and rebirth.

Because Secular Buddhism seems to align with my reactions to more traditional Buddhism, I decided to do some investigating. This post is the result of that investigation. It covers the history of Secular Buddhism, its core principles, and the associated controversies. If you want to learn more about Secular Buddhism, check out Resources below.

Note: I’m a novice in both Buddhism and Secular Buddhism. This post provides an introductory understanding for myself and others interested in this topic.

Using AI: AI tools were used to help create content. If you find errors or unethical content, please indicate that in the Comments section. For further information see AI Usage in This Post.

Two Important Definitions

The Master shows her disciple a drawing of two circles, one purple, the other green. The Master asks, “Which is faster?”

Stan’s Koans

There are two words used throughout this post that have different meanings for different people. I want to clarify how I use them.

The first word is supernatural. The supernatural in Buddhism includes phenomena like nirvana, realms of existence, karma, and rebirth, as well as beings that exist beyond the ordinary physical world and natural laws as understood by current conventional science.

Note that some traditional Buddhists believe these phenomena are aspects of reality not readily apparent to ordinary perception and can be understood through spiritual practice and insight (Kane 2020). However, many Secular Buddhists consider them supernatural.

By the way, I thought about using the word “spiritual” instead of “supernatural”. I’ll get to why I didn’t later.

The second word is secular. The term “secular” comes from the Latin word “saeculum,” which means “worldly” or “of a particular age or generation.” In the context of Buddhism, both meanings are relevant. The section below, A Brief Historical Overview of Secular Buddhism, will explore how Buddhism became more “worldly.” Additionally, Secular Buddhism redefines concepts like rebirth to be applicable within a single lifetime—”of a particular age or generation.”—rather than spanning many lifetimes.

Three Questions to Ponder

The disciple exclaims to the Master, “Good things come in threes!” The Master takes a large staff and raps the disciple three times on her head.

Stan’s Koans

As you read this post, here are three questions to think about. There will be a quiz at the end and you may win fabulous door prizes. (But probably not).

1. Is Secular Buddhism a religion?
2. If it is, can it still be considered Buddhism given that it has removed the supernatural and cultural components?
3. If it isn’t a religion, what is it?

Historical Overview of Secular Buddhism

If you meet the Buddha, kill him.

Zen Koan

Secular Buddhism originated in late 19th century Asia but has mainly been practiced in the West. Its evolution aimed to make Buddhist teachings relevant to modern Western (secular) culture (SBN 2022); (Higgins 2023). Here are key periods in its growth over time:

19th Century Modernization: During the late 19th century, Buddhism — particularly Theravāda Buddhism in Southeast Asia — underwent modernization efforts to make the religion more relevant and accessible. This was influenced by the influx of the West, particularly Christian missionaries, and set the stage for subsequent secular interpretations of Buddhism (Borup 2021); (SBN 2022).

Mid-20th Century: Introduction to the West: In the 1960s and early 1970s, teachers like Jack Kornfeld and Christina Feldman brought more “laity-friendly” forms of Theravāda Buddhism to the United States and UK. This period saw the emergence of the Insight Meditation Movement, which downplayed hierarchical and ritualistic aspects of traditional Buddhism in favor of a more lay-oriented approach (SBN 2022).

Late 20th Century: Emergence of Secular Buddhism: The 1990s saw the beginning of a more explicitly secular approach to Buddhism. Stephen Batchelor’s 1997 book Buddhism without Beliefs is considered groundbreaking in this regard (SBN 2022).

Early 21st Century: Growth and Diversification: Since the early 2000s, Secular Buddhism has developed more fully. This period has seen the proliferation of secular Buddhist communities and websites, primarily in English-speaking parts of the world (SBN 2022); (Higgins 2023).

Contemporary Period: Recently, there has been increased interest in secular Buddhism, including critical examinations of its relationship to traditional Buddhism, and its place within broader cultural and philosophical contexts (Payne, Casey 2021); (Payne 2021).

Secular Buddhism’s Core Principles

Above all, secular Buddhism is something to do, not something to believe in. 

Stephen Batchelor, “Coming Out as a Secular Buddhist”

Secular Buddhism focuses on practical applications of Buddhist teachings, leaving aside the supernatural or metaphysical elements.

While Secular Buddhism departs from more traditional Buddhism in important ways, there are many principles and concepts that they share. Here are lists of both:

Shared Principles with Traditional Buddhist Practices

• Mindfulness and meditation: Both secular and traditional Buddhism emphasize these practices as central to their approach (Huxter).
• Compassion: Cultivating compassion is a core aspect of both secular and traditional Buddhist teachings (Huxter).
• The Four Noble Truths: While secular Buddhism may reinterpret them, the core concept is still present in both approaches (SBN 2024).
• Ethical living: Both secular and traditional Buddhism emphasize the importance of ethical behavior( Lion’s Roar 2024-Five Precepts).
• Impermanence and interdependence: These concepts are fundamental to both secular and traditional Buddhist understanding of reality (Hahn 2002); (Lion’s Roar 2024-Interdependence).
• Study of Buddhist texts: Secular Buddhists value the study of Buddhist texts, particularly the early suttas, as do traditional Buddhists (SBA 2023).

Differences with Traditional Buddhist Practices

According to the Secular Buddhist Network, all Secular Buddhist communities share the six ideas below, which illustrate the differences from traditional Buddhism.

1. Secular Buddhism is a ‘this-worldly’ practical and ethical philosophy, focused on the value of the dharma for and in this life.
2. Secular Buddhists are skeptical of or reject supernatural entities or processes (e.g,. rebirth) in traditional versions of Buddhism.
3. The Buddha is seen as an historical person, not a God-like figure.
4. We retain the essential insights of Buddhism while jettisoning cultural ‘accretions’ and practices not relevant to our contemporary world.
5. A secular approach to the dharma emphasizes the pragmatic and ethical dimensions of Buddhism rather than a set of metaphysical beliefs.
6. Secular Buddhists believe that we need not only to transform ourselves but to create a society which promotes the flourishing of all.

It isn’t difficult to see why these ideas might be considered controversial. We’ll look at that in more detail next.

Controversies

Do not just look for what you want to see,
that would be futile.
Do not look for anything,
but allow the insight to have a chance to come by itself.
That insight will help liberate you

Nhat Hanh

Secular Buddhism has generated controversy within the Buddhist community. Supporters believe it makes Buddhist teachings more accessible and applicable to modern Western audiences, while critics argue that it waters down or misinterprets fundamental Buddhist principles. Here are some of the concerns:

Rejection/Reinterpretation of Traditional Buddhist Beliefs: Secular Buddhism tends to reject or reinterpret many traditional Buddhist concepts like rebirth, karma across lifetimes, and supernatural beings. This has led to criticism that it is not truly “Buddhism” and is stripping away core elements of the tradition (Meisner 2017).

Misrepresentation of Buddhist Texts: Secular Buddhists often interpret early Buddhist texts in ways that align with modern secular worldviews, which some traditional Buddhists see as misrepresenting the Buddha’s original teachings (Meisner 2017).

Accusations of Cultural Appropriation: Some critics argue that Secular Buddhism selectively adopts Buddhist practices while discarding cultural and religious elements, potentially disrespecting Asian Buddhist traditions (Han, Walker 2024).

Debate over Religious vs. Secular Nature: There is disagreement over whether Buddhism should be treated as a religion or if it can be practiced in a purely secular manner. Some argue that removing the religious aspects fundamentally changes Buddhism (Wright 2024).

Questions of Authenticity: Traditional Buddhists sometimes view Secular Buddhism as inauthentic or as creating a new belief system rather than following established Buddhist traditions (Bodhi 2019).

Philosophical Disagreements: There are debates over whether Secular Buddhism aligns with the Buddha’s original intent and philosophy, particularly regarding metaphysical beliefs (Wright 2024).

Community and Tradition: Some argue that Secular Buddhism lacks the community structures and lineages that are important in traditional Buddhist practice (Segall 2022).

Western Bias: Critics suggest that Secular Buddhism may be overly influenced by Western thinking, potentially losing important aspects of Buddhist wisdom in the process (Bodhi 2019).

Many of these concerns are similar to those discussed in my previous post, “Secular Christianity“. It’s not surprising, because when you strip away the supernatural elements, cultural customs, and religious rituals, what is left? Secularism proponents argue that what remains is the true essence of the religion, but critics strongly disagree.

I know you’re dying to know what I think about all of the above so that’s next.

My Take

Remember the three questions I asked earlier? Now that you’ve become more enlightened by reading this post, let me re-ask them as a haiku:

No gods, no heaven
But mindfullness still blossoms
What shall we call it?
Stan’s Haikus

My answer: Is Secular Buddhism a religion? Is it a form of Buddhism? If not, what is it? These questions hold great significance for some but they are of little value to me.

What matters is this: Can Secular Buddhism help me be kinder and more loving to myself and others? My answer is yes. However, I don’t label myself as a Secular Buddhist, Secular Christian, Buddhist, Christian, or any other -ism, -ist, or -ian. I’m comfortable learning from all of the above.

So that’s my answer. How about you?

Oh, and about why I chose to use the word “supernatural” instead of “spiritual” when describing what is set aside by Secular Buddhism. It’s because I still see the spirituality in it. For me, spirituality means feeling connected to everything in this world and universe. And every now and then I reflect with awe on what an amazing world we live in. You can find my definition of spirituality below and the post where it originally appeared here.

The creative energy of the universe connects and interacts with all that it encompasses.
In turn, all that is encompassed connects with every other thing; living and non-living.
For human beings, that connection is most deeply expressed as love and compassion.

Conclusion

Secular Buddhism significantly, even radically, reinterprets Buddhist teachings. While it has made meditation and mindfulness practices accessible to many, it also faces criticism for potentially diluting the depth of traditional Buddhist philosophy and practice.

As Buddhism continues to evolve in Western contexts, the dialogue between secular and traditional approaches is likely to shape its future development.

Appendices

References

1. Bodhi, Bhikkhu. “Bhikkhu Bodhi on Traditional Versus Secular Buddhism.” Secular Buddhist Network, August 1, 2019. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/facing-the-great-divide/.
2. Borup, Jørn. “Secularization of Buddhism”, Oxford Bibliographies, May 26, 2021, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195393521/obo-9780195393521-0268.xml
3. Hahn, Thich Nhat. “Looking Deeply Into Impermanence, No-self, and Nirvana | Lion’s Roar,” 2002. https://www.lionsroar.com/looking-deeply-impermanence-no-self-nirvana/.
4. Han, Chenxing, Trent Walker. “The Many Faces of Cultural Appropriation,” Lion’s Roar, June 12, 2024. https://www.lionsroar.com/the-many-faces-of-cultural-appropriation/.
5. Higgins, Winton. “Buddhist modernism and secular Buddhism,” Secular Buddhist Network, October 13, 2023. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/buddhist-modernism-and-secular-buddhism/.
6. Huxter, Malcolm. “How Buddhist’s Approach Mindfulness and Meditation.” Insight Timer Blog, nd. https://insighttimer.com/blog/mindfulness-in-buddhism-secular-meditation/.
7. Kane, Lee. “Is There Room for the Supernatural in Western Buddhism? Four Sutra Views of Magic and Metaphysical and Why A.” Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation (blog), March 1, 2020. https://buddhaweekly.com/is-there-room-for-the-supernatural-in-western-buddhism-four-sutra-views-of-magic-and-metaphysical-and-why-a-supernatural-perspective-helps-see-beyond-ordinary-perception/.
8. Lion’s Roar. “What Is Interdependence in Buddhism? | Lion’s Roar,” July 3, 2024. https://www.lionsroar.com/buddhism/interdependence/.
9. Lion’s Roar. “What Are the Five Precepts of Buddhism? | Lion’s Roar,” July 18, 2024. https://www.lionsroar.com/buddhism/five-precepts/.
10. Meisner, Ted. “Secular Buddhism: Divisive Criticism Instead of Collaborative Dialogue Once Again,” Secular Buddhist Association, September 24, 2017. https://secularbuddhism.org/secular-buddhism-divisive_criticism/.
11. Payne, Richard K. “‘Secularizing Buddhism’ Explores Range of Modern Meanings of Buddhism.” BCA (blog), August 24, 2021. https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/post/secularizing-buddhism-explores-range-of-modern-meanings-of-buddhism.
12. Payne, Richard K., Casey Alexandra Kemp. “Secular Buddhism,” Oxford University Press, September 29, 2021. https://oxfordre.com/religion/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.001.0001/acrefore-9780199340378-e-630?d=%2F10.1093%2Facrefore%2F9780199340378.001.0001%2Facrefore-9780199340378-e-630&p=emailA4%2Fl3Qn4WHO1M
13. Secular Buddhist Association. “Guiding Principles,” https://secularbuddhism.org/about/guiding-principles/.
14. SBN Editor. “A Brief History of Secular Buddhism,” Secular Buddhist Network, December 16, 2022. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/a-brief-history-of-secular-buddhism/.
15. SBN Editor.. “An Introduction to Secular Buddhism,” Secular Buddhist Network, February 3, 2024. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/an-introduction-to-secular-buddhism/.
16. Segall, Seth Zuihō. “Why I Am Not a Secular Buddhist.” Secular Buddhist Network, June 3, 2022. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/why-i-am-not-a-secular-buddhist/.
17. Wright, Dale S. “A Philosophical Assessment of Secular Buddhism – Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,” July 10, 2024. https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/a-philosophical-assessment-of-secular-buddhism/.

Resources

Books

• Batchelor, S. (2015). After Buddhism: Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age. Yale University Press.
• Thompson, E. (2020). Why I Am Not a Buddhist. Yale University Press.

YouTube

• The Middle Way Society. “Stephen Batchelor on After Buddhism: Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz_1XoXHiD8
• Doug’s Dharma. “What is Secular Buddhism? (#1)”. https://youtu.be/UtRk4qD8a-0?si=jlQSIxXcK5tiKdQx
• Theosophical Society. “Does Secular Buddhism Exist? | Ajahn Brahmāli”. https://youtu.be/pFGCPXORmbY?si=2FhtWaA5VogqzRhr
• David Loy. “Why Buddhism and the Modern World Need Each Other”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNp6yg

Secular Buddhist Organizations

Secular Buddhist Association (SBA)

• Website: https://secularbuddhism.org
• Email: info@secularbuddhism.org
• The SBA offers resources, podcasts, and online practice circles.

Secular Buddhist Network

• Website: https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org
• Email: secularbuddhistnetwork@gmail.com
• They provide various online groups, courses, and resources for secular Buddhists.

Association of Mindfulness Meditation and Secular Buddhism

• Website: https://www.ammsb.org/
• Contact: https://www.ammsb.org/contact-us.html
• Offers podcasts and resources focused on mindfulness and secular Buddhism.

Local Secular Buddhist Groups

• Many local groups can be found through the Secular Buddhist Network’s directory: https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/secular-buddhist-groups-america/
• You can often contact these groups directly through email or social media.

Online Communities

• Reddit: r/secularbuddhism
• Facebook: Search for “Secular Buddhism” groups

AI Usage in this Post

AI Checklist

Key:

✅ Issue addressed. Additional information may be provided.
❗️ Issue partially addressed. Additional information is provided.
❌ Issue not addressed. Additional information is provided.

AI Tools Used for This Post

AI usage is a mixed bag in this post. The sections below have no AI-generated content:

1. Introduction
2. Two Important Definitions
3. Three Questions to Ponder
4. My Take
5. Conclusion

The remaining sections used AI in various ways as explained below.

• Perplexity AI provided brainstorming assistance and research.
• Yost SEO WordPress plugin provided SEO (search engine optimization).
• The Jetpack AI Assistant from Jetpack performed grammar and spelling checks, as well as simplified paragraphs in the post.

Limitations of AI Tools

Here is Perplexity’s response to my query regarding its limitations, which also apply to other AI tools (edited for brevity).

While tools like Perplexity and other AI language models offer impressive capabilities in natural language processing and can provide quick, synthesized responses to queries, they are not infallible and have inherent constraints.

Here are the main limitations:

• Potential for inaccurate or biased information due to training data limitations.
• AI systems can be impressive but they lack true contextual awareness and have difficulty with nuanced language.
• Inability to perform complex reasoning or problem-solving tasks.
• Risk of generating or perpetuating misinformation.
• Limited emotional intelligence and inability to understand user sentiment.
• Potential data security and privacy concerns.
• Inconsistency in response quality and depth.
• Lack of real-time information updates and current event knowledge
• Difficulty in handling multi-step or interdisciplinary queries
• Absence of true understanding or consciousness behind responses

Who Owns the Rights to AI-generated Content?

Perplexity

When using Perplexity’s services, you can submit information (Input) to the Perplexity Engine, which then uses AI to generate responses (Output) based on your Input. You own the Input you provide, and when using the Output, you must follow any relevant third-party license rules. Clearly cite Output generated by the Services. Do not falsely claim that you generated the output using artificial intelligence.

Microsoft Copilot

Users of the free version of Microsoft Copilot (which I use) retain ownership of the AI-generated content but do not receive the copyright indemnification benefits provided to users of the paid versions. See Microsoft announces new Copilot Copyright Commitment for customers.

Note: Indemnification is a legal agreement where one party (the indemnitor) agrees to compensate another party (the indemnitee) for losses or damages.

Yoast SEO WordPress Plugin (Free Version)

There is no AI-generated content with the free version (which I use).

Jetpack AI Assistant (Free Version)