Category Archives: Buddhism
A Farewell, and an Invitation
This is my final post to the Engaged Mindfulness blog. Nearly a year and a half has transpired since I wrote the two most recent entries, “What now?” and “What now? (part 2)”. These essays both grappled with how those … Continue reading
What Now? (part 2)
In my last post, written in the week immediately following Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, I suggested two practices that might be of value during the troubling times to come – be more continuously mindful, and become more effectively engaged. For the past … Continue reading
What now?
In my last post, I argued that candidate Donald Trump was unfit to be president of the United States for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which were his manifest shortcomings in two of the most essential Buddhist … Continue reading
An anniversary post, and a political plea
Today, the Engaged Mindfulness blog turns five years old. In preparation for this fifth-anniversary milestone, I recently scrolled back to my first post, “The Paradox of ‘Engaged Mindfulness’”, published on October 18th, 2011. As I re-read it, I was struck by two … Continue reading
Book Review: After Buddhism, by Stephen Batchelor
With his latest book, After Buddhism, renowned scholar Stephen Batchelor continues to expand his vision for a “secular Buddhism”, a project he began nearly twenty years ago in his 1997 book Buddhism Without Beliefs. In that groundbreaking book, he sounded … Continue reading
Book Review: Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, by Stephen Batchelor
This self-styled “confession” by Stephen Batchelor succeeds brilliantly in three distinct literary genres. First and foremost, it’s an articulate and passionate exposition of Buddhism from this gifted, world-renowned scholar and teacher. Second, it’s a poignant memoir of a lifetime’s journey … Continue reading
So Far (1) – To Take or Not to Take?
Having recently observed my 65th birthday, I’ve been rather surprised at how often of late I find myself thinking about my past. Perhaps there’s some sort of life-review process that gets activated with the passage across this iconic birthdate, upon which one officially becomes a “senior … Continue reading
Mindfulness Quotes and Comments
Every writer must, of necessity, be a reader as well. Every one of the topics I write about in this blog has been informed in one way or another by what I have been reading on the subjects of mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhism. It’s … Continue reading
Our Tragic Hunger for More
“Please, sir, I want some more.” When young Oliver Twist makes his famous request for a second helping of the miserable food being served to him and his fellow orphans at the start of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, it’s all but impossible for the reader … Continue reading