Secularism & Buddhism | 2016

Ajahn Brahmali explores the relationship between secularism and Buddhism, reflecting on how Buddhism fits into modern, often secular societies, and evaluating the movement known as “secular Buddhism.” In the West, secular Buddhism does emphasize mindfulness, ethics, and psychological insight. However, it often downplays or excludes key elements like rebirth and karma.While secular approaches make Buddhism more accessible, they risk cutting out essential elements that make the teachings of the Buddha (Dhamma) transformative. Buddhism can adapt to the modern world, but we must be careful not to dilute its essence. The challenge is to honor the depth of the Dhamma while communicating it in a way that's relevant to contemporary society.Recorded 2016-12-16-These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia under the ⁠Creative Commons⁠ licence. ⁠You can support the Buddhist Society of Western Australia by pledging your support via their Ko-fi page.⁠