The Phenomenon of Secular Buddhism in the West

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the phenomenon of secular Buddhism, its origins, primary influences, characteristics and representatives. It explores the key ideas underlying the movement and traces the origins of secular Buddhism in the context of the 20th century conversation between Buddhism and Western scientific and philosophiical thought. Examining the work of figures such as Robert Wright, Sam Harris, Dana Nourie and Stephen Batchelor, this article showcases how secular Buddhism tends to combine elements of Western humanism, atheism, agnosticism, and scientific rationalism with Buddhist philosophy and meditation. It then contrasts this with positions held by adherents of other schools of Buddhism regarding secular Buddhism, as expressed in debates and open correspondence. The article concludes that secular Buddhism is a current in search of its own place in the palette of ideas between the secular scientific worldview and Buddhist teachings. Secular Buddhism is at present in the process of actively forming a core set of ideas and developing their supporting apologetics and areas of possible application,  from the practical popularization of secular meditation (mindfulness) to the creation of alternative systems of humanist-oriented values in Western Buddhism.