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Buddhism Without Beliefs

A Contemporary Guide to Awakening

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Buddhism Without Beliefs

By: Stephen Batchelor
Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
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About this listen

Before it was a religion, a culture, or even a system of meditation, what was Buddhism? On Buddhism Without Beliefs, celebrated teacher, translator, and former Buddhist monk Stephen Batchelor takes us back to the first years after the Buddha's awakening to reveal the root insights of Buddhism hidden beneath centuries of history and interpretation.

In eight compelling sessions of self-inquiry - including many fascinating exercises and practices - we learn how to awaken and refine our senses, introduce the essential spirit of curiosity into the practice of awareness, and comprehend with both our hearts and our minds the Buddha's astonishing (and often misunderstood) revelations on emptiness, compassion, and the self. Before he died, the Buddha did not appoint a successor. He simply remarked that each of us must be responsible for our own freedom.

Buddhism without Beliefs is an invitation to hear what the Buddha taught - and to trust yourself on your own path to liberation.

©1997 Stephen Batchelor (P)2013 Sounds True Buddhism Eastern Philosophy Physical Exercise

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a lot of metaphors are used but the writing style is very direct and doesn't lose its message when talking hypothetically. given me a lot to think about and has definitely provided me with lots of inspiration for my own practice.

loved it

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I loved to listened this book.
Stephen Batchelor reads it really well. A great insight and teachings in regards what is Buddhism. And as I am new to this kinds of books maybe I am more eager to listening it properly but for me the reading made me feel quite relaxed and mindful. Definitely, I will listen this book again.
Thanks .

Really nice book

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Will keep coming back to this. Ended up also buying the book to refer to specific sections.

Exactly what I needed when I needed it.

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Although rooted in a tradition, a large Tibetan organisation, this is music for my heart. I feel deeply Batchelor's frustration at modern attempts to integrate Buddhist thought into the Western umvelt.

William Gibson once remarked that "the future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed" - this is how I feel about modern dharma, some people (Ken Wilber et al) are shaping forward looking, truly modern, post-metaphysical, non-religious (non-'Buddhist') dharma.

To many this is just too much. The baby boomers who have found solace in Eastern mysticism and religion have kept the baby but they are often very reluctant to admit that they are swimming in a large pool of unnecessary Buddhist bathwater too.

Bachelor strips it all back and his movement towards finding the essence of Early Buddhism, the universalism of impermanence, the truths of suffering and emptiness, that which continues to serve us today, is very welcome and, I believe, destined to emerge and shape dharma from here on out.

Listen without prejudice

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A very insightful overview of the core Buddhist beliefs and principles presented in a format that is clear and easy to understand.

Very insightful

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What did you like most about Buddhism Without Beliefs?

I am enjoying this and it is well presented by Stephen. It is an excellent proposition of Buddhist ideas without the religion that has overtaken much of modern Buddhism. However I also have the book and this seems to have little connection to that except for the ideas presented. As it has the same title I expected it to be an audio reading of the book.

Confused this is different to the book

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A wonderful life offering books that I have attempted to share with many of my family and friends, although sadly not all are open to receiving

Life altering

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I like that he breaks down some of the main Buddhist ideas in a modern way. He also has a soothing voice.

Very clear and inspiring. Will listen again

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Finally a book on Buddhism that has no airy fairy parts to it. With respect to those other books, they are useful and a lot of people prefer them, but I feel like they don't get some of the points across as well and can be quite repetitive.
At first I found the authors talking was annoying as he pauses quite often, making it hard for me to piece the sentences together. Eventually i got used to it. I found the first couple of chapters a bit unenlightening but they probably would be good for a complete beginner. But from chapter 3 onwards it gets very good, opening up all sorts of perspectives. I'm sure I will turn to this audiobook several times.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who had an interest in the concepts of Buddhism from a modern perspective. Don't expect a "how to" guide, it's more of a reflective book. Enjoy.

A more intellectual view on Buddhism

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It seems I'm a Buddhist and I didn't know it. Well worth a listen

Never wanted to attach to a belief system. But it

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