Sign-In
Cart
Confession of a Buddhist Atheist
Hardcover
Religious BiographiesAtheism & AgnosticismBuddhism
Please select the version of book you would like to purchase.
ISBN10: 0385527063
ISBN13: 9780385527064
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Pages: 302
Weight: 1.15
Height: 1.13 Width: 6.10 Depth: 9.56
Language: English
ISBN13: 9780385527064
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Pages: 302
Weight: 1.15
Height: 1.13 Width: 6.10 Depth: 9.56
Language: English
Written with the same brilliance and boldness that made Buddhism Without Beliefs a classic in its field, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is Stephen Batchelor's account of his journey through Buddhism, which culminates in a groundbreaking new portrait of the historical Buddha.
Stephen Batchelor grew up outside London and came of age in the 1960s. Like other seekers of his time, instead of going to college he set off to explore the world. Settling in India, he eventually became a Buddhist monk in Dharamsala, the Tibetan capital-in-exile, and entered the inner circle of monks around the Dalai Lama. He later moved to a monastery in South Korea to pursue intensive training in Zen Buddhism. Yet the more Batchelor read about the Buddha, the more he came to believe that the way Buddhism was being taught and practiced was at odds with the actual teachings of the Buddha himself.
Stephen Batchelor grew up outside London and came of age in the 1960s. Like other seekers of his time, instead of going to college he set off to explore the world. Settling in India, he eventually became a Buddhist monk in Dharamsala, the Tibetan capital-in-exile, and entered the inner circle of monks around the Dalai Lama. He later moved to a monastery in South Korea to pursue intensive training in Zen Buddhism. Yet the more Batchelor read about the Buddha, the more he came to believe that the way Buddhism was being taught and practiced was at odds with the actual teachings of the Buddha himself.
Charting his journey from hippie to monk to lay practitioner, teacher, and interpreter of Buddhist thought, Batchelor reconstructs the historical Buddha's life, locating him within the social and political context of his world. In examining the ancient texts of the Pali Canon, the earliest record of the Buddha's life and teachings, Batchelor argues that the Buddha was a man who looked at human life in a radically new way for his time, more interested in the question of how human beings should live in this world than in notions of karma and the afterlife. According to Batchelor, the outlook of the Buddha was far removed from the piety and religiosity that has come to define much of Buddhism as we know it today.
Both controversial and deeply personal, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is a fascinating exploration of a religion that continues to engage the West. Batchelor's insightful, deeply knowledgeable, and persuasive account will be an essential book for anyone interested in Buddhism.
Both controversial and deeply personal, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is a fascinating exploration of a religion that continues to engage the West. Batchelor's insightful, deeply knowledgeable, and persuasive account will be an essential book for anyone interested in Buddhism.
3 different editions
Also available
Also in
Buddhism
The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World
O'Brien, Barbara
Paperback
From $14.99
Soul of the Samurai: Modern Translations of Three Classic Works of Zen & Bushido
Cleary, Thomas
Hardcover
$9.99
Enlightenment Is an Accident: Ancient Wisdom and Simple Practices to Make You Accident Prone
Burkett, Tim
Paperback
$17.96
Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Psychology, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection
Salzberg, Sharon
H. H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
Paperback
$18.95
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Hardcover
$10.99
Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side: A Guide to the Lotus Sūtra
Lopez, Donald S., Jr.
Stone, Jacqueline I.
Hardcover
$44.93
Zen Master Tales: Stories from the Lives of Taigu, Sengai, Hakuin, and Ryokan
Haskel, Peter
Paperback
$18.95
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [50th Anniversary Edition]: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
$19.79
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering Into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Hanh, Thich Nhat
Paperback
$18.99
Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in a Timeplace of Collapse
Wong, Norma Kaweloku
Paperback
$17.96
Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life
Negi, Lobsang Tenzin
Hardcover
$26.60
Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less
Dávila, April
Paperback
$18.05
When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse
Wong, Norma
Paperback
From $11.99
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
Chodron, Pema
Paperback
$17.05
Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
Wright, Robert
Paperback
From $11.99
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen
Brown, Edward Espe
San Francisco, Zen Center
Suzuki, Shunryu
Paperback
$18.99
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
Sockolov, Matthew
Paperback
From $11.99
Dokkodo. The Way of Walking Alone: Discover self-discipline and personal mastery through the ancestral wisdom of the samurai.
Ediciones, Shinden
Musashi, Miyamoto
Paperback
$11.99
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
Rahula, Walpola
Paperback
$16.15
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Kondo, Marie
Hardcover
From $9.99
The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us about Living Fully
Ostaseski, Frank
Paperback
$17.09
Seeing That Frees: Meditations on Emptiness and Dependent Arising: 10th Anniversary Edition
Burbea, Rob
Paperback
$27.49
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller: 30th Anniversary Edition
Rinpoche, Sogyal
Paperback
$20.90
The Truth about Forgiveness: A Biblical and Theological Study of How to Follow Christ's Example
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
$12.34
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness
Graves, Jeremy
Yates, John
Immergut, Matthew
Paperback
$27.54
Fierce Self-Compassion: How to Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Your Power, and Thrive
Neff, Kristin
Paperback
$18.99
How to Let Things Go: 99 Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control and Free Yourself Up for What Matters
Masuno, Shunmyo
Hardcover
$24.70
The Daily Buddhist: 366 Days of Wisdom for Happiness, Inner Freedom, and Mindful Living
Sherpa, Pema
Barca, Brendan
Hardcover
$26.60
El Milagro de Mindfulness: Una Introducción a la Práctica de la Meditación / The Miracle of Mindfulness
Nhat, Thich
Paperback
$12.30
365 Days of Zen: A Daily One-Page Guide to Zen Buddhism for Clarity, Calm, and Deep Stillness
Lee, Dae
Mode, Airplane
Paperback
$29.99
Shodo: The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Calligraphy, Learn the Wisdom of Zen Through Traditional Brush Painting
Sato, Shozo
Hardcover
$33.20
It's Okay Not to Look for the Meaning of Life: A Zen Monk's Guide to Living Stress-Free One Day at a Time
Minami, Jikisai
Hardcover
$14.24
Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation
Holecek, Andrew
Hardcover
$28.50
Near Enemies of the Truth: Avoid the Pitfalls of a Spiritual Life and Become Radically Free
Wallis, Christopher
Hardcover
$24.70
The Zen Guide to Opening Your Heart: Practical Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk
Taigu, Gensho
Hardcover
$15.19
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World
Sunim, Haemin
Hardcover
From $10.99
You Are Good, You Are Enough: Free Yourself from the Trap of Doubt and Return to Basic Goodness
Rinzler, Lodro
Paperback
$18.95
Dreams of a White Snow Lion: The Remarkable Life, Vision, and Deeds of the Dalai Lama
Dhargye, Sherab
Bianca, Mariateresa
Hardcover
$37.95
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Paperback
$18.05
Zen and Ghibli: Life Lessons for Lasting Happiness from the Legendary Studio
Suzuki, Toshio
Hardcover
$27.55
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: The Transformative Power of Lojong Practice
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin
Paperback
$18.95
Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
Warner, Jisho
Uchiyama, Kosho
Paperback
$18.95
In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying
Tworkov, Helen
Mingyur Rinpoche, Yongey
Paperback
$18.05
Jewel in the Lotus/The Tantric Path to Higher Consciousness
Avinasha, Bodhi
Saraswati, Sunyata
Paperback
$18.00
We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption
Lingo, Kaira Jewel
Paperback
$14.20
The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Zen Buddhist Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy
Masuno, Shunmyo
Hardcover
$19.95
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance American Classics Edition: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
$20.90
No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners: Clear Answers to Burning Questions about Core Buddhist Teachings
Rasheta, Noah
Paperback
$14.24
Tracing the Untraceable Buddha: The Vipassana Meditator's Journey to Enlightenment
Damborg, Uffe
Paperback
$23.70
Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser
Richmond, Lewis
Paperback
$16.15
How Not to Miss the Point: The Buddha's Wisdom for a Life Well Lived
Rinpoche, Jetsun Khandro
Paperback
$20.85