In this opening session, Roshi Joan Halifax and Stephen Batchelor discuss the meaning of the topic of this program, “After Buddhism.” Roshi Joan introduces a vision of a non-Buddhistic Buddhism, or Dharma beyond sectarianism. She then describes the format of this program as it will unfold over the course of the week. Stephen then elaborates his own approach to a Buddhism outside of the “container of creedal thinking.”

7. After God [Batchelor]

6. Beyond Religion Altogether [Batchelor]

5. Post Pope [Batchelor]

4. Framework Of Buddhism [Batchelor]

3. After Buddhsim [Batchelor]

1. Intro To After Buddhsim [Halifax]

2. Stephen Batchelor Intro [Batchelor]

Upaya’s Ray Olson pokes and prods at the layers of how we exist: as selves and others and as not-selves and no-others. We should not miss the vaster “self” or way-of-existing where, lacking fundamental boundaries, we’re always mutually creating each other, and appearing and disappearing without limit; but neither can we ignore the way-of-existing that gives us a name, a passport, and accountability to all our relations. Finally “self” and “not-self” are both concepts, with their uses and limitations, while “not knowing is most intimate” (Daizhang).

Ray Olson - Who Do You Think You Are, Anyway?

With hilarity, candor and some passion, and taking as his muse the koan “Ungan Sweeps the Grounds,” Genzan intimately inspects the condition of feeling busy. What are its causes, its unreckoned effects, both for our own being and for the world? And what is that other state — of flow, just-this, “being time?” Because remarkably enough, we never feel busy when we’re just doing one thing in all simplicity.

Genzan Quennall - You Can Stop Now

Allan was severely, life-threateningly injured in a plane crash in 2012. Here he tells the riveting story of his escape, recovery, and especially the deep reckoning that such a shock of pain and loss provoked in him — what vitality and urgency it lent to Buddha’s teachings on suffering, change, and unconditional meeting.

upaya