“Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist” & “Buddhism without Beliefs” Book Reviews

Report 

Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist and Buddhism without Beliefs are two different literary works created by Stephen Batchelor, where the author explores the essence and evolution of Buddhism. At the same time, the author attempts to intertwine the narrative related to the development and explanation of Buddhism by the evolution of his personal views and beliefs in relation to Buddhism as well as in relation to religion and human life at large. In spite of the fact that both books are written by the same author, it is still possible to trace substantial differences between them since Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist is an attempt to revive the view on Buddha as a living human, who spread his teaching and attempted to make people to change their lifestyle teaching them a different worldview. On the other hand, Buddhism without Belief uncovers the essence of Buddhism as a philosophy that teachers rather how to live than what to belief in. This is the main difference between the two books which though are closely intertwined because through the analysis of the development and evolution of Buddhist views, the author gives insight into the better understanding of the essence of Buddhist philosophy and how Buddhist had arrived to their ideas and beliefs. In such a way, these two books help to trace and understand the origin and evolution of key Buddhist ideas and values and uncover the essence of the Buddhist worldview which is quite different from the western religious worldview which focuses on believing in, whereas Buddhism rather teaches its followers what to do and how to live the lifestyle that matches Buddhist ideals and worldview.

Research

In his Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist Batchelor focuses on the rise of Buddhism depicting the Buddhist movement and its emergence from the standpoint of the former monk. He gives insight into  the life of Buddha, who was the real person and he wants the audience to have that feeling that Buddha has just passed away and his teaching has started to evolve and transform into one of the major philosophic and religious movements. At the same time, the author of the book reveals the fact that the development of Buddhism was not a mere project of Buddha but, instead, it was also the result of the social and cultural environment as well as personal development of Buddha. Batchelor is fully aware of the fact of the considerable impact of Buddha’s cultural and social environment on the formation of his views, beliefs and key values, which he communicated to people. The author insists that great works of art in all cultures succeed in capturing within the constraints of their form both the pathos of anguish and a vision of its resolution (Batchelor, 2010, 144). In such a way, the author conveys to the audience the idea that their thoughts and belief are rather imposed on them than generated by them. Batchelor reveals a considerable impact of the cultural environment of individuals on their perception of the surrounding world. They cannot stay aside of vital living processes but their involvement makes them closer to God. Moreover, in his Buddhist without Beliefs, the author claims people to maintain their Buddhist philosophy through taking the proactive position that means that they should act to prove their faith because it is through the action people can live the lifestyle which they believe to be right and based in religious norms.

In such a way, the book implies that human philosophy emerges on certain ground, while the perception of the particular element of reality or certain ideas and beliefs requires certain rethinking but people can never stay aside of their cultural environment as was the case of Buddha. On the contrary, people are closely integrated into their cultural environment.

At the same time, the author warns that Buddha was the real person. This is why his key messages are so personified and aim at the prevention of the excessive mystification of his story. In fact, by the end of the book it seems as if the author wants people to make challenging Buddha as the symbol of the religious unity of Chinese and other local people. the revelation of the life story of Buddha and the perception of Buddha by his contemporaries, who either knew him or were following his teaching during his lifetime.

The author points out that “we could decide simply to remain absorbed in the mysterious, unformed, free-play of reality. This would be the choice of the mystic who seeks to extinguish himself in God or Nirvana—analogous perhaps to the tendency among artists to obliterate themselves with alcohol or opiates. But if we value our participation in a shared reality in which it makes sense to make sense, then such self-abnegation would deny a central element of our humanity: the need to speak and act, to share our experience with others.” (Batchelor, 2010, 153). In such a way, the author explains why people are actually inclined to making mystic choices but they make such choices because of their different motivation since people with strong beliefs may tend to develop erroneous religious view, if they slip to mysticism. At the same time, the critical perception of religion recommended by Batchler questions the faith of people that may lead to their better understanding of Buddhism but refusing from this religious movement,

In addition, the author develops the idea that people are participatory beings who inhabit a participatory reality, seeking relationships that enhance our sense of what it means to be alive. In terms of dharma practice, a true friend is more than just someone with whom we share common values and who accepts us for what we are. Such a friend is someone with whom we share common values and who accepts us for what we are (Batchelor, 2010, 169). The Evasion of the unadorned immediacy of life is as deep-seated as it is relentless. Even with the ardent desire to be aware and alert in the present moment, the mind flings us into tawdry and tiresome elaborations of past and future (Batchelor, 2010, 172). The immediacy of life remind the author of its brevity and do it does for the audience. All humans are mortals and the author insists that this body is fragile. It is just flesh. Listen to the heartbeat. Life depends on the pumping of a muscle (Batchelor, 2010, 173). In such a way, he already implies the proactive position that people should take in their religious life as well as their atheist life. In such a way, the distinction between Barchelor view on Buddhism and conventional view on Buddhism is quite different but still people keep following Buddhist norms and beliefs.

In his Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist the author focuses on the revelation of the essence of Buddhism. In fact, this book is quite different from the previously discussed one because it uncovers the main message of Buddhism and its distinct feature which is the focus on the proactive position, instead of the sedative and passive one. At the same time, the author is aware of the fact that people turn to religion, including Buddhism because of several reasons among which personal sufferings, such as the illness or illness of a family member, or death, can be the major triggers for the development of their religious beliefs. For instance, a mother trying to save her daughter from a serious health problem, may shift to Buddhism, if she beliefs the new lifestyle and beliefs can help her to tackle with her health problems. this is why “to embrace suffering culminates in greater empathy, the capacity to feel what it is like for the other to suffer, which is the ground for unsentimental compassion and love” (Batchelor, 2012, 157). Compassion and love are key concepts of Buddhism, which though are frequently misinterpreted by believers.

Unlike Buddhism without Beliefs, Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist focuses on the revelation of key ideas and principles of Buddhism which promote the idea of taking the proactive position in one’s beliefs and lifestyle: “The problem with certainty is that it is static; it can do little but endlessly reassert itself. Uncertainty, by contrast, is full of unknowns, possibilities, and risks. (Batchelor, 2012, 65). In addition, the author uncovers the major truths of Buddhism: “The Four Noble Truths are pragmatic rather than dogmatic. They suggest a course of action to be followed rather than a set of dogmas to be believed. The four truths are prescriptions for behavior rather than descriptions of reality. The Buddha compares himself to a doctor who offers a course of therapeutic treatment to heal one’s ills. To embark on such a therapy is not designed to bring one any closer to ‘the Truth’ but to enable one’s life to flourish here and now, hopefully leaving a legacy that will continue to have beneficial repercussions after one’s death.” (Batchelor, 2012, 154).

At the same time, similarly to Buddhism without Beliefs, the author conveys the story of Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist from the personal standpoint: I was perplexed by the failure of teachers at school to address what seemed the most urgent matter of all: the bewildering, stomach-churning insecurity of being alive. The standard subjects of history, geography, mathematics, and English seemed perversely designed to ignore the questions that really mattered. As soon as I had some inkling of what ‘philosophy’ meant, I was puzzled as to why we were not taught it. And my skepticism about religion only grew as I failed to see what the vicars and priests I encountered gained from their faith. They struck me either as insincere, pious, and aloof or just bumblingly good-natured. (Batchelor, 2012, 10). In such a way, the author uncovers the way, which many Buddhist have gone to come eventually to Buddhism and its understanding.

Assessment

In fact, on analyzing both books, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that they are very close to each other. In his books, the author offers the extensive analysis of the development of Buddhism. In this regard, the author reaches his goal because he sounds quite persuading appealing to his personal experience and showing the evolution of his views through the highly personal perspective. However, such a highly personalized view on the development of Buddhism and Buddhist worldview can raise doubts in the audience concerning the objectivity of the author. To put it more precisely, readers may doubt whether Batchelor can think critically of Buddhism, if he is a proponent of the philosophic and religious movement. In such a way, the personalization of the narrative has a dubious effect. On the one hand, the personalized narrative makes the author closer to the audience, whereas on the other hand, it raises doubts in his objectivity. Speaking about the major differences between the two books, the major difference refers to the content and the narrative which reveals the rise of Buddhism on Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist to the revelation of the essence of Buddhism in Buddhism without Beliefs. The language used by the author in both books is comprehensible for the large audience that makes them easy to read and understand.

 

Works Cited:

Batchelor, S. Buddhism without Beliefs. New York: Riverhead Trade, 1998.

Batchelor, S. Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist. New York: Spiegel & Garu, 2011.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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