Secular Buddhist Essentials
A free online program
Classes are held every Sunday at 19:00 UTC

Secular Buddhist Essentials is a free weekly online program that shares the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. As a Secular Buddhist Organization, SBT offers a practical presentation focused on the positive life-affirming message of the Buddha, while deemphasizing the more religious, mystical, and cultural content found in traditional Buddhism. Our aim is to inform and guide without sharing presumptions of what to believe.

This SBE program is open to everyone – from beginners to seasoned practitioners. It was created for a broad audience of diverse backgrounds, ideologies, and beliefs. In it we share a clear and concise presentation of Buddhism in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. Our Secular Buddhist approach offers a more objective and rational interpretation of the Buddha’s teachings, seeking to reinterpret them through fresh eyes, skeptical not of the Buddha’s words but of the thousands of years of interpretation and embellishment laden upon those teachings.

SBE is organized into three parts
• Part one: Introduction, Origin, and Adaptation – begins with a broad view of the origins and adaptations of Buddhism and Secular Buddhism, while also introducing the reader to essential elements shared by all Buddhist traditions.
• Part two: The Buddha’s Teachings – moves onto a deeper Secular Buddhist presentation of the Buddha’s core teachings.
• Part three: Engaging Buddhism – outlines what is involved in engaging with Secular Buddhism as a practice, path, and lifestyle, including a detailed account of Secular Buddhist study, training, and practice.

Program Text
The written materials for this program are still in development.