Author Archives: John Willemsens

Advayavada Study Plan – week 7

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 7] In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is understood dynamically, as an ongoing and fully autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight, reflecting in human terms wondrous overall existence becoming over time in its manifest direction; it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselvesContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 7”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 6

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 6] In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is understood dynamically, as an ongoing and fully autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight, reflecting in human terms wondrous overall existence becoming over time in its manifest direction; it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselvesContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 6”

Spinoza: the first philosopher of the rational Enlightenment? — The Slow Tachyon

For the radical thinkers of the Enlightenment, he was the first man to have lived and died as a true atheist. For others, including the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, he provides perhaps the most profound conception of God to be found in Western philosophy. He was bold enough to defy the thinking of his […]Continue reading “Spinoza: the first philosopher of the rational Enlightenment? — The Slow Tachyon”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 5

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 5] In Secular Buddhism generally, firmly bearing in mind the impermanence and changeability of everything (see week 1) and the selflessness and emptiness (and, therefore, finitude) of all things and beings (see week 2), the focus is on the correct interpretation and realization of the historical Buddha’s so-called ‘four nobleContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 5”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 4

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 4] Non-liberated human beings are essentially prone to existential suffering (see last week, week 3) because they wrongly strive after and try to hold on to things, concepts and situations which they believe to be permanent, but are not. Their mistaken view of things is produced by a thirst, cravingContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 4”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 3

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 3] As already explained, Advayavada Buddhism does not tell you what to do or believe, but invites us all to make the very best of our own lives by attuning as best as possible, with the help of our personalized Noble Eightfold Path, with wondrous overall existence advancing over timeContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 3”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 2

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 2] As already explained, Advayavada Buddhism does not tell you what to do or believe, but invites us all to make the very best of our own lives by attuning as best as possible, with the help of our personalized Noble Eightfold Path, with wondrous overall existence advancing over timeContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 2”

Advayavada Study Plan – week 1

[Advayavada Study Plan – week 1] In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience. Adherence to the familiar five precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie,Continue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – week 1”

Advayavada Study Plan – recap of the 4th quarter

[Advayavada Study Plan – a recap of the fourth quarter] In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience. Adherence to the familiar five precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexualContinue reading “Advayavada Study Plan – recap of the 4th quarter”