Linda Blanchard
@nowheat.bsky.social
Buddhist with an interest in the earliest texts. Author of "Dependent Arising In Context" and a few papers in the OCBS Journal. Also: progressive, celiac, parent of two grown kids, owned by three cats, a dog & a horse. Buddhist writings: @skepticalbuddhism
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Join the Skeptical Buddhist Sangha Discord Server!
A refuge for those of us interested in re-examining the Buddha's early talks to better understand his teachings, and consider how they should be put into practice. This home for a secular form of Budd...
discord.gg
I'm excited to say that I've just started up a new Discord server for those interested in, and supportive of Skeptical Buddhism. If you'd like to chat with others about the theory, discuss ways to practice in line with its understanding of the Buddha's teaching, please click on this invite link:
I'm excited to say that I've just started up a new Discord server for those interested in, and supportive of Skeptical Buddhism. If you'd like to chat with others about the theory, discuss ways to practice in line with its understanding of the Buddha's teaching, please click on this invite link:
Join the Skeptical Buddhist Sangha Discord Server!
A refuge for those of us interested in re-examining the Buddha's early talks to better understand his teachings, and consider how they should be put into practice. This home for a secular form of Budd...
discord.gg
November 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I'm excited to say that I've just started up a new Discord server for those interested in, and supportive of Skeptical Buddhism. If you'd like to chat with others about the theory, discuss ways to practice in line with its understanding of the Buddha's teaching, please click on this invite link:
Over on the Secular Buddhist Network website:
The Buddha Comments on Politics - Secular Buddhist Network
Linda Blanchard argues that the Buddha's key concept of dependent arising reveals how our tendency toward self-making is impacted by socially constructed beliefs which underpin political views.
secularbuddhistnetwork.org
June 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Over on the Secular Buddhist Network website:
1/ I'm sad to have discovered the Secular Buddhism (dot org) website has disappeared into the Secular Buddhist Network (dot org). Nothing against the SBN. I literally know nothing about them since there's no information on the website as to who they are, and I've read very little on the site.
May 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
1/ I'm sad to have discovered the Secular Buddhism (dot org) website has disappeared into the Secular Buddhist Network (dot org). Nothing against the SBN. I literally know nothing about them since there's no information on the website as to who they are, and I've read very little on the site.
1/ There are many things that amaze me about the Buddha's teachings. Among them, his discovery of what is essentially one fundamental issue in human nature that we just naturally fail to see, that leads to all kinds of trouble. And I do mean all kinds. Small, middling, big, and huge.
May 6, 2025 at 3:45 AM
1/ There are many things that amaze me about the Buddha's teachings. Among them, his discovery of what is essentially one fundamental issue in human nature that we just naturally fail to see, that leads to all kinds of trouble. And I do mean all kinds. Small, middling, big, and huge.
1/ Lyrics for our times (a post that is, in part, on grass-roots-level politics. and Buddhism).
The Doobie Brothers - What A fool Believes (Lyrics) (From Spiderhead)
YouTube video by sleepy cat
www.youtube.com
March 8, 2025 at 8:33 PM
1/ Lyrics for our times (a post that is, in part, on grass-roots-level politics. and Buddhism).
Reposted by Linda Blanchard
As Facebook doesn’t value moderating content responsibly, @lastweektonight.com with John Oliver has launched a useful website to help make your accounts less valuable to Meta, with steps on how to limit how your data is used for advertising. Visit: johnoliverwantsyourraterotica.com
How to Change Your Meta Settings | Make yourself less valuable to Meta. Brought to you by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
johnoliverwantsyourraterotica.com
March 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
As Facebook doesn’t value moderating content responsibly, @lastweektonight.com with John Oliver has launched a useful website to help make your accounts less valuable to Meta, with steps on how to limit how your data is used for advertising. Visit: johnoliverwantsyourraterotica.com
I'm so appreciative of Bluesky allowing users to create their own feeds, even if the process is a little daunting at first. Over on my other account I've just managed to create one called Secular Buddhism but I'm not quite sure what's needed to "share" it with others.
February 4, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I'm so appreciative of Bluesky allowing users to create their own feeds, even if the process is a little daunting at first. Over on my other account I've just managed to create one called Secular Buddhism but I'm not quite sure what's needed to "share" it with others.
Asking him directly and politely to show mercy to so many who are scared, as he and Vance sat in a pew in the church listening to her sermon, sets the best example, as does her answer to NPR's questions afterward.
NPR Exclusive: The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.
Bishop Mariann Budde tells NPR 'I won't apologize' for sermon addressing Trump
The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.
www.npr.org
January 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Asking him directly and politely to show mercy to so many who are scared, as he and Vance sat in a pew in the church listening to her sermon, sets the best example, as does her answer to NPR's questions afterward.
I was reading a piece recently about Christian views of Original Sin vs the Buddha's view that where we go wrong isn't down to sin at all. This post on what follows from dependent arising's first link (ignorance) being done without awareness of where the actions lead describes that sinlessness.
6/ Logically then, every single link that follows can be defined with the words "[whatever] in ignorance of the Four Noble Truths," without experience of them. The consciousness coming from contact through senses is consciousness arising in ignorance of how what's happening will lead to dukkha.
January 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I was reading a piece recently about Christian views of Original Sin vs the Buddha's view that where we go wrong isn't down to sin at all. This post on what follows from dependent arising's first link (ignorance) being done without awareness of where the actions lead describes that sinlessness.
Reading Thanissaro's translation of AN 7.64 today, a lesson composed in the days before writing, when suttas were passed on by memorization, and recalled for consideration rather than read, I note the Buddha praises exploring the meaning, indicating the meaning is not necessarily the obvious one.
January 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reading Thanissaro's translation of AN 7.64 today, a lesson composed in the days before writing, when suttas were passed on by memorization, and recalled for consideration rather than read, I note the Buddha praises exploring the meaning, indicating the meaning is not necessarily the obvious one.
I keep falling in love with dead people. First it was Ñāṇavīra Thera, who died in 1965. Now it's Brian K Smith, who wrote "Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual, and Religion". He died in 2019. At least I'm getting closer to crushing on the still-living.
www.nanavira.org
www.nanavira.org
About - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page
Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page
www.nanavira.org
January 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I keep falling in love with dead people. First it was Ñāṇavīra Thera, who died in 1965. Now it's Brian K Smith, who wrote "Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual, and Religion". He died in 2019. At least I'm getting closer to crushing on the still-living.
www.nanavira.org
www.nanavira.org
Detailed, illuminating thread, worth reading all the way through for some "how to handle it" pointers.
I had a walk today and thought about the relationship between civility, discomfort, and abuse.
Some of you know that “civility” is one of my hard “ugh” triggers. This thread will explain why.
Some of you know that “civility” is one of my hard “ugh” triggers. This thread will explain why.
January 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Detailed, illuminating thread, worth reading all the way through for some "how to handle it" pointers.
In this post, in a series that develops a new understanding of dependent arising, the Buddha seems to make an almost racy pun, at the same time adding another layer of meaning to the mystery of *saṅkhārā*. Click on the SB15 hyperlink to see the thread. Or go up above 15/ to the Table of Contents.
January 12, 2025 at 4:33 AM
In this post, in a series that develops a new understanding of dependent arising, the Buddha seems to make an almost racy pun, at the same time adding another layer of meaning to the mystery of *saṅkhārā*. Click on the SB15 hyperlink to see the thread. Or go up above 15/ to the Table of Contents.
Reposted by Linda Blanchard
8/ The usual dependent arising starts with ignorance & ends with aging-&-death -- representing all the varieties of dukkha. Note that though I've put it on the traditional circle, the break and two lines is there to express the point that the Buddha never had it go from the end back to the start.
January 2, 2025 at 6:39 AM
8/ The usual dependent arising starts with ignorance & ends with aging-&-death -- representing all the varieties of dukkha. Note that though I've put it on the traditional circle, the break and two lines is there to express the point that the Buddha never had it go from the end back to the start.
Out of the 17 suggestions for how to resist, #5 is one I'm focusing on here on Bluesky: developing new connections. Though my posts and my life center on Buddhism these days, the conversations and friendships can cross all barriers while we provide each other energy and emotional support.
5. Foster real connections. One of the ways authoritarian regimes isolate people is by encouraging fear and distrust. Fight back by building strong relationships with neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Find ways to connect beyond political differences and strengthen the fabric of your community.
January 2, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Out of the 17 suggestions for how to resist, #5 is one I'm focusing on here on Bluesky: developing new connections. Though my posts and my life center on Buddhism these days, the conversations and friendships can cross all barriers while we provide each other energy and emotional support.
Reposted by Linda Blanchard
The amateur poster panics and rushes to clarify his original post when the replies begin misconstruing it. Whereas the veteran does nothing because he is already working on his next post. His enemies are forever arguing with the wind
December 31, 2024 at 3:00 AM
The amateur poster panics and rushes to clarify his original post when the replies begin misconstruing it. Whereas the veteran does nothing because he is already working on his next post. His enemies are forever arguing with the wind
A first step in a better understanding of dependent origination: know what the words meant to the people who heard the Buddha speak them. This post has quotes from a Vedic scholar restoring the meaning of a word we've found hard to translate.
1/ There's a word in the Buddha's earliest talks that gets translated into English as "formations" sometimes "mental" or "volitional" formations. In Pali it's *saṅkhārā* and it's found as one of five aspects that compose an individual, and as the second link in dependent arising (DA).
#SB10of10k
#SB10of10k
December 30, 2024 at 10:31 AM
A first step in a better understanding of dependent origination: know what the words meant to the people who heard the Buddha speak them. This post has quotes from a Vedic scholar restoring the meaning of a word we've found hard to translate.
Does this look wrong to you? It did to me, & it turns out it's technically true but its a slanted statistic. Thanks to @charlesgaba.com for providing a link to detail that explains why it's wrong. I sure wish we Good Guys had enough sense to not post distortions like this.
bsky.app/profile/char...
bsky.app/profile/char...
December 25, 2024 at 11:26 PM
Does this look wrong to you? It did to me, & it turns out it's technically true but its a slanted statistic. Thanks to @charlesgaba.com for providing a link to detail that explains why it's wrong. I sure wish we Good Guys had enough sense to not post distortions like this.
bsky.app/profile/char...
bsky.app/profile/char...
1/Here's the thing about dependent origination. As @dhammajo.bsky.social suggested earlier today, it does, in its way, point out that everything is cause and effect. While that seems obvious to many (so why should we bother to think about it much at all, one may wonder) focusing on it leads deeper.
December 21, 2024 at 9:36 PM
1/Here's the thing about dependent origination. As @dhammajo.bsky.social suggested earlier today, it does, in its way, point out that everything is cause and effect. While that seems obvious to many (so why should we bother to think about it much at all, one may wonder) focusing on it leads deeper.
1/ Random Buddhist/world traveler thought for the day. Reading a thread on the dhammawheel forum about the point of dependent arising (DA), getting all wrapped up in words, definitions, getting around issues with a generic "thing" while talking about causation, origins. Know the word's origins?
Question about dependent origination - Dharma Wheel
www.dharmawheel.net
December 20, 2024 at 4:46 PM
1/ Random Buddhist/world traveler thought for the day. Reading a thread on the dhammawheel forum about the point of dependent arising (DA), getting all wrapped up in words, definitions, getting around issues with a generic "thing" while talking about causation, origins. Know the word's origins?
Reposted by Linda Blanchard
For those of us new to Bluesky, a very nice runthrough of what you can do with the app. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-0...
Master BlueSky: A Complete Tutorial for Beginners in 2024
YouTube video by Matthew Rathbun
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2024 at 12:58 AM
For those of us new to Bluesky, a very nice runthrough of what you can do with the app. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-0...
No doubt mindfulness can be separated from Buddhism and still do some good. It's just that it can do a lot more good when the other seven path factors accompany it.
December 5, 2024 at 12:29 AM
No doubt mindfulness can be separated from Buddhism and still do some good. It's just that it can do a lot more good when the other seven path factors accompany it.
What I'm doing with those feelings. Smash targets in Supernatural Fitness. An old song that matches the mood. Cardio. Get fit so I'll survive. Build stamina for a fight. The Who's on first.
December 4, 2024 at 7:51 PM
What I'm doing with those feelings. Smash targets in Supernatural Fitness. An old song that matches the mood. Cardio. Get fit so I'll survive. Build stamina for a fight. The Who's on first.