Opening up the middle way

Buddhist philosophy is dry, abstract, difficult and irrelevant. It’s “all up in your head”...

...Or is it?

This day will explore how Madhyamaka - the core of the Buddhist tradition expressed as philosophy - is a door which can open into a progressively expanding comprehension of Dharma, including the power to transform everyday understanding and action, and escape escapism to engage skilfully with the world. That door opens onto a bridge from duality to nonduality, provoking insight. The views are tremendous.

An exploration with Simhanāda. All welcome.

What will we cover?

What the Buddha said to Kaundinya, Kātyāyana, Nāgārjuna - and to us.

Essential Madhyamaka: the uses of logic in Buddhist practice.

What Sangharakshita - and others - mean by “difficulties” versus “problems”.

How dialectical analysis points to Emptiness. Or, what (really) happens in a kōan.

Practical skills: learn how to analyse a dialectical polarity for yourself! Try this at home.

What a win-win outcome really is - and how to get one.

Imagining a practice beyond escapist navel-gazing: engaging with the world.

Detox: how to detect polarisation and see through populist propaganda.

Towards a Buddhist politics: why ideology is inadequate - and unnecessary.

Building a community of practice around Applied Madhyamaka.