Following is an excerpt from an email I sent to a friend about the book I am currently reading, “Buddhism Without Beliefs”:

“Enjoying “Buddhism Without Beliefs”. There isn’t much to it lengthwise, but I am fascinated with his discussion of Buddhism as action – and his arguments for this viewpoint also within the life of the Buddha. He believes that it only became institutionalised and a “religion” later and gives reasons for this view, including the Buddha’s refusal to appoint an “heir” (as proof of his desire not to institutionalise the movement). [His argument] is more complex than that, but I am tired [I sent this email just before going to bed].

Anyway, especially interesting is his discussion as Buddhism as action, rather than strictly belief (although one does have to agree with the philosophical perspective that life is suffering). An analogy could be with calling yourself a “surfer” without ever getting on a board, but basing your statement upon your belief in waves, the existence of boards, the existence of other surfers, etc. One can only logically refer to oneself as a surfer by doing the actions of a surfer – belief is not determinative. Batchelor would argue that one is a Buddhist (a term that he says was only created by Westerners to describe the Dharma, or teachings) through actions. I have been working through this in my head and it does seem consistent with many aspects of Buddha’s efforts, such as refusing to answer metaphysical questions repeatedly (and seeming to show little interest in them) and the fact that the Eightfold Path is based on actions (right thought, right action, right speech, etc). Buddha advocated that a cessation of suffering could come by through action, but most promote enlightenment as some sort of out-of-reach, esoteric mystical moment. Batchelor disputes this idea. It is a very interesting text.

One problem is that we try to analyse Buddhism from a Western perspective that is based more on belief than action. Sadly, the presentation of Buddhism in the West has suffered by this injustice.”

Yes, a very interesting text that brings Buddhism back to what it was always intended to be (and has always been, behind the facade of religion created around it by some) – a PRACTICAL quest for an end to suffering.