Confession of a Buddhist Atheist

I recently finished Stephen Batchelor latest book Confession of a Buddhist Atheist.  I absolutely loved this book.  There are many reasons I consider this book to be the volume I've been seeking for the past 10 years, and I hope to offer some reasons in future posts, but for this post let me offer one little gem. 

Traditionally, the Four Noble Truths, presented by The Buddha in the Dhammacakkappavattana sutta (Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth), are translated and understood as statements of fact about the nature of experience:

1. Dukkha: life is composed of suffering.
2. Taṇhā: the origin of suffering is clinging to or craving permanence, or having a fix view of things in a universe where change is the operational principle.
3. Nibbāna: the end of suffering is "blowing-out" craving.
4. Noble Eight-fold Path: is the path to the cessation of suffering.

Stephen Batchelor interprets them in light of other suttas which emphasize that we are what we do as opposed to how we are born.  Doing, not Being:

1. fully knowing suffering
2. letting go of craving
3. experience cessation [of craving]
4. cultivating an eightfold path

The above list is directly from the book (page reference to follow).  I think this interpretation of the Four Noble Truths is insightful and operational; it is something we can use to bring meaning to experience and structure to our conduct.