There is a question haunting the sciences: how is it that conscious experience emerges out of physical matter? How do we come to possess this ineffable feeling of what it is to be alive in a body, assailed by information from the senses, our minds crackling with thought, memories, dreams…

Atheists like to think of themselves as both rationally and intellectually sound. Regrettably, this is not always the case. Take a moment to call to mind some of the atheists you’ve met. With some luck, you will have come across some wonderful secular humanists, who are kind, reasonable and psychologically…

On my first ten day meditation retreat I had experiences that were sublime, blissful, and bordering on psychedelic, giving me a glimpse of what might be possible with dedicated practise. “That would be my worst nightmare” was a response I often heard when I told friends, family and colleagues that…

Thant Myint-U’s new book, ‘The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century’, unearths the deep, historical roots of Burma’s economic, social and political challenges. — Thant Myint-U’s new book, The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century, comes at a crossroads for Burma and the West. While the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was once the darling of human rights advocates, today she is…

Many feel we will inevitably emerge from this pandemic into a fairer, more caring society. By analysing this myth, we can learn a lot about the problems of our age. — Back in March, Madonna released a video sharing her reflections on the Coronavirus pandemic. For some reason the video was filmed with her naked in a bathtub filled with rose petals. In a hushed tone with eyes downcast, she speaks to camera:

Western Buddhists have been criticised for distorting centuries old traditions and doctrines. Is there a way that they could engage more respectfully? — Over the last few centuries the beliefs, practises and philosophies of Buddhism have slowly permeated the Western world. Settling on a precise point of origin can be difficult, but we know that the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer undertook serious study of Buddhism as early as 1815. …

Scott Morrison has declared war on the hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of Australians who want to see action on climate change. So far, Morrison’s Prime Ministership has been marked by a blunt refusal to meaningfully address carbon emissions, or to encourage clean energy. After avoiding the United Nations Climate Summit, Morrison made a speech at the United Nations Climate Summit touting his Government’s record on climate change. …

Robert Wright’s book, Why Buddhism Is True: The Science And Philosophy Of Meditation And Enlightenment (2017) is part of the ‘Secular Buddhist’ movement — a project which seeks to strip away the religion’s metaphysical and mystical content and ground it in a naturalistic or science-based interpretation. In this sense the…

The past decade has seen a wealth of neuroscientific research into the benefits of meditation, which goes far beyond mainstream conceptions of mindfulness. A few years ago, philosopher Owen Flanagan appeared on the Partially Examined Life podcast to discuss his 2011 book, The Bodhisattva’s Brain. …