Bright On Buddhism

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 99 - What is the history of anti-Buddhist thought in Japan? What is its social and political context? What is the state of Buddhism in Japan today?

Resources: Hur, Nam-l…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 98 - Who is Vasubandhu? What were some of his views? How did he affect Buddhism in East Asia?

Resources: David J. Kalupahana, The Principles of Buddhist Psychology, Sta…

Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 11 - Jōshū's "Wash Your Bowls"

Hello and welcome to a new episode of the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real Buddhist kōans to try and …

Bright on Buddhism - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra - Chapter 2 Part 3

Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 2 of DT Suzuki's translation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra!

Resources: Lindtner, Christian (1992). The Lank…

Bright on Buddhism - Join us as we read and discuss 3 Very Short Sutras: the Ñanamoli Thera translation of the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta, then the Thanissaro Bhikku translation of the Kaccānagotta Sutta,…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 97 - What is satori in Buddhism? What happens when one attains it? How does one attain it?

Resources: Kapleau, Philip (1989). The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 96 - How ought we understand suicide in Buddhism? When is it acceptable and unacceptable and why? How has this interacted with and been influenced by culture?

Content wa…

Bright on Buddhism - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra - Chapter 2 Part 2

Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 2 of DT Suzuki's translation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra!

Resources: Lindtner, Christian (1992). The Lank…

Bright on Buddhism - Research Project Series - The Icchantika Problem in Buddhism

Join me as I discuss the Icchantika problem in Buddhism.

Resources: Gethin, Rupert. He who sees dhamma sees dhammas:…

Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 17 - Questions/Assumptions I Get As a Buddhist Studies Scholar

Join me as I mention and dismantle many of the assumptions and questions I always get as a religio…

Bright on Buddhism - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra - Chapter 2 Part 1

Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 1 of DT Suzuki's translation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra!

Resources: Lindtner, Christian (1992). The Lank…

Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 16 - The Matrix as Buddhist

Join us as we analyze the famous 1999 sci-fi movie The Matrix as containing Buddhist elements, allegories, and motifs.

Do you have…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 95 - Do Buddhists reject the world? Do Buddhists believe that life is nothing but suffering? Are Buddhists fatalists or nihilists?

Resources: Davis, Bret W. 2004. "Zen Af…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 94 - How ought we understand sex in Buddhism? What is the meaning and significance of the doctrine prohibiting sexual indiscretion? How have understandings of this doctri…

Bright on Buddhism - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra - Chapter 1

Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 1 of DT Suzuki's translation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra!

Resources: Lindtner, Christian (1992). The Lankavata…

Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Daoism Part 1

Hello and welcome to the Asian religions series. In this series, we will be discussing religious traditions in Asia other than Buddhism. Bu…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 93 - What is Risshō Kōsei Kai? What are its doctrinal roots? What are its historical origins?

Resources: Anderson, Richard W. (1994). "Risshō Kōseikai and the Bodhisattv…

Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 10 - Hyakujō and The Fox

Hello and welcome to a new episode of the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real Buddhist kōans to try and bette…

Bright on Buddhism - Longer Pure Land Sutra - Part 1

Join us as we read and discuss Part 1 of the Hisao Inagaki translation of the Longer Pure Land Sutra!

Resources: Gomez, Luis, trans. (1996), The…

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 92 - What is suchness? How ought we understand it? How have understandings of it changed over time?

Resources: Buswell; Lopez (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhis…