Bright On Buddhism
Welcome to Bright on Buddhism, a podcast where we discuss and explain topics of Buddhism in a casual, conversational, question and answer setting. My name is Nick Bright, scholar of East Asian Buddhism. I am currently studying for my Master’s degree in Religion at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where I am specializing in pre-modern Japanese Buddhist architecture history. I have researched topics such as Japanese Buddhist responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, Buddhist Haiku poetry, and the Japanese history of science and religion. I will be joined by my friend Proven Paradox.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 221
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
What is Buddhist pilgrimage?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 91 - What is Buddhist pilgrimage? What is the purpose of Buddhist pilgrimage? What are characteristics of Buddhist pilgrimage stories?
Resources: McLachlan, Craig (1997)…
Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 2
Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 2
Hello and welcome to the Asian religions series. In this series, we will be discussing religious traditions in Asia other than Buddhism. Bu…
Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra - Chapter 7
Bright on Buddhism - Chapter 7 of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss the Burton Watson translation of Chapter 7 of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra
Resources: Cole, Alan (20…
Rhinoceros Sutra
Bright on Buddhism - Rhinoceros Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss the Khaggavisana Sutta, also known as the Rhinoceros Sutra.
Resources: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/StNp/StNp1_3.html…
What is the difference between exoteric and esoteric Buddhist teachings?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 90 - What is the difference between exoteric and esoteric teachings? Where does this classification come from and why? How ought we understand this division?
Resources: D…
Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Three Part Two
Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Three - Part Two
Resources: https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/two-esoteric-sutras/; Bentor, Yael, and Meir Shahar, eds. Chinese and Tibetan esoteri…
How does rebirth really work in Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 89 - How does rebirth really work in Buddhism? What actually undergoes rebirth? Shoutout to our listener and patron Tanner for asking this question!
Resources: Bhikkhu…
What is Korean Seon Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 88 - What is Korean Zen or Seon Buddhism? How does it syncretize with indigenous Korean religion? How is it different from Chinese Chan or Japanese Zen?
Shoutout to our l…
Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Three Part One
Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Three - Part One
Resources: https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/two-esoteric-sutras/; Bentor, Yael, and Meir Shahar, eds. Chinese and Tibetan esoteri…
Kōan Series - What is the Buddha? Three Pounds of Flax
Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 9 - What is the Buddha? Three Pounds of Flax
Hello and welcome to a new episode of the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real Buddhist kō…
Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Two Part Two
Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Two - Part Two
Resources: https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/two-esoteric-sutras/; Bentor, Yael, and Meir Shahar, eds. Chinese and Tibetan esoteric …
Why does Pure Land seem so similar to Christianity?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 87 - It's hard not to notice that Pure Land Buddhism has some similarities to Christianity. Why is that? What are the doctrinal similarities between pure land and Christi…
What is "un-knowing" in Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 86 -What is "un-knowing" in Buddhism? Is it the same as Agnosticism? What is its relationship to faith?
Resources: Robert Buswell; Donald Lopez (2013), Princeton Dictiona…
Youtube and Patreon Announcement!
Bright on Buddhism - Youtube and Patreon Announcement
Hey everybody, we have just created a Youtube channel and a Patreon page. The Youtube channel will be just another platform where you can listen…
What are omamori?
Bright on Buddhism - Episode 85 - What are omamori? What is their history? What is their significance?
Resources: Reader, Ian; Tanabe, George J. (1998). Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and t…
Avatamsaka Sutra Book 30 - The Incalculable
Bright on Buddhism - Avatamsaka Sutra - Book 30 - The Incalculable
Join us as we read and discuss Book 30 of Thomas Cleary's translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra!
Resources: Prince, Tony (2014). Unive…
Guest Appearance - Cristian Castellanos
Bright on Buddhism - Guest Appearance - Cristian Castellanos
This week, Bright on Buddhism welcomes our 5th special guest, Cristian Castellanos! He is a former graduate school colleague of Nick's, a…
What is self-immolation?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 27 - What is self-immolation? Why do people do it? What are some examples of self immolation in the Buddhist scriptural texts?
Resources: Kevin Trainor: Buddhism: An Illust…
Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Two Part One
Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle Two - Part One
Resources: https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/two-esoteric-sutras/; Bentor, Yael, and Meir Shahar, eds. Chinese and Tibetan esoteric …