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
Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra - Chapters 8-9
Chapters 8 and 9 of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss the Burton Watson translation of Chapters 8 and 9 of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra
Resources: Cole, Alan (2005). Te…
Kōan Series - No Mind, No Buddha
Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 6 - No Mind, No Buddha
Hello and welcome to a new type of episode of Bright on Buddhism, called the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real…
Who is Nichiren?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 61 - Who was Nichiren? What were some of his views, works, and accomplishments? What is his significance to East Asian Buddhism?
Resources: Christensen, J. A. (2000). Nichi…
Who is Rahula?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 60 - Who is Rahula? What role does he play in the texts? How does this role change over time?
Resources: Crosby, Kate (2013), "The Inheritance of Rāhula: Abandoned Child, …
What is the relationship between Buddhism and social revolution?
Bright on Buddhism - Social Revolution - What is the relationship between Buddhism and social revolution? How has that relationship played out in history? How has it played out in the modern era? Re…
What is the 3 bodies (trikaya) doctrine in Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 59 - What is the 3 bodies doctrine in Buddhism? What role does it play in ritual and doctrine? How have understandings of it changed over time?
Resources: Radich, Michael (…
What is violence in Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism - Violence - What constitutes violence in Buddhism? How does the conception of violence change over time? According to the Buddhist scriptures, what ought to be done about violence…
Who is Subhuti?
Bright on Buddhism 58 - Who is Subhuti? What role does he play in the texts? What is his role in Mahayana Buddhism?
Resources: Adamek, Wendi Leigh (2007), The Mystique of Transmission: On an Early Ch…
Buddhish Episode 10 - The Dalai Lama Names a Successor
Buddhish Episode 10 - The Dalai Lama Names a Successor
News Resources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/dalai-lama-reincarnation-succession-china-8525467/
https://stratnewsglobal.com/gene…
Why do some say that Buddhism is not a religion?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 57 - Why do some say that Buddhism is not a religion? What evidence have they for that claim? What are the historical roots of this debate?
Resources: The Making of Buddhi…
Lotus Sutra Chapter 5 - Medicinal Herbs
Chapter 5 of The Lotus Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 5 of the Burton Watson translation of The Lotus Sutra
Resources: Hurvitz, Leon. 1976. Scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine …
What is evil in Buddhism?
Bright on Buddhism - Evil - What is evil in Buddhism? How does the conception of evil change over time? According to the Buddhist scriptures, what ought to be done about evil?
Content warning - This …
Kōan Series - Mind is Buddha
Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 5 - Mind is Buddha
Hello and welcome to a new type of episode of Bright on Buddhism, called the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real Bud…
What is the Buddhist perspective of the family?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 56 - What is the Buddhist perspective of the family? How ought laypeople have and maintain a family? How ought monks and nuns have and maintain a family?
Resources: Wilson,…
Who is Mahakasyapa?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 55 - Who is Mahakasyapa? What role does he play in the texts? How does this role change over time?
Resources: Ambros, Barbara R (27 June 2016), "A Rite of Their Own: Japane…
What is the Eightfold Path?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 54 - What is the Eightfold Path? What role does it play in Buddhist practice? How have understandings of it changed over time?
Resources: Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1999). The Noble E…
Who is Maudgalyayana?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 53 - Who is Maudgalyayana? What role does he play in the texts? What are some stories about him?
Resources: Berezkin, Rostislav (21 February 2015), "Pictorial Versions of t…
What are the tantras?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 52 - What are the tantras? What do they contain? How do they relate to other Asian religious traditions?
Resources: http://www.dsbcproject.org/; Wallis, Christopher; THE TA…
How does Buddhist doctrine view food?
Bright on Buddhism Episode 51 - How does Buddhist doctrine view food? Is veganism or vegetarianism required? What is the typical Buddhist diet?
Resources: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/vegi.htm…
Tathagatagarbha Sutra
Tathagatagarbha Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss the Tathagatagarbha Sutra!
Resources: Grosnick, William H. (1995), The Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra (PDF), Princeton: In: Lopez, Donald S. Jr.; ed. Bu…