Bright On Buddhism

Bright on Buddhism Episode 50 - What are the 4 Noble Truths? What is their role in the doctrine? How have understandings of the 4 noble truths changed over time?

Resources: Bhikkhu Bodhi (2000), The …

Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 4 - Gutei's One Finger

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…

Bright on Buddhism 2023 Preview Episode 

Join us in 2022 for some great content, including but not limited to:

2022 in review - new episodes and milestones!

• Guest appearances on our show
• Turner Ri…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 49 - What is the Tripitaka? What are its contents? What are the differences between the three baskets?

Resources: Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abhidharma Pitaka". Encyclo…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 48 - What are dharani? What is their doctrinal significance? What are some famous dharani and their usages?

Resources: Walshe, Maurice (1995). The Long Discourses of the Bu…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 47 - How does one actually maintain social relationships while also avoiding idle chatter? What actually is idle chatter? How does this apply to lay people and monks simila…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 46 - If there is no soul in Buddhism, how do we account for spirits and ghosts? Why is this important? How does this affect how Buddhism is practiced across East Asia?

Reso…

The Mahaparinibbana Sutta - Join us as we read and discuss the Mahaparinibbana Sutta

Resources: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html; https://suttacentral.net/dn16/?view=no…

Bright on Buddhism Research Series episode 2 - Philosophy and Ecology in "The World of Living Things" by Imanishi Kinji 今西錦司

Hello and welcome to a new type of episode of Bright on Buddhism. In this …

Bright on Buddhism Episode 45 - What is Buddha-nature? What are the doctrinal roots of this idea? How meanings of this word change over time?

Resources: Kevin Trainor: Buddhism: An Illustrated Guide;…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 44 - Who is Sariputra? What role does he play in the texts? How does this role change over time?

Resources: Kevin Trainor: Buddhism: An Illustrated Guide; Donald Lopez: Nor…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 43 - What were the 4 major persecutions of Buddhism in Chinese history? Why did they happen? What were their historical effects?

Resources: Spence, Jonathan D. 2013. The Se…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 42 - What are the 4 rupajhanas? What are the 4 arupajhanas? How do they function in the context of meditation?

Resources: Kevin Trainor: Buddhism: An Illustrated Guide; Don…

Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 3 - Huìnéng asked Hui Ming, "Without thinking of good or evil, show me your original face before your mother and father were born."

Hello and welcome to a new…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 41 - What is dependent origination? What are the doctrinal implications of it? How does understanding it lead to enlightenment?

Resources: Boisvert, Mathieu (1995), The Fiv…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 40 - What is Buddhist psychology? What are its doctrinal foundations? What is its influence in the West?

Resources: Caroline Brazier: A Buddhist Perspective On Mental Healt…

The Mahaparinibbana Sutta - Join us as we read and discuss the Mahaparinibbana Sutta

Resources: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html; https://suttacentral.net/dn16/?view=no…

Bright on Buddhism Episode 39 - What is upaya? What are the different meanings of this word? How do its meanings change over time? 

Resources: Federman, Asaf (2009), "Literal means and hidden meaning…

Bright On Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 8 - Hello and welcome to a different kind of episode of Bright on Buddhism called "Buddhish"! These episodes are unscripted, untimed, and unedited. Note that we'…