Bright On Buddhism

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 104 - What is the relationship between Buddhism and martial arts? What are some Buddhist influenced martial arts and their histories? How does the practice of martial arts reconcile with the moral precept of not harming sentient beings? Resources: Canzonieri, Salvatore. "The Emergence of the Chinese Martial arts". Han Wei Wushu (23).; Henning, Stanley (1999b). "Martial...

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 103 - What is a Dalai Lama? What is the meaning and significance of that position? Who is the Dalai Lama today? Resources: Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. Jr., eds. (2014). Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.; David-Neel, A. (1965). Magic & Mystery in Tibet. Corgi Books. London. ISBN 0-552-08745-...

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 102 - What is bodhicitta in Buddhism? Isnt it technically a desire? How does one arouse bodhicitta? Resources: Bodhisattvabhumi (The Bodhisattva Levels); Śāntideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life (c. 700 CE),; Atisha's Bodhipathapradipa; Thogme Zangpo's Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva[35] (12th century CE); Langri Tangpa's Eight Verses for Training t...

Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Daoism Part 2 Hello and welcome to the Asian religions series. In this series, we will be discussing religious traditions in Asia other than Buddhism. Buddhism never existed in a vacuum, and as it has spread all across East Asia, it has developed, localized, and syncretized with local traditions in fascinating and significant ways. As such, we cannot p...

Bright on Buddhism - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra - Chapter 2 Part 4 Join us as we read and discuss Chapter 2 of DT Suzuki's translation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra! Resources: Lindtner, Christian (1992). The Lankavatarasutra in Early Indian Madhyamaka Literature, Copenhagen. Asiatische Studien, XLV, 1, pp. 244–279.; Nanjio, Bunyiu. ed. (1923). The Laṅkāvatāra sūtra, Kyoto: Otani University Press, pp. VIII-IX (...

Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish - Episode 18 - 2024 Wrap Up Join us as we record together in person for the first time in the show's history to discuss 2024 and as we look ahead to 2025! Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by finding us on email or social media! https://linktr.ee/brightonbuddhism Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of He...

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 101 - What is the history of the swastika? What does it mean? Why and how was it taken up by hate groups? Resources: Adrian Snodgrass (1992). The Symbolism of the Stupa. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-81-208-0781-5.; Powers, John (2007). Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Shambhala Press. p. 509. ISBN 978-1-55939-835-0 – via Google Books.; Quinn, Malcolm (2005...

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 100 - Revisit - Who is the Buddha? Is the Buddha a god? Is there more than one Buddha? Resources: Kevin Trainor: Buddhism: An Illustrated Guide; Donald Lopez: Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism; Gethin: He who sees dhamma sees dhammas: dhamma in early buddhism (2004); Chan Master Sheng Yen: Orthodox Chinese Buddhism; Robert E Buswell: Encyclopedia of Buddhis...

Bright on Buddhism - Research Project Series - Noh Theater and Japanese Buddhism Join me as I discuss Noh Theater and Japanese Buddhism. Resources: Brandon, James R. (ed.) (1997). Nō and kyōgen in the contemporary world. (Foreword by Ricardo D. Trimillos) Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.; Brazell, Karen (1998). Traditional Japanese Theater: An Anthology of Plays. New York: Columbia Universit...

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-lin. 2007. Death and Social Order in Tokugawa Japan: Buddhism, Anti-Christianity, and the Danka System. 1st ed. Vol. 282. Harvard University Asia Center. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1tg5pht.; Ketelaar,...

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, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1987, pp 173–192.; Francis H. Cook, Three Texts on Consciousness Only, Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, Berkeley, 1999, pp 371–383 ("Thirty Ve...

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 better understand them. We hope you enjoy. Resources: Episode 10 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What-is-Zen-Buddhism-e1a2sm2 Episode 18 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What...

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 Lankavatarasutra in Early Indian Madhyamaka Literature, Copenhagen. Asiatische Studien, XLV, 1, pp. 244–279.; Nanjio, Bunyiu. ed. (1923). The Laṅkāvatāra sūtra, Kyoto: Otani University Press, pp. VIII-IX (...

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, and then finally, the a-sutra. Resources: Kalupahana, David J. (1986). Nāgārjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way. State University of New York Press.; Mendis, N.K.G. (tr., ed.) (1979). On the No-sel...

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, and Enlightenment. New York: Anchor Books. ISBN 978-0-385-26093-0.; McRae, John R. (2003). Seeing Through Zen: Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in Chinese Chan Buddhism. The University Press...

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 warning - This episode contains heavy and potentially graphic discussions of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or somebody you know has suicidal thoughts, ideation, or behaviors, you can cal...

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 Lankavatarasutra in Early Indian Madhyamaka Literature, Copenhagen. Asiatische Studien, XLV, 1, pp. 244–279.; Nanjio, Bunyiu. ed. (1923). The Laṅkāvatāra sūtra, Kyoto: Otani University Press, pp. VIII-...

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: dhamma in early buddhism (2004); Huineng, Platform Sūtra, Dahui Zonggao (1089-1163), Eihei Dōgen (1200-1253); Sponberg, Alan. “The Trisvabhāva Doctrine in India and China.” Ryukoku Daigaku Bukkyo; Bunk...

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 religious studies scholar specializing in Buddhism. Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright. On. Buddhism@...

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 Lankavatarasutra in Early Indian Madhyamaka Literature, Copenhagen. Asiatische Studien, XLV, 1, pp. 244–279.; Nanjio, Bunyiu. ed. (1923). The Laṅkāvatāra sūtra, Kyoto: Otani University Press, pp. VIII-...

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 a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright. On. Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our discord server, Hidden Sang...

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 After Zarathustra: The Problem of the Will in the Confrontation Between Nietzsche and Buddhism." Journal of Nietzsche Studies 28:89–138. p. 107.; Amaro, Ajahn (7 May 2015) [2008]. "A Dhamm...

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 doctrine changed over time? Resources: Lang, Karen C. (June 2015). Mittal, Sushil (ed.). "When the Vindhya Mountains Float in the Ocean: Some Remarks on the Lust and Gluttony of Ascetics and Buddhist Mo...

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 Lankavatarasutra in Early Indian Madhyamaka Literature, Copenhagen. Asiatische Studien, XLV, 1, pp. 244–279.; Nanjio, Bunyiu. ed. (1923). The Laṅkāvatāra sūtra, Kyoto: Otani University Press, pp. VIII-IX (Skt...

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. Buddhism never existed in a vacuum, and as it has spread all across East Asia, it has developed, localized, and syncretized with local traditions in fascinating and significant ways. As such, we cannot p...