Bright On Buddhism

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 Bodhisattva way: Religious ideals, conflict, gender, and status". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 21 (2–3): 312–337. doi:10.18874/jjrs.21.2-3.1994.311-337.; Gerlitz, Peter, "Die Rissho Kosei...

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 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-is-th...

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 Land of Bliss: The Paradise of the Buddha of Measureless Light: Sanskrit and Chinese Versions of the Sukhavativyuha Sutras, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press; Inagaki, Hisao, trans. (2003), The Three...

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 Buddhism; Robinson, Richard H. (1957). "Some Logical Aspects of Nagarjuna's System". Philosophy East & West. 6 (4): 306. doi:10.2307/1397476. JSTOR 1397476.; Endō, Asai (2014). "The Lotu...

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). Tales of a Summer Henro. Tokyo: Yohan Publications. ISBN 4-89684-257-X.; Okamoto, Ryosuke (2019). Pilgrimages in the Secular Age: From El Camino to Anime. Tokyo: Japan Publishing Industry Foundation f...

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. 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 - 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 (2005). Text as Father: Paternal Seductions in Early Mahayana Buddhist Literature, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 236–325. (See chapter 6 for an in-depth account of the narrative in the Vima...

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; Rahula, Walpola; Asanga (2001). Abhidharma Samuccaya: The Compendium of Higher Teaching. Jain Publishing Company. pp. 199–200. ISBN 978-0895819413.; Salomon, Richard G.; Glass, Andrew (2000). A Gāndhār...

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: Davidson, Ronald M. (2002). Indian Esoteric Buddhism: A Social History of the Tantric Movement. Columbia University Press; Duckworth, Douglas (2015). "Tibetan Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna". In Emman...

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 esoteric Buddhism. Leiden ; Brill, 2017.; Orzech, Charles D., Henrik Hjort. Sorensen, and Richard Karl. Payne. Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia. Leiden ; Brill, 2011.; Goble, Geoffrey C. Chinese...

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 Anālayo (2018). Rebirth in early Buddhism & current research: With forewords by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Bhante Gunaratna. Somerville, MA, USA: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429446-7.; And...

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 listener John for sending us these questions! Resources: Baker, Don (2001). "Looking for God in the Streets of Seoul: The Resurgence of Religion in 20th-Century Korea". Harvard Asia Quarterly...

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 esoteric Buddhism. Leiden ; Brill, 2017.; Orzech, Charles D., Henrik Hjort. Sorensen, and Richard Karl. Payne. Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia. Leiden ; Brill, 2011.; Goble, Geoffrey C. Chinese...

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 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...

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 Buddhism. Leiden ; Brill, 2017.; Orzech, Charles D., Henrik Hjort. Sorensen, and Richard Karl. Payne. Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia. Leiden ; Brill, 2011.; Goble, Geoffrey C. Chinese E...

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 Christianity? What are the differences? Resources: https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/the-three-pure-land-sutras/ Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tw...

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 Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, ISBN 9780691157863; Conze, Edward (2013), Buddhist Thought in India: Three Phases of Buddhist Philosophy, Routledge, ISBN 978-1-134...

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 to Bright on Buddhism. For now, there is no Youtube exclusive content. Additionally, the Patreon is just a tip-jar: not required, but very much appreciated. We will not be paywalling any content behind...

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 the Common Religion of Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 46. ISBN 0824820908.; General Stone Tiger (2010-06-15). "Using the Omamori Gohonzon" (PDF). Soka Gakkai International...

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). Universal Enlightenment, An introduction to the teachings and practices of Huayen Buddhism. Kongting Publishing Company Ltd. Taiwan.; Beer, Robert (2003), The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols, Serin...

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, and together, they will discuss Buddhism, mental health, and passions. We hope you enjoy! Resources:  https://www.vijnapti.org/ Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss...

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 Illustrated Guide; Donald Lopez: Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism' Chan Master Sheng Yen: Orthodox Chinese Buddhism; Nagarjuna: Verses of The Middle Way (The Madhyamakarika); Conze, Edward, tran...

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 Buddhism. Leiden ; Brill, 2017.; Orzech, Charles D., Henrik Hjort. Sorensen, and Richard Karl. Payne. Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia. Leiden ; Brill, 2011.; Goble, Geoffrey C. Chinese E...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 84 - Who is Akshobhya? What are some stories about him? How is he depicted in iconography? Resources: Nattier, Jan (2000). "The Realm of Aksobhya: A Missing Piece in the History of Pure Land Buddhism". Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 23 (1), 71–102.; Sato, Naomi (2004). Some Aspects of the Cult of Aksobhya in Mahayana, Journal of Indian and B...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 83 - What is non-attachment in Buddhism? What texts discuss it and how? How does the definition of the term change over time? Resources: Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (1978, 2005). A Treatise on the Paramis: From the Commentary to the Cariyapitaka by Acariya Dhammapala (The Wheel, No. 409/411).; Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 30 Jun 2007 from "Access to Insig...