Bright On Buddhism

Bright on Buddhism - Research Project Series - Chōgen’s Tōdaiji Campaign: Reconstruction and Reimagination Hello and welcome to a new type of episode of Bright on Buddhism. In this series, I will be presenting and discussing some of my own original research, which covers a broad range of topics in Japanese Buddhism, and discussing it in the context of East Asian Buddhism and other disciplines broa...

Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle One - 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 82 - What are the paramitas in Buddhism? How ought one cultivate them? How do understandings of them change over time? Resources: Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1978). The All-Embracing Net of Views. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.; Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (1978, 2005). Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (1988). The Heart Sutra Explained: Indian and Tibetan Commentaries. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-887...

Buddhish Episode 14 - Vairocana and Cosmic-ness Join us for a lively discussion about Vairocana, samsara, and the nature of Cosmic-ness in Esoteric Buddhism. This episode features discussion about Vajrasekhara Sutra Fascicle One Part One and Part Two. Part Two will come after this episode. Give it a listen to find out why. Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Le...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 81 - What is "the great doubt" in Buddhism? How does one cultivate it? Why ought one cultivate it? Resources: Berzin, Alexander (2006), Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors; Guenther, Herbert V. & Leslie S. Kawamura (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding" Dharma Publ...

Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Shintō 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...

Chapters 15-16 of the Lotus Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss Chapters 15-16 of the Burton Watson translation of the Lotus Sutra! Resources: Hurvitz, Leon. 1976. Scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma. New York:  Columbia University Press.; Kato, Bunno. 1971. The Threefold Lotus Sutra: Innumerable Meanings, The Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, and Meditation on the Bodhisattva Un...

Bright on Buddhism - Vajrasekhara Sutra - Fascicle One - 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 Episode 80 - What is the story of Buddhism's arrival into Japan? How did this relate with traditions of kami worship? How did this affect Japanese Buddhism going forward? Resources: Buswell, Robert; Lopez, Donald S. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.; Deal, William E.; Ruppert, Brian (2015). A Cultural History of...

2023 Wrap-Up and 2024 Preview Thank you to all our listeners for a wonderful 2023, and we hope to see you again in 2024. Happy Holidays, and thank you so much for listening and learning with us. 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, H...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 79 - How ought we evaluate the agenda of secular Buddhism and other sources in English about Buddhism? Could one not argue that upon encountering a more secularly inclined audience, it would make sense for Buddhism to be syncretized to a more secular slant? How did/do people in Asia feel about secular Buddhism? Resources: Batchelor, Stephen (1998), Buddhism without Belie...

Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 13 - Israel-Palestine and Us Join us for a sad and frustrating episode of Buddhish, where we discuss the recently escalated Israel-Palestine conflict and our approach to discussions of current events going forward. 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....

Bright on Buddhism Episode 78 - What is the story of Buddhism's arrival into Korea? How did this affect Korean Shamanism? How did this influence Korean Buddhism going forward? Resources: Baker, Don (2001). "Looking for God in the Streets of Seoul: The Resurgence of Religion in 20th-Century Korea". Harvard Asia Quarterly 5 (4) 34–39.; Hong-bae Yi; Taehan Pulgyo Chogyejong (1996). Kore...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 77 - What is secular Buddhism? What are its origins and principles? What are some of its strengths and weaknesses? Resources: Batchelor, Stephen (1998), Buddhism without Beliefs, Riverhead Books, ISBN 1-57322-656-4; Batchelor, Stephen (2015), After Buddhism: Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age, Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0300205183; Harris, Sam (2014), Waking Up...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 76 - What is the story of Buddhism's arrival into China? How did this affect Confucianism and Daoism? How does this influence Chinese Buddhism going forward? Resources: Broughton, Jeffrey L. (1999), The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, ISBN 978-0-520-21972-4; Chen, Kenneth Kuan Sheng. Buddhism in China:...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 75 - Does Buddhism regard human nature as inherently good or bad? Do other religions adjacent to Buddhism regard human nature as inherently good or bad? What does this mean in practice? Resources: Alarid, Leanne Fiftal; Wang, Hsiao-Ming (2001), "Mercy and Punishment: Buddhism and the Death Penalty", Social Justice, 28 (1 (83)): 231–47, JSTOR 29768067; Benn, Jam...

Metta Sutta - Discourse on Loving-Kindness - Join us as we read and discuss the Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation of the Metta Sutta in its entirety. Resources: Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2005a). In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-491-1. Bodhi, Bhikkhu (April 9, 2005b). "Sn 1.8 Mettā Sutta — Loving-kindness [part 1]&q...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 74 - Who is Ananda? 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: Japanese Buddhist Nuns and the Anan kōshiki", Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 43 (1): 207–50, doi:10.18874/jjrs.43.1.2016.207-250; Buswell, Robert E. Jr.; Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (2013), Princeton D...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 73 - What is possession in Buddhism? What are the doctrinal origins and applications of possession in Buddhism? How ought we interpret and understand possession in Buddhism? Resources: Samuel, Geoffrey (1995). Civilized Shamans: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies. Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 725. ISBN 1-56098-620-4.; Beyer, Stephan (1978). The cult of Tārā: Magic and ri...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 72 - What is samadhi in Buddhism? How does one attain samadhi in Buddhism? What happens when a person attains samadhi? Resources: Nagarjuna (2001). "Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas". Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra. Translated by Migme, Ani.; Arbel, Keren (2017), Early Buddhist Meditation: The Four Jhanas as the Actualization of Insight, Taylor and Franc...

Bright on Buddhism - Guest Appearance - Ambrose Darling This week, Bright on Buddhism welcomes our 4th special guest, Ambrose Darling! Ambrose is a reconnecting AfroIndigenous, AuDHD, trans, queer, disabled, thirty-something year old Californian. He has two cats and two snakes. He runs an online tarot reading, spiritual counseling, and art business called Sweet Teeth Bite Harder. In today's episod...

Sāmaññaphala Sutta - The Fruits of the Contemplative Life - Join us as we read and discuss the Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation of the Sāmaññaphala Sutta in its entirety. Resources: Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) and Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (2001). The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-072-X.; Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.)...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 71 - What are hell-dwellers in Buddhism? What is their status in the canon? How ought we understand them? Resources: Matsunaga, Alicia; Matsunaga, Daigan (1971). The Buddhist concept of hell. New York: Philosophical Library.; Teiser, Stephen F. (1988). "Having Once Died and Returned to Life": Representations of Hell in Medieval China". Harvard Journal of A...

Bright on Buddhism Episode 70 - What are pretas in Buddhism? What is their status in the canon? How ought we understand them? Resources: Firth, Shirley. End of Life: A Hindu View. The Lancet 2005, 366:682-86; Sharma, H.R. Funeral Pyres Report. Benares Hindu University 2009.; Garuda Purana. J.L. Shastri/A board of scholars. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi 1982.; Garuda Purana. Ernest Wood, S.V. Subrahma...

Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 8 - A Woman Comes Out of Samadhi 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 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://anc...