Buddhist Books Podcast

To be in the Form but not of the Form; to be in the Emptiness but not of the Emptiness.

In which it's only legal if you're actually crazy.

In which we meet Shakyadevi the Nepalese, and finish the first of the two volumes of "The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava."

In which the emperor’s new debate-bro gish-galloping sophistry is… very nice?

It's the one about the robe. Part one of several.

In which a seven-year-old monk attains enlightenment.

In which we finish reading Cullavagga III.

A ritual from back in the old days, when there were only five chakras...

In which The Pali Text Society should be given Manatta (discipline) three dots.

In Soviet Russia, Dharma Wheel turns you!

In which it's better to commit multiple crimes than just one

In which we meet Kālasiddhi, of the town where wool is steeped.

In which it all starts making sense

In which Zen Master Eihei Dōgen blows our minds (again).

well, at least the section on "intentional emission" had a happy ending

I which the venerable Udayin does what the venerable Udayin does.

A fence to keep... Ganesh... out?

Just wrapping up Cullavagga II real quick.

In which it turns out the bad monks can still massage each other, so... at least there's that.

It turns out The Kingdom of Heaven and The Western Pure Land may have a few things in common...

In which we finish reading Cullavagga I (in a state of confusion).

In which no one is allowed to massage Homer

In which Dogen disses the guy in that Allen Ginsberg poem.

In which the protocols for banishment are codified

Perhaps they once used these same Dharma-protecting spikes in India.

In which we reconnect with some old friends.

In which we begin reading Cullavagga, The Lesser Division.

The thieves, the gates, and the different kinds of dust.

In which Edward finishes reading Mahavagga, The Great Division.

In which a princess in ancient Bihar, India, weeps for her father, the king.

With apologies to The Venerable Kaccāna The Great for the oversight

How to hear the Sutras in the sounds of a passing river.

In which Lord Buddha shares an inspiring story that doesn't help.

In which you might be schismatic (and not know it)

How to use Vajra spikes to establish the boundaries of your Dojo (optional)

In which they do it right! (Floundering Pascal Frang-doodle Abraham Lincoln Ladder)

The cycle should be worked out.

This is part 13 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is Part 190 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IX," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 20 of my recital of the "The Life & Liberation of Padmasambhava," a translation of "Padma Thang-yig," by Yeshe Tsogyal. In this episode, we'll read Cantos 40 & 41.

This is Part 189 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IX," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is part 12 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” the chapter entitled “Raihai-Tokuzui” meaning "Prostrating to Attainment of the Marrow" which he wrote in early April of 1240 C.E.

This is Part 188 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll begin reading "Mahāvagga IX," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 187 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll finish reading "Mahāvagga VIII," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 8 of my recital of the "The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism" by Adrian Snodgrass. Shingon Buddhism is, put simply, the Japanese version of Vajrayana Buddhism. Kobo Daishi traveled to China and received the teachings and scriptures of Vajrayana Buddhism, then returned to Japan and founded the Shingon school at the top of Mount Koyasan in 815 CE, where it still flourishes today.

This is Part 186 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VIII," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 185 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VIII," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is part 11 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is Part 184 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VIII," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 19 of my recital of the "The Life & Liberation of Padmasambhava," a translation of "Padma Thang-yig," by Yeshe Tsogyal. In this episode, we'll read Cantos 35 & 36.