Do We Need Pāli?

Pāli is the language of many of the oldest Buddhist discourses. Do we need to know Pāli to know about or practice early Buddhism? We’ll consider that question with reference to a new book out by eminent Pāli scholar Richard Gombrich, as well as a look at a couple of early texts from the Buddha…

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Was the Buddha Human or Divine?

We see aspects of both humanity and divinity in the Buddha of the early texts. I’ll discuss some of those aspects and propose some ways the historical development might have proceeded. Essays: https://sujato.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/on-the-32-marks/https://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/pdf/5-personen/analayo/genesis-bodhisattva.pdf Suttas: A Trainee: https://suttacentral.net/mn53/en/sujato A Delicate Lifestyle: https://suttacentral.net/an3.39/en/sujato Fear and Dread: https://suttacentral.net/mn4/en/sujato Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving: https://suttacentral.net/mn38/en/bodhi At Cātumā:…

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Early Buddhism on the Internet

It can be difficult to find reliable information about early or secular Buddhism on the Internet. I’ll discuss some places we can look, and find both good translations of early texts and reasoned articles or discussions relating to them. Sites mentioned (besides this one): https://accesstoinsight.org http://suttacentral.net http://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbuddhist/ https://integrateddharmainstitute.org https://tricycle.org http://lionsroar.com/ https://www.bodhipaksa.com/ http://www.leighb.com/ https://bodhimonastery.org/a-systematic-study-of-the-majjhima-nikaya.html https://www.baus.org/en/teaching/dharma-stream/a-course-in-the-majjhima-nikaya-with-ven-bhikkhu/ There…

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Buddhist & Stoic Wisdom for a Skeptical Age

Today we will look at Antonia Macaro’s great new book “More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Sceptical Age”. We’ll consider what it says about the projects early Buddhism and Stoicism have in common, as well as mention some interesting questions she raises. Check out my Patreon page!

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First Year Anniversary!

Wow, it’s hard to believe a year has already passed since publishing my first video on YouTube! In the interim we’ve had a busy time going through some of the dharma of early Buddhism, with a focus on contemporary practice and experience. Here’s a look back with some thoughts on the channel going forward. Links…

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Was the Buddha Bald?

We usually think of the Buddha as having a full head of hair, but it may not always have been so. Today we’ll look at some of the history of Buddhist iconography, and take some lessons about how viewpoints can change over time. Some suttas mentioned in this video: The Marks of a Great Man…

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Good Books on Early Buddhism

Here are the books mentioned in the video: Bhikkhu Bodhi: In the Buddha’s Words Rupert Gethin: The Foundations of Buddhism Williams, Tribe, Wynne: Buddhist Thought Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught Richard Gombrich: What the Buddha Thought Richard Gombrich: Theravāda Buddhism, 2nd Ed. Johannes Bronkhorst: Buddhist Teaching in India Anālayo: Satipaṭṭhāna, the Direct Path to…

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