In today’s podcast we discuss the concept of interdependence. Beginning with the Sanskrit term pratityasamutpada, or Dependent Coarising, interdependence has played a fairly central role in Buddhist thought, over the centuries influencing Hua Yan philosophy and Buddhist relationships to nature.

And because there’s an extra Friday this month (and because we sure can talk a lot!), be sure to tune in for a bonus podcast on May 30th.

In part two of our episode on American Buddhism, our conversation meanders from such topics as: How does one become a Buddhist? What is the relationship between becoming a Buddhist and intellectual study? How import is taking the three refuges? How important is community? We also discuss the important role that Buddhist art and images can play in introducing people to Buddhism, and our ambivalent feeling about “tourist Buddhism” and Buddhist commercialism.

In a separate post, we’ll be adding links to some of the resources discussed in the podcast.Thanks for listening!

Here are some links and other resources to books and websites referenced in our podcast on American Buddhism.

Lodi Kung Fu!

Scott’s list of Buddhist books

Thomas Tweed’s musings on “night stand Buddhists” or “Buddhist sympathizers” can be found in American Buddhism, edited by Williams and Queen. A very expensive copy is on Amazon, but you may find a better deal at your local used book store.

The Preliminary Practices of Tibetan Buddhism, by Geshe Rabten, translated by Gonsar Tulku, compiled by Georges Driessens, published by Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, 1974. Second Revised Edition, 1994.

Parinirvana Sutra

Kenji Babasaki:
On the web
On The Buddhist Channel

BBoston Museum of Fine Art - Japanese collection

San Francisco Asian Art Museum

First and foremost, we wanted to thank all those who have listened to the first three episodes of the DharmaRealm, given us good and helpful feedback, and all the support we’ve encountered. Gassho.

Now that we’ve figured out what we’re doing, more or less, Rev. Harry and I have set up a schedule for future releases of the podcast. From here on out, we’ll be releasing new episodes every first and third Friday of the month. Mark your calendars!

The next episode, part two of our discussion on American Buddhism, will be released on May 2nd.

Again, thanks for listening!
Scott and Harry

In our conversation today, we discuss the difficulty of talking about the large, diverse set of practice traditions collectively known as “American Buddhism.” How can you talk meaningfully about such a wide array of Buddhist communities, beliefs, and practices? And how do we engage non-Buddhists and those new on the path who may have their own ideas about Buddhism, correct or a little off the path, in a deep and compassionate way?

Part two of this conversation will be posted shortly, so please check back soon.

Thanks for listening!

Hello all,

Just wanted to let everyone know that we’ve created a “Facebook page” for the DharmaRealm podcast. You can find the page by following this link:
The DharmaRealm on Facebook

It’s publicly viewable, and if you happen to have a Facebook account, feel free to “become a fan” or post your comments.

Also, if all goes well, Rev. Harry and I will be recording and posting the next episode within the next twenty-four hours.

In Gassho,
Scott

In part two of our inaugural, two-part podcast, we finish our discussion of mindfulness practice not only in Buddhism more generally but how it relates to the nembutsu; nembutsu practice is mindfulness practice in that it “brings to mind” Amida Buddha.

Thanks for listening!

In part one of our inaugural, two-part podcast, we discuss mindfulness as a Buddhist practice. What is mindfulness? What are we being mindful of? And what are the implications of this practice?

Be sure to download part two as well!

Thanks for listening!

If all goes according to plan, the first episode of the DharmaRealm podcast will be released sometime in the next few days. We are hard at work creating something we hope will be both interesting and insightful, topical and unconventional.

The subject of this podcast will be, of course, all things Buddhist with a special Jodo Shinshu twist to it all. We’ll do our best to bring the full breadth of our knowledge to this thing, all our professional, academic, personal, and spiritual experiences with the Shin path and Buddhism in this little corner of the world.

Stay tuned for more updates and details. We hope to post with some regularity, so a schedule may be in order. And in the mean time, check out the links of interest, or learn more about us on our about page.