Buddhism
Welcome to the Buddhism Page. The purpose of this page is to provide materials on Buddhism in general and Pure Land Buddhism in particular. This page contains links to articles written by Sangha-members and lecture-notes of the Introductory Courses on Buddhism and Buddhist Philosophy given at the White Lotus Center.
Overview of Buddhist Philosophy (11 lectures)
Prelude
Where can we situate Buddhist Philosophy? Some basic aspects of Eastern
and Western thought. The foundations of Buddhist Thought, 3
Characteristics and the view on Personality.
Causality
An introduction to the Buddhist view on Causality: Pratitya
Samutpada or Dependent Origination
Diversification
An overview of the diversification process within Buddhist philosophy:
diversifications according to addressee, abhidharma, Buddha and Dharma...
Nirvana
Notes on the central conception of Buddhist Nirvana
Hinayana/Mahayana
The relationship and differences between the Smaller and Larger
Vehicles of Buddhism. This lecture covers the concept of the
Bodhisattva-ideal of Mahayana
Madhyamika and Nagarjuna
Overview of Nagarjuna's Path of the Middle: thoughts on Emptiness, and
the twofold Truth
Yogacara and Vasubandhu
Asanga and Vasubandhu's theory on Consciousness, the Three
Buddha-bodies (trikaya) doctrine, and Vasubandhu's threefold conception of
Truth.
Avatamsaka - Hua-yen
Overview of Mahayana Buddhism venture into the metaphysical:
conceptions of Totality, Identity, Interpenetration.
Buddhist Logic
A small overview of Buddhist formal logic
Buddhism in China
Historical and doctrinal sketch of Buddhism in China
Sukhavati - Pure Land Buddhism
Historical and doctrinal introduction to the basic ideas of Pure Land
Buddhist Philosophy: Amida, Pure Land, 18th Vow, Naturalness (jinen-honi),
Introduction to Buddhism (6 lectures)
Introduction
The Buddha: Life and Legend
The Four Noble Truths: Suffering
The Four Noble Truths: The Cause of Suffering
The Four Noble Truths: The Cessation of Suffering
The Four Noble Truths: The Path that Leads to the Cessation of Suffering
Pure Land Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu
Jodo
Shinshu: A Short Presentation of Shin Buddhism
Tannisho: Introductory Essay
Shinran: a Brief Overview of his Life and Works
