Highlights from the 2009 IBS Winter Symposium The Great Sound of Enlightenment: Shin Buddhist Music Throughout the Ages held at the BCA National Council Meeting, February 26, 2009 In part three of this four-part series, Rev. Harry Bridge of the Buddhist Church of Oakland discusses non-representational Buddhist music.
Highlights from the 2009 IBS Winter Symposium The Great Sound of Enlightenment: Shin Buddhist Music Throughout the Ages held at the BCA National Council Meeting, February 26, 2009 In part two of this four-part series, Dr. Scott A. Mitchell of the Institute of Buddhist Studies reflects on the historical development of Shin Buddhist gathas in the United States.
Highlights from the 2009 IBS Winter Symposium The Great Sound of Enlightenment: Shin Buddhist Music Throughout the Ages held at the BCA National Council Meeting, February 26, 2009 In part one of this four-part series, Rev. Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Temple gives a presentation of the long history of Buddhist music and important place within the Shin tradition.
In celebration of the recent publication of As Long As Space Endures: Essays on the Kalacakra Tantra in Honor of H.H. the Dalai Lama, David Gray of Santa Clara University delivered a lecture on this important work and the Kalacakra Tranta. The Kalacakra Tantra—Kalacakra means “wheel of time”—is a tradition of Buddhist theory and practice whose root text treats a fantastic expanse of knowledge ranging from observations of the cosmos to investigations of meditative states and vital bodily ener...
In the summer of 2008, the Institute of Buddhist Studies, in conjunction with the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple, hosted a conference on Women in American Buddhism: Blending Tradition, Community, and Family. Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown of Naropa University delivered the keynote address. In her Keynote Address, Dr. Simmer-Brown discusses the obstacles and opportunities women have as women in the Dharma. For more information on this confernece, see the full Denver video page here Originally recorded...
Lecture by Prof. Carl Bielefeld Zen is famous for its celebration of nature, but there are few premodern texts that explicitly address the Zen view of the natural world. This talk will look at one such text, by the famed thirteenth-century Zen master Dogen, and explore the several ways in which nature and culture are woven together in the Buddhist landscape. Originally recorded March 11, 2008 © 2008, Carl Bielfeld
In the final presentation from our 2008 IBS Winter Symposium, Dr. David Matsumoto analyzes the thinking of philosopher Jacques Derrida through Shinshu philosophy — and Shin philosophy through Derrida! Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 David Matsumoto
Next in our continuing series of presentation from the 2008 IBS Winter Symposium, Rev. Mark Blum gives a spirited paper on the “problem of evil” from a Buddhist/Western philosophical perspective. His argument is based in part on an interpretation of akunin shoki, or “evil persons” in Shinshu thought. Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 Mark Blum
Next in our continuing series of presentation from the 2008 IBS Winter Symposium, Rev. Gregory Gibbs of the Oregon Buddhist Temple in Portland discusses the important Buddhist doctrine of anantman as “no soul” as very different from “no self.” His discussion is rooted within the Shinshu tradition. Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 Gregory Gibbs
Next in our continuing series of presentation from the 2008 IBS Winter Symposium, the former president of the Buddhist Churches of America, Dr. Gordon Bermant, gives an inspirational talk on understanding the self in the context of both Buddhist and Western philosophy. Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 Gordon Bermant
Our second release from the 2008 IBS Winter Symposium was Dr. Steven Shankman of the University of Oregon, Eugene, who presented an illuminating talk on the French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas and Shin Buddhism as related to Shakespeare’s King Lear. Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 Steven Shankman
The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to host an annual Winter Symposium during the BCA National Council Meeting. The theme of the 2008 Winter Symposium was the intersection of Shin Buddhist and Western philosophy. Our first speaker was Dr. Mark Unno who delivered a moving discussion of embodied Shin Buddhist philosophy. Originally recorded February 28, 2008 © 2008 Mark Unno
Lecture by Takanori Sugioka Professor Takanori Sugioka discusses Shinran’s use of various metaphors by Shinran Shonin in his expression of Shin Buddhist faith. Originally recorded June 7, 2007 © 2007 Takanori Sugioka
Lecture by Taigen Daniel Leighton Audio Version Taigen Leighton of the Institute of Buddhist studies and the Ancient Dragon Zen Gate meditation group in Chicago, IL, discusses the ways in which Dogen referenced the Lotus Sutra. Originally recorded May 19, 2007 © 2007, Taigen Daniel Leighton
Lecture by David Gardiner Dr. Gardiner, of Colorado College, discusses Kukai’s Shingon philosophy. Originally recorded May 8, 2007 © 2007, David Gardiner
Lecture by Leslie Kawamura Video Version Dr. Kawamura begins his lecture by reiterating the usual understanding of anatman (no-self) — that a “self” does not exist. But if a self does not exist, then there would be little or no need to be concerned or involved in the Buddha-Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). What does it mean to say “no-self” in Buddhism? In his lecture Dr. Kawamura will approach this issue from a purely Mahayana perspective and discuss both Madhyamaka and Yogacara systems. Ori...
Lecture by Leslie Kawamura Audio Version Dr. Kawamura begins his lecture by reiterating the usual understanding of anatman (no-self) — that a “self” does not exist. But if a self does not exist, then there would be little or no need to be concerned or involved in the Buddha-Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). What does it mean to say “no-self” in Buddhism? In his lecture Dr. Kawamura will approach this issue from a purely Mahayana perspective and discuss both Madhyamaka and Yogacara systems. Ori...
Lecture by Taigen Daniel Leighton Video Version Taigen Leighton of the Institute of Buddhist studies and the Ancient Dragon Zen Gate meditation group in Chicago, IL, discusses the ways in which Dogen referenced the Lotus Sutra. Originally recorded May 19, 2007 © 2007, Taigen Daniel Leighton
Presentation by Dr. Kenneth Tanaka Visiting from Tokyo, the former Dean of the Institute shares his thoughts on the meaning of Amida Buddha in Shin Buddhism. Originally recorded 14 February 2007 © 2007, Kenneth Tanaka
Lecture by Charles D. Orzech In this talk Prof. Orzech examines three important developments of Song Esoteric Buddhism. First he examines the renewed translation efforts by the first two Northern Song Emperors and their establishment of the Institute for the Translation of Scriptures (Yijing yuan). Second, he explores evidence for the circulation and use of Esoteric scriptures and rituals recorded in the journal of the Japanese pilgrim Jojin on his visit to Wutaishan. Finally he looks at the int...
