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1) Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know: East Asian Buddhism
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 12
Language
English
Description
Conclude your journey through the Asian traditions with a study of Zen and Pure Land Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism gave rise to the "laughing Buddha," which affirms the joys of the world. Japanese Zen, with its emphasis on "just sitting" and its famous koans, has drawn practitioners from other traditions and given rise to Zen-Christians.
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 13
Language
English
Description
Professor Berkson notes that the Buddhist tradition was established, in part, as a response to the realities of sickness and death. The Buddha's response to the experience of dying, as you'll learn, involves seeing past the illusion of self, recognizing the concept of impermanence, and practicing mindfulness.
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 14
Language
English
Description
Continue a look a Buddhist approaches to death, this time focusing on Tibetan Buddhism's deep, extensive teachings on the actual process of death and rebirth. Central to this lecture: the fascinating Bardo Thodol (or the Tibetan Book of the Dead), whose lessons are applicable both to Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
4) Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know: Vehicles to Nirvana
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 7
Language
English
Description
Take a look at the three major schools of the Buddhist world: Theravada Buddhism, with its five precepts of ethical behavior; Mahayana Buddhism, the "great vehicle" that created new paths to Nirvana for its practitioners; and Vajrayana - including Tibetan - Buddhism. Also, explore the history of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 6
Language
English
Description
The life of Siddhartha Gautama - the Buddha himself - is a fascinating journey from a wealthy and sheltered upbringing to an understanding of Samsara, the cycle of rebirth and perpetual discontent. After meditating beneath the bodhi tree, he woke up with Buddhism's key to liberation: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Author
Series
Publisher
[Distributed by] Recorded Books,[2012]
Pub. Date
2012
Language
English
Appears on list
Description
"When does the Jewish Sabbath begin? Who are Vishnu and Shiva? What are Buddhism's Four Noble Truths? What are the Five Pillars of Islam? These questions are more than an academic exercise. Religious belief has been innate to humans everywhere and in every age, from the time of the Neanderthals to the 21st century. It's also one of the strongest motivators of human behavior and has a profound impact on all aspects of our culture-- our spiritual beliefs,...