Buddhist Books Podcast

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Buddhist Books Podcast is an approachable, sometimes humorous, series available on YouTube or any podcasting platform.

It is a series of videos in which I read the English translations of Buddhist scriptures aloud in English.

In most episodes, I read “Tipitaka,” the original "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian early Buddhism. Every ten episodes, I read from "The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava," which is a translation of “Padma Thang-yig,” the story of Padmasambhava said to have been recorded by Yeshe Tsogyal in the 8th century C.E.. There are also a few Special Episodes in which, for example, I watch and react to the film "Xuan Zang," which is the story of the 6th century C.E. monk who brought 600+ Mahayana scriptures from Nalanda University in Bihar India to China to be translated, as well as the teachings of Zen Master Dogen's Shobogenzo and Fukanzazengi.

The Tipitaka recitals will take several years to complete. Afterward, I'll read the early Mahayana scriptures, the Tipitaka commentaries of the 5th and 6th century C.E. Theravadin scholar-monks, the later Mahayana scriptures, and so on, moving century by century through this vast tradition.


Please note that I am not, nor do I claim to be, a teacher of Buddhism. Rather, I am a student of Buddhism who is inspired to share with you my own exploration of the scriptures.

This project is not affiliated with any organization, lineage, nor group. It is entirely shot, edited, produced, and funded by me (Edward Reib) as a passion project for the purpose of making these source texts of Buddhism, the original scriptures, more widely and freely available to anyone who wants to learn them.



Most Recent

First Episode




Skip To:

1. DHAMMAPADA
2. LOTUS SŪTRA
3. PĀLI SCRIPTURES
4. JAIN SŪTRAS
5. TIPIṬAKA
6. PADMASAMBHAVA
7. SHINGON
8. ZEN

Special Episodes
Behind The Scenes




Shingon Buddhism • Part 4

[00:41:13]  October 4th, 2024

This is Part 4 of my recital of the "The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism" by Adrian Snodgrass.

Shingon Buddhism is, put simply, the Japanese version of Vajrayana Buddhism. Kobo Daishi traveled to China and received the teachings and scriptures of Vajrayana Buddhism, then returned to Japan and founded the Shingon school at the top of Mount Koyasan in 815 CE, where it still flourishes today.




Zen Buddhism - Part 4

[01:36:29]  September 29th, 2024

This is part 4 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading the first lecture recorded in Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” entitled “Bendowa,” which he wrote in 1231.




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 161
Mahāvagga IV - Part 5

[00:28:58]  September 25th, 2024

This is Part 161 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll finish reading "Mahāvagga IV," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 160
Mahāvagga IV - Part 4

[00:39:27]  September 23rd, 2024

This is Part 160 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IV," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 159
Mahāvagga IV - Part 3

[00:37:51]  September 16th, 2024

This is Part 159 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IV," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: Padmasambhava - Part 15

[00:43:53]  September 12th, 2024

This is Part 15 of my recital of the "The Life & Liberation of Padmasambhava," a translation of "Padma Thang-yig," by Yeshe Tsogyal.

In this episode, we'll read Cantos 28, 29 & 30.




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 158
Mahāvagga IV - Part 2

[00:31:31]  September 3rd, 2024

This is Part 158 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IV," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 157
Mahāvagga IV - Part 1

[00:33:14]  August 30th, 2024

This is Part 157 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll begin reading "Mahāvagga IV," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 156
Mahāvagga III - Part 4

[00:29:52]  August 17th, 2024

This is Part 156 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll finish reading "Mahāvagga III," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 155
Mahāvagga III - Part 3

[00:34:13]  August 15th, 2024

This is Part 155 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language.

In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga III," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."



Most Recent

First Episode




CHAPTERS


1. DHAMMAPADA

2. LOTUS SŪTRA

3. PĀLI SCRIPTURES

4. JAIN SŪTRAS

5. TIPIṬAKA

6. PADMASAMBHAVA

7. SHINGON

8. ZEN

Special Episodes

Behind The Scenes





    


* Edward is not a formally ordained Ngakpa, but wears the shawl, with great respect, during these recitations of published Buddhist Scriptures.

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