Buddhist Books Podcast


        


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




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 173
Mahāvagga VI - Part 9

[00:40:16]  March 25th, 2024

This is Part 174 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 173
Mahāvagga VI - Part 9

[00:40:16]  March 25th, 2024

This is Part 174 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 172
Mahāvagga VI - Part 7

[00:37:54]  March 11th, 2024

This is Part 172 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: Padmasambhava - Part 17

[00:46:12]  February 17th, 2024

This is Part 17 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 33 & 34.




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 171
Mahāvagga VI - Part 6

[00:35:19]  February 11th, 2024

This is Part 171 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 170
Mahāvagga VI - Part 5

[00:37:42]  January 5th, 2024

This is Part 170 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Zen Buddhism - Part 6

[00:30:16]  December 26th, 2024

This is part 6 of the Zen Buddhism series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s 'Shobogenzo' the chapter entitled “Ikka-No-Myoju” meaning "One Bright Pearl" which he wrote in 1238.




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 169
Mahāvagga VI - Part 4

[00:35:56]  December 17th, 2024

This is Part 169 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 VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."




Shingon Buddhism • Part 5

[00:42:39]  December 5th, 2024

This episode marks the 3 year anniversary of Buddhist Books Podcast!

This is Part 5 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.




Buddhist Books: TIPIṬAKA 168
Mahāvagga VI - Part 3

[00:29:27]  December 3rd, 2024

This is Part 168 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 VI," 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.

for the robots