The Entire Buddhist Philosophy Archive

A Comparative Study of Daoism and Buddhism 

by Bunck with Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This very nicely made project compares and contrasts Daoism (Taoism) and Buddhism.  Excellent job.

Asanga: Founder of Mahayana Yogacara Buddhism

by Cale Bakken with instructor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II., opensourcebuddhism.org
This very nice project examines the life and thought of Asanga, 3rd-4th century Indian founder of the Yogacara or "Yoga-praxis" school. We get a nice picture of the eight levels of consciousness, the mechanism of reincarnation and the nature of habitual thought patterns that bind one to the "convolution" or sansara.

Anguttara Nikaya: The "Connected" Sayings of the Buddha

by Bohl through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This piece is another fine offering affording a glimpse into the early Buddhist tradition. We hear again why the Buddha is the Buddha - as the Theravadins will tell you: there is only one Buddha - at least only one known to human history

Asanga: Founder of Mahayana Yogacara Buddhism

by Cale Bakken with instructor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II., opensourcebuddhism.org
This very nice project examines the life and thought of Asanga, 3rd-4th century Indian founder of the Yogacara or "Yoga-praxis" school. We get a nice picture of the eight levels of consciousness, the mechanism of reincarnation and the nature of habitual thought patterns that bind one to the "convolution" or sansara.

Bhavacakra: Indian Art and the Wheel of Being

by Knier through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This project explores the entire cosmology of Buddhism as the "Wheel of Being" with its six destinies - heavens, hells and beyond...explained in this concise and artistically done piece. 

Bodhisattvas: Beings of Awakening, the "Angels" of Buddhism

by Blanke through instructor James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This interesting introduction to the figure of the bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism is very informative. We hear of their origins and the nature of a number of them in this very direct video

Buddhadhatu: The Sphere of Awakening

by Jansen through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This really nice visual piece replete with much Hubble footage explains clearly the complexity of the term "dhatu" or "place for existence" if you will, and the evolution from the dhatu of this world to the dhatu of the Awakened state known as Buddha.

Buddhism and Existentialism

by Margaret Scofield through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This project investigates the eerily similar yet highly distinct paths of Buddhism and Existentialism. While both traditions place emphasis on "this life" the goals are very different. Far from facing death with courage and accepting the "facticity" of life, Buddha taught that we can attain to a calm waking attitude in life. One need not mix in paranoia with peace! This is a nice job.

Buddhism and Psychedelia

by Nick McDermott through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This imaginative and visually stunning project examines the history of psychedelic substances and the Buddhist Tradition, mostly in America, though the Brit Aldous Huxley is a key player. Timothy Leary enters the scene of course, but a variety of Buddhist sought the quick nirvana through what are properly termed, "entheogens" - "inducing the theos" or "divine" within.

Christian and Buddhist Mysticism: Merton and Chatrul 

by Jeremy Holiday through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This excellent work investigates the relationship between Trappist monk Thomas Merton and his Asian adventures, specifically the relevance of his meeting with Chatrul Rinpoche of the Nyingma Tradition. This work also reveals the Buddhist attitude towards those of other faiths who have attained some higher realization. Giant download - take your time - it is worth it.....

DesCartes and Vasubandhu: I think, therefore I am (not)?

by Manske through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This project investigates the speciously similar views on mind and consciousness held by DesCartes and the ca. 3rd Century CE Mahayana Buddhist Vasubandhu. While both systems focus on consciousness, the understanding of same is very, very different. Buddhists have been at this for a long time you know.

Huineng: Rice-pounder Extraordinaire of Zen (Ch'an) in China

by Aurora Britt Carlson through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This excellent work seeks to relate the life and times of Huineng, later Zen Hero. The humblest may be the "best" as ever in Ch'an/Zen and related traditions.

Itivuttaka Sutra: The Buddha's Own Words

by Tsuffis through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This fine presentation of an early discourse containing what are presented to be the Buddha Siddhartha's own words on a variety of topics in the form of short sayings. As our Theravada friends affirm, "There is only one Buddha" and from these early treasures we know why he is famous. Good for Mahayana Buddhists too: always timely to remember the source man for all the later fruits off the Buddha tree, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions all stem from "The Man".

Japan:  Buddhism during the Kamakura Period

by Long, through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This fine piece relates the "revolutionary" changes in Buddhist culture during Japan after the classic Nara and Heian phases. It is here that the most influential and long-lasting sects of Zen and Jodo or "Pureland" Buddhisms come to dominate the stage. The changes in China (are as ever) recapitulated in Japan, but with a twist...the old sects remain, albeit in a lingering state, in Japan, whereas the persecution of Buddhism in China prevented the continuation of a number of the classic Chinese schools.

Jataka: The Rebirth Narratives of the Buddha's Past Lives

by Deadman, Nast and Weinman through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This thiry minute chronicle of highlights found in the tales of the Buddha's past lives is always entertaining for young and old. We hear of Buddha's live as a prince helping a starving tigress to eat him up for her children's welfare, of his life as a rabbit offering himself on the fire of hungry hunters and on an on. A classic of Buddhist literature

John Stuart Mill and Buddhist Theories of Politics

by Jarlsberg and Bakken through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This project investigates the contrasting yet somewhat surprisingly similar views of J.S. Mill and Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Both were proponents of liberalism to varying degrees. I think we can say the Buddha was the first "utilitarian" thinker of India. Like Mill, he was a democrat, and while he didn't like monks involved in politics (listening Dalai Lama?) he did see the necessity of the messy business.

Kagyu: the Oral Transmission School of Tibet an Buddhism

by Laura Warncke through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This project is an excellent introduction to the core history, ideas and nature of the Kagyu lineage of the Vajrayana or Tantric style of Tibetan Buddhism. Very nice job by a practitioner!

Kalacakra: The Wheel of TIme in Art and Literature

by Karp through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This fine project explores the mysteries of the Wheel of Time mandala and related literature. Among many other things, we learn of the rise of the Shambhala warriors to oust the dread Madhumati (Muhammad) from the holy land, in this case, India. Written circa the 12th century, it points to a time of conflict between Buddhists and Muslims. 
See the original unedited version at http://www.opensourcebuddhism.org/AUTHORS/art-tibet-kalachakra-karp.wmv

Kamalashila and the Great Debate at Samye

by Janet Baird through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This fine piece offers a snapshot of the great scholar and debater, shaper of Tibetan religion and culture, the Indian philosopher Kamalashila. We hear of his life in the first person, from his perspective. We hear of his accomplishments in Buddhist philosophy and his defeat of the "dread" Hashang Mohoyen (Mahayana) of the Chinese Ch'an tradition. In this India versus China competition, India wins Tibet...at least in the beginning.

Karma Theory in Buddhism

by Hoang through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This clear explanation of the complex notion of karma as the ethical undergirding for Buddhist ethics will aid the beginner to enter an understanding of Buddhism in a general way.

Keiji Nishitani and Buddhist Existentialism in Japan

by Lance Stilp through Professor Rev. Dr. James K. Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This very thoughtful investigation reveals the close relationship between Germany and Japan during WWII and the resultant Japanese importation of Heidegger's Existentialism by Nishitani. Nishitani goes far further than the European existentialists in our opinion, adding the sophistication of Zen thought especially that of Dogen to the Existentialist tradition. He is a pure mix of "Eastern" and "Western" ideas.

Manas: the "Mind" in Yogacara Perspective

by Ostlund through Professor James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This nice piece investigates that repository of the illusory ego self that inhabits the "manas" or "mind" aspect of the Yogacara 8 levels of consciousness. This is the aspect that thinks it is James Powell etc. and which is that seat of all problems! There is an erroneous old-fashioned equation of Yogacara thought with Idealist - understandable as many share this wrong notion, but well worth the viewing. Nice job.

Mandala: Possessing the Essence of Buddhism in Art

by Sandvick through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org The beautiful circular mandala is the premier Buddhist art form and expresses a variety of philosophies and worldviews in a traditional framework.

Marpa the Translator: Founder of the Kagyu Lineage in Tibet

by Bertschy through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This fine introduction to the life of Marpa simultaneously introduces us to the second major Tibetan Tantric sect to arise: the Kagyu or Oral Transmission sect. Marpa wasn't always the nicest guru, but he trained Tibet's greatest yogin, Milarepa. For this and all his translation work, he ranks as a major figure in Tibetan religious and philosophical tradition.

Meditation: a Buddhist Introduction

by Janet Baird, through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This project examines in a brief and cursory way the principal goal of meditation, various practices used to engender that state and places the practice firmly within the context of Buddhist practice.

Mushin: "No Mind" in Zen Buddhism

by Eric Sisco through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This excellently researched piece explores the nature of and role No Mind doctrine plays in Zen Buddhism. The animation of Takuan is original and the tracing of the origins of Buddhism from Bodhidharma to the Shaolin sect and on to Japan is an invaluable lesson.

Nagarjuna: Founder of Mahayana Buddhism

by Paul Kacynski through Professor  Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org Perhaps the title overstates the case, but this has been said of the great Madhyamaka scholar who, we are told, brought back the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras from Nagas, hence his name. No more influential thinker exists in Buddhism, apart from the Buddha Siddhartha himself. As he says in his introductory work, the Stanzas on the Root of the Middle Way, he is he claims, merely a commentator on the Buddha's doctrine of "no self". He extends this idea to include all phenomena and as the brilliant expositor of Mahayana tradition, is revered as an ancestor of all the Mahayana schools, from Tibet to Japan. Very nice job, offered in the first person.

Nalanda: The Great University of Buddhist India

by Musiol through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This one is another piece of significant new research. We hear a bit about all three northern Buddhist monasteries destroyed by Turkish Muslims at the end of the 12th century, but here we focus in on the greatest of all time, Nalanda. In Buddha's day, it was a place, but not much more. Buddha spent time there, but at the peak of Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, it was enormous and represented all classic traditions, with a preponderance of Mahayana and a later manifestation of Vajrayana. This city of scholars, Nalanda puts even modern universities to shame as centers of learning. The enormity is very crisply and aptly depicted by this work. The nine-story library, the six foot thick insulated walls and on and on in rapid succession are very excellently depicted in narration, visuals and detailed and organized intellectual content. This home to my favorite thinkers -- Nagarjuna to Naropa is a personal favorite. (13 mins)

Nirvana: The "Snuffing Out" of Self

by Jenstead through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This fine piece examines the nature of nirvana, wrongly often understood in the West as "bliss" or "heaven" but it is not. It is the overcoming of attachment to the ego and desire, leading to a sense of ultimate peace within and without. Nice job

Prince Shotoku and the Origins of Buddhism in Japan

by Schmidt through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This piece investigates the mythic origins of Buddhism in Japan. This work examines what is known of the legendary Prince Shotoku, alleged translator of the Lotus Sutra there. There are Koreans associated with this process as well.

Psychology and Buddhism

by Janet Baird through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This very nice overview imparts some basic psychological theories and compares and contrasts them with Buddhist assumptions. Nice way to learn a bit about both.

Samatha (pron. Shamataa): Calming the Mind in Buddhism

by Thubten Tenzin through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org
This nice work by a Tibetan introduces the centrality and the nature of calming the mind, "unraveling" thoughts through breathing and other forms of meditation. This is a very competent introduction to the subject.

Schopenhauer, Buddhism and the Origins of Existentialism

Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This piece investigates the self-identified Buddhism of Artur Schopenhauer. Some will say he is Kantian, this piece credits him with such a break from Idealism as to constitute the beginning of Existentialism. Some will see this with Kierkegaard or Dostoyevsky. We see his emphasis on the individual via his understanding (and misunderstanding!) of Buddhism as the true origin of Existentialist thought.

  Simone de Beauvoir: Existentialist Heroine

Anonymous contribution through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This interesting piece explores the contributions to twentieth century existentialist thought of its principal feminist proponent. de Beauvoir's relationship with Sartre is well known, but less well-known is that some consider her the brighter of the pair. It is a rare story of love in the world of philosophy.

Seng chao: Chinese Madhyamaka Hero

by Kelly Rux through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This piece gives us a glimpse into the life of one of the first indigenous Chinese Mahayana Madhayamaka philosophers. One will find more than a little Daoism added into his Madhyamaka mix.

Tathagatagarbha: the "Womb" and "Embryo" of Awakening

by Nick McDermott through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This excellent work runs us through really, the whole of Buddhism, but with the focus on the controversial "tathagatagarbha" or "matrix of Awakening" seemingly "within". There is no self theory in Buddhism, but for the beginner, the Buddha Matrix theory helps some gain intial insights. Excellent narration and visuals.

The Bodhisattva Manjusri, Master of Wisdom

by John Huard through Professor Rev. Dr. James K. Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This nice introduction to one of the most important celestial figures of Mahayana Buddhism, Manjusri, points to yet another archetypal epitome of Wisdom in Buddhist tradition. His role in the literature, art and practice stands supreme as he, along with Maitreya, symbolize Wisdom and Method, respectively.

The Buddhist Hells of Indian Literature

by Victor through Professor Rev. Dr. James K. Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This fine work reveals the horrendous torments to be had by those with unfortunate karma. "The Buddhist Hells are worse than Junior High School" I once heard. Cold ones, hot ones, hells for butchers, soldiers, misers - you names it - one for everybody!

The Confucian-Daoist Persecution of Buddhism in China

by Molly King through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org  This astute work chronicles the situation during Buddhism's heyday in China and Emperor Wu Tai's decision to crack down on the lazy rich bums! Daoist and Confucian forces combine to put Buddhism in its place, wrecking havoc on the great monasteries and leaving only the more "peasant" Buddhisms of "Pure Land" and "Ch'an" (Zen) remaining.

The Inter-relationship of Sikhism and Buddhism

by Ranj Thiara through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org
This project examines the role of Sikh evolution as a reaction to Islamic incursion plays in inter-action with Buddhism. Very nice exposition, this video will fill you in on the basics of each and the trajectory of both. Made by Sikh scholar, Ranj Thiara

The Middle Channel: Sushumna among the Cakras

by Ted Glomski through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org
This fascinating portrait of the central channel in the subtle body of Indian medical tradition leads us into the entire cakra and nadi subsystems. Glomski incorporates all this information into the framework of "energy healing" as it is known in the west. A very competent presentation of difficult notions.

The Nine Tantric Stages and Five Dhyani Buddhas in Nyingma Tibet

by Mike Brooks through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org   This presents the evolution of a being from entrance to the Buddhist path, to the peak position at the Nine Stage of Tantric Practice, culminating in visions of the Five Dhyani or Meditated Buddhas. Just beautiful to watch - stunning! 

The Six Yogas of Naropa, Master of Buddhist Tantra

by Timothy Weiss, through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This project investigates the six principal tantric practices as presented by the great Naropa, student of Mahasiddha Tilopa. Naropa skirts the bounds between monastic discipline and complete freedom, but remaining still a scholar, completes these treatises for our benefit. Fascinating work by Weiss.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation through Hearing

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate Zone 
by Joe Schaeppi through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This remains my all time favorite. We receive an introduction to the stages of death, dying and rebirth and the process of attaining liberation through hearing - while dead - from a long line of Indian and Tibetan literature. Schaeppi makes you feel like you are dying yourself!

Two Pitchers: the Co-evolution of Sufism and Buddhism

by Bennet Hoffman through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This very interesting work examines how Buddhism shaped the origins of this distinct mystical Islamic tradition as Muslim powers took over the old Afghani and Persian and Pakistani cultures of the classic world. Ever wonder where the Bamiyan Buddha came from? It's destruction reveals that the influence is not just from one source, but Buddhism permeated Islam in the form of Sufism. Maybe the Muslims destroyed the physical structure of countless Buddhist artifacts, but Buddhists destroyed any rigid monotheism in Islam through the great poets Rumi et. al.

Vasubandhu: the Brilliant Yogacara Thinker

by Peatra Babe through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This work depicts the great Mahayana Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu, half-brother of Asanga. His subtle explanation of the nature of consciousness has been so influential in the Mahayana Buddhist world, especially in East Asia. He elucidates the 8 levels of consciousness including the first model of a sub-consciousness - almost two thousand years before Freud! The theories are older than that, but it took the brilliant Vasubandhu to codify and assemble everything so tightly and logically.