Weekend Stories

The role of lay practitioners in Buddhism While monastics have historically been the most visible custodians of Buddhism, the tradition has never been confined to monks and nuns alone. Lay practitioners—householders, workers, rulers, and ordi...

Lay practitioners in #Buddhism embody #ethics, #generosity and #attainment, contributing to transmission and adaptation. Their relationship with the monastic #Sangha illustrates Buddhism’s integration of lay and monastic paths. Here's a brief overview:

The Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha In the doctrinal and lived structure of Buddhism, the Three Jewels, also known as the Triple Gem or Triratna, represent the foundational elements to which all adherents turn for guidance and refuge. T...

The #ThreeJewels — #Buddha, #Dharma and #Sangha — form the basis of #Buddhist identity. The Buddha models awakening, the Dharma provides teachings, and the Sangha sustains community and doctrine, together shaping practice across cultures. Here’s a brief summary:

#Buddhism

Upaya: The skilful means of teaching and practice In Buddhist discourse, the concept of upaya (Sanskrit for ‘means’ or ‘method’) refers to the idea that teachings and practices may be adapted in form and expression in order to suit the needs, capacit...

#Upaya, or skilful means, in #Mahāyāna #Buddhism legitimizes adaptive teaching. Doctrines are provisional, tailored to context, with priority on efficacy in guiding toward awakening rather than consistency of dogma. Here‘s a brief overview.

#Buddhism

Upekkhā: The role of equanimity in Buddhism Upekkhā, commonly translated as ‘equanimity’, is one of the core concepts in Buddhist thought and practice. It occupies a unique position among the so-called ‘Four Brahmavihāras’ or ‘Divine Abidings’,...

#Upekkhā ( #equanimity) in #Buddhism balances #compassion ( #karuṇā) and #wisdom ( #prajñā). As one of the #Brahmavihāras, it fosters impartiality and freedom from attachment, central to #ethical and #meditative development. Here’s a brief overview:

Sīla – Buddhist ethics: The path of moral cultivation Buddhist ethics can be understood as a comprehensive framework for moral, psychological, and existential development. Unlike many Western ethical systems, which are often based on divine commandments,...

Buddhist #ethics emphasize intentionality and virtue cultivation rather than obedience to external rules. Through the #FivePrecepts, #Brahmavihāras and #Bodhisattva vows, ethics integrate #compassion ( #karuṇā) and #wisdom ( #prajñā) as a path of transformation. Here’s a brief overview:

#Buddhism

The eight vijnanas: The Buddhist psychoanalysis Among the many philosophical and psychological systems developed within Buddhism, the Yogācāra school of Mahayana Buddhism introduces one of the most elaborate models of consciousness. Central to this...

The #Yogācāra school’s eightfold model of #consciousness ( #vijñāna) analyzes perception, identity and delusion. From sensory awareness to the “ #storehouse” ( #ĀlayaVijñāna), it provides a psychoanalytic framework without positing a permanent self ( #anatta). Here’s a brief overview:

#Buddhism

Karma and Samsara in Indian thought and Siddhartha’s revolutionary reinterpretation Among the many contributions of Siddhartha Gautama to the Indian religious and philosophical landscape, his reconceptualization of karma and samsara stands out as one of the most radical. While these ...

The concept of #karma in #Buddhism is defined as conditioned arising in which actions shape #consciousness without a permanent self/ #anatta. In contrast to Indian notions of a transmigrating soul, karma describes moment-to-moment identity, with liberation through ending craving and ignorance.

#Mahakala #thangka. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism

#Mahakala #thangka.
#BuddhistArt #Buddhism

Avidyā: The Buddhist concept of ignorance The concept of avidyā, commonly translated as ‘ignorance’ or ‘unawareness’, holds a central position in Buddhist philosophy. It is considered one of the primary causes of human suffering (dukkha). Far...

In #Buddhism, #avidyā (ignorance) is framed not as lack of knowledge but as misperception of #impermanence ( #anicca), non-self ( #anatta) and causality. Overcoming avidyā requires transformative insight rather than intellectual learning. Here's a brief overview:

Cool resources colelction: An overview of Digital tools and resources for #EastAsian studies by @digitalorientalist.bsky.social. A curated collection of tools reviewed by specialists. Ideal if you work with languages, history, texts, or culture in East Asia.

Sati: A historical and philosophical analysis of mindfulness in Buddhism The concept of mindfulness has gained immense popularity in contemporary Western societies, often promoted as a secular practice for stress reduction, emotional regulation, and enhanced cognitive perf...

#Sati, often translated as #mindfulness, in #Buddhism denotes recollection and #ethical attentiveness. Embedded in the #EightfoldPath, it integrates memory, conduct and meditation toward liberation, distinct from modern secular adaptations. Here‘s s brief summary:

Prajñā: The wisdom of insight in Buddhism Prajñā, often translated as ‘wisdom’ or ‘insight’, is a core concept in Buddhist philosophy. It refers to the direct understanding of reality as it is (tathatā), free from delusion and misperception (...

#Prajñā or #wisdom in #Buddhism is understood as experiential insight into impermanence/ #anicca, non-self/ #anatta and emptiness/ #śūnyatā. Cultivated through study, reflection and #meditation, it is paired with #compassion and central to the #NobleEightfoldPath. Here‘s a brief overview:

Buddha-Nature (Tathāgatagarbha) and the process of awakening In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the concept of Buddha-Nature (tathāgatagarbha) has long served as a powerful metaphor for the innate potential of all beings to awaken. It affirms something simple but profound: ...

In #Mahāyāna #Buddhism, #BuddhaNature is understood not as a hidden essence but as the doctrinal claim that all beings possess an innate capacity for #awakening. It is interpreted as compatible with a process based #ontology, avoiding the notion of a permanent self/ #anatta. Here‘s a brief summary:

Okura Shukokan Wooden Elephant Statue of Fugen #Bodhisattva. Because Fugen #Bodhisattva ruled over compassion and preached the rebirth of women, he was deeply worshiped by women who wished for a rebirth in paradise. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism

Okura Shukokan Wooden Elephant Statue of Fugen #Bodhisattva. Because Fugen #Bodhisattva ruled over compassion and preached the rebirth of women, he was deeply worshiped by women who wished for a rebirth in paradise.
#BuddhistArt #Buddhism

Tathatā: Buddhism’s view on reality as it is In the Buddhist tradition, few concepts are as subtle, elusive, and yet foundational as Tathatā, commonly translated as suchness, thusness, or thatness. At first glance, the term may seem abstract or ...

In #Mahāyāna #Buddhism, #Tathatā ( #suchness) denotes the direct presence of phenomena beyond conceptualization and duality. It is described as neither essence nor substance, but as a perspective on reality that is both ordinary and transformative in #Buddhist thought. Here's a brief introduction:

The Middle Way: The balance between extremes in Buddhist thought The concept of the Middle Way (Majjhimā Paṭipadā) represents a central idea in Buddhist philosophy. It refers to a path of moderation that deliberately avoids the extremes of self-indulgence and self-...

The #MiddleWay ( #MajjhimāPaṭipadā) in #Buddhism designates a path of moderation between #indulgence and #asceticism. It grounds the #EightfoldPath and, in #Madhyamaka #philosophy, is refined into a systematic rejection of extremes in metaphysical reasoning. Here‘s a brief introduction:

Aristarchus of Samos, the Greek sage who discovered that the planets revolved around the Sun When asked who was the first to propose the heliocentric theory—that is, the one in which the Sun is the center of the universe and the planets revolve around it—the usual answer is Copernicus. Howeve...

Aristarchus’s heliocentric model, proposed 18 centuries before Copernicus, is a powerful reminder of how suppressed ideas resurface in the history of science. www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/09/a...

Meditation as the liberation from suffering In the Buddhist tradition, meditation is not an isolated technique but the living heart of the path to liberation. It embodies the experiential core of the samādhi section of the Noble Eightfold Path ...

#Meditation in #Buddhism is conceptualized not only as calming ( #samatha) but as the integration with insight ( #vipassanā). It functions as the central practice for transforming perception, addressing the roots of #suffering, and linking #ethics with #cognition. Here’s a brief overview:

The role of compassion and loving-kindness in Buddhism Compassion, or karuṇā, occupies a prominent position within Buddhist thought and practice. It is regarded not simply as an emotion, but as a cultivated disposition toward relieving the suffering of ot...

#Compassion ( #karuṇā) and loving-kindness ( #mettā) are presented in #Buddhism as cultivated dispositions grounded in #nonself ( #anatta) and #interdependence. Their role is to connect #ethical conduct with #meditative insight, bridging personal and social transformation. Here‘s a brief overview:

Nirvana: The cessation of suffering in Buddhist thought Nirvana occupies a central position in Buddhist philosophy as the ultimate goal of the spiritual path. Often translated as ‘extinction’, ‘cessation’, or ‘liberation’, Nirvana signifies the end of suff...

#Nirvana in #Buddhism is defined as the cessation of #suffering ( #dukkha), #craving, and #ignorance. Rather than a metaphysical realm, it is described as the end of self-illusion ( #anatta) and #karmic cycles. This post investigates the topic and its role Buddhist #soteriology.

The Noble Eightfold Path: The Buddhist path to liberation The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariyo Aṭṭhaṅgiko Maggo) constitutes a central framework in Buddhist thought, outlining a methodology for ethical and mental cultivation aimed at the cessation of suffering (d...

The #NobleEightfoldPath in #Buddhism is outlined as an integrated framework combining #wisdom, #ethics, and mental discipline. It is regarded as a pragmatic structure for reducing #suffering ( #dukkha). This post provides a brief introduction to it.

#WeekendStories

Dependent Origination: The interdependent nature of existence The doctrine of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca-samuppāda in Pāli, Pratītya-samutpāda in Sanskrit) is one of the central tenets of Buddhist philosophy. It provides an explanation for the arising and ce...

#DependentOrigination (paṭicca-samuppāda) in #Buddhism explains phenomena as arising through interdependent conditions. Through the twelve links ( #nidanas) it analyzes the origin of #suffering and its cessation, highlighting impermanence ( #anicca) and #nonself ( #anatta). Here‘s a brief overview.

📚#RichardCarrier has just announced a new book: The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus (2025).

As a scholarly sequel to On the #Historicity of #Jesus (2014), it argues the assumption of a historical Jesus is obsolete. Carrier applies #Bayes to case […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]

The Three Poisons: The roots of suffering in Buddhist thought Buddhist philosophy offers a systematic framework for analyzing the origins of suffering, attributing its persistence to three fundamental mental afflictions commonly referred to as the Three Poisons ...

…The #ThreePoisons are not #metaphysical absolutes but #psychological tendencies that can be transformed through #ethical conduct, #meditation, and #wisdom. This framework offers a unique perspective on #suffering, emphasizing internal transformation over external salvation.

The Three Poisons: The roots of suffering in Buddhist thought Buddhist philosophy offers a systematic framework for analyzing the origins of suffering, attributing its persistence to three fundamental mental afflictions commonly referred to as the Three Poisons ...

In #Buddhism, the #ThreePoisons ( #akusalamūla), greed ( #lobha), hatred ( #dosa), and delusion ( #moha), are formulated as the root conditions of #suffering ( #dukkha) and rebirth ( #samsāra). They are treated as dispositions subject to transformation through practice.

#WeekendStories

YouTube video by MythVision Podcast The OBSOLETE PARADIGM of a HISTORICAL JESUS

This Sunday! Learn all about The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus on MythVision: what's new & its #PeerReview. Scholars in biblical studies join us to discuss it all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLp...

#jesus #mythicaljesus #mythicism #historicaljesus #HistoricalMethods #apologetics

Half-Carved Thousand-Armed #Kannon, Standing Statue, Shinsho-ji, #Japan. A rare-style statue of the Thousand-Armed #Kannon carved from a thick single piece of cypress in a relief style. This temple is located in Shiga Prefecture and is an ancient temple said to have been built by Honkaku Daishi in accordance with an imperial edict from Emperor Uda. It is said to be the oldest temple in the area. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism

Half-Carved Thousand-Armed #Kannon, Standing Statue, Shinsho-ji, #Japan. A rare-style statue of the Thousand-Armed #Kannon carved from a thick single piece of cypress in a relief style. This temple is located in Shiga Prefecture and is an ancient temple said […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]

Figure of a deity (oceanic art), Nukuoro, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, 19th century, wood, Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Cologne, Germany. In Buddhist thought, the person as conventionally perceived is not a substantial self (ātman), but rather a provisional designation based on the five skandha — form (rūpa), sensation (vedanā), perception (saṃjñā), mental formations (saṃskāra) and consciousness (vijñāna). Just as this wooden figure evokes the human form without representing an individual person, so too does the self in Buddhist thought emerge from the dynamic interplay of impermanent aggregates, empty of intrinsic essence yet functionally coherent.

The #FiveAggregates in #Buddhism show self as process, not entity. Examining #form, #feeling, #perception, #formations & #consciousness shows #impermanence & #nonself, guiding to the end of #suffering.

🌍https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/weekend_stories/told/2025/2025-05-30-skandha/

#WeekendStories

What is a Buddha? What kind of being is a Buddha? This question opens the door to some of the most important distinctions in Buddhist thought: between human and divine, teacher and savior, historical individual and tim...

In #Buddhism, a #Buddha is not a #god or #prophet, but a fully #awakened human who realizes #reality as it is ( #tathata) and guides others to #liberation. A model of human potential, #ethical clarity & transformative #wisdom ( #prajna).

#WeekendStories #philosophy #history

Delicious news, scandal, & opportunity!

www.richardcarrier.info/archives/38118

My new book on the #historicity of #jesus is years in making & much anticipated. Find out what's in it & how to get it!

#historicaljesus #mythicaljesus #Bayesian #History #biblicalstudies #historicalmethods #books