• How do you balance romantic desire and the desire for companionship with non-attachment?
    Feb 20 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Episode 132 - How do you balance romantic desire and the desire for companionship with non-attachment? Is romantic desire bad in Buddhism? What are the potential dangers of desire for partnership and companionship?

    Resources: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.055.than.html

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    At the time of recording, the list of people murdered by ICE includes -

    Victor Manuel Díaz - no fundraiser link currently available

    Geraldo Lunas - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-their-father-home-for-goodbye

    Luis Gustavo Nunez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-regresar-a-mi-hermano-a-casa

    Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz - https://www.gofundme.com/f/luis-beltran-yanez-cruz

    Heber Sanchez Dominguez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/heber-sanchez-dominguez

    Parady La - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-parady-las-family-and-fight-ice-for-change

    Keith Porter Jr. - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-franceolas-granddaughters-future

    Alex Pretti - https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-pretti-is-an-american-hero

    Renee Good - donations currently paused

    We can get through this. Our strongest weapon is solidarity. Stay strong and help where you can. Thank you.

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

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    17 mins
  • What is the third moral precept of Buddhism?
    Feb 13 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Episode 131 - What is the third moral precept of Buddhism? What is its significance? How have interpretations of it changed over time?

    Resources:

    Keown, Damien (2013b), "Buddhist Ethics", in LaFollette, Hugh (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Ethics, Blackwell Publishing, pp. 636–47, doi:10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee163, ISBN 978-1-4051-8641-4

    Keown, Damien (2016b), Buddhism and Bioethics, Springer Nature, ISBN 978-1-349-23981-8

    De Silva, Padmasiri (2016), Environmental Philosophy and Ethics in Buddhism, Springer Nature, ISBN 978-1-349-26772-9

    Edelglass, William (2013), "Buddhist Ethics and Western Moral Philosophy" (PDF), in Emmanuel, Steven M. (ed.), A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy (1st ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 476–90, ISBN 978-0-470-65877-2, archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2015

    Funayama, Tōru (2004), "The Acceptance of Buddhist Precepts by the Chinese in the Fifth Century", Journal of Asian History, 38 (2): 97–120, JSTOR 41933379

    Seeger, M. (2010), "Theravāda Buddhism and Human Rights. Perspectives from Thai Buddhism" (PDF), in Meinert, Carmen; Zöllner, Hans-Bernd (eds.), Buddhist Approaches to Human Rights: Dissonances and Resonances, Transcript Verlag, pp. 63–92, ISBN 978-3-8376-1263-9

    Keown, Damien (2012), "Are There Human Rights in Buddhism?", in Husted, Wayne R.; Keown, Damien; Prebish, Charles S. (eds.), Buddhism and Human Rights, Routledge, pp. 15–42, ISBN 978-1-136-60310-5

    Keown, Damien (2013a), "Buddhism and Biomedical Issues" (PDF), in Emmanuel, Steven M. (ed.), A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy (1st ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 613–30, ISBN 978-0-470-65877-2, archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2015

    At the time of recording, the list of people murdered by ICE includes -

    Victor Manuel Díaz - no fundraiser link currently available

    Geraldo Lunas - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-their-father-home-for-goodbye

    Luis Gustavo Nunez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-regresar-a-mi-hermano-a-casa

    Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz - https://www.gofundme.com/f/luis-beltran-yanez-cruz

    Heber Sanchez Dominguez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/heber-sanchez-dominguez

    Parady La - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-parady-las-family-and-fight-ice-for-change

    Keith Porter Jr. - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-franceolas-granddaughters-future

    Alex Pretti - https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-pretti-is-an-american-hero

    Renee Good - donations currently paused

    We can get through this. Our strongest weapon is solidarity. Stay strong and help where you can. Thank you.

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

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    17 mins
  • Research Project Series - Nishida Kitarō
    Feb 6 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Research Project Series - Nishida Kitarō

    Join me as I discuss the life and times of Nishida Kitarō, and his principle work, 善の研究 (Zen no Kenkyū) An Inquiry Into The Good.

    _____________

    At the time of recording, the list of people murdered by ICE includes -

    Victor Manuel Díaz - no fundraiser link currently available

    Geraldo Lunas - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-their-father-home-for-goodbye

    Luis Gustavo Nunez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-regresar-a-mi-hermano-a-casa

    Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz - https://www.gofundme.com/f/luis-beltran-yanez-cruz

    Heber Sanchez Dominguez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/heber-sanchez-dominguez

    Parady La - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-parady-las-family-and-fight-ice-for-change

    Keith Porter Jr. - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-franceolas-granddaughters-future

    Alex Pretti - https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-pretti-is-an-american-hero

    Renee Good - donations currently paused

    We can get through this. Our strongest weapon is solidarity. Stay strong and help where you can. Thank you.

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Buddhish 26 - Walk for Peace
    Jan 30 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 26 - Walk for Peace

    Join us as we discuss the Walk for Peace going on in the Southeastern US.

    If you like our show and want to support us financially, we ask that you instead send that support to a worthy cause.

    In our previous charity throw we directed listeners to the GoFundMe for Kieth Porter, a man murdered by ICE earlier this year. Between posting that and recording this message, ICE has murdered more people. Unfortunately, there will be more in the near future. Changing our message for every victim of these fascist thugs is not logistically possible for us. Instead of directing to a specific person, we encourage listeners to donate to whichever ICE victim's fundraiser that has the least amount at the time you donate. If we can find them, we will have links to all of these fundraisers in the show notes.

    _____________

    At the time of recording, the list of people murdered by ICE includes -

    Victor Manuel Díaz - no fundraiser link currently available

    Geraldo Lunas - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-their-father-home-for-goodbye

    Luis Gustavo Nunez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-regresar-a-mi-hermano-a-casa

    Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz - https://www.gofundme.com/f/luis-beltran-yanez-cruz

    Heber Sanchez Dominguez - https://www.gofundme.com/f/heber-sanchez-dominguez

    Parady La - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-parady-las-family-and-fight-ice-for-change

    Keith Porter Jr. - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-franceolas-granddaughters-future

    Alex Pretti - https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-pretti-is-an-american-hero

    Renee Good - donations currently paused

    We can get through this. Our strongest weapon is solidarity. Stay strong and help where you can. Thank you.

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

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    22 mins
  • Who is Budai?
    Jan 23 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Episode 130 - Who is Budai? What are some stories about him? How is he depicted in iconography and why?

    Resources:

    Leighton, Taigen Dan (1998). Bodhisattva Archetypes: Classic Buddhist Guides to Awakening and Their Modern Expression. New York: Penguin Arkana. pp. 260–261.

    Levine, Gregory (2007). Awakenings: Zen Figure Painting in Medieval Japan. Japan Society.

    Faure, Bernard (1991). "Six: The Thaumaturge and Its Avatars (II)". The Rhetoric of Immediacy: A Cultural Critique of Chan/Zen Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 115. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1j666xp.11. ISBN 978-0-691-07374-3. JSTOR j.ctv1j666xp. S2CID 243553565. (also available at https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Rhetoric_of_Immediacy/sskkEAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA115)

    https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-keiths-daughters-after-tragedy

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Who is Tārā?
    Jan 16 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Episode 129 - Who is Tara? What are some stories about her? How is she depicted in iconography and why?

    Resources: Beer, Robert (2003). A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Boston: Shambhala. ISBN 978-1590301005.

    Blofeld, John (1992). The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide to the Theory, Purpose, and Techniques of Tantric Meditation. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-019336-7.

    Blofeld, John (2009). Bodhisattva of Compassion: The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1-59030-735-9.

    Conze, Edward, ed. (1964). Buddhist Texts Through the Ages. Translated by Isaline Blew Horner. Harper & Row. ISBN 978-0061301131.

    Dalai Lama (1st) (September 2000). "A Short Sadhana of Green Tara" (PDF). Gaden for the West. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

    Getty, Alice (1998). The Gods of Northern Buddhism: Their History and Iconography. Courier. ISBN 978-0-486-25575-0.

    Ghosh, Mallar (1980). Development of Buddhist Iconography in Eastern India: A Study of Tārā, Prajñās of Five Tathāgatas and Bhṛikuṭī. India: Munshiram Manoharlal. OCLC 8029740.

    Kunsang, Erik Pema; et al. (2003). Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture, Version 3 on CD ROM. Nepal: Rangjung Yeshe Publications. ISBN 9627341347.

    Norbu, Thinley (1999). Magic Dance: The Display of the Self-Nature of the Five Wisdom Dakinis. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 0-87773-885-8.

    Sherab, Palden; Dongyal, Tsewang (2007). Tara's Enlightened Activity: Commentary on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras. Boulder, CO: Snow Lion. ISBN 978-1-55939-287-7.

    Stevens, Rachael (2022). Red Tara: The Female Buddha of Power and Magnetism. Shambhala Publications.[ISBN missing]

    Thondup, Tulku (1999). Masters of Meditation and Miracles: Lives of the Great Buddhist Masters of India and Tibet. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-57062-509-3.

    Willson, Martin (1996). In Praise of Tara: Songs to the Saviouress. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0861711093.

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

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    22 mins
  • Kālāma Sutta
    Jan 9 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Kālāma Sutta - Join us as we read and discuss the Soma Thera translation of the Kalama Sutta in its entirety

    Resources:

    Root texts

    Pali text at SuttaCentral (available in five scripts, including Roman and Devanagari)

    Translations

    With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta, translation by Bhikkhu Sujato

    Kesaputtiya, translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi

    Essays

    The wisdom of Kalama Sutta

    Knowledge and Truth in Early Buddhism Dharmachari Nagapriya Archived 2018-12-08 at the Wayback Machine from Western Buddhist Review

    Help! The Kalama Sutta, Help! by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

    https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 6
    Jan 2 2026

    Bright on Buddhism - Feed Drop - Nihonshi, A Japanese History Podcast

    Join us as we drop part 3 of a 3 part series narrating the story of the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, two myth-histories of Japan. This series serves both as a feed drop of the forthcoming Nihonshi podcast and as Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 4, 5, and 6.

    https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

    Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.

    Credits:

    Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host

    Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins