Bright On Buddhism

Nicholas Bright Haight
  • 4.4 (9)
  • BUDDHISM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Bright on Buddhism, a podcast where we discuss and explain topics of Buddhism in a casual, conversational, question and answer setting. My name is Nick Bright, scholar of East Asian Buddhism. I am currently studying for my Master’s degree in Religion at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where I am specializing in pre-modern Japanese Buddhist architecture history. I have researched topics such as Japanese Buddhist responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, Buddhist Haiku poetry, and the Japanese history of science and religion. I will be joined by my friend Proven Paradox.

  1. 1D AGO

    Who is Tārā?

    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

    22 min

  2. JAN 9 · BONUS

    Kālāma Sutta

    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

    52 min

  3. JAN 2 · BONUS

    Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 6

    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

    49 min

  4. 12/26/2025 · BONUS

    Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 5

    Bright on Buddhism - Feed Drop - Nihonshi, A Japanese History Podcast Join us as we drop part 2 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

    32 min

  5. 12/19/2025 · BONUS

    Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 4

    Bright on Buddhism - Feed Drop - Nihonshi, A Japanese History Podcast Join us as we drop part 1 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

    30 min

  6. 12/12/2025 · BONUS

    2025 Wrap Up

    Bright on Buddhism - 2025 Wrap Up Join us as we celebrate 2025 and look ahead to 2026! 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

    15 min

  7. 12/05/2025

    What is Tibetan Buddhism?

    Bright on Buddhism - Episode 128 - What is Tibetan Buddhism?What are some important historical points about it? What do the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism believe? Resources: Cabezón, José Ignacio (26 October 2006). "Tibetan Buddhist Society". In Juergensmeyer, Mark (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Global Religions. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195137989.003.0010. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1993). Gates to Buddhist Practice: Essential Teachings of a Tibetan Master. Padma Publishing. ISBN 1-881847-02-0. Coleman, Graham, ed. (1993). A Handbook of Tibetan Culture. Boston: Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-57062-002-4. Mullin, Glenn H. (2008). Living in the Face of Death: The Tibetan Tradition. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 978-1-55939-908-1. Powers, John (2004). History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517426-7. Powers, John (2008). A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion Publications. Smith, E. Gene (2001). Among Tibetan Texts: History and Literature of the Himalayan Plateau. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-179-3. Wallace, B. Alan (1993). Tibetan Buddhism From the Ground Up: A Practical Approach for Modern Life. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-075-1. Yeshe, Lama Thubten (2001). The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. ISBN 1-891868-08-X. 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

    20 min

  8. 11/28/2025 · BONUS

    Buddhish 24 - TTRPGs

    Bright on Buddhism - Buddhish Episode 24 - TTRPGs Join us as we discuss Nick and Dox's ongoing TTRPG! 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

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to Bright on Buddhism, a podcast where we discuss and explain topics of Buddhism in a casual, conversational, question and answer setting. My name is Nick Bright, scholar of East Asian Buddhism. I am currently studying for my Master’s degree in Religion at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where I am specializing in pre-modern Japanese Buddhist architecture history. I have researched topics such as Japanese Buddhist responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, Buddhist Haiku poetry, and the Japanese history of science and religion. I will be joined by my friend Proven Paradox.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicholas Bright Haight
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    240
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nicholas Bright Haight
  • Show Website
    Bright On Buddhism