Buddhism Without Gods: Unpacking Western Myths

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "The Buddha: Biography of a Myth" by Donald S. Lopez Jr. - Donald Lopez's new book, discussed in the episode, which offers insights into the life of the Buddha.
• "Princeton Encyclopedia of Buddhism" edited by Donald S. Lopez Jr. and Robert Buswell - A comprehensive reference work on Buddhism, co-edited by Donald Lopez, providing detailed information on various aspects of Buddhist thought and history.
• "Buddhism: A Journey Through History" by Donald S. Lopez Jr. - Recommended by Tyler Cowen as the single best place for a comprehensive look at all of Buddhism.
• "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass - A book mentioned as being influential in the 1960s for those exploring Eastern spirituality.
• "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" - A significant text in Western understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, though its origin and initial translation are discussed with historical context.
• "The Egyptian Book of the Dead" - Mentioned as an inspiration for the naming of "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" by Walter Evans Wentz due to Theosophical interests.
• "Lost Horizon" - A novel that contributed to the romanticized and mystified image of Tibet in the Western imagination.

Research & Studies

• Pew Study on Religion in Japan (March, 2024) - A study indicating a decline in Buddhism's popularity in Japan.

People Mentioned

• Donald S. Lopez Jr. (Professor at the University of Michigan) - The guest of the episode, a leading expert on Buddhism and author of several books on the topic.
• Maitreya - The name of the next Buddha, prophesied to appear in our world in about 6 billion years according to Buddhist time.
• Ananda - Buddha's cousin and attendant, present during Buddha's prediction of his own death.
• Mara - The Buddhist "devil," a figure who attacked the Buddha before his enlightenment.
• Rahula - The Buddha's son, who became a monk and achieved enlightenment.
• Laozi - The supposed founder of Daoism, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Confucius - A key figure in Chinese philosophy, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Socrates - A prominent Greek philosopher, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Zoroaster - The prophet of Zoroastrianism, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Homer - The ancient Greek epic poet, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Jeremiah - A major prophet of the Hebrew Bible, mentioned in the context of the Axial Age.
• Vasco de Gama - Portuguese explorer, whose landing in India in 1498 coincided with Buddhism's decline on the subcontinent.
• King Mongkut - A 19th-century king of Thailand (Siam) credited with keeping the country free from European colonization and preserving Buddhism.
• Chulalongkorn - A 19th-century king of Thailand, who, along with King Mongkut, maintained the country's independence.
• Walter Evans Wentz - An American theosophist who translated and popularized "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" in the West.
• Madame Blavatsky - Co-founder of Theosophy, who claimed to have studied with enlightened masters in Tibet and coined the term "Mahatmas."
• Mahatma Gandhi - Named after the Theosophical masters (Mahatmas).
• Padmasambhava - An Indian guru believed to have introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and to have buried "treasure texts."
• Bodhidharma - A figure credited with bringing Zen (Chan) Buddhism to China, though his historical existence is debated.
• Robert Buswell (Colleague of Donald S. Lopez Jr. at UCLA) - Co-editor of the "Princeton Encyclopedia of Buddhism."
• Indira Gandhi - Former Prime Minister of India, mentioned in a comparison of salaries during Donald Lopez's time in India.
• The Dalai Lama - The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, whose role and the succession process are discussed.
• The Panchen Lama - Another important figure in Tibetan Buddhism, whose alleged meeting with Madame Blavatsky is mentioned.
• Rudolf Steiner - Mentioned as a "fellow traveler" with Theosophy, though not directly categorized as a Theosophist.
• Louis XIV - King of France, whose efforts to convert Siam (Thailand) to Catholicism were mentioned.

Organizations & Institutions

• Mercatus Center at George Mason University - Producer of the "Conversations with Tyler" podcast.
• East India Company - Mentioned for its policy of not allowing missionaries in its territories initially.

Websites & Online Resources

• conversationswithtyler.com - The website for the podcast, where transcripts with helpful links can be found.
• YouTube - Mentioned as a platform for Buddhist teachers from various traditions and for performing Buddhist rituals online.
• TikTok - Mentioned as a platform where many people, including those in poorer countries, consume content.

Other Resources

• Pali Canon - A collection of primary Buddhist scriptures in the Theravada tradition, mentioned as a source for specific numbers and teachings.
• Mahayana Sutras - A collection of Buddhist texts accepted by Northern Buddhist traditions (China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Nepal, Vietnam) as the word of the Buddha, though not by Theravada traditions. Examples include the Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, and Lotus Sutra.
• Borobudur - A magnificent Buddhist monument in Java, Indonesia, mentioned for its historical significance and eventual abandonment.