Elijah Audio Lectures

The Varieties of Enlightened Energy: What Does a Buddhist Saint Embody

Steven Goodman

This lecture provides a basic introduction to Buddhism. The lecturer explains Buddhism through the spiritual biography of the person who became known as the Buddha. A detailed, poignant description is given of the Buddha's early life as a member of the sheltered upper class and his discovery of the tragic paradoxes of human existence. He discovers illness, old age, and death, but also meets a holy man who seems to live his life in a serene way despite these built-in tragedies of ... More>>

The Varieties of Saintly Lifestyle: Who Are They

Steven Goodman

This lecture is an explanation of the Buddhist sacred texts and different categories of saints, emphasizing the Sanskrit terminology. It also delves into the Buddhist philosophy relevant to the understanding of these categories. The sacred Buddhist texts are divided into three parts: the sutras, the actual talks given by the Buddha, the advice he gave on matters of conduct, and the notes on these texts. There is also a vast literature of commentaries to these texts. Yet, the dh... More>>

Basic Forms of Buddhist Meditation

Evgeny Tortchinov

This lecture provides an overview of some basic Buddhist concepts, with a focus on contemplative practices. Buddhism is a religion that is founded on contemplative, or mystical, practice, since the Buddha Sakyamuni, the founder of this way, achieved enlightenment only after prolonged time involved in intense contemplation. Supporting the view of Buddhism as a practical path to enlightenment is the fact that as a non-dogmatic approach Buddhism has a plethora of schools, while meditation remains a... More>>

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

Evgeny Tortchinov

This lecture focuses on the main points of difference between the two major divisions in the Buddhist world: Theravada and Mahayana. A general comment is made concerning Buddhist cosmology. The cosmos is not interpreted as something out there, but as one's own personal experience of it and one's effort to achieve proper detachment. Theravada Buddhism, self-entitled and meaning the Teaching of the Elders, is the Buddhism of southern Asia, in co... More>>

Devotional Schools of Mahayana Buddhism

Evgeny Tortchinov

This lecture looks at the two major schools in Mahayana Buddhism where mystical prayer plays a prominent role. These two schools are the Pure Land tradition in the Chinese Ch'an and Japanese Buddhism, and the tradition of Nichiren Zen in Japan. As a background, Mahayana Buddhism has teachings about a myriad of universes, buddhas and bodhisattvas, existing in the past, present and future, which become objects of veneration and worship. The Nich... More>>

Introduction to Zen Buddhism

Evgeny Tortchinov

Zen Buddhism, called Ch'an in China refers to itself as the heart of Buddhist practice, as the goal is to delve into the nature of your heart and mind to find the enlightened Buddha nature. The main practice of Zen is meditation, through which knowledge of one's true nature emerges. The first patriarch of Zen was Bodhidharma, an Indian monk in the 6th century who brought his teachings to China. Over the following two centuries a schism in Zen resulted in two main appr... More>>

No Self as the Foundation of Religious Identity

Richard Hayes

Hayes presents what some may call 'conversion' in the Buddhist sense. By presenting the fundamentals of Buddhism, such as the "No-Self" doctrine, the problem of "Liberation" and "Dissatisfaction", Hayes attempts to present the listeners with the "Religious Identity" of Buddhism. He presents an exhaustive array of ancient Buddhist literature as well as present day experiences in order to demonstrate the ways by which a Buddhist can achieve "Liberation&... More>>