Precious Garland 1

In this episode, we begin to look more explicitly at Yogarchara ideas by considering chapter 5 of Waldron's Making Sense of Mind Only. More specifically, we consider the teaching of the the Three Natures and the notion that Yogachara represents a 'third turning of the Wheel' of the Dharma.

In this episode, we continue to review the Madhyamaka perspective in relation to the nature of reality as presented by William Waldron in his book, 'Making Sense of Mind Only'. In particular, we touch on the teaching of the Two Truths and emphasise the indivisible link between them. We affirm that the absolute truth can only be realised by means of the relative truth.

In this episode we look at the philosophical context of Madhayamaka in relation to the emergence of Yogachara thought. In particular, we highlight the teaching of emptiness (shunyata) and question the analytical method so prevalent in Buddhist thought. We also examine whether arguments against the idea of an atman (soul) are compelling or not, especially when considered in relation to Dependent origination.

In this episode, we look at chapter 3 of William Waldron's book 'Making Sense of Mind Only', which offers an overview and critique of the Adhidharma Buddhist tradition. More particularly, it aims to show how problems in the Abhidharma approach gave rise to Mahayana philosophical ideas and, more specifically, Yogachara developments.

We continue to study William Waldron's 'Making Sense of Mind Only', which is an introduction to Yogachara philosophy. In this episode we look at chapter 2 of the book, which examines the interdependent nature of perception, and experience as a whole, in early Buddhism. We explore how self and world are interconnected.

In this episode we consider chapter 1 of William Waldron's book 'Making sense of Mind Only'. We look at the early Buddhist background that informs the Yogachara perspective, particularly by looking at conditionality and anatman (no fixed self).

In the episode we begin a study of William Waldron's new book 'Making Sense of Mind Only', which is an introduction to Yogachara ideas within Buddhism. Here we consider the introduction and examine the approach that Waldron presents which is to present Yogachara in dialogue with the traditions that preceded it and as trying to solve practical, spiritual problems rather than to affirm a philosophical worldview.

In this episode, we begin to look at Nagarjuna's 'Precious Garland', a text of 500 verses addressed to a king which deals with the themes of ethics and wisdom. The first episode deals with the general context of the text and looks at the first fifty verses.

In this episode (which is rather long) we look at one of the pivotal chapters from the Shōbōgenzō, which is chapter 11, 'Uji'. This is variously translating as 'existence-time', 'being-time', and so on. It is one of the key concepts in Dōgen's vision of Dharma practice and might be described as a kind of Zen phenomenology. Dōgen evokes the subjective reality of human existence, especially in relation to time and how we stand in relation to ignorance and awakening. At times elusive, at times illuminating, this chapter repays sustained attention.

In this episode we discuss chapter 9 of Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō; 'The voices of the river valley and the form of the mountains' (Keisei-shinshiki). This chapter focuses on how the whole of nature functions as the 'Buddha's body' in the sense that it reveals the nature of conditionality. The chapter also explores motivation for Dharma practice and warns against using the Dharma life to accomplish worldly ends. According to Dōgen, 'we should endeavour to be unknown'.