In this episode of "Decoding Academia: Required Readings", Chris and Matt take a joint stroll through the history of Buddhism through Donald S. Lopez Jr.'s latest book, 'Buddhism: A Journey Through History.' We discuss the unexpected historical and cultural facets of Buddhism, how modern interpretations can often romanticise ancient practices, and whether Matt's mind has been blown. We also consider important issues like the Buddha's retractable penis, incredibly long tongue, and just how strongly we should condemn monks scribbling pictures of their would-be brides. So join us in the cycle of samsara as we strive to earn some merit and at least crawl a little closer to enlightenment.
Book Reviewed
- Lopez, D. S. (2025). Buddhism: A Journey through History. Yale University Press.
Required Readings - Buddhism A Journey Through History
00:00 Introduction to Decoding Academia
01:51 Current Book Selection: Buddhism a Journey Through History
02:56 Initial Impressions and Apologies
06:00 Buddhism's Complexities and Contradictions
07:59 Western Perceptions vs. Historical Realities
11:27 The Historical Buddha?
17:09 Buddhist Approaches to Texts
22:09 Comparisons with Other Religions
26:38 Orthopraxic Buddhism
29:53 Petty Buddhism
34:20 Matt's Religion Hot Take
37:17 Ashoka: The Buddhist King?
39:02 Buddhism's Syncretic Nature
39:35 The Syncretic Approach
42:49 Anti-Colonial Buddhism
43:44 Buddhist Modernism and Science
46:58 The Buddhist Canon
51:26 Matt's History Thoughts
53:06 Buddhism's Cultural and Social Role
55:55 Gods and Supernatural Beings
56:48 The Attitude towards Women
59:36 The Value of Buddhism
01:03:35 Religions as Cultural Technologies with Social Functions
01:05:54 Monastic Issues
01:12:51 Religious Motivations
01:14:38 Outro
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 17 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
