- The Knowledge That Can't Be Overpowered — Socrates & the Buddha
Doug takes up Socrates' claim that genuine knowledge cannot be "overpowered" by desire or emotion, and reads it alongside early Buddhism's treatment of the same problem. Distinguishing knowing about what is good for us from the kind of…
- Power of Influence: Buddha and Plato On Rhetoric
What are the dangers in the arts of persuasion? We'll look to two great thinkers to decide. First we'll look to Plato, who inveighed against rhetoric in his dialogues. Then we'll turn to the Buddha, who had similar concerns with the ways…
- The Elements in Early Buddhism: Cross-Cultural History
The elements play a key role in early Buddhist meditation practice, but the idea of them didn't originate with the Buddha. I'll look at the history of the elements with a focus on their role in ancient Greek philosophy as well as other…
- Does a "Historical Buddha" Matter?
Many people gain confidence in the path of Buddhist practice by thinking of the Buddha's own story. We'll consider the difference between a story based in history and one based in myth and legend. We'll take a look at how both Socrates…
- Comparing Early Greek and Buddhist Thought
How is early Buddhist thought like that we find in classical Greece? I'll give a short intro to that fascinating question, pointing out some key differences. This is my second YouTube video, so it's a bit rough. Apologies in advance!…