Category Archives: Buddhist history

Wesak 2022

Posted on May 16, 2022 by EricKVanHorn

Today is Wesak day, which is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. It is the first full moon day in May. According to the Buddhist tradition, the Buddha was born on this day, he attained enlightenment on this … Continue reading →

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Racism and the Dharma

Posted on December 21, 2018 by EricKVanHorn

There is an article in today’s Washington Post about a bizarre incident that took place at Lehigh University last year. A student from China was the roommate of a black man from the U.S. During their senior semester, there were a … Continue reading →

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Jātaka Tales

Posted on December 20, 2017 by EricKVanHorn

Stories of the Buddha’s Former Births Introduction Volume 1 1: Apaṇṇaka Jātaka, The True Dharma 2: Vaṇṇupatha Jātaka, The Sandy Road 3: Serivaṇija Jātaka, The Serivan, or The Gold Bowl 4: Cullaka-seṭṭi Jātaka, Chullaka the Treasurer 5: Taṇḍulanāli Jātaka, The … Continue reading →

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Jātaka Tales

The More Things Change… and Dogen

Posted on September 20, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I have spent the better part of the last 20 years of my Buddhist life immersed in the Pali Canon. We are so blessed to have good translations of the Pali Canon in English. I always encourage people to at … Continue reading →

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New Biography of the Buddha

Posted on June 16, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

For those of you who are wondering why there is such a long time between my posts it is because I am working on the seven-part series of “Little Books on Buddhism.” I am in the process of releasing book … Continue reading →

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Books

Posted on February 8, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

Foundations of the Buddha’s Path The Buddha’s Path Series: Volume 1 Meditation, Ethics, and Daily Living by Eric K. Van Horn Kindle Version ePub Version Print Version The Heart of the Buddha’s Path The Buddha’s Path Series: Volume 2 Buddhist … Continue reading →

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Additional Resources

Posted on February 15, 2015 by EricKVanHorn

Books Buddhist History The Foundations of Buddhism by Rupert Gethin This is a remarkably unbiased book about all of the Buddhist traditions and the history and evolution of Buddhism. I cannot recommend this book enough. I discovered it some years … Continue reading →

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A Good Man, and Oy! What a Memory!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

The purpose of the Buddhist canonical literature is to preserve the teachings of the Buddha. To that end there is no intent to create a biography of the Buddha, or anyone else. Having said that, one of the things I … Continue reading →

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Oh, Those Unruly Monks! (Finale)

Posted on April 29, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

I suppose that every human institution has its dirty laundry. The sutta about the monks at Kosambi shows that this was true even in the Buddha’s own time and even in his own community. So it isn’t too surprising that … Continue reading →

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Oh, Those Unruly Monks! (Part 2)

Posted on April 28, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

When we last left the story, the Buddha had quietly slipped out of the monastery (really, just a park). He paid a brief visit to a friend and bhikkhu, Bhagu, and then went on to the Eastern Bamboo Park. It … Continue reading →

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