Season 6, Episode 5 (#158):

Lionel and I read part of the book Buddhism: A Journey Through History by Donald S. Lopez Jr. This ended up being the first of two discussions we would have about this challenging and exhaustive, though not entirely complete accounting of one of the world's major religions.

The following summary was generated by AI automatically on Riverside. I did not ask for it, but included it here anyway. I edited it a bit and took out parts that were inaccurate. - Jim

This conversation delves into the complexities of Buddhism, exploring its historical roots, various schools such as Mahayana and Theravada, and the evolution of its practices across cultures. We discuss the teachings of the Buddha, the role of monastic life, and the significance of almsgiving. We also touch on the critiques of Buddhism, the challenges of translation, and the personal experiences that shape their understanding of the tradition.