Let me start off by saying I'm a novice in the world of Buddhism. After Afghanistan I was an alcoholic wreck. A Tibetan Buddhist monk help me with Buddhist teachings. I am no longer trapped by mistakes and horrors of the past and I no longer dread the future. I exist and that's all I need be. (At least this is my understanding for now) I am thankful to Gautama Buddha, I'm thankful to Thich Nhat Hanh, I am Grateful to Tina Turner and of course...... I Am grateful to my teacher. I wish everyone well on their Journey. See you outer there😊
As someone from a Christian-centric culture, it's very interesting to see and learn about religions like Buddhism where there's seemingly no need for a creation myth or a central God(s) figure and instead preaches attaining enlightenment for the self. It's a very different perspective from the way a Christian would see the path to enlightenment even if conceptually you're still getting rid of your desires. I find this much more approachable than how we're taught/experience Christianity over here.
For more info on Buddhism I highly recommend Religion for Breakfast's videos on the subject (Mahayana Buddhism has a lot more hells than you may expect) or Extra History's series on the history of Buddhism.
I haven't had a good cry watching John in a while, thanks. As a lay Buddhist it's the faith that speaks closest to my heart. Be moderate, help others, and do your best in all that you do. Thank you.
So, I was uncertain how much new information I'd gather about Buddhism considering I'd read several texts as a way of increasing mental wellness for my own life. Turns out, QUITE A BIT! Crash Course always teaches me new and interesting things I'd never expect to have learned otherwise. In fact, I dedicate an hour or two in my daily routine to watch, take notes, and rewatch a video most days in the afternoon in order to continue educating myself for the pleasure, and wellness of simply learning. In the same way that cardio exercise, muscle building exercise, and meditation/mindfulness exercises are important, simply taking an hour or two to continue engaging your mind has multiple benefits for elongated brain health. I love this series!!!
Yeah I feel the "desire" terminology trips people up, they think you need to not want anything, aspire to anything, as if that's "bad", but none of it is moralized quite that way. The "desire" bit is the word "trishna" is related to the English world "thirst" it's that you "thirst " and crave. It's not that you don't desire but that you don't crave the outcome, the specific outcome. In this way Buddhism reveals its similar principles with the philosophy of Stoicism. It's not about denying oneself of things, or not feeling things, but not holding too tightly to the feelings and gaining equanimity and evenness about how you respond. Understanding through karma that indulging in some things leads you and the world more likely to repeat behavior, and if that behavior isn't skillful, compassionate, or in line with your own aspirations and morality, you can lose yourself in it. The world becomes the actions we take, and in collective our actions make the universe, because we are fundamentally not separate from the universe, we are a part of it. That's what karma is about in Buddhism. Many Buddhists use an analogy about the journey to enlightenment, nirvana, is like crossing a river, and that Buddhism is like a good boat. But you can cross the river on your own too, it's not exclusive to Buddhism, it's just that Buddhists believe their boat is pretty good. In fact, the yana in Mahayana refers to a 'vehicle' or boat, and the 'maha' shares ancestry with the word 'mega' as in megabyte, and means "greater" because they believe their branch focuses on saving a greater number of people. Tibetan Buddhism is sometimes called Vajrayana "the vehicle or way of the thunderbolt." Sometimes Theravada is described as 'hinayana' or 'little vehicle' for their focus on monks and the specific words of the Buddha, but they can consider that phrasing to be somewhat pejorative. Theravada is accurate, but sometimes it refers to schools as "nikaya" or gatherings.
You're still right on track with my community college online intro to World Religions class. What is Religion?, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indigenous religions. Super cool!
An excellent brief intro to Buddhism. Humour is a big part of teaching in Buddhism so this was perfect! Like so many paths there are a mind boggling amount of flavours within Buddhism. It would take a completely different course to explain them all. I practice Theravada Buddhism so this is my episode. This is a great course and I’m looking forward to more!
THANK YOU. Enthusiastic respect and admiration and gratitude. Thank you for clarify so much about Buddhism, and the others you have covered so far. Some that attracts me very strongly is I keep reading that the Buddha said approx: "Don't take my word for these things. Go away, discuss it with people you know and trust, read more, find out if it really is right for you." the Dalai Lama said/wrote similarly "I don't want you to convert from your religion, that is working for you in your culture." and "Maybe use these practices to strengthen you in your own religion".
Now I don't necessarily believe in Buddhism (which is something I apply to all religions), but it is probably the one I most sympathize with regarding the goal (the end of suffering). The Middle Way reminds me of Aristotle's virtue ethics, which is also about balance and moderation. Buddhism really feels like something made to unite people, not divide them (which is not something you can say about all religions).
Thank you Jon. As a Buddhist myself, your explanations are quite thorough and informative. Your religion contents have been consistently good. Look forward for the next one 😊
❤Well done ....if a tad BRIEF🙏 THANK YOU from an unlikely Theraveda Buddhist Canadian 🇨🇦😂 This is THE BEST CRASH COURSE SERIES YET❣ 💯 Sending Great Gratitude & Appreciation, Big Blessings & Love, Many Mercies & Adventures, All the Compassion & Luck🍀🙏✌🏽✊🏽❤ May All be free from Suffering 🖖💓🖖DFTBA
I've been loving these videos, thank you to John and the Crash Course team! I know how stressful it has been to make these happen, but the world is better because of it!
I had the misconception that Buddhism advocated for asceticism! I just assumed that because of a generalized picture I had had of Tibetan monks. This was a great video❤️
You ended your U.S. History course in 2014. So much incomprehensible stuff has happened since then -- you really need to do second course, bringing it up to the present date.
When I tried to learn about Buddhism, it was the various lists of things that I really struggled with. I think I misunderstood it as being a religion based loosely on vibes and feelings rather than structured rules. Or maybe it's both, the middle way? Really enjoying this series 💜
As someone who’s neurodivergent and can’t tell what jokes are sometimes- I really appreciate the two camera layout! It really helps me understand what’s a joke and what’s an actual thing, which as much as it sounds weird, acts as a lifesaver when I’m learning! 2:45 is such a good example- is it actually considered the easy stuff in Buddasm or is it just a sarcastic gag? Now I know more clearly that it’s the latter.
I noticed the Tibetan prayer flags in the background -- my mom has a line of mini flags someone gifted her hanging above our wood stove. The five colors represent different elements
Beautifully done. One of my favorite sci fi authors references Buddhism (well, sort of, Spider Robinson is never THAT simple) - but what I recall the most about the idea of it was that, at the very center of enlightenment is love. Love in its purest form, that sees other humans as complete humans just as you said.
A good primer on Buddhism. Although, I'm surprised that zen wasn't mentioned, since it is pne of the more popular sects. Then again, I suppose trying to explain koans and satori would have complicated things quite a bit.
I have been seeing your videos for almost 7 years now and when you guys started the Crash Course Religions I was very excited. I just want one thing can you please make videos on Jainism as the next video topic we are very few in number but also one of the oldest religions of India alongside Hinduism and buddies and petrol confuse us with Buddhism where we are very different. It would make me very happy if you could make videos on Jainism .
I wonder if you'll do Jainism next. It's similar in many ways, although our guru, Mahaveer, doubled down on the ascetic lifestyle, and relinquished all of his personal property. He also lived around the same time as Gautam Buddha. Though I am a Jain myself, so definitely biased on this one.
To us Hindu Buddha is another Avtar of Vishnu . So nonviolence in food ( Vegetarian) and compassion towards animals and all living being is in practice for serious people of faith. Although ours version of Buddha contrasts with mainstream Buddhism.
Samsara and Nirvana arise from the same ground. Your perception is what changes, reality doesn’t change. You’re already enlightened, there is nowhere to go; you just need to clean your glasses 😜 Sarva Mangalam 🙏
As a buddhist, that's how I see reincarnation. It's like playing video games. The first 10 times could be fun but if you have to do that thousands of times that you want out.
While not technically a religion, I hope an episode like this is dedicated to atheism and agnosticism. Under “Religions” in the CIA World Factbook, the third largest religion in the world is “Unaffiliated”. It’s a larger percent of the world than Bhuddists or Hindus. There are also numerous types of creedless. You have Saganists, humanists, spiritual atheists, empiricists, and many more.
Hi Crash Course good series loved it a suggestion for future while in English many words are written ending in a the 'a' is not always the long a but an artifact of Sanskrit and Hindi phonetics which pronounce many of these with a short 'a' ( it's usually written as अ while you were pronouncing as आ)
I thought there might be a bit more about the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism, as some of the terminology and overarching ideas seem to be the same. I feel like I remember learning that Buddhism could be considered, in a certain sense, a branch off of Hinduism, but I suppose that might be oversimplifying things.
For some reason, when I clicked on the video from the main feed, it took me immediately to about 4:08 and only after hearing "which I mentioned before" I realized I was in the middle somehow
Great video! I’d like to add some historical context for others who are into that sort of thing- Buddhism and Jainism developed during the Mahajanpada period of Indian history around 6th-4th Century BCE. At this time many large kingdoms with big cities were flourishing (thanks to the discovery of iron). Magadha was the biggest of these and also happened to be the region where the Buddha gained enlightenment (in present day Bihar). As people are wont to do, they began lamenting the loss of the Good Old Days and Simpler Times ™ Buddhism and Jainism with their teachings of leading a simple life, leaving your house to travel and discover yourself, and generally more egalitarian systems than Brahmanical religion provided the perfect answer. They gained popularity particularly with merchants who donated to build viharas or places for the monks and nuns (Buddhism allowed nuns) to stay during their travels. This is why you’ll see Jainism being practiced more so along the western coast of India which has many major ports, while Buddhism travelled all over through the silk route. This is all I can remember off the top of my head for now. Cheers! 😄
Buddha is arguably the first person who framed an early version of dialectic materialism. His teachings are focusing on mankinds wants and sufferings. He is not that big on caste system, he wants people to live in such a way, that they'll never need to apologise and his teachings are strangely atheistical, gods are not really there
We're getting out of Samsara with this one, boys.
the fakeout at 1:22 made me actually laugh out loud XD well played to the crash course script writers and thank you for the additional knowledge!
The video game analogy is genius
Let me start off by saying I'm a novice in the world of Buddhism. After Afghanistan I was an alcoholic wreck. A Tibetan Buddhist monk help me with Buddhist teachings. I am no longer trapped by mistakes and horrors of the past and I no longer dread the future. I exist and that's all I need be. (At least this is my understanding for now) I am thankful to Gautama Buddha, I'm thankful to Thich Nhat Hanh, I am Grateful to Tina Turner and of course...... I Am grateful to my teacher. I wish everyone well on their Journey. See you outer there😊
As someone from a Christian-centric culture, it's very interesting to see and learn about religions like Buddhism where there's seemingly no need for a creation myth or a central God(s) figure and instead preaches attaining enlightenment for the self. It's a very different perspective from the way a Christian would see the path to enlightenment even if conceptually you're still getting rid of your desires.
I find this much more approachable than how we're taught/experience Christianity over here.
"There is suffering. Which is such a banger." Keep up the great work!
Amazing series on Religion. Also the way that John Green speaks is so energetic.
Gotta love the completely unbiased and in no way a shameless plug referrence to that great literary classic, Paper Towns.
For more info on Buddhism I highly recommend Religion for Breakfast's videos on the subject (Mahayana Buddhism has a lot more hells than you may expect) or Extra History's series on the history of Buddhism.
I haven't had a good cry watching John in a while, thanks. As a lay Buddhist it's the faith that speaks closest to my heart. Be moderate, help others, and do your best in all that you do. Thank you.
So, I was uncertain how much new information I'd gather about Buddhism considering I'd read several texts as a way of increasing mental wellness for my own life. Turns out, QUITE A BIT! Crash Course always teaches me new and interesting things I'd never expect to have learned otherwise. In fact, I dedicate an hour or two in my daily routine to watch, take notes, and rewatch a video most days in the afternoon in order to continue educating myself for the pleasure, and wellness of simply learning. In the same way that cardio exercise, muscle building exercise, and meditation/mindfulness exercises are important, simply taking an hour or two to continue engaging your mind has multiple benefits for elongated brain health. I love this series!!!
Yeah I feel the "desire" terminology trips people up, they think you need to not want anything, aspire to anything, as if that's "bad", but none of it is moralized quite that way. The "desire" bit is the word "trishna" is related to the English world "thirst" it's that you "thirst " and crave. It's not that you don't desire but that you don't crave the outcome, the specific outcome. In this way Buddhism reveals its similar principles with the philosophy of Stoicism. It's not about denying oneself of things, or not feeling things, but not holding too tightly to the feelings and gaining equanimity and evenness about how you respond. Understanding through karma that indulging in some things leads you and the world more likely to repeat behavior, and if that behavior isn't skillful, compassionate, or in line with your own aspirations and morality, you can lose yourself in it. The world becomes the actions we take, and in collective our actions make the universe, because we are fundamentally not separate from the universe, we are a part of it. That's what karma is about in Buddhism.
Many Buddhists use an analogy about the journey to enlightenment, nirvana, is like crossing a river, and that Buddhism is like a good boat. But you can cross the river on your own too, it's not exclusive to Buddhism, it's just that Buddhists believe their boat is pretty good. In fact, the yana in Mahayana refers to a 'vehicle' or boat, and the 'maha' shares ancestry with the word 'mega' as in megabyte, and means "greater" because they believe their branch focuses on saving a greater number of people. Tibetan Buddhism is sometimes called Vajrayana "the vehicle or way of the thunderbolt." Sometimes Theravada is described as 'hinayana' or 'little vehicle' for their focus on monks and the specific words of the Buddha, but they can consider that phrasing to be somewhat pejorative. Theravada is accurate, but sometimes it refers to schools as "nikaya" or gatherings.
You're still right on track with my community college online intro to World Religions class. What is Religion?, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indigenous religions. Super cool!
An excellent brief intro to Buddhism. Humour is a big part of teaching in Buddhism so this was perfect! Like so many paths there are a mind boggling amount of flavours within Buddhism. It would take a completely different course to explain them all. I practice Theravada Buddhism so this is my episode. This is a great course and I’m looking forward to more!
THANK YOU. Enthusiastic respect and admiration and gratitude. Thank you for clarify so much about Buddhism, and the others you have covered so far.
Some that attracts me very strongly is I keep reading that the Buddha said approx:
"Don't take my word for these things. Go away, discuss it with people you know and trust, read more, find out if it really is right for you."
the Dalai Lama said/wrote similarly
"I don't want you to convert from your religion, that is working for you in your culture." and "Maybe use these practices to strengthen you in your own religion".
Now I don't necessarily believe in Buddhism (which is something I apply to all religions), but it is probably the one I most sympathize with regarding the goal (the end of suffering). The Middle Way reminds me of Aristotle's virtue ethics, which is also about balance and moderation. Buddhism really feels like something made to unite people, not divide them (which is not something you can say about all religions).
I think at their core other religions are aiming to do the same thing, but they haven't been preserved or followed as initially intended.
Thank you Jon. As a Buddhist myself, your explanations are quite thorough and informative. Your religion contents have been consistently good. Look forward for the next one 😊
A way to remember the 8 noble truths is LIVECAMS:
Livelihood
Intention
View
Effort
Concentration
Action
Mindfulness
Speech
❤Well done ....if a tad BRIEF🙏
THANK YOU from an unlikely Theraveda Buddhist Canadian 🇨🇦😂
This is THE BEST CRASH COURSE SERIES YET❣
💯
Sending Great Gratitude & Appreciation, Big Blessings & Love, Many Mercies & Adventures, All the Compassion & Luck🍀🙏✌🏽✊🏽❤
May All be free from Suffering
🖖💓🖖DFTBA
I can't wait to watch the pagan episode! These are so interesting!
I've been loving these videos, thank you to John and the Crash Course team! I know how stressful it has been to make these happen, but the world is better because of it!
Buddha - the first Enlightened Centrist 4:48
I had the misconception that Buddhism advocated for asceticism! I just assumed that because of a generalized picture I had had of Tibetan monks. This was a great video❤️
The timing of this video is perfect considering that I have an intro to buddhism exam tomorrow that I’ve barely studied for 🫠
You ended your U.S. History course in 2014. So much incomprehensible stuff has happened since then -- you really need to do second course, bringing it up to the present date.
When I tried to learn about Buddhism, it was the various lists of things that I really struggled with. I think I misunderstood it as being a religion based loosely on vibes and feelings rather than structured rules. Or maybe it's both, the middle way?
Really enjoying this series 💜
I love this series.
When this episode drops just as I'm halfway through Hesse's Siddhartha 🌲
As a buddhist nerdfighter this is very exciting
As someone who’s neurodivergent and can’t tell what jokes are sometimes- I really appreciate the two camera layout! It really helps me understand what’s a joke and what’s an actual thing, which as much as it sounds weird, acts as a lifesaver when I’m learning! 2:45 is such a good example- is it actually considered the easy stuff in Buddasm or is it just a sarcastic gag? Now I know more clearly that it’s the latter.
The fact that john Green referenced his own book in an educational video is absolutely hilarious
I noticed the Tibetan prayer flags in the background -- my mom has a line of mini flags someone gifted her hanging above our wood stove. The five colors represent different elements
Bodhisattva is a beautiful concept.
buddhism and video games, my two favorite things together ❤
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu. 🌸✨💮✨🏵✨🌷✨
Beautifully done. One of my favorite sci fi authors references Buddhism (well, sort of, Spider Robinson is never THAT simple) - but what I recall the most about the idea of it was that, at the very center of enlightenment is love. Love in its purest form, that sees other humans as complete humans just as you said.
10:06 beautiful analogy ❤❤
5:47 it’s been awhile since we have that gag.
I absolutely love that weird plug for paper towns.
Comes at a perfect time. I’m teaching world religions this year middle school.
Salute to the people who opened the comments section for the entire Samsara.
"Dharma" is actually closer to the Indian concept of religion/philosophy/practice/yoga/manymanymorethings
I've been struggling with the death of my Grandmother. That trick ending gave me a belly laugh like I haven't had in a while. Thank you!
5:48 I feel so called out, and its not just you.
A good primer on Buddhism. Although, I'm surprised that zen wasn't mentioned, since it is pne of the more popular sects. Then again, I suppose trying to explain koans and satori would have complicated things quite a bit.
I love that my favorite crash course series and the Misquoting Jesus podcast both come out on tuesday!!
10:35 Oh hey I have been there! Like...a month ago. Super cool. Ayutthaya, Thailand.
Whoever on the team decided to make Ikaruga the video game John is playing in the beginning -- I see you, and I commend your excellent taste
Can't believe we're already at week 6!
I have been seeing your videos for almost 7 years now and when you guys started the Crash Course Religions I was very excited. I just want one thing can you please make videos on Jainism as the next video topic we are very few in number but also one of the oldest religions of India alongside Hinduism and buddies and petrol confuse us with Buddhism where we are very different. It would make me very happy if you could make videos on Jainism .
Omg paper towns mentioned ❤❤🎉
I am liking the second-camera John Green
I wonder if you'll do Jainism next. It's similar in many ways, although our guru, Mahaveer, doubled down on the ascetic lifestyle, and relinquished all of his personal property. He also lived around the same time as Gautam Buddha.
Though I am a Jain myself, so definitely biased on this one.
1:23 I like how all the credits in the fake out have the last name Green except Stan Muller
Can’t wait for the next episode! Love the Crash Course
Good job in making a VERY complex subject slightly more approachable! Very well done!
I hope you do a pagan one about Odin and Freya. Thank you GREEN BROS! Yall are the best!
great crash course on the philosophy! always a pleasure watching these series :)
im peruvian and i cant wait for the next episode! youre ending my Samsara !
Buddha is the inspiration behind the anime series Avatar the last air bender. He is even portrayed like a tibetian monk
I love this series! Cant wait for the next episode
To us Hindu Buddha is another Avtar of Vishnu . So nonviolence in food ( Vegetarian) and compassion towards animals and all living being is in practice for serious people of faith. Although ours version of Buddha contrasts with mainstream Buddhism.
This is my first go around, gonna get out of samsara on my first time. Just built different.
Samsara and Nirvana arise from the same ground. Your perception is what changes, reality doesn’t change. You’re already enlightened, there is nowhere to go; you just need to clean your glasses 😜
Sarva Mangalam 🙏
That intro was really giving the final season of parts unknown 💀
As a buddhist, that's how I see reincarnation. It's like playing video games. The first 10 times could be fun but if you have to do that thousands of times that you want out.
I am still looking for the last damn cheese bit in ratatouille for Nintendo DS after more than a decade.
Have you seen those candles that say "smells like video game rage"? Crash Course should sell "smells like the endless cycle of suffering" ones
Omg, he opened with the video game analogy that I recently formulated myself for teaching Buddhism to students! Great minds really do think alike 😎
Yay new episode 🙌🏻
this format really suits me
Thanks John!
While not technically a religion, I hope an episode like this is dedicated to atheism and agnosticism. Under “Religions” in the CIA World Factbook, the third largest religion in the world is “Unaffiliated”. It’s a larger percent of the world than Bhuddists or Hindus. There are also numerous types of creedless. You have Saganists, humanists, spiritual atheists, empiricists, and many more.
I thought that my computer glitched when he did the quick cut! 😊
12mins ago i was caching up my curiosity was lost in this big world but your videos make it all come together tysm
We Buddhists do love a list 🤣
Can you please make one for Jainism?
Interesting content about religions. I hope you will do one for Hinduism, Shinto religion in Japan next time or animism.
Great video.
Finally, an accurate description of the Dalai Lama's role!
Hi Crash Course good series loved it a suggestion for future while in English many words are written ending in a the 'a' is not always the long a but an artifact of Sanskrit and Hindi phonetics which pronounce many of these with a short 'a' ( it's usually written as अ while you were pronouncing as आ)
I thought there might be a bit more about the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism, as some of the terminology and overarching ideas seem to be the same. I feel like I remember learning that Buddhism could be considered, in a certain sense, a branch off of Hinduism, but I suppose that might be oversimplifying things.
really liked this video
Amazing!
You should do one about sacred languages.
4:48 this should be an actual videogame
very clear and thoughtful. Thanks team.
3:31 yeah, I liked it. 😂
I'm the kind of person who can be stuck on a video game level for weeks, maybe even a few months.
For some reason, when I clicked on the video from the main feed, it took me immediately to about 4:08 and only after hearing "which I mentioned before" I realized I was in the middle somehow
The fake ending of this episode absolutely sent me.
Now I'm wondering how all those games I abandoned after getting stuck fit into this.
Tiny correction, not just human suffering. Its the suffering of all beings.
Great video! I’d like to add some historical context for others who are into that sort of thing-
Buddhism and Jainism developed during the Mahajanpada period of Indian history around 6th-4th Century BCE. At this time many large kingdoms with big cities were flourishing (thanks to the discovery of iron). Magadha was the biggest of these and also happened to be the region where the Buddha gained enlightenment (in present day Bihar). As people are wont to do, they began lamenting the loss of the Good Old Days and Simpler Times ™
Buddhism and Jainism with their teachings of leading a simple life, leaving your house to travel and discover yourself, and generally more egalitarian systems than Brahmanical religion provided the perfect answer.
They gained popularity particularly with merchants who donated to build viharas or places for the monks and nuns (Buddhism allowed nuns) to stay during their travels. This is why you’ll see Jainism being practiced more so along the western coast of India which has many major ports, while Buddhism travelled all over through the silk route.
This is all I can remember off the top of my head for now. Cheers! 😄
Buddha is arguably the first person who framed an early version of dialectic materialism. His teachings are focusing on mankinds wants and sufferings. He is not that big on caste system, he wants people to live in such a way, that they'll never need to apologise and his teachings are strangely atheistical, gods are not really there
i love crash course
you got a new sub!
I did like it ❤
Will you make video about Islam and Judaism too? I rather hopeful too you’d make abt Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroatrianism
Yo is it just me or did the CC logo change for the channel? Also, I wonder how immediate karma plays a role into all of this 🤔