Part 1 Rev Dr. Aaron Proffitt continues his introduction to Buddhism, discussing the Chinese Tiantai Tradition.

About the Speaker

Dr. Aaron Proffitt is an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Albany. His research focuses on 12th-13th century Japanese Buddhism in the context of broader East Asian and Mahayana theories of ritual speech (mantra, spells, etc.), the afterlife, and debates about the relationship between Buddhist practice and the attainment of enlightenment. His monograph, Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism in Early Medieval Japan: A Translation and Analysis of Dōhan’s Himitsu nenbutsu shō, is under contract with the Pure Land Buddhist Studies Series through the University of Hawaii Press. 

He is also a Certified Minister's Assistant (lay sangha leader) affiliated with the New York Buddhist Church, co-founder of the Albany Buddhist Sangha. He is of the Shin Buddhist Hongwanji-ha lineage.

Recent Publications

“[Mysteries of Speech and Breath: Dōhan’s 道範 (1179-1252) Himitsu nenbutsu shō 祕密念佛抄and Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism](https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/111511/proffitt_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y).” PhD diss., University of Michigan, 2015.

[*Dohan no himitsu nenbutsu shiso: Kenmitsu bunka to mikkyo jodokyo* 道範の秘密念仏思想：顕密文化と密教浄土教](https://www.academia.edu/36285741/_D%C5%8Dhan_no_himitsu_nenbutsu_shis%C5%8D_kenmitsu_bunka_to_mikky%C5%8D_j%C5%8Ddoky%C5%8D_%E9%81%93%E7%AF%84%E3%81%AE%E7%A7%98%E5%AF%86%E5%BF%B5%E4%BB%8F%E6%80%9D%E6%83%B3_%E9%A1%95%E5%AF%86%E6%96%87%E5%8C%96%E3%81%A8%E5%AF%86%E6%95%99%E6%B5%84%E5%9C%9F%E6%95%99_The_Esoteric_Nenbutsu_Thought_of_D%C5%8Dhan_Kenmitsu_Culture_and_Esoteric_Pure_Land_Buddhism_in_Japanese_)” \[The Esoteric Nenbutsu Thought of Dohan: Kenmitsu Culture and Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism\]. *Journal of World Buddhist Cultures* 『世界仏教文化研究』 Vol. 1 (2018): 117-138.

Taking the Vajrayāna to Sukhāvatī.” In, Methods in Buddhist Studies: Essays in Honor of Richard Payne, ed. Scott A. Mitchell and Natalie E. F. Quli, 54-64. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

“Dōhan’s Compendium on the Secret Nenbutsu: Fascicle One.” In Pure Lands in Asian Texts and Contexts: An Anthology, ed. Georgios T. Halkias and Richard K. Payne, 269-315. Honolulu: University of Hawai\`i Press.

2018 “Himitsu nenbutsu to Tendai shisō 秘密念仏と天台思想.” Tendai Gakuhō tokubetsu gōdainishū 天台学報特別号第二集: 43-50.

2013 “Nenbutsu Mandala Visualization in Dōhan’s Himitsu nenbutsu shō: An Investigation into Medieval Japanese Vajrayāna Pure Land.” Pacific World Journal 15: 153-169.

Introduction to Tendai Buddhism, Part 1 /The Chinese Tiantai Tradition with Dr. Aaron Proffit