Person
Every book Donald S. Lopez Jr. recommended on podcasts
Key facts
- Donald S. Lopez Jr. has recommended or discussed 5 books on podcasts, as of November 12, 2025.
- Donald S. Lopez Jr. has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of November 12, 2025.
- Those books came up in 1 episode, as of November 12, 2025.
- The 3 books Donald S. Lopez Jr. has mentioned in the most episodes, as of November 12, 2025: The Heart Sutra, The Lotus Sutra and Be Here Now.
- The latest episode with a book mention from Donald S. Lopez Jr. aired on November 12, 2025.
Updated
Donald S. Lopez Jr. appears on Conversations with Tyler to discuss his expertise and perspectives on Buddhism, tracing the historical and cultural perceptions of Asian traditions in the West. During the discussion, Lopez reflects on foundational texts and memoirs that shaped his early understanding of Eastern thought. He recommends reading foundational Buddhist texts in translation, specifically pointing to The Lotus Sutra by Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama, as well as The Heart Sutra by Bhagwan Rajneesh, noting the availability of these works in beautiful English translations. In addition to these recommendations, Lopez explores how Western myths of Asia were influenced by literature, referencing James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon as the origin of the mythical Shangri-La that persisted in the Western imagination until the Fourteenth Dalai Lama came out of Tibet in 1959. Furthermore, he recalls reading influential works of his youth during the 1970s, including Ram Dass's Be Here Now, Padma Sambhava's The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and D.T. Suzuki's writings on Zen Buddhism, illustrating the limited reading material available to seekers at that time and the trajectory of his engagement with Buddhist studies.
Books recommended by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
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The Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is a concise and profoundly important text in Mahayana Buddhism concerning the concept of emptiness.
Recommended“So works like the Lotus Sutra, the Heart Sutra, they take the famous ones, there are many commentaries on those works, the polycanons all been translated into beautiful English.”
Where to get it
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The Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra is a foundational and deeply influential Mahayana Buddhist scripture.
Recommended“So works like the Lotus Sutra, the Heart Sutra, they take the famous ones, there are many commentaries on those works, the polycanons all been translated into beautiful English.”
Where to get it
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Be Here Now
Be Here Now by Ram Dass is a seminal 1970s spiritual guide exploring mindfulness, yoga, and Eastern philosophy.
Discussed“There wasn't much to read then. There was like be here now by Ramdas, Tibetan book of the dead that you mentioned, works of DT Suzuki on Zen.”
Where to get it
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Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon by James Hilton is a classic novel that explores the legendary Himalayan utopia of Shangri-La.
Discussed“So it became this this is where Shangala comes from lost horizon all this is that all the myths about Asia crossed the Himalayas and and remained there in Tibet until 1959 when the Daly Lama came out.”
Where to get it
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The Tibetan book of the dead
The Tibetan book of the dead by Padma Sambhava is a foundational Buddhist text concerning the stages of dying, the bardo, and rebirth.
Discussed“There wasn't much to read then. There was like be here now by Ramdas, Tibetan book of the dead that you mentioned, works of DT Suzuki on Zen.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald S. Lopez Jr. on Buddhism | Conversations with Tyler | 2025-11-12 | 5 |