Paths of Practice with Alexander James O'Neill, PhD

Paths of Practice with Alexander James O'Neill, PhD

Author: Vincent Moore February 13, 2026 Duration: 1:13:33

Alexander James O'Neill is a specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of Liberal Arts at Musashino University, Tōkyō. He was previously a research fellow at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He received his PhD from the University of Toronto's Department for the Study of Religion.


He has a broad range of interests, including Sanskrit Buddhist texts and manuscripts from South Asia, especially Nepal. He has a passion for Newar Buddhism and the Newar language and culture. In addition, he is interested broadly in Mahāyāna Buddhism, ranging from Sanskrit and Newar literature to Chinese and Japanese Buddhist texts and practices.


For more information about Dr. O'Neill, please see the following links:

https://www.alexanderjoneill.com/

https://www.shingansportal.com/https://www.zonkakuproject.org/


We talked about:

*Zonkaku and creating open source dharma resources

*The Secrets of the Tathāgata and the Buddha meeting us as we are

*Practicing in different traditions and finding Jōdo Shinshū through a connection with Amitabha

*Newar Buddhism, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, and Buddhist book worship

*And the importance of focused reading and finding a teacher or trusted dharma friend to help guide you along the path


Vincent Moore hosts Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism, a space where personal stories take center stage. Each episode is built around a simple, profound question: what does it actually look like to live with Buddhist teachings? You’ll hear from people whose lives have been shaped by this path, from long-time monastics and dedicated lay practitioners to those who have just felt a curious pull toward mindfulness and compassion. The conversations avoid dry theory, focusing instead on the messy, human, and often surprising realities of integrating practice into daily life-through family, work, doubt, and discovery. This podcast operates on the belief that there are as many ways to walk this road as there are people walking it, gently exploring that diversity one honest conversation at a time. It’s less about providing answers and more about sharing the map-making process itself, offering companionship and insight for anyone interested in the varied terrain of spiritual life.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism
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