Dr Dee Osto staff profile picture

Contact details +6469516566

Dr Dee Osto BA (Honors), MA, MTS, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Philosophy

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Humanities Media and Creative Comm

Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (Honors) - Grinnell College (1991)
  • Master of Arts - University of Washington (1999)
  • Master of Theological Studies - Harvard University (1995)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of London (2004)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Mahayana Buddhism, Asian Religions, Indian Philosophies, Contemporary Buddhist Practice

Thematics

Design – for Commerce, Community and Culture

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Philosophy And Religious Studies (220000)

Research Outputs

Journal

Osto, D. (2017). No-Self in Sāṃkhya: A Comparative Look at Classical Sāṃkhya and Theravāda Buddhism. Philosophy East and West: a quarterly of comparative philosophy. 68(1), 201-222 Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/682202
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2010). A new translation of the sanskrit Bhadracarī with introduction and notes. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 12(2), 1-21
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). The supreme array scripture: A new interpretation of the title "gandavyuha-sutra". Journal of Indian Philosophy. 37(3), 273-290
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). Proto-tantic elements in the Gandavyuha-sutra. Journal of Religious History. 33(2), 165-177
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2006). Soteriology, asceticism and the female body in two Indian Buddhist narratives. Buddhist Studies Review. 23(2), 203-220
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2016). Book Review: Virtually sacred: Myth and meaning in world of warcraft and second life by Robert M. Religion. 46(4), 682-686Retreived from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0048721X.2015.1123579
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2016). Book Review: Rethinking the Buddha: Early Buddhist Philosophy as Meditative Perception, by Eviatar Shulman. Religion. 47(1), 117-120Retreived from http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rrel20/current
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2017). Indian asceticism: Power, violence and play. Religion. 47(1), 114-117Retreived from http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rrel20/current
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2015). Mindful America: The mutual transformation of Buddhist meditation and American culture, by Jeff Wilson. Religion. 46(3), 464-468Retreived from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0048721X.2015.1089738
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2015). Birth of insight: Meditation, modern Buddhism & the Burmese Monk Ledi Sayadaw, by Erik Braun. Religion. 45(4), 625-627Retreived from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0048721X.2015.1036718?needAccess=true
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2014). The awakened ones: Phenomenology of visionary experience, by Gananath Obeyeseker. Religion. 44(1), 164-166Retreived from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0048721X.2013.829697
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2013). The splendid vision: Reading a Buddhist Sutra, by Richard S. Cohen. Religion. 43(3), 436-439Retreived from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0048721X.2013.775001
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2013). Naomi Appleton, Jātaka Stories in Theravāda Buddhism: Narrating the Bodhisatta Path. The Journal of Religion. 93(4), 520-521Retreived from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/671149
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2012). Jason Neelis, Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks: Mobility and Exchange within and Beyond the Northwestern Borderlands of South Asia. Buddhist Studies Review. 29(2), 301-303Retreived from http://www.equinoxpub.com/journals/index.php/BSR/article/view/16372
[Book Review]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2012). Early Buddhist transmission and trade networks: Mobility and exchange within and beyond the Northwestern Borderlands of South Asia. Buddhist Studies Review. 29(2), 301-303
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011). Bull of a man: Images of masculinity, sex and the body in Indian Buddhism. Religion. 41(2), 290-294 Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011). Theater in a crowded fire: Ritual and spirituality at burning man. Religion. 41(3), 499-503
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011). Andy Rotman, Thus Have I Seen: Visualizing Faith in Early Indian Buddhism, Cynthea J. Bogel, With a Single Glance: Buddhist Icon in Early Mikkyo Vision. The Art Bulletin. 93(4), 486-489
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2010). Buddhism is the Krishna River Valley of Andhra. Religion. 40(1), 65-66 Retrieved from http://www.elsevier.com/
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). Daniel Boucher, Bodhisattvas of the Forest and the Formation of the Mahāyāna: A Study and Translation of the Rāstaprapālaparipcchā-sūtra. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 11(2), 203-207 Retrieved from http://www.nzasia.org.nz/journal/index.html
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). Buddhist scriptures as literature: Sacred rhetoric and the uses of theory. Religions of South Asia. 3(1), 151-153
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). Cults and new religions: A brief history. Religion. 39(2), 210-211
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009). A comparative look at Buddhist incest narratives. H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences. , 1-3
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008). Susanne Mrozik, virtuous bodies: the physical dimension of morality in buddhist ethics.. Religion. 38(4), 394-404
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008). Barbara Hendrischke, the scripture on great peace: the taiping jing and the beginnings of daoism.. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 10(1), 170-172
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008). Moral theory in Santideva's Sikasamuccaya: cultivating the fruits of virtue. Journal of Buddhist Ethics. 15, 63-67
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2007). Dan Arnold. Buddhists, Brahmins and belief: Epistemology in South Asian philosophy of religion. The Journal of Religion. 87(1), 128-130
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2006). Gavin Flood: The ascetic self: Subjectivity, memory and tradition. Religion. 36(1), 58-60
[Journal article]Authored by: Osto, D.

Book

Osto, DE.(2016). Altered States: Buddhism and Psychedelic Spirituality in America. New York: Columbia University Press
[Authored Book]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2008). Power, Wealth and Women in Indian Mahayana Buddhism: the Gandavyuha-sutra. USA and Canada: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
[Authored Book]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, D. (2018). Altered States and the Origins of the Mahāyāna. In P. Harrison (Ed.) Setting Out on the Great Way: Essays on Early Mahāyāna Buddhism. (pp. 177 - 205). Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing Ltd
[Chapter]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2016). Merit. In J. Powers (Ed.) The Buddhist World. (pp. 351 - 366). New York and London: Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2015). Orality, Authority and Conservatism in the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras. In B. Black, & L. Patton (Eds.) Dialogue in Early South Asian Religions,. (pp. 115 - 135). Farnham: Ashgate
[Chapter]Authored by: Osto, D.

Thesis

Osto, DE. (2004). The Gandavyûha-sûtra : A study of wealth, gender and power in an Indian Buddhist narrative. (Doctoral Thesis, University of London)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Osto, D.

Conference

Osto, DE. (2018). No-Self in Sāṃkhya: A Comparative Look at Classical Sāṃkhya and Theravāda Buddhism. , 18th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies online: International Association of Buddhist Studies
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.No-self in Sāṃkhya: A comparative look at classical Sāṃkhya and Theravāda Buddhism. . Toronto, Canada
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.Buddhism and psychedelic spirituality in America. . Queenstown, New Zealand
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.Some reflections on the translation of Mahāyāna Sūtras. . Vienna, Austria
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.Altered states and the origins of the Mahāyāna. . Cardiff, United Kingdom
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011, December). LSD Dharma: Psychedelics and Buddhism in America. Presented at Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies Conference. Queenstown, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011, July). God must exist: A comparative look at the transcendental argument in Abhinavagupta and Spinoza. Presented at The 19th New Zealand Asian Studies Society International Conference. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2011, June 20). Imagination, altered states and the origins of the Mahāyāna. , 16th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS)
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011, June). Imagination, altered states and the origins of the Mahāyāna. Presented at 16th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS). Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Jinshan, Taiwan.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2010, June 30). Samādhi as altered state of consciousness in some Mahāyāna Sūtras. , New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR) Conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2010, June). Samādhi as altered state of consciousness in some Mahāyāna Sūtras. Presented at New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR) Conference. Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2010, September). American Psychedelic Buddhism as (neo-)tantra. Presented at Society for Tantric Studies Conference. Flagstaff, AR, United States.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2009, December 10). A comparative look at Classical Sāṃkhya and Theravāda Buddhism. , Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies Conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2009, December). A comparative look at Classical Sāṃkhya and Theravāda Buddhism. Presented at Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies (AABS) Conference. University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008, January). Modern myths on ‘Early Mahāyāna’ Buddhism. Presented at Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008, June). Research on ‘Early Mahāyāna’: Reassessing the evidence. Presented at 15th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS). Emory University, Atlanta, United States.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008). Modern myths on early Mahayana buddhism. In Proceedings of The 6th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities(pp. 2699 - 2699). : Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008). Research on 'early Mahayana': Reassessing the evidence. In International Association of Buddhist Studies(pp. 1 - 1). : Emory University
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2007, June 6). The Bhadracarī verses in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. , New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions Conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2007, December). Money, merchant-bankers and the Mahāyāna. Presented at Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies (AABS) Conference. University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2007). Money, merchant-bankers and the Mahayana. In Australasian Association of Buddhist Conference: Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2007, June). The Bhadracari verses in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Presented at New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions Conference. Queenstown, NZ.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE.(2006, June 16). Proto-tantric elements in the Gaṇḍavyūha-sūtra. , Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies Conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2006, June). Proto-tantric elements in the Gandavyuha-sutra. Presented at 2006 Conference of the Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies. University of Sydney, NSW.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE., Renold, L., Bard, A., Shah, AA., Kelting, M., & Raj, S. (2005, November). Wealth as a sign of spiritual staus in the Gandvyuha-sutra. Presented at AAR Annual Meeting 2005. Philadelphia, PA.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2002, December). When good wealth met the 'bad king' : Wealth, authority and reality in the Gandavyuhasutra. Presented at The 13th Conference of the International Association of Buddhist Studies. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2001, November). The good, the bad and the ugly: Attitudes towards the female body in Indian Buddhist narrative literature. Presented at Damaged Bodies: Gendered Identity in Religious Discourse, International Conference. SOAS, London, UK.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.

Other

Osto, DE. (2011, February). Death and dying in the Buddhist tradition. In Palmerston North Theosophical Society, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2011, May). Contemporary Mahāyāna theology and the problem of history. In Religious Studies Seminar Series, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2010, May). Psychedelic Buddhism: Present and past. In Religion Research Seminar, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008, October). Samkhya and yoga:. In Palmerston North Theosophical Society. Presented at Palmerston North, NZ.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2008, November). Hinduism. In Manawatu Lutheran Parish. Presented at Palmerston North, NZ.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.
Osto, DE. (2007). Current theories on 'early Mahayana': assessing the evidence. Presented at Victoria University, Wellington, NZ.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Osto, D.

Consultancy and Languages

Languages

  • Pali
    Spoken ability: Needs work
    Written ability: Excellent
  • Classical Tibetan
    Spoken ability: Needs work
    Written ability: Excellent
  • Sanskrit
    Spoken ability: Needs work
    Written ability: Excellent

Teaching and Supervision

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Erik Hascal - Doctor of Philosophy
    A Nietzschean & Nagarjunian Critique of Metaphysics.

Media and Links

Other Links