
Bob Thurman Podcast: Tibetan Book of the Dead : Gurus, Friends & Fierce Deities – Ep. 188
Oct 26, 2018
Explore the intriguing interplay between death awareness and cultural evolution. Delve into the contrasting attitudes toward work and leisure in American and Tibetan societies. Discover the nuanced roles of gurus, emphasizing healthy boundaries in spiritual practices. Experience guided meditations that invite you to recognize clarity and wisdom beyond seductive illusions. With poetic reflections, the conversation culminates in the pursuit of peace in a chaotic world, leaving listeners inspired to contemplate their own journeys.
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Death Awareness Undermines Militarized Societies
- Societies suppress death awareness to maintain militarism and industrial productivity.
- Recognizing death awakens true individualism and prompts questions about life's meaning.
Emerging Resistance To Mobilization
- Cultural shifts toward valuing life over constant work appear in places like California.
- Reduced willingness to be mobilized for war or exploitative labor signals growing individual agency.
Lama's Comparison: America And China
- A lama who visited New York compared America to communist China because people had no free time.
- He noted Tibet had more leisure and social interaction despite hard work.




