Recorded on July 4th Independence Day Robert Thurman discusses the history of the American Holiday, Spiritual Evolution, Constitutional Monarchies, Mass incarceration, Thomas Jefferson’s Second Inaugural Address, Summer & the tradition of going on retreat within Buddhism.

In this podcast Professor Thurman calls on the listener to re-examine the concept of a spiritual retreat by understanding it’s context within a modern materialistic language of advancement.

“Becoming Enlightened is like graduating but the school, it is the school of reality, the different kinds of reality: the illusionary reality that is not really what it seems to be then there is the real reality which luckily we were been told by those who claimed to have attained it, attain knowledge of it, direct experience it of is blissful, is happiness or freedom from suffering.”

Robert AF Thurman

To listen to more recordings from past programs with Robert AF Thurman at Tibet House US in New York City + Menla in Phoenicia, New York in the Catskills please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

To read the article ‘Happy Birthday America. One Small Suggestion by Stephen Fry’ referenced in this podcast by Robert Thurman please visit www.newyorktimes.com.

Pride Flag Evolution by Peter Hershey via www.unsplash.com

The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.