In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman leads a live translation of “The Samaññaphala Sutta : The Fruit of the Homeless Life” providing the back-stories of the historical figures found in the sutra in order to elucidate the ethical and scientific insights of the Buddha’s teachings on the value of the contemplative life. Using this beloved + often referenced sutra in which King Ajatasattu of the Magadha Kingdom questions the Buddha on the benefits of the spiritual life Professor Thurman explains the abundant selection of ascetic practices on offer from the various schools of philosophy at the time and how these ideas can help any spiritual seeker, Buddhist or not. Podcast Includes stories about the Buddha’s closest associates including: Jivaka Komarabhacca, his personal physician and the community’s doctor, his cousins Devadatta (who led the assassination by elephant attempt on his life) and Ananda his close friend, personal attendant and eventual inheritor of the reigns of leadership of the monastic community after his death + parinirvana. Second half of the podcast begins with a definition of the terms Shramana (Skt. śramaṇa; Tib. དགེ་སྦྱོང་, gejong, Wyl. dge sbyong), Bhagavan (Skt. bhagavant; Tib. བཅོམ་ལྡན་འདས་, chomdendé; Wyl. bcom ldan ‘das) and a discussion on the secular nature of Buddha’s advice found within “The Samaññaphala Sutta”. “Buddha’s Entourage: Ananda, Jivaka and Devadatta” is an excerpt from the Force For Good Class “The Samaññaphala Sutta : The Fruits of the Homeless Life” held at Tibet House US in New York City Winter 2016. ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (Ethics for the New Millennium and Beyond Religion), His nonviolent approach to conflict resolution, including His Nobel Peace Laureate activities to seek dialogue and a win-win reconciliation with China in the face of the ongoing ethnicidal policies in Tibet (Freedom in Exile and Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama) & along with his emphasis on positive activism (A New Real

Guiding a meditation and a traditional Dharma teaching from “the happiest place on earth” Professor Thurman begins this two part podcast discussing the Buddha’s insight into the psychosis at the heart the suffering of individuals, groups and in society as a whole. Recounting the Dalai Lama‘s teaching on his personal experiences with the ethics of showing compassion for mosquitoes given to a panel of scientists Professor Thurman humorously elucidates the concept of Abhidharma– the categories of Buddhist scriptures, ontology and theories of consciousness within the framework of the theory of spiritual salvation. Second part of this podcast includes an extended guided meditation on compassion recorded outdoors surrounded by Bhutan’s unique audio soundscape of birds, wind and dynamic citizens. This podcast was recorded during the Tibet House US + GeoEx Trip lead by Robert AF Thurman and Brent Olsen to Bhutan in January, 2012. “Pilgrimage : Psychosis, Mosquitoes + Compassion – Ep. 163 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is apart of the “Buddhist Pilgrimage Series” using field recordings of Robert AF Thurman and friends from his global docent tours benefiting the work of Tibet House US. To listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. “Pilgrimage : Psychosis, Mosquitoes + Compassion – Ep. 163 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” Photo by Christopher Michel, Used with permission. 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. To learn about upcoming Tibet House US trips Robert Thurman + GeoEx please visit: www.bobthurman.com.

Teaching from the pilgrimage sites in Bodhgaya Professor Thurman opens this podcast with a discussion of how the Buddha redefined the concept of truth and how modern language about Buddhism is influenced by it’s early translation by scholars attempting to frame it’s philosophy of mind training into Western religious equivalencies. Guiding a close reading of Shantideva‘s “Guide to the Bodhisatva’s Way of Life” and the Centrist Commentaries on the Kalachakra tantra Robert AF Thurman in this two part podcast discusses how an understanding of non-dualism and emptiness can form the basis for deepening one’s wisdom and compassion. Podcast includes a discussion of apperception, Vipassana (Insight Meditation), Shamatha (Calm Abiding Meditation), James Cameron’s “Avatar,” Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”, the Buddhist understanding of yoga and concludes with a thought experiment on the causal narratives and habitual stories that contribute to suffering and unskillful behavior. This podcast was recorded during the Tibet House US + GeoEx Trip lead by Robert AF Thurman to the 34th Kalachakra Empowerment with the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India in January, 2017. “Pilgrimage : Deepening Wisdom and Compassion – Ep. 162 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is apart of the “Buddhist Pilgrimage Series” using field recordings of Robert AF Thurman and friends from his global docent tours benefiting the work of Tibet House US. To listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert A.F. Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. 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. To learn about upcoming Tibet House US trips Robert Thurman + GeoEx please visit: www.bobthurman.com.

In this two part podcast Mark Epstein M.D. joins Professor Thurman for a dialog on the Buddhist & Alcoholics Anonymous perspectives on addiction, depression, recovery and their strategies on how individuals can change their relationship to feelings of powerlessness. Beginning with a recommendation of BBC’s long running Science Fiction Fantasy program ‘Dr. Who’ and a humorous take on the culinary history of civilization Robert Thurman gives a teaching on karma, compassion + emptiness suggesting alternative solutions on dealing with anger and one’s enemies. Second half of the podcast opens with an in depth discussion on the relationship between powerlessness as taught by Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step programs of recovery and the Buddha’s teaching on emptiness. Podcast concludes with Professor Thurman’s teaching on the Three Buddha’s of Western Liberal Education: Darwin, Marx & Freud. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous Photo by Mike Paradise, All Rights Reserved. “Alcoholics Anonymous, Buddhism + Powerlessness” is an excerpt from the archive recordings from the Tibet House US retreat “Addiction, Depression & Recovery: Buddhist Psychological Insights for Mental & Spiritual Health in the Modern World Retreat” with Robert AF Thurman & Mark Epstein M.D., recorded at Menla’s Nalanda Conference Center in Phoenicia, New York, Summer 2017. To listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. Previews are available on the Tibet House US YouTube Channel + Full Archive Recordings from the 2016 + 2017 Annual Retreat at Menla in the THUS Member Archives.  Tibet House US Member Access starts at $2 a Month. 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. “Alcoholics Anonymous, Buddhism + Powerlessness – Ep. 161″ of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is apart of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert AF Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. To learn more about upcoming programs in the heart of the Catskills with Bob Thurman & Mark Epstein M.D. please visit: www.menla.us.

Joined by Foundation for the Sacred Stream's Isa Gucciardi Ph.D. Robert AF Thurman in this podcast discusses the power of creative and humorous rudeness as taught by Shantideva, Tibet's Dalai Lama and by his beloved teacher: wife of fifty years Nena von Schlebrügge. This two part podcast begins with Professor Thurman recounting personal stories from the Fourteenth Dalai Lama discussing the illusion of American Democracy, Mammon-ocracy (The Worship of Money), identity slippage and the origins of Shantideva’s name Bhusuku. Guiding a thought experiment on the Royal Reason of Relativity, Robert Thurman examines the self identifying habit which without the development of empathy and direct experiential understanding of the interconnected nature of reality can lead to selfish absolutism and much of our every day suffering. Second half of podcast begins with Isa Gucciardi Ph.D. inquiring about reincarnation as taught in the different schools of Buddhism and by the Dalai Lama Podcast includes an overview of the Buddhist Biological point of view on evolution, how to develop empathy, the model of compassion found in the films of Bill Murray Films and Lutheran perspective on changing the world as heard on public radio's A Prairie Home Companion. This episode include a special teaching of Professor Thurman's "trademark" Sleep Yoga which is given to over-night visitors to the Tibet House US Retreat Center and to Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. “Creative + Humorous Rudeness” is an excerpt from the panel discussion Foundation for The Sacred Stream's "Learning from Dying: Buddhist Understandings of Consciousness and Death with Isa Gucciardi Ph.D., Eve Ekman and David Bullard held at UCSF September 11th, 2017. To learn more about Foundation for the Sacred Stream please visit: www.sacredstream.org. To listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert A.F. Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘

In this recording from his early days at Columbia University Professor Thurman explores Indo-Tibetan Buddhism in the intellectual setting of ancient India and Tibet, how it relates to modern philosophical thought and to the mindfulness revolution in popular culture. Focusing on the Dialecticist Centrism found in the writings of Aryadeva, Dharmakīrti, Dignāga, Tsongkhapa, Vasubandhu & in the teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama Robert Thurman provides an academic perspective on the Buddha’s teachings on Karma, The Subtle Body system, Reincarnation and the Yogācāra school’s “Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma” framework as the ground work for a frank exploration of the esoteric concept of super knowledge. Professor Thurman begins this podcast by detailing the cultural understanding + social context of the seemingly fantastical descriptions of psychic or super normal events found in Buddhist teachings + commentaries and a teaching on the indestructible drop or the “spiritual gene” residing in the heart chakra in the esoteric tantric system. Second half of podcast includes a comparison of the different Buddhist logicians and their perspectives on the five aggregates or Skandhas, a suggestion of Bruce Lamb’s “Wizard of the Upper Amazon: The Story of Manuel Manuel Córdova-Rios” and a guided thought experiment for busy people of any era. “Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People – Episode 159 of the Bob Thruman Podcast” photo, Created with love by Ryan McGuire via www.gratisography.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. “Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People” podcast is an excerpt from a course taught by Robert A.F. Thurman at Columbia University, focusing mainly on his book “The Central Philosophy of Tibet” – a study and translation of Jey Tsong Khapa’s “Essence of True Eloquence” (tib: drang nges legs bshad snying po)’, but also addressing material in Jey Tsong Khapa’s “Ocean of Reasoning” translated by Geshe Ngawang Samten & J Garfield, and in Aryadeva’s “Four Hundred Stanzas” translated by

Recounting stories from his last day teaching at Columbia University Robert AF Thurman opens this two part podcast with a discussion of Tsongkhapa’s “Essence of True Eloquence“, popularly known to Tibetans and those studying the Centralist Mind Training texts as “Tsongkhapa’s Iron Bow” due to it’s complexity as the ground for an in depth examination of the nature of Buddhahood + the subtle body system. Providing a brief history of the Lam Rim: Stages of The Path teachings Professor in this podcast uses Vesna Wallace’s translation of “The Kālacakra Tantra: The Chapter on Sadhana” as a guide laying out the background and context of initiations + sadhana practices encountered when studying Tantric Buddhism. Podcast includes a discussion of the Twenty Emptiness, The Dalai Lama’s First Incarnation, The Kings of Shambhala and a beginner’s lesson on Buddhist Non-Dualism. Second half of the podcast is a traditional Dharma teaching on the Three Bodies of the Buddha (Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya & Nirmanakaya) and how the science fiction genre, through it’s incarnations on screens, in the pages of books and in popular imagination is a modern form of societal sadhana allowing collective visualization of possible futures and as a way to unlock the human potential hinted at in Buddhist Tantra.

Contrasting our modern materialistic terminal lifestyle which denies the interconnection of sensitive beings + the possibility of past + future lives with that of the Infinite Lifestyle as taught by the Buddha Professor Thurman re-frames the traditional translations of key terms found in Shantideva and in describing nirvana as bliss. Opening this two part podcast with an overview of the Buddhist perspective on emptiness Robert AF Thurman leads a discussion on “Shantideva’s Bodhisatva’s Way to Life” & his book “Infinite Life” highlighting the lessons from each on patience, generosity, creativity + justice. Includes a discussion of the decimal system and the zero’s origins in ancient India, it’s linguistic + conceptual connections to Shunyata and the place of non-dualism in the Buddha’s Teachings. “Bliss is more or less illegal in most cultures.” Robert AF Thurman In the second half Professor Thurman gives an overview of the Six Transendences ( Traditionally Known as the Six Perfections) beginning with a detailed examination of selfless compassion, the blissful nature of nirvana & Shantideva’s famous presentation of the yoga of patience as the antidote to anger/hate, with its three varieties of tolerant patience, insightful patience, and forgiving patience. Podcast concludes with a short “exchanging self for other” guided meditation on Disney’s Living Dessert documentary. “Bliss Suspicion & The Three Types of Justice” is an excerpt from the March 22, 2017 HH Dalai Lama’s A Force for Good: Buddhist Science Sources for Practices Beyond Religion Talk ‘Patience and Creativity Transcendences ’ by Robert AF Thurman recorded at Tibet House US in New York City. To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us. ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (

Examining cultural norms through the lens of compassion, when grounded in the Centrist mind training perspectives of India + Tibet can transform one’s relationship to conditioning, to themselves and the world in which one finds one self. In this two part podcast Professor Robert AF Thurman discusses Three Manjushris, the place of the Lam Rim Teachings in Buddhism and the use of negation in understanding intrinsic reality. Podcast opens with an introduction to the 14th Dalai Lama’s favorite teaching Tsong Khapa’s Tengyur text, Essence of True Eloquence and a discussion of reincarnation from the Tibetan + Buddhist perspectives. In the second half of the podcast Robert Thurman gives a traditional Dharma teaching on absolute and relative reality, non-dualism and a humorous series of stories about the nature of Universal Messianic Compassion. “Compassion + The Intrinsic Reality of Miss Piggy” was recorded at the “Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources: Madhyamaka – Lam Rim” Session of the Force For Good Series at Tibet House US in 2016 in New York City. H. H. the Dalai Lama gave an historic discourse on Nov. 3 & 4 2014 in New York City at the request of Tibet House US on “Essence Of True Eloquence”, and the masterpiece text by Jey Lama Tsong Khapa (1357-1419) that is considered a classic presentation of the profound view of reality that is foundational for opening the floodgates of universal compassion. The text is known as the Essence Of True Eloquence: Distinguishing the Interpretable from the Definitive Meanings of the Buddha’s Sutra Discourses (Tibetan– Drang nges legs bshad snying po), which is lucid and detailed expansion of the Short Essence of True Eloquence, the poem Jey Tsong Khapa wrote on the morning of the dawning of his full enlightenment in 1398. “The root of enlightenment is compassion and different traditions emphasise compassion, but here we are talking about great compassion which is combined with insight into emptiness. Because we experience suffering of different degrees of intensity, we need to recognize its causes and see if we can overcome them. This is the context in which we cultivate great compassion with the intention of liberating all sentient beings and relieving them of their suffering. If you can’t tame your own mind, How can you help others tame theirs? The Buddha has given clear advice, if people won’t heed him, why should they listen to me?” Dalai Lama on Lam Rim from www.dalailama.com.   ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ American Institute of Buddhist Studiesand Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (Ethics for the New Millennium and

Reconciling the contradictions found in the wisdom traditions of Tibet, India and all male dominated cultures begins with an acceptance of the chauvinism inherent in the language, symbolism and forms used to express them across history.  In this two part podcast Robert AF Thurman addresses questions from retreat participants about Fire Puja Ceremonies, Dream Yoga and gender in Tibetan Buddhism. Professor Thurman opens this podcast with an examination of the Heart Sutra + the Symbolism of Agni (Sanskrit: अग्नि) and other planetary deities in found traditional Indian and Vedic Fire Pujas illustrating the corrective teachings and ideas to the chauvinism found in each arguing that Buddhist monasticism was the ultimate antidote to the militarism of India at the Buddha’s time. Podcast includes a discussion of how best to prepare for Buddhist Vajrayana teachings like the Kalachakra, a discussion of Marilyn Waring’s “Counting for Nothing: What Men Value and What Women are Worth“, Dalai Lama’s “Art of Happiness“, Patrul Rinpoche’s “Words of My Perfect Teacher” and a teaching on the value of Tibetan Astrology, Himalayan Medicine and accurate cosmology to seekers of nirvana and ultimate freedom from suffering. Second part of this week’s podcast includes a Dharma teaching on Relativity, Clear Light and how to use the Buddhist Inner Sciences to find realistic bliss despite it’s history of chauvinism and roots in a male dominated lineages. “In embracing modernity and progress, we must not abandon the human values that have been so preciously passed down on to us by our elder generations. These values make up our unique culture. It is these spiritual values that are so ingrained in our culture and in our way of life that make us special and loved by the outside world, and if we are to abandon these values, then it will be a very disheartening situation.” HH Dalai Lama from www.dalailama.com. Podcast concludes with a discussion of the dangers of absolutism, a warning to those practicing meditation without developing wisdom, a teaching of Professor Thurman’s “consolation prize” of retroactive nirvana and a dedication of merit practice by Menla visitors.