Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

In this podcast Professor Thurman gives a brief history of the Western discovery of Buddhism and how there have often been misrepresentations of its central ideas—Dharma (or Dhamma), nirvana, karma—confusions some times brought over from the Asian sources countries, some imposed in attempts to modernize or Westernize Buddha’s expressions of how he sees the world. The podcast includes questions from retreat participants about nonviolence and the definition of what makes a society Buddhist. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from the Robert Thurman archive to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. Recorded at the 2008 Hiking in the Catskills Retreat at Menla, Phoenicia, New York. Image by Matjaz Krivic from the Tibet House US Exhibition “Silent Spaces” on Display through March 2017.

Professor Thurman begins this podcast with a detailed exploration of the concepts of absolute + relative realities as taught through the Buddhist Inner Sciences with commentary by Mark Epstein M.D.. This recording is apart of the Tibet House US Member Archive. To listen to more from this & other past programs please consider becoming a member. Recorded at the 2009 Tibet House US Self & Selflessness Retreat at Menla in Phoenicia, New York. Image by Matjaz Krivic from the Tibet House US Exhibition “Silent Spaces” on Display through March 2017.

This podcast begins with an introduction to the Buddhist wisdom nagas by Professor Thurman through recounting a story from HH Dalai Lama‘s visit to Menla Mountain & concludes with a reading from the AIBS Publication ‘Universal Vehicle Discourse Literature’. Includes dialog with co-presenter Mark Epstein Ph.D & retreat participants. To listen to more recordings from this & other past programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member. This podcast was recorded at the 2008 Tibet House US weekend Retreat with Mark Epstein at Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, NY. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. To learn more about this year’s program with Robert A.F. Thurman and Dr. Nida at Menla please visit: www.menla.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 listen to more recordings from past Robert A.F. Thurman programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

The historical Buddha taught that human life is precious and in this podcast Professor Thurman defines & elaborates this theme as taught by the Buddhists of Tibet. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. This recording is an excerpt from the ‘Pathways to the Spirit’ Series Talk given to Trinity College in 1998. Image by Matjaz Krivic from the Tibet House US Exhibition “Silent Spaces” on Display through March 2017.

A short guided meditation on the 2017 US Presidential Inauguration, the Women’s Marches held world wide & the historical context of the current global situation by Professor Robert A.F. Thurman. Includes a short overview of the destructive power of anger & fear from a Buddhist perspective. This podcast was recorded on Jan 17, 2017 in Upstate New York.

The discovery of the historical Buddha not only posited the nature of reality but put forth a systematic method for individuals & society to transform themselves through enlightenment. In this podcast Professor Thurman introduces & elaborates the idea of enlightenment using Tibetan History as a lens. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from the Robert Thurman archive to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. This recording is an excerpt from the ‘Pathways to the Spirit’ Series Talk given to Trinity College in 1998.

Professor Thurman guides a close reading of the ‘Six Session Guru Yoga’ it’s commitments for initiates of the Yoga and Highest Yoga tantras, explaining the bodhisattva and tantric vows taken when practicing the Kalachakra and concludes with an overview of the teachings for those with a general interest in Mahayana and esoteric practice. Recorded in Ladakh during Robert Thurman’s 2014 Kalachakra Trip with GeoEx Adventure Travel.

The Kalachakra Tantra or “The Wheel of Time” teachings as preserved within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition are considered some of the most esoteric & significant series of initiations transmitted by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In this podcast Professor Thurman gives an introduction to the twelve days of the Kalachakra initiation providing the historical & symbolic context. Recorded in Ladakh during Robert Thurman’s 2014 Kalachakra Trip with GeoEx Adventure Travel. Kalachakra Photo © Christopher Michel via Flickr.com. Used with permission, All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.

Sharon Salzberg & Robert Thurman lead a dialog on the concept of skillful means & answer questions about Buddhist reincarnation through story telling & explanation of current empirical evidence found in modern scientific journals. Recorded at the 2009 Tibet House US Retreat “Working With Your Enemies” at Menla Retreat · Resort · Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

In this podcast Professor Thurman & Sharon Salzberg discuss the practice of lovingkindness meditation and it’s power to change one’s relationship with difficult people, emotions & situations. Includes a brief introduction to lovingkindness practice & dialog with retreat participants. Recorded at the 2009 Tibet House US Retreat “Working With Your Enemies” at Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York. Photo by James Pond on Unsplash “Normally, we don’t want to love someone we’re in an adverse relationship with. We may feel it means giving in, surrendering, or giving up our values. But real love means loving them too. Over the years that I’ve taught lovingkindness, I’ve encountered many people who are skeptical about the whole thing. “If I were to develop a more loving heart,” they think, “I’d have to give more money, I wouldn’t take a stand, I wouldn’t protect myself, I’d just sort of smile.” If we think that’s what love means, what a degraded notion of love we’ve come to! There’s something empowering in recapturing the word “love” as something strong and unafraid.” Sharon Salzberg from www.lionsroar.com.