In this podcast Professor Thurman explains three steps to re-create the world of suffering as the world of bliss. The first step is seeing true selflessness or emptiness — the negational freedom from all fixation to non-relative structures or non-relative core that we assume things and ourselves have. By following this insight deeply through the practice of critical analysis, one can reach an experience, in which everything, including oneself, disappears into a vast, luminous, deeply-releasing state. The second step is seeing that the reality of that “disappearing state” does not destroy the “appearing state.” Instead, the appearing state reappears like a reflection in a mirror. One realizes non-duality of the absolute and relative: the absolute emptiness is the relativity; nirvana is this relative conventional “samsaric” world. The world is samsaric (meaning “bearing suffering”) only for those who do not know that it is also the absolute, for those who think that each and every little thing in the world is an absolute, conflicting against the other absolutes. The third step is the realization of non-duality of relative and relative (thing and thing), resulting in “magnificent activities path” or "creativity path." Based on the knowledge of the absolute being relative, relative and relative are mutually non-obstructive and into-transformable. Therefore magic and miracles are possible. Re-creating the World of Suffering as the World of Bliss – Ep. 74 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash. This episode was recorded on March 10, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman.

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains why, according to the Buddha, the human life is precious. Being able to change oneself by opening to a new insight; having intelligence, which animals do not have; expanding one’s empathy and sensitivity – these are just a few of the freedoms which make human life so precious. Professor Thurman also clarifies that the Buddhist concept of “emptiness” is not to be confused with the concept of “nothingness” espoused by some modern scientists. This episode was recorded on March 10, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman.    

In this podcast Professor Thurman teaches that enlightenment is not defined as awareness of space of light, which is somewhere else, not here, in some imagined opposition to this place of light and dark that is filled with all the world’s problems, from which one should escape. That is not the Mahayana definition of enlightenment. In the Mahayana, and therefore in the Buddha’s definition, enlightenment is expanding your sense of identification, in particular, of identifying oneself with others. Among animals, humans have a particular ability to identify with one another through love (mother and child, lovers or teams are good examples of that). The Buddha’s sense of identification expands to all beings, all life. This episode was recorded on March 10, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman.

In this podcast Professor Thurman explores different stages of Buddhist meditation. When the ‘space-like equipoise samadhi’ disappears, what is there [left]? – Professor Thurman asks the audience and proceeds to answer: everything that was there before is there. But the meditator now sees appearances with the realization that they are like a reflection of the moon in water, like a magician’s trick, like magic, like illusion. This experience is called ‘the illusion-like aftermath samadhi’. The episode was recorded on March 17, 2016 at the “Vimalakirti, Prajnaparamita & Avatamsaka Sutras” workshop at Tibet House India. Photo by Yogesh Kumar on Unsplash 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 and Tibet House Delhi. Free Online Book + Suggested Reading:  “The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti” Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman available via www.84000.co. 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. 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.

In this podcast Robert A.F. Thurman talks about anger, patience and compassion. Explaining that the fuel for anger and intolerance is frustration and mental discomfort, Professor Thurman advises us not to let this build up, and instead learn how to use this energy skillfully. Podcast includes an introduction to the history of Atisha, Shantideva & to Professor Thurman’s teaching on Creative + Humorous Rudeness. This podcast was recorded during the Tibet House US + GeoEx Trip Indonesia trip “Spiritual Journey to Bali & Borobudur with Dr. Robert Thurman & The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi” on March 27, 2016. “Pilgrimage : Tolerant Patience – What is it? – Episode 70 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is apart of the “Buddhist Pilgrimage Series” using field recordings of Robert A.F. 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 : Tolerant Patience – What is it? – Episode 70 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” Photos 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.  

In this podcast Professor Thurman reads and comments on an excerpt from The Avataṃsaka Sutra, which describes a cosmos of realms enfolding realms, infinite world systems mutually containing one another. Professor Thurman teaches that this infinite cosmos is governed by a principle called “the emptiness [shunyata] of everything.” When you realize that, then your life becomes your work of art: everything you say, all your gestures, how you hand somebody a tea cup, the way you walk and your posture — everything is an art-form within. . . The cosmos and the individual experience of the world in which we live is empty of any absolute solidity and is relative, and therefore you can shape it. It’s your choice: to be happy, or miserable, to be angry or peaceful, and so on. This episode was recorded on December 31, 2015 at the “New Year’s Yoga & Meditation Retreat” at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Sharon Salzberg, Robert Thurman, Carolyn Christie, & Brooke Myers.

In this podcast Professor Thurman talks about causes and conditions which brought about Buddha’s teaching in Tibet, and how Buddhism transformed society. This episode was recorded on November 11, 2015 in a class taught by Professor Thurman.

In this episode Professor Thurman explains the cornerstone teachings of the Buddha: the teaching about the Four Noble Truths, and the teaching about the Eightfold Path. This episode is an excerpt from the lecture given at Tibet House US in New York City, January 6, 2016, as part of a course called “Force for Good: Buddhist Sources and Practices Beyond Religion.”

Should we abandon traditional Buddhist views unproven by scientific materialism, labeling them antiquated and irrelevant? What would be the implications of doing so for our study and practice? This episode is an excerpt from the thought-provoking and lively lecture “Past & Future Lives: Is Enlightenment Possible Without Them?” with Robert Thurman, given at Maitripa College in Portland, OR on April 8, 2016. Do We Need to Believe in Past & Future Lives to Become Enlightened? - Ep. 66 Photo by Maitripa College. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the monthly support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. 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.

In this episode Professor Thurman explains the concept of “intrinsic reality” and how it is different from the concept of “relational reality.” He continues by explaining “emptiness,” how it has often been misunderstood for nothingness, and how emptiness is the quality of the relationality of everything, the fact that everything is empty of any non-relational component. By internalizing our understanding of emptiness we realize what is called transcendent wisdom. Out of transcendent wisdom, transcendent love grows, powerful and skillful. This podcast was recorded on December 30, 2015 at the “New Year’s Yoga & Meditation Retreat” at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Sharon Salzberg, Robert Thurman, Carolyn Christie, & Brooke Myers.