Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

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.

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains what are Buddhalands and talks about different Buddhalands, based on the Vimalakirti Sutra, which he translated and has been teaching for nearly forty years. “Vimalakīrti’s Verses : Buddhalands – Ep. 64” was recorded on March 17, 2016 at the “Vimalakirti, Prajnaparamita & Avatamsaka Sutras” workshop at Tibet House India. Photo by Benjamin Balázs 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.

According to Tibetan Buddhism, when we lose consciousness and faint, or fall asleep, we go through the same eight stages, but we don't normally notice this process. In this podcast Professor Thurman explains what these stages are, and how they are experienced by us. This episode was recorded on February 28, 2016. Eight Stages of Dissolution into Death - Ep. 63 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Yamantanka image via www.himalayanart.org. 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. Listen to more archive recordings 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 songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘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 Professor Thurman gives a brilliant compelling account of Buddha's birth and path to Enlightenment. The account is enriched by his wide-ranging scholarship and familiarity with so many different sources of Buddha Shakyamuni's life story. 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." Life of Shakyamuni Buddha : Buddhist History 101 - Ep. 62 of the Bob Thurman Podcast image by Thangka Painting School, Used with permission, All Rights Reserved via www.traditionalartofnepal.com. This podcast is apart of the Buddhist History 101 Series presenting seminal teachings drawn from archives of Robert A.F. Thurman & Tibet House US & is intended for those looking to deepen their historical understanding of Buddhism from a general perspective. To watch the complete videos from past ‘Force for Good’ programs please visit the Tibet House US Member Archive, available to monthly supporters. 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.

Tibetan Buddhism teaches that there are three kinds of giving: the giving of material objects, the giving of security and protection, and the giving of teaching. The giving of teaching is considered to be the most important one. In this podcast Professor Thurman talks about these different kinds of giving, about the importance of skillfulness or intelligence in giving, and about the difference between the ordinary/regular and transcendent giving. This episode was recorded on February 27, 2016.  Three Kinds of Giving - Episode 61 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo Julien Ricard by via www.flickr.com. This episode a part of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert A.F. Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition.

The Indian word “guru” means “heavy” in Sanskrit, reflecting an understanding from the Indian society of Buddha’s time, in which the guru figure was an authority or a father figure. Buddha challenged this understanding by undercutting the role of a teacher as an authority figure and by refusing to present himself as such an authority. He taught that the role of a teacher is to be a “kalyana mitra” — “a virtuous friend,” who leads one to enlightenment and exemplifies virtue, rather than being “a boss.”  In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses these, as well as other compelling topics. This episode was recorded on February 27, 2016. “Guru: A Boss Or A Friend? - Episode 60″ of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Chris Michel, Used with permission. “Guru: A Boss Or A Friend? - Episode 60″ of the Bob Thurman Podcast is apart of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert A.F. Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition.  

In Professor Thurman's view, men in our society are socialized to express their anger more readily than women and are expected to be generally more dominating. Women are socialized to be more patient and accepting. Some say, they should find their way to equality through expressing more anger. However, Professor Thurman continues, we would be wrong to think that aggressiveness is a strength; rather it is a weakness. This episode was recorded on March 12, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman.   Anger Management for Women - Ep. 59 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Illustration by Viv Tanner, All rights reserved. This episode was recorded on March 11, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman. Listen to more archive recordings 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 songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘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 episode Professor Thurman shares some secrets of a long marriage, talks about the relationship between sacred feminine and sacred masculine, and about the balance of the feminine and masculine energies in the world and inside of oneself. Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine : Buddhism 101 - Ep. 58 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Digital Image by Adam Martinakis, All Rights Reserved. This episode a part of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert A.F. Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. This episode was recorded on March 11, 2016 at the “Embracing the Sacred Feminine” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman. Listen to more archive recordings 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 songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘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.

The reason why we sometimes think that the goal of Buddhism is just to become nobody is because we don't understand the concept of selflessness. Selflessness does not mean that we are nobody, it does not mean that we cease to exist. There is no way you can ever not exist, just as you cannot become nothing. In this podcast Professor Thurman continues to discuss the concept of selflessness. Podcast includes a short introduction to the Buddhist perspective of emptiness and it's relationship with physics, a discussion of Nirvana and an explanation of the Buddha's non-dual relationship to suffering. This episode was recorded on February 27, 2016. Is the Goal of Buddhism to Become Nobody? - Ep. 57 of the Bob Thurman Podcast photo by David Gabriel Fischer via Zen Diary. "Is the Goal of Buddhism to Become Nobody? - Ep. 57 of the Bob Thurman Podcast is a part of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert A.F. Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. 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. Listen to more archive recordings 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 songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘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.