In this episode Professor Thurman explains, why we may call Buddhism Realism. He presents Buddha's teachings on the Four Noble Truths (or Four Noble Realities) and the Eightfold Path (or 8 Steps of Evolutionary Path) in a manner that is fresh and accessible, as it is profound. Recognition of the symptom, diagnosis of the cause, prognosis of the outcome and therapy or education - are four facts that lead us towards recognition of nirvana of reality.   Buddhism is Realism : Buddhism 101 - Episode 36 Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash This podcast was recorded on July 1, 2015 at Menla Mountain Retreat Center as part of a retreat called "Shakyamuni Buddha's Inner Sciences & His Medicine Buddha Healing Science" with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang & Robert Thurman. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. 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.

What do we experience when we look inside? Where do we place our confidence? Do we believe that we have mind? In this episode Professor Thurman discusses the power of questioning, the necessity of digging deeper in order to understand mind and its power. The episode is an excerpt from the the "Buddha and Yogis" retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by David Swenson, John Campbell & Robert Thurman on July 31, 2015. Misplaced Confidence : Buddha & The Yogis - Ep 35 Photo by Vicky Sim on Unsplash. This week’s episode 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 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.

David Swenson, a renowned Ashtanga Yoga teacher, joins experts John Campbell and Robert Thurman, a prominent Tibetan Buddhism scholar. They explore Tantric Buddhism as a fast path to enlightenment, discussing how dreams can compress many lifetimes of virtue. The conversation highlights the roles of compassion, ethics, and wisdom in spiritual practice. They also delve into the significance of femininity in Buddhism and the journey of yogis, contrasting quick enlightenment with deeper transformative experiences. Dive into a rich tapestry of mythology and the quest for selflessness!

In this episode, Professor Thurman discusses visualization practice and meditation. He explains how the context which you assume will determine how much progress you can make. When you create an imagined enlightened universe, you are making vivid to yourself a preferable image, as well as loosen your own sense of yourself as being limited and incapable of change. This episode was recorded on July 31, 2015 at the "Buddha and the Yogis" retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by David Swenson, John Campbell & Robert Thurman. Visualizing an Enlightened Universe : Buddha & The Yogis - Ep. 33 of the Bob Thurman Podcast 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 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.

This episode is a continuation of last week's episode on The Heart Sutra. In this episode, Professor Thurman discusses the questions: How does free will work? What does it mean that we are all effected by causes and conditions? He also discusses how shunyata, or voidness, is a scientific discovery, not just a mystic philosophy. This episode was recorded on July 27, 2015 at the "Buddha and the Yogis" retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by David Swenson, John Campbell & Robert Thurman. Heart Sutra : Part 2 – Episode 32 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image by Miles Neale. 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.

The Heart Sutra is one of the most profound and widely studied texts in the Buddhist canon. In this episode, Professor Thurman reads the Heart Sutra, and explains the meaning as he goes along. This is the first of a two-part episode on the Heart Sutra. This episode was recorded on July 27, 2015 at the "Buddha and the Yogis" retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by David Swenson, John Campbell & Robert Thurman. Heart Sutra : Part 1 - Episode 31 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image by Miles Neale. 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 episode, Professor Thurman explains how to use analysis to realize non-duality. Deconstructing our habitual understanding of body, mind- everything you think of as solid and real dissolves under this analysis, and brings you into a state of samadhi. This is a powerful practice for deeply understanding the nature of things as they are. “Vimalakīrti’s Verses : Deconstructing the Self” – Ep. 30 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded on July 24, 2015 at the “Hiking in the Catskills with Vimalakirti & Friends” retreat held at Menla Retreat. Podcast Photo by dorota dylka 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 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.

In this episode, Professor Thurman reads the first chapter of Vimalakirti, which he translated and has been teaching for nearly forty years. Thurman illuminates the meaning of the text, the historical context, and the various possible translations of important words and concepts that elucidate the Mahayana teaching. Meeting Vimalakīrti- Episode Twenty Nine of the Bob Thurman Podcast via Wikimedia. This episode was recorded on July 23, 2015 at the "Hiking in the Catskills with Vimalakirti & Friends" retreat held at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. 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 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.

In this podcast Robert A.F. Thurman discussed the Buddhist perspective on the health and happiness of all beings. One of the unique aspects of Tibetan culture is that for hundreds of years, thousands of people have been meditating on the thought "every single being has been my mother." This means that through countless lives, you have been every possible animal and being, and every single being alive today has been your mother countless times. Even the worst killers shared their body and milk and took care of you. Professor Thurman explains how this thought helps you feel your own infinity as a being, and also creates an altruistic society. This episode is the second of a two-part recording of a lecture given at Tibet House California on June 4, 2015, titled "Tibet's Gift to the World." All Beings Are My Mother : Buddhism 101 - Ep. 28 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via Desktop Nexus. 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 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.

Professor Thurman discusses the taboo of being happy for no reason and how reality is bliss. He explains the Buddha's discovery of interconnectedness and happiness. The episode explores Tibetan wisdom, the Axial Age, fear of nothingness after death, cultural contrasts, and mastering the mind through mindfulness and meditation.