Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

Opening with a question by Traditional Tibetan medicine pioneer, author and fellow popularizer of the Buddhist inner and outer sciences, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Professor Thurman explores the delicate translation of mind science terminology and details the Five Aggregates as taught by the historical Buddha. This podcast includes a recommendation of the work and teachings of Dr. Nida, personal reflections on translating and practicing Dzogchen and Vajrayana, and concludes with an in-depth explanation of the Five Aggregates. Dr. Nida Chenagtsang is a traditional Tibetan physician and lineage holder of the Yuthog Nyingthig, the unique Vajrayana Buddhist spiritual healing tradition of Tibetan Medicine. He has published several books and articles on Tibetan medicine, meditation, and yoga, and his extensive research and revival of ancient Tibetan healing methods has earned him great acclaim in both East and West. Founder and Medical Director of the Sowa Rigpa Institute: School of Traditional Tibetan Medicine; Co-Founder of the International Ngakmang Institute, established to preserve and maintain the Rebkong ngakpa non-monastic yogi/ini culture within modern Tibetan society; and Co-Founder of Pure Land Farms: Center for Tibetan Medicine, Meditation and Rejuvenation in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his work as a physician, he trains students in Sowa Rigpa and the Yuthog Nyingthig tradition in over forty countries around the world. Dzogchen’s Great Perfection & The Five Aggregates – Episode 284 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded during Tibet House US | Menla’s “The Great Connection: The Mahāsandhi Supreme Yoga of Dzogchen’s Great Perfection” online course with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and Robert A.F. Thurman, available via www.thusmenla.org.

In this episode Robert Thurman shares personal stories and a historical perspective on the life, work and writings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Opening with the Buddhist perspective on death and the bardo states outlined in the “The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between” this episode of the Bob Thurman podcast includes: a short history of non-violent philosophy and social action, an explanation of the central role of Thich Nhat Hanh’s personal interactions and friendships with Christian Theologians were to modern culture and interfaith dialog, and a discussion of the importance of monastic communities to the sustainability of traditions in the West and to the development of any new forms of a future American Buddhism. Episode concludes with a humorous story of Thich Nhat Hanh’s time visiting Columbia University in New York City with a group of happy monks and a timeless guided gratitude meditation and contemplation of peace by Professor Thurman. Thich Nhat Hanh – Podcast Photo of Teaching children to read and write using a song about the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, Early 1960s via Plum Village, All Rights Reserved. To lean more about the life and work of Thich Nhat Hanh please visit: www.plumvillage.org. “Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. A gentle, humble monk, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called him “an Apostle of peace and nonviolence” when nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Exiled from his native Vietnam for almost four decades, Thich Nhat Hanh was a pioneer bringing Buddhism and mindfulness to the West, and establishing an engaged Buddhist community for the 21st Century.”

In this episode Robert Thurman gives a teaching on impermanence and the power of contemplating one’s mortality to inspire action, nurture gratitude, transform relationships, and prioritize what truly matters. Opening with a refutation of Buddhism as a life-rejecting philosophy, this podcast includes a short explanation of the Buddha’s “supreme contemplation” with guided meditations on embracing transience and death and an exploration of how considering death to be a good thing can help simplify life and re-set your priorities. The podcast also includes: an overview of the concept of reincarnation as understood across traditions, an introduction to the Buddhist perspective on emptiness and the interconnected, blissful nature of reality, a recommendation of the work, writings and teachings of Andrew Holecek, and a personal invitation to their on-going “Death and the Art of Dying Bardo” series of online teachings via Tibet House US | Menla Online at www.thusmenla.org. This episode is an excerpt from Bob’s talk, “Facing Death to Come Fully Alive in the New Year” recorded with Andrew Holecek during the Tibet House US | Menla New Year’s gathering. To watch the full video discussion, please visit: www.teachable.com. To learn more about Robert A.F. Thurman’s classic retreat audio recordings, please visit www.soundstrue.com or new audio book version of “Liberation Through Understanding in the Between: Tibetan Book of the Dead” by Penguin Audio, please visit: www.bobthurman.com. “Supreme Contemplation: Facing Death to Come Fully Alive” Podcast Photo via www.gratisography.com.

In this episode Robert Thurman is joined by fellow Tibetan language translator, author, and inner-science adventurer, Dr. David Kittay for a conversation on bliss, everyday ethics, contemporary Buddhism, the Eightfold Path, and the Four Noble Truths. Opening with an introduction of Professor Kittay and his translation of The Vajra Rosary Tantra, Dr. Thurman uses his Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts book as a roadmap for an exploration of their work together presenting and preserving Tibetan Culture through their teachings at Tibet House US, Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa, Columbia University and during time spent teaching general audiences across New York City and the world. Dr. David Komodo Kittay teaches philosophy, religion, and technology at Columbia, where his courses are called life changing, translates exoteric and esoteric Buddhist texts, serves as a Tibet House US Board member, and founded The Harlem Clemente Course for the Humanities at the Drew Hamilton Houses on 143rd St. His latest publication is The Vajra Rosary Tantra, available from Wisdom Publications. A Tibet House US | Menla Conversation with David Kittay – Ep. 281 of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the Tibet House US Menla Online hybrid talk “Wisdom Is Bliss” with Robert Thurman and David Kittay, December 2021 in New York City. To watch the full video version and to learn about upcoming events with Dr. David Kittay, please visit: www.thus.org. Image by Amanda Sage. All Rights Reserved via www.amandasagecollection.com.

Sharing insights from his study of “The Flower Ornament Sutra” and his exploration of the Bhakti devotion tradition with Krishna Das, Robert Thurman gives a teaching on the value of generous, selfless intention when developing spiritual understanding and compassionate abilities using the body, breath, and mind through regular yoga study and practice. Opening with the Dalai Lama’s four aims in life and an introduction to the Vajra Yoga teacher training, this episode includes: an everyday, middle way approach to stress and anger for those of any background, a short history of the Nalanda Tradition, and an in-depth exploration of the connections between Shantideva’s “Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life” and the Bhagavad Gita. Podcast also includes: a discussion of the evolution of the terminology and understanding of karma, moksha and of the self-identifiers of those in Buddhist communities and students of the yogic inner sciences of transformation, an overview of Buddhist Tantra and its relationship to Hinduism, Vedanta, and Shamanism, and a teaching on the non-dual discovery of the blissful nature of reality by Buddha and enlightened beings across all time and traditions. The Vajra Yoga series of trainings is an intensive online and in-person program that includes study and contemplation of traditional texts and practices from Indian and Tibetan traditions, including but not limited to The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali and selected Pāli Suttas, and the Vimalakirti and Flower Ornament Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Mañjushrī-nāma-saṁgītī, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and various works by Nāgārjuna, Paadmasambhava, Naropa, Yutok Yonten Gonpo, Jey Tsong Khapa and the Dalai Lama. To learn more about this on-going offering, please visit: www.thusmenla.org. Bridging Body, Mind & Breath with Yoga Wisdom – Ep. 280 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via www.himalayanart.org.

Beginning this episode with a reading from “The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between” Professor Thurman uses his translation as a guide to the rich spiritual and emotional tools found in the end-of-life traditions of Asia and in the Vajrayana sciences and practices of India and Tibet. Podcast includes: an invocation of and teaching on the greatly compassionate beings found Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and globally in the indigenous traditions of the Shamans, an introduction to the subtle body system of the yogic sciences for transmuting the three poisonous addictions, an overview of the eight dissolution states of death and their relationship to birth and life, sleep and dream yogas, and a discussion of the inter-relationship of particle physics, quantum entanglement, emptiness, and the psycho-physical experiences of bliss. Episode concludes with an in-depth explanation of the channels, winds and drops of the subtle body and mind as taught in esoteric Buddhism, as in the mis-titled “Tibetan Book of the Dead”. Hey Noble Ones: Jesus, Avalokiteshvara and All Buddhas – Ep. 279 of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded during the on-going Tibet House US | Menla Online “Bardo” teachings with Andrew Holecek, available via www.teachable.com. To learn more about Robert A.F. Thurman’s classic retreat audio recordings, please visit www.soundstrue.com or new audio book version of “Liberation Through Understanding in the Between: Tibetan Book of the Dead” by Penguin Audio, please visit: www.bobthurman.com.

Using the sixth and eighth chapters of Shantideva’s “A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” as a guide Professor Thurman in this episode gives a teaching on the development of compassion and explores the interrelated history of Buddhism, Hinduism and of the Bhakti yogic wisdom traditions of India and the Himalayas. Recorded during the “Devoted to Wisdom” in-person and online gathering with Krishna Das this episode opens with a question from Nina Rao about Thurman and the Padma Shri civilian award of the Republic of India given to him by the President of India for his lifelong exploration of the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism and Shantideva. Podcast includes an extended guided meditation on the practice of loving-kindness and the equal exchange of self and other. Illustration from “Shantideva: How to Wake Up A Hero” by Dominique Townsend & Tenzin Norbu by Wisdom Publications. All rights reserved, Used with Permission. This episode is an excerpt from “Devoted to Wisdom: Celebrating Buddhism and Bhakti Wisdom Online Retreat” with Robert Thurman & Krishna Das. To enjoy the full digital offering, please visit: www.thusmenla.org.

In this episode Robert Thurman shares an inspirational message of gratitude, compassion and hope for listeners of all faiths, backgrounds, and situations. Opening with an introduction to the Bodhisattva’s Path, Professor Thurman gives an extended teaching on generosity using his book “Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life”, detailing its connection to political and personal activism, ethics, ecology, and creative expression. Podcast includes: A discussion of nature of dictators, fascism and materialism, a recommendation of the work of Heather Cox Richardson, and an invitation to discover the blissful, interconnected and interdependent nature of reality through everyday acts of kindnesses.

Opening with a recommendation of “Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times” by Philip Goldberg, Robert Thurman in this episode sits down with its author for a far ranging discussion on Western Spirituality, Meditation, climate change, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Tibet’s Fourteenth Dalai Lama. In this episode Robert Thurman and Philip Goldberg share reflections on: the San Francisco Renaissance, the effect of the counter culture of the 1950s on modern spirituality and stories from their time in India, and lessons from studying Buddhist and Transcendental meditation. Podcast Includes a discussion of the 75th publication anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi“, a short history of The Esalen Institute and the value of personal study and reading to any spiritual tradition or path of transformation. Episode concludes with an extended dialogue on the connections between Buddhism, Vedanta, and writings of the Transcendentalist and Beat Poets, and the Dalai Lama’s Four Aims in Life. Philip Goldberg is the an author, public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. A Los Angeles resident, he co-hosts the Spirit Matters podcast, leads American Veda Tours, conducts online courses and workshops, and blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health. To learn more, please visit: www.philipgoldberg.com.

In this heart centered conversation spanning from the remote Arctic communities of Norway to the compassionate wisdom contained in everyone, Robert Thurman is joined by author and explorer of inner and outer landscapes, Laura Galloway, to discuss the creative inspiration of interdependence found in nature, our world and in every day relationships. Opening with a recommendation of Laura’s book “Dálvi: Six Years in the Arctic Tundra“, Robert Thurman leads a dialog exploring the value of contemplation, study, writing, and why supporting the remaining nomadic cultures of Tibet, Mongolia, Russia, and Scandinavian is vital to planetary survival in the face of the climate crisis. Drawing inspiration from their time studying languages, time spent communing with nature through hiking, wilderness exploration and animal care giving, Bob and Laura in this podcast explore the rich traditions of the Sámi, The First Peoples of Canada, and the indigenous cultures of Tibet and the Americas. To learn more about “Dálvi: Six Years in the Arctic Tundra“, and the work of Laura Galloway, please visit: www.authorlauragalloway.com.