Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

Latest Episodes:

Emptiness is not Nothingness – Ep 89 Oct 22, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains that Buddhism is not only a religion, but it is even more a science and a philosophy. He uses as an example the Buddhist concept of “emptiness” and draws parallels with discoveries of quantum physics. He then explains that emptiness should not be confused with the nihilistic concept of “nothingness.”

This episode was recorded on April 5, 2016.

Realistic & Unrealistic Actions – Ep 88 Oct 15, 2016

Show notes

Different actions bring about different results. Depending on these results, actions may be called skillful or unskillful, right or wrong, realistic or unrealistic. Positive types of actions (physical, verbal or mental) may be called realistic because they improve the quality of one’s life. They also happen to improve the quality of lives of others. In this podcast Professor Thurman explains why some types of actions may be called skillful and realistic, while others may not.

This episode was recorded on June 8, 2016 at Menla Mountain Retreat.

Buddha’s Evolution Theory – Ep. 87 Oct 08, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains why karma is a biological theory. Karma doesn’t mean a fate, karma means causality. You shape how you are. You shape how you are not only by what you do, but also by what you say and, most importantly, by what you think. According to the Buddhist belief, a human could have been an animal or any other life form in the previous lives.

This episode was recorded on June 8, 2016 at Menla Mountain Retreat.

Shantideva: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part 2 – Ep. 86 Sep 29, 2016

Show notes

This episode is a continuation of last week’s episode on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. In this episode, Professor Thurman reads from Shantideva’s verses, dedicated to anger and patience (or tolerance), and explains the meaning as he goes along.

This episode was recorded on October 20, 2015 in a class taught by Professor Thurman.

Shantideva: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part 1 – Ep. 85 Sep 22, 2016

Show notes

Shantideva is the author of one of the most studied texts in the Buddhist canon — A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. In this episode, Professor Thurman reads from this text the verses dedicated to anger and patience or tolerance, and explains the meaning as he goes along. This is the first of a two-part episode on the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.

This episode was recorded on October 20, 2015 in a class taught by Professor Thurman.

Emptiness Means Relativity – Ep 84 Sep 15, 2016

Show notes

In this episode Professor Thurman explains that a Buddhist concept of “emptiness” or “voidness” doesn’t mean a “no state” apart from everything, or “nothingness”. Emptiness means that everything is empty of any non-relational isolated component. Emptiness is relativity, and we are totally interconnected (mentally and physically) beings.

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.

Pilgrimage : The Four Transcendences – Ep. 83 Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses a famous Buddhist concept of the “four transcendences,” or the “four thoughts that change the mind”: 1. The preciousness of the human life of liberty and opportunity; 2. Realization of immediacy of death, empowering one to live one’s best in the moment; 3. The inexorability of the effects of one’s actions; and 4. The suffering of the “wheel of samsara” or “the ignorance-dominated life form.”

This episode was recorded in Bhutan as part of the Geographic Expedition called “Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon” led by Professor Thurman in April, 2014.

“Pilgrimage : The Four Transcendences – Ep. 83 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 : The Four Transcendences – Ep. 83 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” Photo by Christopher Michel, Used with permission.

To learn about upcoming Tibet House US trips Robert Thurman + GeoEx please visit: www.bobthurman.com.

Pilgrimage : Ten Skillful Actions – Ep. 82 Sep 03, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains how we can apply the tenfold path of positive/skillful evolutionary actions to shape our lives in a positive direction and improve our evolutionary conditions. This tenfold path is comprised of three physical skills, four verbal skills and three mental skills. In Dalai Lama’s book Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World they are referred to as secular ethics of body, speech and mind.

This episode was recorded in Bhutan as part of the Geographic Expedition called “Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon” led by Professor Thurman in April, 2014.

“Pilgrimage : Ten Skillful Actions – Ep. 82” is a part 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 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.

Pilgrimage : Ten Skillful Actions – Ep. 82 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Christopher Michel, Used with permission.

To learn about upcoming Tibet House US trips Robert Thurman + GeoEx please visit: www.bobthurman.com.

Faith, Doubt, Skepticism & Intuition – Ep 81 Aug 27, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses the importance of right understanding of faith, the ability to apply doubt and skepticism on the Buddhist path without taking it to the extreme of materialism, and developing tolerance of cognitive dissonance. Professor Thurman then engages into a very interesting discussion about what intuition is and how to differentiate it from the subtle conceptual mind.

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.

How Free Are We in Our Choices? – Ep 80 Aug 20, 2016

Show notes

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains how freedom in our choices depends on whether we are living consciously or unconsciously. There is no such thing as “meant to be”, however, each action brings about a particular result. For example, being a victim of circumstances — Professor Thurman continues — can be seen as a result of an action performed in the past and can be empowering when we take its blame upon ourselves. Also, Professor Thurman explains how we can not only live, but die consciously so to be reborn in the place we like.

This episode was recorded on July 27, 2014 at the “Hiking in the Catskills” Retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat, taught by Robert Thurman.

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