Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

Latest Episodes:

Heart Sutra Part 1 : Buddhism 101 – Ep. 31 Aug 28, 2015

Show notes

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.

Vimalakīrti’s Verses : Deconstructing the Self – Ep. 30 Aug 21, 2015

Show notes

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.

Meeting Vimalakīrti : Buddhism 101 – Ep. 29 Aug 14, 2015

Show notes

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.

Free Online Book + Suggested Reading: “The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti” Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman available via www.84000.co.

All Beings Are My Mother : Buddhism 101 – Ep. 28 Aug 07, 2015

Show notes

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.

Bliss is Legal : Buddhism 101 – Ep. 27 Jul 31, 2015

Show notes

In this episode, Professor Thurman points out the unspoken rule in our culture that it isn't OK to be happy for no apparent reason. He explains that in fact, reality is bliss and joyfulness. When we understand the nature of reality, it makes perfect sense to be happy. We just don't experience our life that way because we think we are separate from everything else. This, he explains, was the Buddha's discovery.

This episode is the first of a two-part recording of a lecture given at Tibet House California on June 4, 2015, titled "Tibet's Gift to the World." The lecture will conclude in episode 28.

Bliss is Legal - Ep. 27 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Ryan McGuire via www.mcguiremade.com.

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.

For more Dharma teachings and application of Buddha Dharma principles to current events, check out podcasts on www.bobthurman.com.

Flowing Through the Knots : Buddha & The Yogis – Ep. 26 Jul 24, 2015

Show notes

All of us have knots in our energetic system from our conditioning and emotional trauma that need to be uncoiled through spiritual practice. However, if we try to pierce them or muscle our way through them, they just get tighter.

In this episode, Professor Thurman, Richard Freeman, and John Campbell discuss how to flow through the knots, based on teachings from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Buddhist Inner science.

Flowing Through the Knots - Ep. 26 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via Himalayan Art.

This episode was recorded at the annual summer lecture series called “Buddha & the Yogis: The Vajra Body” given by Robert Thurman, Richard Freeman and John Campbell at Menla Mountain Retreat in July 2013.

Buddhist Inner Sciences : Revealing Your Rainbow Body – Ep. 25 Jul 17, 2015

Show notes

Yuthok Nyingthig is the most important practice for Tibetan medicine healing practitioners. The practice of Yuthok Nyingthig helps reveal the rainbow body that is each person's natural state. Professor Thurman discusses the meaning of empowerment, tantra, and why the rainbow body of natural bliss and happiness is such an important teaching for our modern world.

This podcast was recorded on July 2, 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 Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices.

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.

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 Ethics of Enlightened Self-Interest – Ep. 24 Jul 10, 2015

Show notes

In this episode, Professor Thurman discusses Buddhist ethics, which he translates as the ten-fold path of skillful and unskillful action. Instead of right and wrong, Professor Thurman urges us to consider ethical behavior as any action that helps us evolve on the path toward enlightenment.

Helping others is the heart of skillful action, but it’s also in our best interest. When we realize we are all stuck in this universe together, lifetime after lifetime, it is in our enlightened self-interest to help all beings be happy and free from suffering. It is also the path to our own happiness and freedom.

This podcast is an excerpt from a lecture given on July 3, 2015 at Menla Retreat Center, as part of a retreat called “Shakyamuni Buddha’s Inner Sciences & His Medicine Buddha Healing Science” with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang & Robert A.F. Thurman.

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.

To listen to more recordings from past Robert A.F. Thurman programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

Buddhism 101 : Transforming Anger to Compassion – Ep. 23 Jul 03, 2015

Show notes

One of the Dalai Lama’s slogans is: “If you want to be happy, be compassionate.” In this lecture, Professor Thurman discusses how to do this by opening our hearts to others, especially our enemies. Our enemies aren’t just other people, but within ourselves. By transforming anger towards all our enemies we can find true happiness and also help others do the same.

This podcast is an excerpt from a lecture hosted by the Kadampa Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 29, 2014.

This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert 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 support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

To listen to more recordings from past Robert A.F. Thurman programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

Buddhist Inner Sciences : Mis-knowing – Ep. 22 Jun 26, 2015

Show notes

The Buddha’s Wheel of Dependent Origination describes the cycle of existence—the endless wheel of samsara and suffering. The first link on this wheel is ignorance, or mis-knowing. Specifically, the idea that we are separate from others. Professor Thurman explains how this fundamental misunderstanding of separateness creates the whole universe of suffering. It is also the key to putting an end to the cycle altogether.

“Buddhist Inner Sciences: Fundamental Mis-knowing” podcast is an excerpt from a course taught by Robert A.F. Thurman at Columbia University, focusing mainly on his book “The Central Philosophy of Tibet” – a study and translation of Jey Tsong Khapa’s “Essence of True Eloquence” (tib: drang nges legs bshad snying po)’, but also addressing material in Jey Tsong Khapa’s “Ocean of Reasoning” translated by Geshe Ngawang Samten & J Garfield, and in Aryadeva’s “Four Hundred Stanzas” translated by Ruth Sonam.

To listen to the full, unedited thirteen class series please visit: www.archive.org.

To listen to more archive recordings from this class please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us.

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