Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

In this message celebrating the full moon day of celebration of the birth, enlightenment and passing of the historical Buddha , Professor Thurman gives an extended teaching on how Saka Dawa is celebrated by Tibetans across the world. Saka Dawa, named for the star, Vishakha, prominent during the fourth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar, is almost the same as the Theravadin observance of Vesak. It...

In this episode Robert A.F. Thurman introduces the heart of the Buddha’s teaching through an exploration of the compassionate self-interest and social altruism found in the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path . Opening with a re-telling of the story featured in the “Man of Peace” Graphic Novel about the Dalai Lama’s first encounter with his teacher Khuna Lama who tran...

Opening with a discussion on the Buddhist definition of the mind , Professor Thurman details the philosophical history of and essential role of exploring it's nature through the experience of bliss within the Buddha's teachings and in it's meditations and yoga practices . Detailing how Buddhism's central tenets of causality, emptiness and compassion relate to modern Quantum and Particle Physics Ro...

Using the “Esoteric Community” (Guhyasamāja), by Tsongkhapa  Professor Thurman discusses the fractal nature of Buddhist writings and how with proper study and meditation upon their salutatory or opening verses one can understand the full meaning of the Buddha’s esoteric and esoteric teachings. Podcast opens with an exploration of the history of Buddhist monastic and university tr...

In this extended archive recording of “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk by Robert A.F. Thurman from Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco celebrates the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa. Opening  with personal reflections upon “The Year of Tsongkhapa”, Robert A.F. Thurman uses the miss-titled “ Tibetan Book of The Dead ” core teaching of infinite interconnected, past and fut...

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the value of studying Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana by anyone interested in improving their mind, relationships and the world around them with or without initiation or empowerment. Opening with a succinct explanation of the different lineages, orders and sects of Tibetan Buddhism from a historical perspective, Robert A.F. Thurman leads a discussion...

Professor Thurman opens this podcast with an exploration of the history of medicine within Buddhism and details how it’s highest expression within Tibet’s “Sowa Rigpa” provides the modern world with valuable perspectives and practices to compliment Western medical science. Includes an overview of Buddhist Medicine, stories from Robert A.F. Thurman’s time working as a...

Continuing his celebration of the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa , Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on his “Secret Biography” and the impact of his creation of the Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer Festival) in Tibet. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest sch...

In this special podcast celebrating the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa , Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on his historical importance and impact upon Buddhism, Tibet and philosophy. Opening this week’s episode with personal reflections upon “The Year of Tsongkhapa”, Robert A.F. Thurman uses the miss-titled “ Tibetan Book of The Dead &#8221...

In this extended recording from Menla’s “Tibetan Secrets of Longevity” Retreat in 2016, Robert A.F. Thurman and Dr. Nida Chenagtsang discuss the history of Buddhist Medicine’s origins in the teachings of the Buddha and elaborate how it found it’s synthesis with other medical traditions in Sowa Rigpa or the Tibetan Science of Health. Introducing the Buddha as a physician of the bo...

Professor Thurman and Dr. Nida Chenagtsang in this two part podcast discuss the history of Buddhist Medicine’s origins in the teachings of the Buddha and elaborate how it found it’s synthesis with other medical traditions in Sowa Rigpa or the Tibetan Science of Health as founded by Yuthok the Elder and carried on in Tibet, the Himalayas, and the Mongolias by Yuthok the Younger. Opening this...

In this archive recording from the Force For Good class “The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb” Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the secular nature of Buddhist meditation and mantra practices. Recording opens with discussions of: mindfulness of the breath , instructions on mantra recitation, a history of Zen on Chan Buddhism and an introduction to the Bodhisattva Ma...

Professor Thurman opens this archive recording from Menla’s Kalachakra Study Intensive retreat with a group recitation of the Heart Sutra and a teaching on how the classic text can be used as a roadmap for advanced Buddhist practices and for personal transformation. Robert A.F. Thurman addresses questions from retreat participants about: Fire Puja Ceremonies, Dream Yoga, gender in Buddhism,...

In this two part podcast recorded for Losar (Tibetan New Year) Professor Thurman discusses the practices of mindfulness and lucid waking as taught by Buddha and passed down through the Buddhist cultures of Tibet, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Japan. Opening this episode with a joyous introduction to the Tibetan New Year tradition of Losar , Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the value of developing a...

Using the study and practice of the Kalachakra from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as a road map, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the need to combine wisdom with meditation to develop in any spiritual path. Opening with a re-telling of the story of Pai Chang & Huang Po in which the Chan master and student discuss how to make a Buddha through inner & outer (mental & physical) ef...

In this extended archive recording from the 2017 Tibet House US Benefit Trip to Bodh Gaya, India, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the value of imaginative compassion as expressed in the cosmology, art and people found throughout the Buddhist sutras and tantras. This archive recording includes: discussions of “ Flower Ornament Sutra “, Kalachakra Tantra , the non-dual nature of...

Teaching from the bodhi tree the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the value of imaginative compassion as expressed in the cosmology, art and people found throughout the Buddhist sutras and tantras. Opening this week’s episode with a reading of the “ Flower Ornament Sutra ” Professor Thurman introduces us to “swimming” in t...

In this archive recording from the Buddha and The Yogis program held annually at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa Robert A.F. Thurman discusses the importance of the divine feminine and the role of women in Indian, Tibetan and Western history. Opening with an exploration of the experience of enlightenment Professor Thurman gives an introduction to Buddhist meditation , to the practice of meditating on T...

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the role of women in Indian and Tibetan history and of the feminine principle within their inner and outer yoga traditions . Opening with an exploration of the experience of enlightenment as depicted in the classic science fiction film “Star Trek The Motion Picture” Robert A.F. Thurman gives a brief introduction to the study and prac...

An extended archive podcast from Professor Thurman’s annual holiday message and his monthly teaching for the ongoing Kālachakra Study & Practice Group. Robert A.F. Thurman discusses the value of end of year celebrations, compassion and the Kālachakra yoga in helping individuals of any tradition or religious background to escape the terminal lifestyle of self centered materialism. Highlig...

Opening this week’s holiday podcast with a guided meditation from his book “ Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within ” Professor Thurman discusses the value of end of year celebrations, compassion and the yoga sciences in helping individuals of any tradition or religious background to escape the terminal lifestyle of self centered materialism. Highlighting the common spiritual t...

In this extended archive recording from the Annual New Year’s Tibet House US Dharma and Yoga Retreat held at Menla Retreat Professor Thurman, Sharon Salzberg, Carolyn Christie, Brooke Myers and Paul Bloom lead a discussion with retreat participants on how the daily practice of Buddhist Dharma and all Yoga traditions can transform one’s life. Opening with a group recitation of the “Hear...

Robert A.F. Thurman is joined by Sharon Salzberg from the Annual New Year’s Tibet House US Dharma and Yoga Retreat held at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York for a special teaching on the Buddha’s Eight Fold Path. Opening with a dedication to Sharon Salzberg for her selfless history of teaching, on helping to establish the Tibet House US center Menla and how she was tran...

Addressing the sexual misconduct and abuse by leaders and members of Buddhist communities, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a practical teaching on understanding the destructive emotions and deluded perspectives underlying such bad behavior. Opening this week’s episode with a mantra recitation , Professor Thurman gives a short teaching for Buddhists and Non-Buddhists on the Buddha’s discovery...

In this Force For Good archive recording, Professor Thurman gives a teaching on the history of Buddhism and the Esoteric Vajrayana meditation practices preserved in Tibet and found within all Buddhist traditions and teachings. Opening with a humorous presentation on non-duality using the science fiction movies featuring Godzilla, Robert A.F. Thurman explores the nature of anger, the subtle mind an...