Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun!

Using the teachings of K. Pattabhi Jois + Geshe Ngawang Wangyal Robert A.F. Thurman and Richard Freeman explore the symbolism and meditation practices centering on the Hindu Brahma, Shiva, and Buddha in the form of Vajradhara. Podcast includes a discussion of Brahmism, Shaivism, Tantic Buddhism, the Chöd Charnel Ground Practice, Raja Yoga (King Yoga), a re-telling of the story of the Mahasiddha, L...

Opening this podcast with an introduction to the Medicine Buddha and his long time co-teacher + friend Richard Freeman, Professor Thurman explore the connections between Hatha Yoga, Buddhist Philosophy + the Indic Inner Sciences through a close translation of the classic fifteenth-century Sanskrit manual on hatha yoga, “The Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā” by Svāmi Svātmārāma. Using the teachings...

In this podcast extra Professor Robert A.F. Thurman leads an extended Nine Fold Purification Breath Meditation from the Yuthok Nyingthig as taught by Dr Nida Chenagtsang. This practice, also known as “Expelling the Dead Air” begins with by sitting in the Vairocana Meditation posture and then visualizing moving energy with the breath through the Central, Left + Right Channels to clear b...

Reincarnation as Buddha taught it to his community of mendicants suggests that everyone has at some time or another been born in every conceivable species, race, gender, or class. Professor Thurman opens this two part podcast discussing the Buddhist perspective on reincarnation and how the on rigid barriers such, caste, race, sex or class tend to be eroded through the acceptance of karmic biology....

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman is joined by Richard Freeman, John Campbell + Mary Taylor for a discussion of the connections between the Buddhist Inner Sciences + the Vedic Yoga Traditions and how the two streams of self-transformation when practiced together can positively affect our relationships, communities and the wider world in unexpected ways. Sharing the spiritual history of th...

In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman gives an unique presentation of “Three Principles of the Path” to the annual “Buddha and The Yogis” gathering of yoga practitioners held at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. Professor Thurman elucidates in clear and readily accessible terms to those unfamiliar with Buddhism the “ Lam Rim: Stages of The Path ” a s...

Dr. Mark Epstein M.D. and Robert A.F. Thurman, in this two part podcast discuss the Buddhist & Alcoholics Anonymous perspectives on addiction, depression, and recovery using the teachings of Shantideva and Winnicott to highlight common strategies and illustrate how the two can help one change one’s relationship to any source of suffering, internal or external. Professor Thurman begins th...

In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman takes some time to bring his students, friends and podcast subscribers up to date on his recent activities, the on going work of Tibet House US, Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa and shares ways each of us can begin to return the kindness of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Recorded at his home in the Catskill Mountains this week’s podcas...

The Buddha is said to have given 84,000 distinct teachings to groups, individuals and super beings such as gods, demons and the spirits of those lost between the bardos of life, death and dreaming during his 45 years of teaching  In this week’s podcast Robert A.F. Thurman leads a close translation of The Jewel Rosary ( Ratnāvalī aka Precious Garland ) and in his trademark style makes the 3rd...

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the Galenic, Chinese, and Ayurvedic methodologies found in Traditional Himalayan Medicine or Sowa Rigpa’s “Science of Healing” detailing the powerful diagnostic tools of urine analysis, pulse reading and dialog between doctor and patient which have proven to prevent illness, cure illness, extend life, and cultivate happiness. U...

Traditional Himalayan Medicine or Sowa Rigpa with it’s integration of Galenic, Chinese, and Ayurvedic systems of healing is one of the crown jewels of Tibetan Buddhist Culture with the most potential to help individuals, communities and the global community in a sustainable and long lasting manner. In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman introduces the Medicine Buddha myth, the role of...

Opening this week’s podcast with a discussion of mindfulness of the breath as it relates to the practice to reciting mantras Professor Thurman gives instructions from the Zen Buddhist tradition before introducing the root text from the 2017 Force For Good Class Series: Dr. Bo Jiang’s translation of Bodhisattva Maitreya’s “ The Sublime Continuum Super-Commentary with the Sublime Continu...

Buddhism is the collection of teachings, traditions and religions based upon the mind training philosophy as presented by Prince Siddhartha to his community of mendicants , householders and followers over 2500 years ago. Learning it’s history and the practices of meditation passed down through the generations is not as intimidating as it might sound when one is able to ask questions directly...

Studying Buddhism for personal transformation or to further one’s education in an academic setting is a much richer experience when one is able to ask questions directly. In this two part podcast Professor Robert A.F. Thurman responds to a series of questions from his long time friend, translator and  student of Geshe Wangyal Dr. Alexander Berzin. Podcast includes a discussion of the value o...

Recorded on Earth Day 2018 Professor Thurman opens this two part podcast with an invitation to the Dewa Spa at Menla Retreat providing a translation of the word dewa, a history of the Tibet House US property in Phoenicia, New York and a teaching on his personal inspiration found in the life and wisdom of the Buddha. Citing the Buddha’s scientific prediction of the infinite divisibility of ma...

In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman leads a live translation of “The Samaññaphala Sutta : The Fruit of the Homeless Life” providing the back-stories of the historical figures found in the sutra in order to elucidate the ethical and scientific insights of the Buddha’s teachings on the value of the contemplative life. Using this beloved + often referenced sutra in which Ki...

Guiding a meditation and a traditional Dharma teaching from “the happiest place on earth” Professor Thurman begins this two part podcast discussing the Buddha’s insight into the psychosis at the heart the suffering of individuals, groups and in society as a whole. Recounting the Dalai Lama ‘s teaching on his personal experiences with the ethics of showing compassion for mos...

Teaching from the pilgrimage sites in Bodhgaya Professor Thurman opens this podcast with a discussion of how the Buddha redefined the concept of truth and how modern language about Buddhism is influenced by it’s early translation by scholars attempting to frame it’s philosophy of mind training into Western religious equivalencies. Guiding a close reading of Shantideva ‘s “G...

In this two part podcast Mark Epstein M.D. joins Professor Thurman for a dialog on the Buddhist & Alcoholics Anonymous perspectives on addiction, depression, recovery and their strategies on how individuals can change their relationship to feelings of powerlessness. Beginning with a recommendation of BBC’s long running Science Fiction Fantasy program ‘Dr. Who’ and a humorous...

Joined by Foundation for the Sacred Stream's Isa Gucciardi Ph. D. Robert AF Thurman in this podcast discusses the power of creative and humorous rudeness as taught by Shantideva, Tibet's Dalai Lama and by his beloved teacher: wife of fifty years Nena von Schlebrügge . This two part podcast begins with Professor Thurman recounting personal stories from the Fourteenth Dalai Lama discussing the illus...

In this recording from his early days at Columbia University Professor Thurman explores Indo-Tibetan Buddhism in the intellectual setting of ancient India and Tibet, how it relates to modern philosophical thought and to the mindfulness revolution in popular culture. Focusing on the Dialecticist Centrism found in the writings of Aryadeva, Dharmakīrti, Dignāga, Tsongkhapa, Vasubandhu & in the te...

Recounting stories from his last day teaching at Columbia University Robert AF Thurman opens this two part podcast with a discussion of Tsongkhapa’s “ Essence of True Eloquence “, popularly known to Tibetans and those studying the Centralist Mind Training texts as “Tsongkhapa’s Iron Bow” due to it’s complexity as the ground for an in depth examination of t...

Contrasting our modern materialistic terminal lifestyle which denies the interconnection of sensitive beings + the possibility of past + future lives with that of the Infinite Lifestyle as taught by the Buddha Professor Thurman re-frames the traditional translations of key terms found in Shantideva and in describing nirvana as bliss. Opening this two part podcast with an overview of the Buddhist p...

Examining cultural norms through the lens of compassion, when grounded in the Centrist mind training perspectives of India + Tibet can transform one’s relationship to conditioning, to themselves and the world in which one finds one self. In this two part podcast Professor Robert AF Thurman discusses Three Manjushris, the place of the Lam Rim Teachings in Buddhism and the use of negation in u...

Reconciling the contradictions found in the wisdom traditions of Tibet, India and all male dominated cultures begins with an acceptance of the chauvinism inherent in the language, symbolism and forms used to express them across history.  In this two part podcast Robert AF Thurman addresses questions from retreat participants about Fire Puja Ceremonies, Dream Yoga and gender in Tibetan Buddhism. Pr...