Bob Thurman Podcast:
381 episodes — Page 6 of 8
Force For Good: Sci-Fi & The Vimalakīrti Sūtra – Ep. 129
In this podcast Professor Robert AF Thurman discusses the classic British Sci-Fi Series ‘Dr. Who’ drawing parallels to the Buddhist text ‘The Vimalakirti Sutra’. Includes an in depth exploration of […]
In Praise of Tsongkhapa & The Buddha’s Enlightenment – Ep. 128
In this podcast Professor Thurman explains the Buddha’s enlightenment & the philosophical clarity that Je Tsongkhapa brought to the mind training systems disseminated through monastic & meditative traditions of Tibet. […]
Buddhism 101: Six Realms of Existence – Ep. 127
In Buddhism, the most popular mandala is that of the Wheel of Life, a visual representation of the Six Realms of Existence. Traditionally the six realms into which a sentient […]
Meditation, Death & Dying – Ep. 126
This podcast explores what happens at the moment of death and beyond according to Buddhist wisdom found in the ‘Bardo Thodol’ known in English as the Tibetan Book of the […]
Accelerating Evolution with Kindness: Redefining Retreats – Ep. 125
Recorded on July 4th Independence Day Robert Thurman discusses the history of the American Holiday, Spiritual Evolution, Constitutional Monarchies, Mass incarceration, Thomas Jefferson’s Second Inaugural Address, Summer & the tradition […]
Buddhism 101 : The Four Noble Truths – Ep. 124
In this podcast Professor Thurman provides the context of the Buddha’s Enlightenment before launching into a succinct explanation of The Four Noble Truths. Opening this week’s episode with a discussion […]
S1 Ep 123Buddhist Inner Sciences 101: Chakras – Ep. 123
In this podcast Professor Thurman & Richard Freeman discuss interdependence, the need for compassion for self & others before detailing the subtle energetic system of the nervous system known in […]
Saka Dawa & The Kalachakra Tantra – Ep. 122
Saka Dawa, named for the star prominent during the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, like the Theravadin observance of Vesak is considered the most sacred month in which the […]
S1 Ep 121Cool & Inner Revolutions : Buddhism 101 – Ep. 121
The Buddha’s core teachings call for a series of revolutions in the individual’s perspective which then affect the surrounding community, culture & society in what Professor Thurman defines as a […]
Tibetan Medicine 101: History & Context – Ep. 120
Traditional Tibetan Medicine as preserved in Tibet with it’s practical synthesis of Ayurvedic, Chinese & Greek diagnosis systems is widely regarded as one of the greatest gems of Tibetan Culture. […]
Buddha Nature Revealed: Loving Activism – Ep. 119
In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses how Buddha Nature can be understood as being a form of Loving Activism found through the realization of Emptiness. Includes a reading from the […]
S1 Ep 118Buddhism’s Cool Heroes : Women – Ep. 118
Engaging the wit, wisdom & practical solutions offered by the Buddhist concept of fierce compassion Robert AF Thurman’s special Mother’s Day podcast is an exploration of cool revolutions & the […]
American Buddhism: Buddhism without Buddhism – Ep. 117
Examining the form Buddhist traditions have taken in America in terms of the Eight Fold Path & the services they provide Professor Thurman suggests American Buddhism can be best defined as […]
S1 Ep 116Real Love: Buddhism & Meditation with Sharon Salzberg – Ep. 116
In this podcast Professor Thurman & Sharon Salzberg explore the traditional Buddhist understanding of love and detail the Loving Kindness meditation practices developed by the historical Buddha. Using personal stories […]
Buddha, The Yogis & Yoginis: Yoga Revolution – Ep. 115
Using the Guhyasamāja Tantra as a jumping off point Professor Thurman leads a discussion with Richard Freeman on the value of studying Esoteric philosophy within the context of experiential yoga […]
Pilgrimage: Inner and Outer Pilgrimages – Ep. 114
In this dialog with Don George Professor Robert AF Thurman discusses the psychological & spiritual value of performing pilgrimages both in the modern day as well as in the life […]
S1 Ep 113Tantric Art & Tibetan Buddhism – Ep. 113
The imagery of Tibetan tantric symbolism is potent and often shocking to those unfamiliar with the meanings of Buddhist art. In this podcast Professor Thurman explores how art is used […]
S1 Ep 112Dalai Lama: 1959 & Beyond – Ep. 112
The story of the Chinese Invasion of Tibet & the resulting exile of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama vaulted the young leader onto the world’s stage in an unprecedented […]
S1 Ep 111China, Civilization & the Dalai Lama’s Vision – Ep. 111
Citing the on-going industrialized savagery occurring post World War II Professor Thurman uses the example of Communist China’s self-created conflict & the potential reconciliation with Tibet’s His Holiness the 14th […]
Buddhism 101: Tibet’s Dalai Lama – Ep. 110
Tibet’s Dalai Lama is one of the world’s most respected, influential & beloved yet little understood refugees. In this podcast Professor Thurman gives an overview of the life of the […]
Dalai Lama: Man of Peace – Ep. 109
In this podcast Robert AF Thurman discusses the history of the Tibet House US publication graphic novel “Man of Peace” and his long time personal relationship with His Holiness the […]
S1 Ep 108Force For Good : Buddhist Sciences – Ep. 108
A Special Losar (Tibetan New Year) Podcast celebrating the Fire Bird/Phoenix year with a detailed introduction to the Buddhist Sciences + the secular nature of the Historical Buddha’s teachings. In […]
Stress Relief for Buddhists – Ep 107
In this podcast Professor Thurman leads a reading of the early Pali Suttas known as the Digha Nikaya or The Long Discourses of the Buddha on the four foundations of […]
Buddhism 101: Theism & Nonviolence – Ep 106
In this podcast Professor Thurman gives a brief history of the Western discovery of Buddhism and how there have often been misrepresentations of its central ideas—Dharma (or Dhamma), nirvana, karma—confusions […]
Self & Selflessness – Ep 105
Professor Thurman begins this podcast with a detailed exploration of the concepts of absolute + relative realities as taught through the Buddhist Inner Sciences with commentary by Mark Epstein M.D.. […]
Nagas & The Qualities of Buddhahood – Ep 104
This podcast begins with an introduction to the Buddhist wisdom nagas by Professor Thurman through recounting a story from HH Dalai Lama‘s visit to Menla Mountain & concludes with a […]
Buddhism 101: Preciousness of Human Life – Ep 103
The historical Buddha taught that human life is precious and in this podcast Professor Thurman defines & elaborates this theme as taught by the Buddhists of Tibet. This podcast is […]
S1 Ep 102Inauguration & Women’s March – Ep. 102
A short guided meditation on the 2017 US Presidential Inauguration, the Women’s Marches held world wide & the historical context of the current global situation by Professor Robert A.F. Thurman. […]
Buddhism 101: Defining Enlightenment – Ep 101
The discovery of the historical Buddha not only posited the nature of reality but put forth a systematic method for individuals & society to transform themselves through enlightenment. In this […]
Six Session Yoga & Kalachakra – Ep 100
Professor Thurman guides a close reading of the ‘Six Session Guru Yoga’ it’s commitments for initiates of the Yoga and Highest Yoga tantras, explaining the bodhisattva and tantric vows taken […]
Exploring The Kalachakra – Ep. 99
The Kalachakra Tantra or “The Wheel of Time” teachings as preserved within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition are considered some of the most esoteric & significant series of initiations transmitted […]
Working With Enemies: Skillful Means & Reincarnation – Ep 98
Sharon Salzberg & Robert Thurman lead a dialog on the concept of skillful means & answer questions about Buddhist reincarnation through story telling & explanation of current empirical evidence found […]
Lovingkindness For Your Enemies – Ep 97
In this podcast Professor Thurman & Sharon Salzberg discuss the practice of lovingkindness meditation and it’s power to change one’s relationship with difficult people, emotions & situations. Includes a brief […]
Reciting the Tibetan Book of the Dead – Ep. 96
In this podcast Professor Thurman leads a recitation from his translation of “The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between” of […]
Fierce Deities Of Buddhism in The Tibetan Book of the Dead – Ep. 95
In this podcast Professor Thurman explores the concept of fierce protector deities used in Buddhist practices found in the traditional “Tibetan Book of The Dead” teachings and end of life […]
S1 Ep 94The Buddha’s Path Summarized – Ep. 94
In this episode Professor Thurman examines the twelve verse summary of the Buddhist path as found the 12th Century “Essence of Eloquence” transcribed to Jey Tsongkapa by Manjushri in 1396-1397. […]
Buddha’s Reputation of Suffering – Ep 93
In this podcast Professor Thurman examines the historical Buddha’s exploration of the nature of reality & dispels the common misunderstanding of his core discovery. Includes a detailed explanation of the […]
The Secret of Joy is Loving Resistance – Ep 92
In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses how to use the practice for the post-election result. This podcast was recorded on November 11, 2016 by Professor Thurman at his residence in […]
Tibetan Buddhism Is Not Really Tibetan – Ep 91
Conventional terms for different types of Buddhism (Japanese, Chinese, American, etc) seem to imply that Buddhism was made in these countries, and that it is a product of Japan or […]
S1 Ep 90A Loving Look of Compassion – Ep. 90
According to a Buddhist belief, we all have lived not just one, but many lives, an infinite amount of them. This means that every being has had a chance to […]
Emptiness is not Nothingness – Ep 89
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 […]
Realistic & Unrealistic Actions – Ep 88
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 […]
S1 Ep 87Buddha’s Evolution Theory – Ep. 87
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 […]
Shantideva: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part 2 – Ep. 86
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 […]
Shantideva: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part 1 – Ep. 85
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 […]
Emptiness Means Relativity – Ep 84
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 […]
Pilgrimage : The Four Transcendences – Ep. 83
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 […]
Pilgrimage : Ten Skillful Actions – Ep. 82
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. […]
S1 Ep 81Faith, Doubt, Skepticism & Intuition – Ep 81
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 […]
How Free Are We in Our Choices? – Ep 80
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, […]