Introduction to the asceticism as created by the historical Buddha in the original mendicant community of male & female followers of his teachings. Robert AF Thurman discusses the difference between Theravada and Universal Vehicle (Mahayana) Buddhism, comparing the Nirvana aspiring mendicants and Enlightenment aspiring Bodhisattvas — the variances in their ways of thinking and the impacts they have on the societies they live among.
Includes a discussion of the revolutionary & cultural disruptive nature of structures supporting a class of life long dedicated practitioners of mind transformation, wisdom studies and material renunciation.
Professor Thurman concludes this podcast by framing the mendicant’s asceticism to be a logical declaration of the interconnected, inter-relational nature of reality, “The Invention of the Americas: Eclipse of “the Other” and the Myth of Modernity” by Enrique Dussel & The Stamford Prison Experiment & with a “Mad Scientist” meditation.
To listen to more recordings from past programs with Robert AF Thurman at Tibet House US in New York City + Menla in Phoenicia, New York in the Catskills please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.
Podcast Thumbnail by Andrea Kirkby via www.flickr.com.
The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.
Podcast Extra
Essential Tibetan Buddhism
A vibrant, accessible introduction to the heart of Tibetan Buddhism through its own rich literature from "the most visible and charismatic exponent of Tibetan Buddhism" (Roger Kamenetz, New York Times Magazine). Expertly and lucidly surveying the basic …
