
Swimming & Sitting Under The Bodhi Tree – Ep. 196
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 the fantastic sutra with its descriptions of multiple planes of existence and dimensions of reality as a gateway to unpacking the practical and esoteric lessons of Buddhism.
Contextualizing the non-dual nature of the Shakyamuniâs time under the bodhi tree just after full enlightenment as holographic in nature, Thurman gives a history of the pilgrimage site and introduces the infinite buddhas visited during this experience including: Vairochana Buddha, Avalokiteshvara and their connections to the Dalai Lama of Tibet and the Eighth King of Shamabala.
Podcast includes discussions of: the Kalachakra Tantra, it’s mandala and the practices, the Twelve Deeds of a Buddha and a Buddhist perspective on mystical experiences.
Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Mary Oliver by Gary Gach. .
Pilgrimage : Swimming & Sitting Under The Bodhi Tree – Ep. 196 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Filip Wolak All Rights Reserved.
This podcast was recorded during the Tibet House US + GeoEx Trip lead by Robert AF Thurman to the 34th Kalachakra Empowerment with the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India in January, 2017.
âPilgrimage : Swimming & Sitting Under The Bodhi Tree – Ep. 196 of the Bob Thurman Podcastâ is apart of the âBuddhist Pilgrimage Seriesâ using field recordings of Robert AF Thurman and friends from his global docent tours benefiting the work of Tibet House US.
Gary Gregory Gach is an author, translator, and editor living in San Francisco. A dynamic speaker and teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanhâs Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism his works include the anthology âWhat Book!? Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphopâ and the forthcoming âPause Breathe Smile â Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation is Not Enoughâ.
The song âDancing Lingâ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album âHeart Sutraâ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artistâs permission, all rights reserved.
To learn about upcoming Tibet House US trips Robert Thurman + GeoEx please visit: www.bobthurman.com.
The Bob Thurman podcast is produced under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives License through the generous support of its listening audience and the Tibet House US Menla membership community. To learn about the benefits of membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us.
The songs âTrance Tibetâ & âDancing Lingâ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album âHeart Sutraâ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge are used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artistâs permission, all rights reserved.