Using the work of Buddhologist Gadjin M. Nagao as a roadmap, Professor Thurman leads an introduction to the Buddha’s teachings and gives an inspiring talk on the future “fifth peak” of the history of Buddhism.
Reintroducing the idea of Buddhism as an Evolutionary Sport Robert Thurman in this week’s episode describes the six realms of existence, the nature of becoming a Buddha, and the basic thought experiments to introduce any intelligent being to the interconnected, multi-life perspective of reincarnation and rebirth.
Opening with a short overview of the teachings of Buddhism, Robert A.F. Thurman describes the four major flows it’s history, development and adaptation as it spread globally, intertwining teachings on: The Three Jewels, The Four Noble Truths, The Heart Sutra, The Nalanda Tradition, and the non-dual inner sciences of Nargajuna and the Mahasiddhas, yogis and house-holder saints.
Podcast includes : a detailed exploration of the practice of becoming a mendicant in the Buddhist tradition and the messianic nurturing nature of radical self-concern as taught by Shantideva and by the Bodhisattvas in literature, art and through out the teachings of the historical Buddha.
Second half of episode includes a frank discussion of the role of women and the context of their initial exclusion from becoming mendicants in the Buddha’s time.
Episode concludes with a reading of the work of William Carlos Williams by Gary Gach.
Buddhism’s Fifth Peak : Buddhist History 101 – Ep. 228 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via Wellcome Collection.
Gary Gregory Gach is an author, translator, and editor living in San Francisco. A dynamic speaker and teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism his works include the anthology “What Book!? Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop” and the forthcoming “Pause Breathe Smile – Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation is Not Enough”.
This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the monthly support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.
Buddhism’s Fifth Peak : Buddhist History 101 – Ep. 228 of the Bob Thurman Podcast is excerpted from “Buddhism’s Fifth Peak” a talk given at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert A.F. Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us.
The songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘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.
Infinite Life
Infinite Life demonstrates that our every action has infinite consequences for ourselves and others, here and now and after we are gone. He introduces the Seven Paths to reconstructing body and mind carefully in order …
