
Drawing The Rabbit in The Moon : Jataka Tales – Ep. 187
Exploring rebirth and reincarnation using the colorful Jataka Tales from the Buddha’s past lives Professor Thurman in this two part podcast provides listeners with an overview of the evolution of the notions of Karma, Dharma and community through history.
Opening with a discussion of the work of sociologist Talcott Parsons, Robert A.F. Thurman illustrates how the Buddha’s early Pali Suttas (Samanapala, Kevaddha Sutta, Tevijja Sutta, and Agannya Sutta) were secular in nature offering practical insight and tools for seekers looking beyond traditional religion, ritual and superstition through kindness, fellowship and meditative wisdom.
Podcast includes: a recommendation of the work of Daniel Goldman, an explanation of the Buddha’s rebellion against religion through the redefining of Dharma and Karma within his mendicant community’s practices and an in-depth exploration of the logic of infinitely connected past and future lives through a close line translation of the ‘Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life’ and Jataka Tales including the story of the rabbit and the moon.
Second half of podcast begins with a humorous presentation of the Buddha’s core teaching insights as demonstrated through the mischievous (yet traditional) teaching style of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in his public Dharma events over the years.
Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye by Gary Gach.
Illustration: Yoshitoshi, Jade Rabbit: Sun Wukong from the series One Hundred Views of the Moon, 1889. Ronin Gallery.
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.
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.
Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist born to a Palestinian father and an American mother in St. Louis, Missouri. Nye is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for her work, including a Lavan Award, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Carity Randall Prize, and many Pushcart Prizes. She has received fellowships from the Lannan Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and she was a Witter Bynner Fellow. From 2010 to 2015 she served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.
âA Force For Goodâ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lamaâs contemporary world initiatives, from His Holinessâ American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the âScience for Monksâ programs, his âsecular ethicsâ (Ethics for the New Millennium and Beyond Religion), His nonviolent approach to conflict resolution, including His Nobel Peace Laureate activities to seek dialogue and a win-win reconciliation with China in the face of the ongoing ethnicidal policies in Tibet (Freedom in Exile and Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of Tibetâs Dalai Lama) & along with his emphasis on positive activism (A New Reality: Charter of Universal Responsibility).
This on-going series was inspired by Daniel Golemanâs âA Force For Good: The Dalai Lamaâs Vision for Our Worldâ.
To learn more about this yearâs Force For Good Series please click the image above or visit: www.tibethouse.us.
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.
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.