Robert Thurman, PhD, is professor emeritus at Columbia University where he was a teaching professor for 50 years on Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies. He was the first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk, ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for a short time and became a Tibetan Buddhist lay teacher. Robert is a close friend with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for 60 years. He is a leading worldwide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, skilled translator of Tibetan Sanskrit Buddhist literature, and passionate activist for the plight of the Tibetan people. Robert is a Padma Shri honoree from the President of India for bringing back Indian Buddhist literature that had gotten lost from the 12th Century. He is Co-Founder and President of Tibet House US/Menla, the cultural center in service of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. He is host of the Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun. He is author of many books, including Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the Whole World and Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within. He is coauthor of Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit and Be a Whole Lot Happier. His most recent book is Wisdom is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life. His website is bobthurman.com.

Robert reflects on his 60-year close friendship with the 14th Dalai Lama. He describes how they met and the Dalai Lama making him the first American to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Playing a significant role in each other’s understanding of Western and Eastern cultures, they bridged two worlds and helped bring Tibetan Buddhism to the West and around the globe. He announces the vision of the Dalai Lama’s new university to unify people.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:22 Beginning of friendship

00:10:17 Becoming a monk and professor

00:24:40 Returning to Western society

00:38:39 Dalai Lama’s revised view of Buddhism

00:43:40 No fixed self vs. no soul

00:51:27 Love is the answer.

00:59:52 Absolute evil and healing trauma

01:05:54 My religion is kindness.

01:37:31 Key advice from Robert and the Dalai Lama

01:39:09 Dalai Lama’s favorite food

01:47:41 Conclusion

Edited subtitles for this video are available in Russian, Portuguese, Italian, German, French, and Spanish.

New Thinking Allowed CoHost, Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L, is an intuitive healer and health coach based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of Intuitive Development: How to Trust Your Inner Knowing for Guidance With Relationships, Health, and Spirituality. Her website is https://emmyvadnais.com

(Recorded on October 18, 2024)

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Published on November 25, 2024