Contrasting our modern materialistic terminal lifestyle which denies the interconnection of sensitive beings + the possibility of past + future lives with that of the Infinite Lifestyle as taught by the Buddha Professor Thurman re-frames the traditional translations of key terms found in Shantideva and in describing nirvana as bliss.
Opening this two part podcast with an overview of the Buddhist perspective on emptiness Robert AF Thurman leads a discussion on “Shantideva’s Bodhisatva’s Way to Life” & his book “Infinite Life” highlighting the lessons from each on patience, generosity, creativity + justice. Includes a discussion of the decimal system and the zero’s origins in ancient India, it’s linguistic + conceptual connections to Shunyata and the place of non-dualism in the Buddha’s Teachings.
“Bliss is more or less illegal in most cultures.”
Robert AF Thurman
In the second half Professor Thurman gives an overview of the Six Transendences ( Traditionally Known as the Six Perfections) beginning with a detailed examination of selfless compassion, the blissful nature of nirvana & Shantideva’s famous presentation of the yoga of patience as the antidote to anger/hate, with its three varieties of tolerant patience, insightful patience, and forgiving patience.
Podcast concludes with a short “exchanging self for other” guided meditation on Disney’s Living Dessert documentary.
“Bliss Suspicion & The Three Types of Justice” is an excerpt from the March 22, 2017 HH Dalai Lama’s A Force for Good: Buddhist Science Sources for Practices Beyond Religion Talk ‘Patience and Creativity Transcendences ’ by Robert AF Thurman recorded at Tibet House US in New York City.
To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us.
‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ 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 “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (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 Tibet’s Dalai Lama) & along with his emphasis on positive activism (A New Reality: Charter of Universal Responsibility).
This on-going series was inspired by Daniel Goleman’s ‘A Force For Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World‘.
To learn more about this year’s Force For Good Series please click the image above or visit: www.tibethouse.us.
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.
Bliss Suspicion & The Three Types of Justice”Photo Created with love by Ryan McGuire. via www.gratisography.com.
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