The imagery of Tibetan tantric symbolism is potent and often shocking to those unfamiliar with the meanings of Buddhist art. In this podcast Professor Thurman explores how art is used in Buddhist Cultures as a way to stimulate the mind to develop the imagination needed to conceive of enlightenment & Buddhahood.
Using selections from the Tibet House US Repatriation + MET Collections Professor Thurman details the rituals, rites, and texts involved in the quest for spiritual detachment from the corporal body.
This recording is an excerpt from the Annual Lecture on South and Southeast Asian Art talk “Ritual in Contemplation: Text and Tools in Tantric Buddhism” given at The Metropolitan Museum in 2012.
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Thangka from ‘Tangkas Today: Masterpieces from the Dharmapala Thangka Center of Kathmandu‘ by Karsang Lama on display at Tibet House US March 10-May 11, 2017.
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.
In this episode Robert Thurman is joined by Geshe Dangsong Namgyal, author, teacher, and founder of the Kunsang Gar Wisdom program in Santa Cruz,...
Providing a history of Non-Violent & Violent Revolutions Robert AF Thurman discusses the Buddhist perspective on messianic millenarianism on the eve of Barrack Obama’s...
Using Tsong Khapa’s Tengyur text, Essence of True Eloquence Professor Robert Thurman discusses the Buddha’s central teachings & concepts as preparation for the 2014...