Podcasts about tsongkhapa

Mushrooms for Enlightenment or Why Buddhism is Like Shrek: A Conversation about Teaching with Sangseraima Ujeed Episode 22 Recorded: June, 21 2022 Duration: 56:02 Description In this conversation with Sangseraima Ujeed, Assistant Professor of Tibetan Buddhism at the University of Michigan, she talks about teaching in a Public University as a practising Buddhist, the draw to teach and grow students in the knowledge of her native Mongolian language, and how she carefully works through primary texts with her students. An avid forager she hopes to build courses that bring students out into nature and sees the potential of Buddhist theories and concepts to build resilience, tolerance and alternative worldviews in her students. Memorable Quotes "What I really care about in my teaching, and I try to bring in as much as I can, is getting the students to engage with primary sources…we try to read about three or four texts from beginning to end. "The style of writing is so alien to them. This is a fourth century text that writes in a specific way. It's a commentarial literature genre which has its own thing. But at the end of it, they were like, we just read this thing from this period! And they felt proud. "37 Practices of a Bodhisattva is 37 verses, about 37 practices. That part was really valuable because as we started reading the 37 Practices, the war in Ukraine broke out. So taking little chunks of it and conceptualizing the suffering of other beings and the inability to really actually do something, but to have to think about situations like that when they arise, we could really bring in real life situations. "As a devoted forager, I would love to be able to take the students out into nature in the fall when species are abundant and just talk about the interconnectedness of an ecosystem whilst we go and forage and learn about the ecosystem or the forest and try to put that parallel to interconnectedness, what that looks like from the Buddhist position. In there with fungi, decomposition and the ecosystem, there's a lot to be said also about rebirth. Links and References Sangseraima Ujeed https://lsa.umich.edu/asian/people/faculty/sujeed.html Donald Lopez https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_S._Lopez_Jr. Lopez Jr., Donald S. 2005. Critical Terms for the Study of Buddhism. University of Chicago Press. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo3534242.html Buddhaghosa, and Ñāṇamoli. 1976. The Path of Purification: (Visuddhimagga). Berkeley, CA [etc.]: Shambhala Publications. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf Dzatrul Ngawang Tenzin Norbu and Stagg, C. 2020. A Guide to the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. Snow Lion. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/608046/a-guide-to-the-thirty-seven-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-by-ngawang-tenzin-norbu-translated-by-christopher-stagg-foreword-by-dzogchen-ponlop/9781559394918 "How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains", a talk by Richard J. Davidson, (TEDxSanFrancisco) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBfCW67xT8 Advanced Buddhist Meditation: The Investigation of Dr. Hebert Benson, MD. Russ Pariseau, USA, 2008. https://vimeo.com/248297652 Benjamin Brose  https://lsa.umich.edu/asian/people/faculty/bbrose.html Sisse Budolfsen https://himalayanhermitage.com/ Tsongkhapa, https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Tsongkhapa/TBRC_P64 Facebook Group "I Love Wild Mushrooms" https://www.facebook.com/groups/730397800439930  

In this talk, Jacob Fisher presents his research on a history of the Buddhist discussions surrounding perceptual relativism, in India and Tibet Indian and Tibetan epistemologists have spent millennia grappling with the central philosophical questions of relativism and intersubjectivity. This talk will present my ongoing DPhil research that attempts to map a philosophical history of the discussion, by focussing on a specific Buddhist example that problematises perceptual relativism. This classic Buddhist example is the perception across world spheres of a river, which depending on the realm one belongs to, will be perceived as either blood for hungry ghosts, water for humans, or nectar for the gods. This classic example of at least three contradictory perceptions emphasises the paradox of relativism and elicits novel philosophical and epistemological solutions to this real-world problem. The story begins in India with a brief map of the chronological and philosophical developments of the example, beginning with a Pāli discourse and followed by Vinaya, Abhidharma, and Mahāyāna sources. Next, the discussion shall survey the major Tibetan exegetes of Madhyamaka philosophy over the last millennia, specifically those who use the example. Finally, we will zoom inwards to focus on a specific debate on a highly controversial interpretation of the example by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), in which he simultaneously bolsters the importance of conventional epistemic instruments (tshad ma, pramāṇa) while at the same time undermining them through ascribing an illusory nature to all existence.

Rinpoche explains that Lama Tsongkhapa asked Manjushri “what is the quickest way to actualize realizations on the path to enlightenment?” Manjushri replied that there are four things. First, purify the obscurations. Obscurations can be purified because they are not in the nature of the mind. The mind's true nature is buddha nature; it is completely empty of existing in the way it appears to us. The more we purify the obscurations, the more realizations come–this is because of the power of the mind. In the West it might seem like if you have a mind then it has to have attachment, it has to have anger and ignorance, it has to have the self-cherishing thought, but the Buddha taught that the mind's true nature is totally free from attachment, anger and ignorance. The best purification is pleasing the guru. Everything depends completely on correctly devoting to the virtuous friend. Second, collect the cause, which is virtue. There are many practices to help do this, such as mandala offerings, but the main practice is following the guru's advice and wishes. Third, one-pointedly make requests to the guru to receive blessings of the path in your heart and to understand Dharma. “One-pointedly” means looking at the guru as a buddha, using quotations and reasoning. Through your requests, you will receive blessings like rainfall, nourishing the seed of realizations in your heart. Fourth, meditation. But meditation alone is not enough to achieve enlightenment. If you think like this, this is not understanding how to practice lamrim, how to achieve liberation from samsara how to go to enlightenment. Manjushri said that if you correctly practice with all the support–purifying, collecting merits and one-pointedly requesting the guru–then enlightenment happens.

On the occasion of Lama Tsongkhapa Day, December 18, 2022, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered a teaching at the fifty-third Kopan November Course about the very special qualities of Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings.One of the qualities is how Lama Tsongkhapa clearly explained the lamrim. This makes it possible for us to not make mistakes on the path to enlightenment. Rinpoche explains that Lama Tsongkhapa received teachings directly from Manjushri, like a guru and disciple in the same room. The essence of what Manjushri taught Lama Tsongkhapa are the three principal aspects of the path to enlightenment.Another special quality of Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings is his clarification of the Prasangika-Madhyamaka view of emptiness. These teachings were so clear and extensive, “the finest,” Rinpoche explains. This view is very important—to believe that things truly exist from their own side, or to believe that nothing exists at all—both of these wrong beliefs prevent us from abandoning the root of samsara, the ignorance holding the I as truly existent.

O oponente fala de classes ou níveis de tantra, nós também falamos de classes ou níveis de tantra. Que sentido há em falar em níveis de tantra e se referir apenas a uma diferença em meios? Porque precisa haver uma diferença em visão? Estudo de o Farol da Certeza https://tzal.org/estudo-de-o-farol-da-certeza/#59 Mipham's Beacon of Certainty https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/0861711572/?tag=tzal-20 Este podcast também está disponível em formato de vídeo em https://tzal.org/graus-de-visao-da-pureza/ • Thupten Jinpa: Tsongkhapa's Mādhyamaka, entrevista com Thubten Jinpa sobre a visão de Tsongkhapa (podcast da Wisdom Publications em inglês ) https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/151-thupten-jinpa/ • Budismo e ioga, sobre o uso mais amplo do termo. (vídeo no Canal Tendrel) https://tzal.org/budismo-e-ioga/ Para receber informações sobre a produção de Padma Dorje: https://tzal.org/boletim-informativo/ Por favor ajude esse canal: https://tzal.org/patronagem/ Lista completa de conteúdos no canal tendrel, com descrição: https://tzal.org/tendrel-lista-completa-de-videos/ Centros de darma que recomendo https://tzal.org/centros-de-darma-que-recomendo/ Para me ajudar comprando na amazon https://tzal.org/amazon Contribuições e perguntas podem ser feitas por email, que também funciona como chave PIX (conexoesauspiciosas@gmail.com)

Quando vemos a vacuidade em termos de negação e objeto da negação, isso nos afasta da não dualidade que nos permite ver a vacuidade primordial, e assim, impede que nossa prática do vajrayana seja algo mais do que uma mera representação. O desenho de uma lamparina não produz luz. Estudo de o Farol da Certeza https://tzal.org/estudo-de-o-farol-da-certeza/#58 Mipham's Beacon of Certainty https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/0861711572/?tag=tzal-20 Este podcast também está disponível em formato de vídeo em https://tzal.org/como-o-desenho-de-uma-lamparina/ • Freedom from Extremes: Gorampa's “distinguishing the Views” and the Polemics of Emptiness, refutação de Gorampa (um mestre Sakya) a Tsongkhapa. (livro em inglês na amazon.com.br) https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/0861715233?tag=tzal-20 • The Madman's Middle Way, outra refutação baseada na refutação de Gorampa a Tsongkhapa. (livro em inglês na amazon.com.br) https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/0226493172?tag=tzal-20 • Gendün Chöpel, sobre o monge que escreveu Madman's Middle Way, também baseado na refutação de Gorampa a Tsongkhapa. (vídeo no Canal Tendrel) https://tzal.org/gendun-chopel/ Para receber informações sobre a produção de Padma Dorje: https://tzal.org/boletim-informativo/ Por favor ajude esse canal: https://tzal.org/patronagem/ Lista completa de conteúdos no canal tendrel, com descrição: https://tzal.org/tendrel-lista-completa-de-videos/ Centros de darma que recomendo https://tzal.org/centros-de-darma-que-recomendo/ Para me ajudar comprando na amazon https://tzal.org/amazon Contribuições e perguntas podem ser feitas por email, que também funciona como chave PIX (conexoesauspiciosas@gmail.com)

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Thupten Jinpa Langri and host Daniel Aitken. Thupten Jinpa, educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and Geshe Lharampa, equivalent to a doctorate in divinity. Jinpa also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the […] The post Thupten Jinpa: Tsongkhapa's Mādhyamaka (#151) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as Co-Founder and President of Tibet House US/Menla in service of HH Dalai Lama & the people of Tibet. A close friend of the Dalai Lama's for over 50 years, he is a leading world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, passionate activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, skilled translator of Buddhist texts, and inspiring writer of popular Buddhist books.He met the H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1962. After learning Tibetan and studying Buddhism he decided to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk and was the first Westerner to be ordained by the Dalai Lama. After living as a monk for several years He returned to Harvard to finish his PhD. In this episode we discuss:His time as a monk in IndiaMeeting the Dalai LamaSomatic Practices in Tibetan BuddhismTibetan YogaEnvironmental issues and how modern society is disconnected from natureAnd much more Vajra Yoga Course  begins  October 22,  - January 28, at Menla Retreat Center https://thusmenla.org/p/vajra-yoga-fall-immersion-online-only

In this episode Robert Thurman discusses his early years studying Buddhism with the Kalmyk-Mongolian lama Geshe Ngawang Wangyal at the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center Labsum Shedrub Ling in central New Jersey, meeting his wife Nena von Schlebrügge at Millbrook, and his encounters with psychedelic psychonauts Timothy Leary and Ram Dass in the 1960s. Using his classic book The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa (now available in a new edition by Wisdom Publications), Thurman discusses emptiness, non-duality, the myth of the Kali Yuga and coming of Shambhala, reincarnation and the Buddhist perspective on the soul. This episode is excerpted from Thurman's “Meditation and Psychedelics Series” interview with Dr. Philip Wolfson, MD. To learn more about the work of Dr. Wolfson and to watch the full talk, please visit: www.philwolfsonmd.com & www.youtube.com.

In this episode I host a dialogue between Tibetologist and Tantric Buddhist Lama Glenn Mullin and doctor of Tibetan Medicine and Yuthok Nyingthig spiritual teacher Dr Nida Chenagtsang. Lama Glenn and Dr Nida discuss impact of three key revolutionary figures in Tibetan Buddhism from historical and doctrinal perspectives: Padmasambhava, Atisha, and Tsongkhapa. The discussion extends to include the history and evolution of the famous 6 Yogas of Naropa. Both Lama Glenn and Dr Nida are known to teach these hitherto secretive practices relatively openly, and they discuss the issues that have influenced them to do so, including prophecy, the true meaning of secrecy, and the importance of including the body in religious practice. Lama Glenn and Dr Nida also discuss subjects such as the geomancy of Samye and the surrounding areas, the pros and cons of the multiplicity of religious sects in Tibet, similarities between Buddhist lineages and Western psychological schools, and more. …

 Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep159-meeting-of-ngakpas-lama-glenn-mullin-dr-nida-chenagtsang 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include:
 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Jimi Hendrix and Je Tsongkhapa 03:29 - 3 revolutionaries: Padmasambhava, Atisha, Tsongkhapa 09:38 - Tsongkhapa's 5 stages of the Dzogrim vs 6 Yogas of Naropa 14:13 - Padmasambhava's big breakthrough 18:07 - Civil war, religious persecution, and Muslim invasion 20:08 - Why was Atisha special? 21:09 - Sect consciousness 21:41 - Tsongkhapa and the Sarma Renaissance 23:27 - Importance of historical perspective in understanding Tibetan Buddhism 26:16 - Samye College & the 5 Perfections 29:27 - Similarities with psychology schools 31:07 - Milarepa and experiential learning 35:38 - Core of all the schools 37:24 - Pros and cons of many schools 41:16 - The geomancy of Samye and Tibet 48:26 - Geomancy and dream yoga 51:36 - Historical evolution of the 6 Yogas of Naropa 56:34 - Why secrecy? 59:06 - Experiential vs academic learning 01:04:07 - Completion stage secrecy doesn't make sense 01:08:08 - Body liberation is essential in tantra 01:12:47 - Physical activity is important 01:15:07 - Subtle body yogas of vajrayana 01:23:29 - Glenn's closing remarks on the pros and cons of recent spread of Buddhism 01:33:19 - Nida's closing remarks on social awareness and finding balance in Buddhist teaching 01:41:14 - The need for female teachers 01:43:32 - BONUS: Lama Glenn & Dr Nida's first meeting (in Tibetan) … Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=chenagtsang … 
To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit: - http://www.glennmullin.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn To find out more about Dr Nida Chenagtsang, visit: - https://www.facebook.com/DoctorNida/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In Open Question 303, Elizabeth explores the power of words and what it means to go beyond them in the tradition of Prajnaparamita.

Saddhanandi says at the beginning of this talk that she's concerned she won't fully convey the depth of inspiration she feels about her theme, that of Tsongkhapa's short text "The Three Principal Aspects of the Path - she shouldn't have worried, she does it full justice.  From the talk entitled Renunciation - Tasting Freedom given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2009. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:  On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast:  On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 downloads and counting! Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in your favourite podcast service! Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone: donate now! Follow Free Buddhist Audio: YouTube  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Soundcloud  

Great Sage from the Land of Snows Lama Tsongkhapa — an ideal practice. His story, praise, practice, and mantras sung by the amazing Yoko Dharma. In these difficult times, we need practices that generate the healing powers of Compassion, Wisdom and Power. These are usually personified, from a Mahayana Buddhist point-of-view in the Enlightened forms of Chenrezig for Compassion, Manjushri for Wisdom, and Vajrapani for Power. Or, in the profound practice of the Buddha from the Land of Snows, Lama Je Tsongkhapa, who is an emanation of all three. Come along with us now as we celebrate the life and practice of the Great Sage from the Land of Snows, and finish with a visualization and chanting of the Migstema.Before we begin, if you like this presentation, please like, subscribe and turn on notifications. Please consider supporting Buddha Weekly's mission, Spread the Dharma, on Patreon, at Patreon.com slash Buddha Weekly In the land of snows, in the year 1357, a boy who would come to be known as Lama Tsongkhapa was born to a Mongolian father and a Tibetan mother in Amdo, Tibet. He would come to be revered as the Buddha from the Land of Snows, and an incarnation of all three of the Great Bodhisattvas: Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. His practice, today, embodies the qualities of these great ones: Wisdom, Compassion, and Power. He is equally revered for his vast library of Enlightened teachings in written form. Lama Tsongkhapa's birth was prophesized by both Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche according to texts, including the Manjushri Root Text. Buddha Shakyamuni prophesized, "After I pass away and my pure doctrine is absent, you will appear as an ordinary being, performing the deeds of a Buddha, and establishing the Joyful Land, the great Protector, in the Land of the Snows."In these difficult times, many famous gurus, lamas and teachers suggest this very powerful, yet accessible practice. The practice does not require initiation or empowerment—although the guidance of a teacher and initiation are beneficial. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised: “If one keeps even a drop of the nectar of the name of this holy being Lama Tsongkhapa in a devotional heart, it plants the seed of liberation and one receives the fortune to practice and enjoy happiness from this life up to enlightenment.” Historically, Lama Tsongkhapa is among the greatest of the sages of the Land of Snows. He authored numerous exhaustive and profound texts covering everything from Lamrim to Secret Tantra — all of the key teachings of sutra and tantra combined.Support the show

Here Samantabhadri expertly and imaginatively tackles the theme of Wisdom, using the verses in the third section of Tsongkhapa's short text on the "Three Principal Aspects of the Path." Dharma themes of the laksanas, suffering, niyamas, self - and no-self - are interwoven with more personal reflections, and with thought-provoking quotations - ".... emptiness, activity and compassion are not three things, but one thing looked at from three different points of view...."  This is the third of three talks based on Tsongkhapa's text given on the UK Women's Order Mitra Event at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2009. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:  On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast:  On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 downloads and counting! Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in your favourite podcast service! Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone: donate now! Follow Free Buddhist Audio: YouTube  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Soundcloud  

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his explanation of Buddhist refuge. This teaching, recorded on October 7, 2021, at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, begins with Rinpoche explaining that taking refuge is not something simple. It's not something that you simply hear and chant. One has to understand the four noble truths extensively and also understand the qualities of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, which can take one's whole life to do this. This is why monks study their whole lives in monasteries. Rinpoche reminds us of the proper motivation for listening to the teachings. It is not enough to achieve liberation from samsara and then achieve nirvana and everlasting happiness for oneself alone. Instead think, “I must achieve the state of omniscience, the total cessation of obscurations and the completion of realizations. I must achieve this to free the numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and bring them to full enlightenment by myself alone! Therefore, I am going to listen to the teachings.” Rinpoche shares a verse from Lama Tsongkhapa's Hymn of Experience: If you don't attempt to think of the shortcomings of true sufferings, Seeking liberation won't arise exactly. If you don't reflect on the causes, the evolution of samsara, You won't know how to cut the root of samsara. Therefore, rely on an upset mind renouncing samsara And cherish the understanding of what ties you to samsara. Rinpoche explains that an "upset mind renouncing samsara" is so worthwhile even though to worldly people who don't understand Dharma, it looks totally crazy and meaningless. The "upset mind" understands how karma and delusion lead to all suffering, and how one is trapped in the endless cycle of samsara. Due to being upset by this understanding of the suffering of samsara, one is motivated to go into isolation to actualize renunciation, bodhichitta, emptiness, the whole path to enlightenment—this makes that “upsetness” so worthwhile. “Skies of worthwhile upsetness,” Rinpoche says. It is like poison to think that living in isolation and practicing Dharma is crazy and meaningless. The person who thinks this way does not achieve freedom from samsara along with nirvana and everlasting happiness. But the person who is practicing Dharma, who left worldly life with renunciation to actualize the path in isolation—wow! Worldly people don't like suffering, but they don't understand suffering. Westerners can be so shocked when someone lives in a cave. But there is no benefit to being upset with someone who has renounced the worldly life and is practicing Dharma. In fact, it is poison. Even though there are good-hearted people in the West, Rinpoche explains that many of the concepts and actions of body, speech, and mind in the West are totally opposite of Buddhadharma, the teachings of the Buddha. It is important to understand what ties you to samsara. You are suffering and you don't like suffering, but you don't know why you are suffering. It is extremely important to know what ties you to samsara and suffering. Nothing and nobody tied you to samsara from the outside—in fact, you tied yourself to samsara with your hallucinated mind. It is up to you to cut this rope. Rinpoche shares verses from Panchen Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen's Melodious Song Bringing Joy to Lozang [Dragpa]: Responses to “Queries from a Sincere Heart," which is a response to a text by Lama Tsongkhapa. Even animals renounce the suffering of pain, Rinpoche says. If you wield a stick toward a dog, it runs away. When they are hungry they run to look for food. They have the thought to be free from pain and the suffering of hunger and thirst. Likewise, even non-Buddhists renounce the suffering of change. Rinpoche explains how in Lama Tsongkhapa's Lamrim Chenmo there are eight types of suffering and goes over Tsongkhapa's five points on the eighth type of suffering. The aggregates, due to karma and delusion, contain already actualized suffering

Geshe Sonam presents glimpses of Buddhist meditation and wisdom in a practical way. The teachings are the perfect way to bring some calm and compassion into your day.In this teaching, Geshe La will explain the first verse from Lama Tsong famous text "Three Principal Aspects of the Path" and will show us how this verse contains all the essential aspects of Buddha Shakyamuni's teaching. Enjoy this short teaching. The Very Essence of the Buddha's Teachings From Lama Tsongkhapa's Three Principal Aspects of the Path །ལམ་གྱི་གཙོ་བོ་རྣམ་གསུམ། ། རྗེ་བཙུན་བླ་མ་རྣམས་ལ་ཕྱག་འཚལ་ལོ། Homage to the precious noble masters! རྒྱལ་བའི་གསུང་རབ་ཀུན་གྱི་སྙིང་པོའི་དོན། ། The very essence of all the buddhas' teachings, རྒྱལ་སྲས་དམ་པ་རྣམས་ཀྱིས་བསྔགས་པའི་ལམ། ། The path that is praised by the noble bodhisattvas, སྐལ་ལྡན་ཐར་འདོད་རྣམས་ཀྱི་འཇུག་ངོགས་དེ། ། And the entrance for all fortunate ones desiring liberation— ཇི་ལྟར་ནུས་བཞིན་བདག་གིས་བཤད་པར་བྱ། ། To the best of my ability, I shall now set forth. Visit our Facebook page for more teachings by Geshe Sonam Ngodup and English translator Ven. Jamyang Khedrup https://www.facebook.com/LamaYesheLing/ More about our teachers: https://lamayesheling.org/teachers-and-facilitators/ To know more about our upcoming programs, please subscribe to our newsletter at https://community.lamayesheling.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe

In which we see what Tibet was up to ca. 842-1642, starring old friends like the Fifth Dalai Lama and new ones, like the mystics Atisha and Tsongkhapa, or Emperors like Kubilai Khan and Jangchub Gyaltsen. Series Website

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with guest Thupten Jinpa Langri. This Dharma Chat was a special book launch where we celebrated the release of Jinpa's translation of Tsongkhapa's Illuminating the Intent: An Exposition of Candrakīrti's Entering the Middle Way. Topics discussed include the significance […] The post Thupten Jinpa: Illuminating the Intent (#109) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

I discuss the nature of liberation. I read the Lam Rim/stages of the path by Tsongkhapa(second segment). Buddhism. Vedanta. Reduce: the self, grasping, aversion, ignorance... **You can skip the intro and go right to the reading in the second segment.*

In this talk, Michael Ium explores the role of prophecies in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition. The focus of this presentation is the role of prophecies in the early history of Ganden Monastery and the construction of the Geluk tradition. Beginning with those articulated during Tsongkhapa's own life, more and more prophecies would be cited over the years, attributed by Gelukpa historians to some twenty different texts and to a variety of figures, including buddhas, bodhisattvas, and revered Tibetan figures such as Songtsen Gampo Padmasambhava, and Machig Labdrön. This presentation will describe some of the main features of these prophecies, and then consider the role they played in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition.

In this talk, Michael Ium explores the role of prophecies in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition. The focus of this presentation is the role of prophecies in the early history of Ganden Monastery and the construction of the Geluk tradition. Beginning with those articulated during Tsongkhapa's own life, more and more prophecies would be cited over the years, attributed by Gelukpa historians to some twenty different texts and to a variety of figures, including buddhas, bodhisattvas, and revered Tibetan figures such as Songtsen Gampo Padmasambhava, and Machig Labdrön. This presentation will describe some of the main features of these prophecies, and then consider the role they played in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition.

In this extended conversation Robert A.F. Thurman and Dr. Mark Epstein M.D. discuss the history of scientific studies on the effects of meditation training since Buddhism’s migration to the West and encounter with materialists, psychotherapists and poets. Settling down after their annual Buddhism and Psychotherapy gathering, Bob Thurman and Mark Epstein reflect upon their twenty plus years teaching together, the on-going dialog between mental health care-givers and Buddhist Psychonauts, highlighting the teachers and teachings which impacted their work, writing and personal journeys. Candidly sharing details about his next book, Mark describes his academic career, the untold stories behind his groundbreaking writings, and shows how his lifelong combination of concentrated meditation practice with clinical psychological practice and study have earned him his eminent place on the front lines of the mindfulness revolution. This episode includes: an exploration of the influence of the historical Buddha, Freud, Ginsberg, John Cage, D.W. Winnicott, D.T. Suzuki, Tsongkhapa, 14th Dalai Lama, Yeshi Dhonden, Gelek Rimpoche, wives and close family have had upon Professor Thurman and Dr. Epstein, an introduction to Abhidharma, and the relationship between Buddhist Inner Sciences, Vajrayana, yoga and modern psycho-therapeutic practice. Recorded August 2020 this podcast includes a possible solution to the Zen koan of “one hand clapping”, also known as the un-stuck sound. Tibet House US Menla Conversations with Mark Epstein M.D. – Ep. 241 of the Bob Thurman Podcast photo by David Gabriel Fischer via Zen Diary.

According to Gelek Rimpoche, all basic Buddhist teachings are edicated to transforming negativities. Through learning, analyzing and the practice of meditation, we can clear our negative thoughts, ideas and habits—the obstacles to our spiritual development. In this lesson, Rimpoche explores our nature as human being and asks the fundamental question, “who are we?” We have a name, job, and family relations that seem to define us, but who is that “me” that gets insulted, and responds with anger? Right now, our negative emotions dominate. Rimpoche quotes Tsongkhapa who explains that Buddha nature is within us, but it needs to mature.

According to Gelek Rimpoche, all basic Buddhist teachings are edicated to transforming negativities. Through learning, analyzing and the practice of meditation, we can clear our negative thoughts, ideas and habits—the obstacles to our spiritual development. In this lesson, Rimpoche explores our nature as human being and asks the fundamental question, “who are we?” We have a name, job, and family relations that seem to define us, but who is that “me” that gets insulted, and responds with anger? Right now, our negative emotions dominate. Rimpoche quotes Tsongkhapa who explains that Buddha nature is within us, but it needs to mature.

In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhism teacher Glenn Mullin. In this fascinating, story-filled episode we focus on Glenn’s career as an author and translator. Glenn has authored over 30 books on Tibetan Buddhism, which themselves have been translated into many languages. He has translated an extremely wide range of classical Tibetan literature from some of the greatest minds of that tradition, including many Dalai Lamas, Tsongkhapa, and more. We discuss Glenn’s personal journey with the Tibetan language, from gaining fluency in the bars and tea houses of 1970s Dharmsala to studying classic texts with Geshes and Tulkus in exile. We explore the fascinating history of the art of translation in Tibet, and the evolution of the Tibetan writing system. Glenn also reveals his stylistic influences as an English language writer, and lays out his process when approaching a new work of translation. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep47-glenn-mullin-tales-of-translation/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Glenn’s beginnings as translator in Dharamsala 18:03 - Glenn’s work translating the Dalai Lamas 23:59 - Influences as an English-language writer 28:35 - History of Tibetan language and translation 47:12 - Difficulties learning colloquial Tibetan 49:15 - Unusual advice and gaining fluency 54:10 - Tibetan humour 58:49 - Glenn’s process for approaching a new translation 1:16:13 - Working closely with lineage holders 1:21:11 - The intellectual greatness of Ling Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 1:23:52 - The effect of intense meditation on memory power 1:25:15 - How great masters retain multiple lineages 1:35:22 - Glenn’s favourite of his translations 1:41:55 - Glenn’s opinion of translators today … Audio version of this podcast available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. Previous Glenn Mullin episodes: - https://www.guruviking.com/guru-viking-interviews-ep9-glenn-mullin/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep19-glenn-mullin-guru-viking-interviews/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep26-glenn-mullin-illusory-body-yoga-of-waking-sleep-and-death/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep28-glenn-mullin-dream-yoga-solo-retreat-guide-and-unlocking-the-human-potential/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep42-glenn-mullin-death-divination-and-sacred-relics/ To find our more about Glenn, visit: - https://www.runawayjourneys.com/ - http://www.glennmullin.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - http://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this session, Jennifer takes my unusual questions (via our friend Luana Anders on the flipside) and I access Tsong Khapa, Manjushri and the Alpha and Omega.  One could way I'm an equal opportunity heretic - but it's to demonstrate something Tsong Khapa knew - we can ask questions of people no longer on the planet and get new information. Enjoy.

In this extended recording Professor Thurman gives an introductory teaching on the centrality of reincarnation to the Buddha’s philosophy and how an understanding of past and future lives is essential to becoming enlightened. Using the teachings of Atisha, Tsongkhapa and the 14th Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman begins the teaching with a humorous thought experiment examining the materialist notions unpinning intellectual discussion about past and future lives. Episode includes : a short history of Buddhism in India, Tibet and Asia, an exploration of the Christian traditions of reincarnation and explanation of the process of becoming enlightened as told in the life story of Shakyamuni Buddha. This episode is the recording of the thought-provoking and lively lecture “Past & Future Lives: Is Enlightenment Possible Without Them?” with Robert Thurman, given at Maitripa College in Portland, OR on April 8, 2016. Past & Future Lives Buddhism 101 : Bob Thurman Podcast Bonus photo by Wonderlane. This recording from the “Past & Future Lives: Is Enlightenment Possible Without Them?” was originally excerpted as the episode: “Do We Need to Believe in Past & Future Lives to Become Enlightened? – Ep. 66” of the Bob Thurman Podcast. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. 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. 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.

In this extended recording Professor Thurman gives an introductory teaching on the centrality of reincarnation to the Buddha’s philosophy and how an understanding of past and future lives is essential to becoming enlightened. Using the teachings of Atisha, Tsongkhapa and the 14th Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman begins the teaching with a humorous thought experiment examining the materialist notions unpinning intellectual discussion about past and future lives. Episode includes : a short history of Buddhism in India, Tibet and Asia, an exploration of the Christian traditions of reincarnation and explanation of the process of becoming enlightened as told in the life story of Shakyamuni Buddha. This episode is the recording of the thought-provoking and lively lecture “Past & Future Lives: Is Enlightenment Possible Without Them?” with Robert Thurman, given at Maitripa College in Portland, OR on April 8, 2016. Past & Future Lives Buddhism 101 : Bob Thurman Podcast Bonus photo by Wonderlane. This recording from the “Past & Future Lives: Is Enlightenment Possible Without Them?” was originally excerpted as the episode: “Do We Need to Believe in Past & Future Lives to Become Enlightened? – Ep. 66” of the Bob Thurman Podcast. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. 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. 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.

Geshe Damchoe Gurjav and Lama Yeshe Jinpa lead a celebration of Tsongkhapa Day at Do Nga Dargey Temple in Sacramento, California.

In honor of Tibetan New Year and the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives a teaching on the history of women in Buddhism and details the on-going work to re-evaluate and re-establish Vajrayana Tantric traditions in hearts, minds and lives of institutional monastics and modern householder practitioners. Opening with a short discussion of New Year’s celebrations in Tibet, Robert A.F. Thurman elaborates the benefits of studying the teachings and commentaries of Lama Tsongkhapa for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of yoga, meditation and the Buddhist Inner Sciences. Podcast includes: An in-depth exploration of the impact of male dominated culture on the transmission of advanced Buddhist practices for women, personal stories about translating commentaries on “secret” advanced Tantric texts and an introduction to the importance of the queens, consorts and female poets of South India. This episode concludes with an invitation to join Professor Thurman during upcoming teachings at Tibet House US, Menla Retreat and online with Wisdom Publications. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche   Buddha’s Noble Daughters : Buddhist Tantra for All – Ep. 233 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via www.tenzinpalmo.com. 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. Listen to more archive recordings 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.

In honor of Tibetan New Year and the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives a teaching on the history of women in Buddhism and details the on-going work to re-evaluate and re-establish Vajrayana Tantric traditions in hearts, minds and lives of institutional monastics and modern householder practitioners. Opening with a short discussion of New Year’s celebrations in Tibet, Robert A.F. Thurman elaborates the benefits of studying the teachings and commentaries of Lama Tsongkhapa for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of yoga, meditation and the Buddhist Inner Sciences. Podcast includes: an in-depth exploration of the impact of male dominated culture on the transmission of advanced Buddhist practices for women, personal stories about translating commentaries on “secret” advanced Tantric texts and an introduction to the importance of the queens, consorts and female poets of South India. This episode concludes with an invitation to join Professor Thurman during upcoming teachings at Tibet House US, Menla Retreat and online with Wisdom Publications. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche Buddha’s Noble Daughters : Buddhist Tantra for All – Ep. 233 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via www.tenzinpalmo.com. 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. Listen to more archive recordings 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.

Dje Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) a été un des plus grands érudits-pratiquants de l'histoire du bouddhisme tibétain et il est le fondateur de la tradition guélougpa. Très jeune, Tsongkhapa s'est distingué par ses études intenses, son intelligence aiguisée et ses réalisations spirituelles. Dans les trois dernières décennies de sa vie, il s'est dédié à la pratique, l'enseignement, l'écriture et la création de monastères. Respectées par les quatre écoles du bouddhisme tibétain, les œuvres de Lama Tsongkhapa ont contribué grandement au renouveau du bouddhisme au Tibet. En cette année 2019, nous célébrons le 600ème anniversaire du parinirvana de Lama Tsongkhapa.

Here Samantabhadri expertly and imaginatively tackles the theme of Wisdom, using the verses in the third section of Tsongkhapa's short text on the "Three Principle Aspects of the Path". Dharma themes of the laksanas, suffering, niyamas, self - and no-self - are interwoven with more personal reflections, and with thought-provoking quotations - ".... emptiness, activity and compassion are not three things, but one thing looked at from three different points of view...." This is the third of three talks all based on Tsongkhapa's text, and given on the 2009 UK Women's Order Mitra Event entitled The Path of the Buddha's Delight given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, May 2009. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, two times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud  

Lama Yeshe Jinpa discusses Tsongkhapa's "Ocean of Reasoning" and bestows a reading transmission.

In this extended archive recording Robert A.F. Thurman and Dr. Tom Yarnall explore the “Guhyasamāja Tantra King of Tantras – The Glorious Esoteric Community” by Tsongkhapa giving an introduction to Buddhist tantra and the practice of creation stage deity yoga. Includes an exploration of Buddhist Sand or powder mandalas and the chakra system used in the visualizations used in creation stage tantra meditations and self transformation practices by Robert A.F. Thurman. Podcast includes a discussion of the role of gods in visualization, the need to study and develop critical wisdom and selfless compassion before engaging in advanced self-transformation and the historical place of initiation in Indian and Vedic communities.   Force For Good : Creation Stage Tantra Podcast Bonus Image via Lotus Within. 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. “Force For Good : Creation Stage Tantra Podcast Bonus″ of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the 2017 Force for Good Class Series. ‘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. 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 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 extended archive recording Robert A.F. Thurman and Dr. Tom Yarnall explore the “Guhyasamāja Tantra King of Tantras – The Glorious Esoteric Community” by Tsongkhapa giving an introduction to Buddhist tantra and the practice of creation stage deity yoga. Includes an exploration of Buddhist Sand or powder mandalas and the chakra system used in the visualizations used in creation stage tantra meditations and self transformation practices by Robert A.F. Thurman. Podcast includes a discussion of the role of gods in visualization, the need to study and develop critical wisdom and selfless compassion before engaging in advanced self-transformation and the historical place of initiation in Indian and Vedic communities. Force For Good : Creation Stage Tantra Podcast Bonus Image via Lotus Within. 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. “Force For Good : Creation Stage Tantra Podcast Bonus″ of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the 2017 Force for Good Class Series. ‘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

In this extended archive recording of the Tibet House US Force For Good class Buddhist Sciences : Vajrayana II Robert A.F. Thurman gives an overview of the esoteric teachings of Buddhism. Using the “Esoteric Community” (Guhyasamāja) by Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman discusses how with proper study and meditation anyone can understand the full meaning of the Buddha’s esoteric teachings. Podcast includes: an overview of the Buddhist Inner Sciences, an explanation of the different lineages, orders and sects of Tibetan Buddhism, a short discussion of the distinctions between Mother, Father and Non-Dual Tantra, definitions of Professor Thurman’s “Tantric Abidharma”, Mind Objective, Speech Isolation, Clear Light and the Central Channel system used in Buddhist Medicine and Inner Sciences. Buddhist Sciences Vajrayana Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives Image of Medicine Buddha and Tsongkhapa via www.welcomecollection.org “Buddhist Sciences Vajrayana Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives″ of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the 2016 Force for Good Class “Vajrayana II”. This archive was originally excerpted as the episodes: “Mother and Father Tantras” and “Buddhist Opening Verses” and the full video version can be viewed on the Tibet House US Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa YouTube Channel. 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. ‘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 on-going series please visit: www.tibethouse.us. 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 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 extended archive recording of the Tibet House US Force For Good class Buddhist Sciences : Vajrayana II Robert A.F. Thurman gives an overview of the esoteric teachings of Buddhism. Using the “Esoteric Community” (Guhyasamāja) by Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman discusses how with proper study and meditation anyone can understand the full meaning of the Buddha’s esoteric teachings. Podcast includes: an overview of the Buddhist Inner Sciences, an explanation of the different lineages, orders and sects of Tibetan Buddhism, a short discussion of the distinctions between Mother, Father and Non-Dual Tantra, definitions of Professor Thurman’s “Tantric Abidharma”, Mind Objective, Speech Isolation, Clear Light and the Central Channel system used in Buddhist Medicine and Inner Sciences. Buddhist Sciences Vajrayana Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives Image of Medicine Buddha and Tsongkhapa via www.welcomecollection.org “Buddhist Sciences Vajrayana Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives″ of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the 2016 Force for Good Class “Vajrayana II”. This archive was originally excerpted as the episodes: “Mother and Father Tantras” and “Buddhist Opening Verses” and the full video version can be viewed on the Tibet House US Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa YouTube Channel. 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. ‘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 (

How free would your life be if you gave up unreal expectations? Try to remember something too important to forget. Renunciation is where you are allowing yourself to be obedient to the call of the heart – what do you really want to say ‘yes’ to? One of her telling quotes is " ... there is no spiritual development without renunciation, and no renunciation without spiritual development ..." Saddhanandi begins this Dharmabyte with a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye called The Art of Disappearing. From the very rich and reflective talk entitled Renunciation - Tasting Freedom, the first of three talks given on the 2009 UK Women's Order / Mitra Event. It's based on the first section of Tsongkhapa's short text "The Three Principle Aspects of the Path". The other talks in the series are "Generating Bodhi Mind" by Vajratara, and "The Path of the Buddha's Delight" by Samantabhadri. Given at Taraloka, May 2009 *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Lama Yeshe Jinpa discusses Tsongkhapa's work Ocean of Reasoning with students who have been reading it.

Unwinding the mystery of the ancient traditions of Hatha and Vajrayana Yoga, Professor Thurman gives an engaging history and extends a personal invitation to practitioners of both communities to begin developing the esoteric teachings for future generations of sensitive beings. Robert A.F. Thurman opens this week’s episode with an introduction to Buddhist tantra, tantric Abhidharma and the philosophy common to Tsongkhapa, Nagarjuna, the practice lineages of Vajrayana, Shaivite and Hatha Yoga. Second half of this week’s episode is a special invitation to all Hatha yoga and Vajrayana Buddhist students, mediators and inner scientists to develop and participate in a teacher training with Robert Thurman at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa. Podcast concludes with a reading of Patti Smith’s poem “Oracle” by Gary Gach. Hatha & Vajrayana Yoga : Developing Traditions Photo by Ryan McGuire via www.mcguiremade.com. 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. This podcast is apart of the Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices. Hatha & Vajrayana Yoga : Developing Traditions – Ep. 212 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded July 2019. 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 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. 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”.

Unwinding the mystery of the ancient traditions of Hatha and Vajrayana Yoga, Professor Thurman gives an engaging history and extends a personal invitation to practitioners of both communities to begin developing the esoteric teachings for future generations of sensitive beings. Robert A.F. Thurman opens this week’s episode with an introduction to Buddhist tantra, tantric Abhidharma and the philosophy common to Tsongkhapa, Nagarjuna, the practice lineages of Vajrayana, Shaivite and Hatha Yoga. Second half of this week’s episode is a special invitation to all Hatha yoga and Vajrayana Buddhist students, mediators and inner scientists to develop and participate in a teacher training with Robert Thurman at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa. Podcast concludes with a reading of Patti Smith’s poem “Oracle” by Gary Gach. Hatha & Vajrayana Yoga : Developing Traditions Photo by Ryan McGuire via www.mcguiremade.com. 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. This podcast is apart of the Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices. Hatha & Vajrayana Yoga : Developing Traditions – Ep. 212 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded July 2019. 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.

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 3 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 1 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 2 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 7 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 6 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 5 by Study Buddhism

Elaboration of Tsongkhapa's Unique View of Prasangika - Part 4 by Study Buddhism

Using the "Esoteric Community" (Guhyasamāja), by Tsongkhapa  Professor Thurman discusses the fractal nature of Buddhist writings and how with proper study and meditation upon their salutatory or opening verses one can understand the full meaning of the Buddha's esoteric and esoteric teachings. Podcast opens with an exploration of the history of Buddhist monastic and university traditions, a teaching on the Seven Ornaments and the six parameters of interpretation used within Tantric and Vajrayana philosophy. Episode includes definitions of Professor Thurman's "Tantric Abidharma", Mind Objective, Speech Isolation, Clear Light and the Central Channel system used in Buddhist Medicine and Inner Sciences. Podcast concludes with a reading of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s writings on World War Two and the Bombing of Nagasaki by Gary Gach.   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. This podcast is apart of the Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices. Exploring Buddhist Opening Verses - Ep. 204 was recorded at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources Class Introduction of the Force for Good Series Class “Buddhist Science Vajrayana Part Three” on November 30th 2016 at Tibet House US in New York City. ‘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. 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 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. 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”.

Using the “Esoteric Community” (Guhyasamāja), by Tsongkhapa  Professor Thurman discusses the fractal nature of Buddhist writings and how with proper study and meditation upon their salutatory or opening verses one can understand the full meaning of the Buddha’s esoteric and esoteric teachings. Podcast opens with an exploration of the history of Buddhist monastic and university traditions, a teaching on the Seven Ornaments and the six parameters of interpretation used within Tantric and Vajrayana philosophy. Episode includes definitions of Professor Thurman’s “Tantric Abidharma”, Mind Objective, Speech Isolation, Clear Light and the Central Channel system used in Buddhist Medicine and Inner Sciences. Podcast concludes with a reading of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s writings on World War Two and the Bombing of Nagasaki by Gary Gach. 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. This podcast is apart of the Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices. Exploring Buddhist Opening Verses – Ep. 204 was recorded at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources Class Introduction of the Force for Good Series Class “Buddhist Science Vajrayana Part Three” on November 30th 2016 at Tibet House US in New York City. ‘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

In this extended archive recording of “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk by Robert A.F. Thurman from Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco celebrates the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa. Opening  with personal reflections upon “The Year of Tsongkhapa”, Robert A.F. Thurman uses the miss-titled “Tibetan Book of The Dead” core teaching of infinite interconnected, past and future lives to frame his exploration of the life, work and teachings of Je Tsongkhapa and gives an in-depth teaching on his historical importance and impact upon Buddhism, Tibet and philosophy. Podcast includes a reading of the first Panchen Lama Khedrup Gelek Pelzang’s account of Tsongkhapa’s attainment of the magic body and manifestation of Manjushri during his enlightenment, a discussion of the use of spiritual consorts, Karmamudra, the history of the different schools, sects and “orders” within Pre-Invasion Tibet and a recommendation of the forthcoming biography of Tsongkhapa by Thupten Jinpa by Wisdom Publications.   About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche   This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” Edited by Robert A.F. Thurman published by Wisdom Publication, 2018. The Year of Tsongkhapa : Podcast Bonus RAFT Archive Episode was recorded during the “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco in 2019. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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 extended archive recording of “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk by Robert A.F. Thurman from Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco celebrates the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa. Opening  with personal reflections upon “The Year of Tsongkhapa”, Robert A.F. Thurman uses the miss-titled “Tibetan Book of The Dead” core teaching of infinite interconnected, past and future lives to frame his exploration of the life, work and teachings of Je Tsongkhapa and gives an in-depth teaching on his historical importance and impact upon Buddhism, Tibet and philosophy. Podcast includes a reading of the first Panchen Lama Khedrup Gelek Pelzang’s account of Tsongkhapa’s attainment of the magic body and manifestation of Manjushri during his enlightenment, a discussion of the use of spiritual consorts, Karmamudra, the history of the different schools, sects and “orders” within Pre-Invasion Tibet and a recommendation of the forthcoming biography of Tsongkhapa by Thupten Jinpa by Wisdom Publications. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “

Continuing his celebration of the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on his “Secret Biography” and the impact of his creation of the Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer Festival) in Tibet. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Albert Saijo by Gary Gach. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” Edited by Robert A.F. Thurman published by Wisdom Publication, 2018. Celebrating Tsongkhapa : Sects, Orders and Consorts – Ep. 200 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded during the “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco in 2019. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 Hanh’s Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism his works include the anthology

Continuing his celebration of the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on his "Secret Biography" and the impact of his creation of the Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer Festival) in Tibet. About Lama Tsongkhapa and "International Year of Tsongkhapa" ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Albert Saijo by Gary Gach. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” Edited by Robert A.F. Thurman published by Wisdom Publication, 2018. Celebrating Tsongkhapa : Sects, Orders and Consorts - Ep. 200 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded during the "The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa" Talk at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco in 2019. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 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”. To learn more about the writings and work Of Gary Gach please visit: www.garygach.com The song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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 special podcast celebrating the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on the historical importance and impact upon Buddhism, Tibet and philosophy. Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Lawrence Ferlinghetti by Gary Gach.     This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” Edited by Robert A.F. Thurman published by Wisdom Publication, 2018. Celebrating Tsongkhapa : Sects, Orders and Consorts – Ep. 200 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded during the “The Legacy of Lama Tsongkhapa” Talk at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco in 2019. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 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”. To learn more about the writings and work Of Gary Gach please visit: www.garygach.com The song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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 special podcast celebrating the 600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Tsongkhapa, Professor Thurman gives an in-depth teaching on his historical importance and impact upon Buddhism, Tibet and philosophy. Opening this week’s episode with personal reflections upon “The Year of Tsongkhapa”, Robert A.F. Thurman uses the miss-titled “Tibetan Book of The Dead” core teaching of infinite interconnected, past and future lives to frame his exploration of the life, work and teachings of Je Tsongkhapa. This two part podcast includes a reading of the first Panchen Lama Khedrup Gelek Pelzang’s account of Tsongkhapa’s attainment of the magic body and manifestation of Manjushri during his enlightenment. Podcast includes a discussion of the use of spiritual consorts, Karmamudra, the history of the different schools, sects and “orders” within Pre-Invasion Tibet and a recommendation of the forthcoming biography of Tsongkhapa by Thupten Jinpa by Wisdom Publications. About Lama Tsongkhapa and “International Year of Tsongkhapa” ​Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of the greatest scholar-practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug tradition. While still a young man, Tsongkhapa distinguished himself through intense study, a sharp intellect and meditative accomplishment. In the last three decades of his life, Tsongkhapa dedicated himself to practice, teaching, writing and establishing monasteries. Respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa’s deeds contributed tremendously to the revitalization of Buddhism in Tibet. On December 30th, 2018, the 104th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism proclaimed that 2019 will be “International Year of Tsongkhapa.” “I call upon all Gelukpas and well-wishers to render their support to spreading awareness of the eloquent teachings and writings of the great Master Tsongkhapa throughout the world. I encourage Geluk monasteries, centers, organizers, individuals and admirers of Master Tsongkhapa worldwide to initiate special activities throughout the year of 2019 to commemorate (the) 600th anniversary of the great master and to inspire beings to follow in his footsteps.” Ganden Tri Rinpoche Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Lawrence Ferlinghetti by Gary Gach. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “

In this two part podcast recorded for Losar (Tibetan New Year) Professor Thurman discusses the practices of mindfulness and lucid waking as taught by Buddha and passed down through the Buddhist cultures of Tibet, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Japan. Opening this episode with a joyous introduction to the Tibetan New Year tradition of Losar, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the value of developing and practicing wisdom along side mindfulness practices using stories from the Buddha’s life. Using the stories of Buddha’s interactions with the six teachers and their unrealistic world views during his teaching career and the performance of miracles before them Professor Thurman gives a practical perspective of the The Great Prayer Festival (Losar) established by Tsongkhapa in 1409. Podcast includes discussions of: the Dalai Lama’s work in the United States through Tibet House US, the historical interconnections between the Mahayana & Hinayana Buddhist meditation, a Buddhist perspective on making positive resolutions every day of the year,a call to action to all sensitive beings for increased dialog between groups facing conflict, oppression and radical extremism and a Tibetan Buddhist astrological explanation of the year of the Earth Boar for Tibet, His Holiness and all citizens of planet earth. Second half of this week’s episode continues Robert A.F. Thurman teaching on personal development of wisdom and compassion through meditation, mantra, yoga and an introduction to his idea of lucid waking. Podcast concludes with a reading of the poem “When Death Comes” by Mary Oliver by Gary Gach. “Lucid Waking & Mindfulness Practices” Episode 198 the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by David Brooke Martin on Unsplash. “Lucid Waking & Mindfulness Practices” Episode 198 the Bob Thurman Podcast is an excerpt from the “Final Questions + Answers Session of the Kalachakra Study + Practice with Robert A.F. Thurman” Video. Recorded at Menla’s Nalanda Conference Center in Phoenicia, New York, July 2017 the Annual Kalachakra Study + Practice Intensive Retreat. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and

In this two part podcast recorded for Losar (Tibetan New Year) Professor Thurman discusses the practices of mindfulness and lucid waking as taught by Buddha and passed down through the Buddhist culture of Tibet, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Japan. Opening this episode with a joyous introduction to the Tibetan New Year tradition of Losar, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the value of developing and practicing wisdom along side mindfulness practices using stories from the Buddha's life. Using the stories of Buddha's interactions with the six teachers and their unrealistic world views during his teaching career and the performance of miracles before them Professor Thurman gives a practical perspective of the The Great Prayer Festival (Losar) established by Tsongkhapa in 1409. Podcast includes discussions of: the Dalai Lama's work in the United States through Tibet House US, the historical interconnections between the Mahayana & Hinayana Buddhist meditation, a Buddhist perspective on making positive resolutions every day of the year,a call to action to all sensitive beings for increased dialog between groups facing conflict, oppression and radical extremism and a Tibetan Buddhist astrological explanation of the year of the Earth Boar for Tibet, His Holiness and all citizens of planet earth. Second half of this week's episode continues Robert A.F. Thurman teaching on personal development of wisdom and compassion through meditation, mantra, yoga and an introduction to his idea of lucid waking. Podcast concludes with a reading of the poem "When Death Comes" by Mary Oliver by Gary Gach.

The Precious Human Birth…. On Working with Guilt "This human birth is precious. Our opportunity to awaken. The body is impermanent and time of death is uncertain. The cause and effect of karma shapes the course of our lives. Life has inevitable difficulties. No one can control it all. This life we must know as the tiny splash of a raindrop, a thing of beauty that disappears even as it comes into being. Therefore I recall my inspiration and aspiration (to engage the spiritual path) and resolve to make use of every day and night in order to realize it." I have been told that, when the Dalai Lama first began to speak to western students, someone in an audience asked a question that he didn't understand. So he asked the translator to explain the question, and the question was asked, and repeated and again clarified.  The translator was explaining to the Dalai Lama what guilt is.  I have been told the Dalai Lama expressed disbelief:   “Do you mean to tell me that I am speaking to a room full of people who somehow have the idea that they are basically and fundamentally unworthy and bad?”. Who would think such a thing? Guilt was not known in his home culture. Traditional Tibetan culture knows the idea of regret:  to do something, to feel badly about it, and then to seek to make it right.  Regret is the third step in a complete karmic act. A complete karmic act includes: intention, the action itself, and the presence or absence of regret. To feel badly about something one has done, and then to work to make it right again:  this is regret.  To do something that one feels badly about, and to take this as evidence one is basically and fundamentally bad and unworthy, so that the weight of this sucks and crushes life out of us - heavy, sticky, dragging us down, suffocating us as if we were trapped in some deep cavern, unable to be free of it enough to work to set things right again, to let go and move on:  how does this serve us? Ancient Indian, like Tibetan, culture holds that life itself is fundamentally good. As humans we are alive - some days more than others – but we are alive. Life itself is descent, worthy and fundamentally good – in a way so very far beyond any kind of a distinction between good or bad – and therefore so are we…because we are alive.  We are basically descent, worthy, kind, wise, resourceful, strong and fundamentally good, like life itself.  There’s not much we can do about that. There may be behavior that we regret, that we will learn from and seek to correct.  The being itself is good because life itself is good. There may be a systematic and repeat pattern of behavior that causes harm or that we regret. That behavior is unfortunate.  The being is good, able to learn, to change and to grow. I have been asked to answer the question how to work with guilt, the big stuff that weighs us down and suffocates, and the small stuff that eats you, that you think about in the night, and that – if we are not careful - you may think about on your deathbed. How to work with guilt? Let us begin by exploring the traditional Buddhist idea of the precious human birth. "This human birth is precious. Our opportunity to awaken. The body is impermanent and time of death is uncertain. The cause and effect of karma shapes the course of our lives. Life has inevitable difficulties. No one can control it all. This life we must know as the tiny splash of a raindrop, a thing of beauty that disappears even as it comes into being. Therefore I recall my inspiration and aspiration (to engage the spiritual path) and resolve to make use of every day and night in order to realize it." It is a rendering into English of a well-known passage by a 14th century Tibetan Buddhist master named Tsongkhapa. The human birth is precious because it is our opportunity to awaken. We are, most fortunately, born with the human birth.  This means we are just confused enough to be able to learn, and to move forward in our gradual process of spiritual maturation. This is the gift. It's a Goldilocks view of the human experience. We are just confused enough – it’s just right - to be able to see through that confusion, to learn and adjust, to let go and move on to the next learning. In the traditional Buddhist view, there are six realms, understood as both internal and external states of the mind. There is a hell realm, where there is such intense suffering it becomes nearly impossible to see anything other than suffering. There is a hungry ghost realm.  The hungry ghost has a very big belly and a very thin neck.  What it is we are starving for, we reach out for it, and it disappears even as it comes into our hand.  We can never be fed, so it is a life of craving, of deep starvation, and it becomes difficult to move forward. The animal realm is said to be a realm where the being does not have enough self- awareness for there to be strong spiritual maturation or growth.  This is not to say that animals are less than humans.  Certainly Sarah-the-Wonder-Dog - the golden retriever I once lived with - had a very clear understanding of habitual patterns of the mind as it related to walks and cookies. In my biased opinion that comes through the lens of love, she was a remarkable being who chose to be in the body of an astonishingly beautiful dog in order to be of benefit to others. The tradition would understand that – as remarkable as she was when she came into that body -  it was difficult for her to spiritually evolve within the context of an animal birth because there is not sufficient self-awareness to be able to deeply learn and to grow. In the jealous god realm, people are wrapped up quite strongly in pride; they think they are gods, but they're not.  They are constantly struggling to be what they're not, competing and measuring, and not able to be what they are because they are so focused on what they are not. The god realm is considered the realm of greatest happiness, one could say, but I'm told that, in the god realm life, lasts for a seemingly infinite period of time, and the time delay between the cause of an action and the effect of an action is so unbelievably long that it becomes basically impossible to learn anything. In the space in-between the animal realm and the jealous gods lies the human realm, precious because it is the state that best permits our spiritual growth.  Just confused enough, we are able to make our mistakes, and then to see them, to work to make things right, to learn, let go and move on to our next learning. By its very nature, among the richest opportunities to learn and to grow are those opportunities that come from having made the mistakes that we most deeply regret. The stages of a complete karmic act:  the intention to act, the action itself, and the presence or absence of regret.  To this can be added a fourth step:  the person or situation that is being acted upon. The tradition does not have a fifth step which is to say that one bears the weight of the guilt of one's mistakes and becomes immobilized and suffocated by it. The purpose of our lives it is to live.  By virtue of the fact that we are born a human, we must necessarily act.  So we engage in an endless series of causes and effects, and we thus engage in an endless series of opportunities to grow, and to learn, from our mistakes and from the suffering that we have experienced or somehow imposed on others. There is a beauty to life that we are missing if we somehow have the sense that we must be “perfect”, or behave “perfectly” - all the time - in order to be “good enough”.  Life itself is good enough.  We come along for that ride.  That ride is the journey of deep spiritual learning and growth.  Our growth requires our mistakes. Life itself, of which we are a part, has a beauty beyond measure and its own inherent perfection. It is not that we must be perfect, or our behavior must be perfect, in order to be worthy of honor, respect and love, and our own forgiveness. We are alive, and life itself somehow - in its perfection - unfolds in a way which permits us to taste with a ripe directness the effect of our actions, the intention of our actions, and the action itself. Cause and effect are both ends of a same stick.  What good could come from beating ourselves with that stick? If we taste the effect of our cause and find it bitter, then we taste the bitterness, and this permits us to make different choices, and to begin to behave in a way which will make our lives, and those that surround us, sweeter. We engage cause and effect simultaneously.  We pick up both ends of a same stick. The human birth is precious because it is an opportunity to awaken, to spiritually evolve, to learn and to grow. We honor life itself in part by engaging this opportunity, by permitting ourselves to learn and then also to grow. Letting go of a weight of guilt when we are able is part of what permits us to move on, and the letting go of guilt can be itself a very valuable lesson to learn. Life is good. We engage a full range of human experiences.  We learn from it all. The human birth is traditionally considered precious also because it is rare.  How rare is it to have this human opportunity to learn, and to grow, to evolve and to move on? It is said that it would be as if to take a pin and to place it in a large field.   You then you go up into an airplane, high about the clouds.  You reach out the window of the airplane holding a single green pea.   You drop the single green pea, and the single green pea goes out from your hand, from the window of the airplane.  It falls to the ground. It falls on the needle that you placed in the ground, and it stays there. What are the odds that this could happen? It is essentially unimaginable. These are the odds, they say, that we would find ourselves in a human body. It would have been much more statistically likely to be a mosquito, an amoeba or an ant. As humans, we are just confused enough to be able to learn. Guilt is a way of refusing this very core quality of being alive.   In this way, it is a shutting down and closing off of life itself. That's what makes it so heavy and suffocating. It is somehow failing to appreciate that the miracle of the human experience of being alive is that we are able to act.  We will necessarily engage cause and effect simultaneously.  The intention, the action, the effect of these actions:  these are parts of a whole.   If we did not intend to cause harm, or if we regret having caused harm, then we've already begun to slowly and gently dismember  - or take apart - this harm that we have done. If the guilt is heavy and hard, consider actively feeling and expressing regret. I'm so sorry I did this. It can be expressed internally. Perhaps you would like to journal or write it down. It may, or may no, be possible or appropriate to say it out loud to another.  Consider saying it aloud to yourself.   If there has been this suffering, then the feeling of regret is part of how we open to the possibility of letting go. Because we have opened to the possibility of letting go, we begin to open again to an engaging of life itself. We are able to learn, and having learned, we are able make different choices in times to come. The human birth is precious. We are just confused enough to be able to learn, to grow, to evolve, to shift and change.  It requires the learning, and the growing, and then the ability to let go of that which we regret in order to open to the possibility of moving on. It’s not about what we do.  It’s not about what we did.  It’s about who we are….and then what we do about it. The quality of the relationship that you have with the outside world directly relates to the quality of relationship you have with yourself.  Come see us at “justbreatheyouareenough.com” and join the JBYAE community. I'm Adela, and you've been listening to Just Breathe....You Are Enough™.  You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't yet, please subscribe, rate and review this podcast. Join us next time, and thank you for listening. Copyright © 2019, Adela Sandness  

This in depth teaching on the practice and performance of visualization during meditative states Robert A.F. Thurman provides a practical roadmap for those from any religious, cultural or economic background to apply the tools from the esoteric traditions of Buddhist tantra to understand and reduce suffering on all levels. Opening this week’s teaching with an introduction of the subtle energy systems found in Vajrayana Buddhism and Hindu Shaivism Professor Thurman details the transformational power of imaginative visualization when guided by an experienced, qualified teacher. Continuing the discussion begun in last week’s episode on Buddhist Psychonauts this episode includes an overview of Nine Point Breath Meditation as taught by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, introductions to Buddhist Tantra, the Karma Sutra, the history of Theravada and the diverse meditation traditions of India, China and South East Asia, and a frank presentation of so-called “crazy wisdom” by Robert Thurman shedding much needed philosophical light upon the ethical lapses which occur due to milsleading teachers’ and misled students’ misunderstandings of the nature of ultimate and causal realities described by the Buddha and his great successors. The second half of this week’s episode begins with a short explanation of the Mādhyamaka Centrist or Middle Way perspective and the experiential methods of teaching of emptiness, compassion and relativity found in the writings of Tsongkhapa, Asanga and Nagarjuna. This week’s poetry segment Gary Gach reads the poetry of W. S. Merwin.

Recorded at the inaugural Shaman and Siddhas retreat held 2015 at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa Robert A.F. Thurman is joined by Isa Gucciardi and Dr Nida Chenagtsang for a discussion on the intersection of Buddhism and Shamanism. Includes a discussion of the history of Tsongkhapa, the Ganden (Joyous) Community he founded, an introduction to the Buddhist conception of emptiness, it’s relationship to selflessness, meditation and the ‘royal reason of relativity‘ using stories from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Old Testament and the past lives of the Dalai Lama and the Buddha. Podcast includes a guided meditation on the Four Keys of Selflessness, This retreat on the cusp of the winter solstice, a time of natural inward self-reflection, focuses on the traditions of the “psychonauts,” explorers of the subtle realms of dream, death, and all “between” states. Such people are known as “shamans” in indigenous traditions and as “siddhas” or “adepts” in Buddhist and Hindu Tantric traditions. Isa Gucciardi joins Robert Thurman in exploring the deep and vast dimensions of these traditions, focusing on our planetary welcoming of various forms that consciousness takes in this time of global crisis, as she has done from time immemorial. Shamans and siddha adepts provide us with resources from long-developed, time-tested positive sciences and arts that help us celebrate the blessings of reality and live meaningfully in the midst of the ups and downs of our daily lives ever more realistically and happily. In this retreat, we will review the historic encounters between these two spiritual traditions from world indigenous and Indic regions and learn how they have informed one another from time immemorial. While steeped in philosophy and psychology, this retreat is also highly experiential in nature. We will explore methods of going inward drawn from both traditions including the Shamanic Journey and Indo-Tibetan Deity Meditation. The Shamanic Journey is an ancient and time-tested method that shamans around the world have used to develop a deep relationship with the powers of the Earth and Cosmos. Deity Meditation is a form of meditation that brings the meditator into an intimate understanding of the fields of wisdom, sensitivity, and power held by the deities of the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. We will explore the role of ritual and ceremony in both contexts and learn what role ritual and ceremony provide in bringing forward the realizations, sensitivities, and powers that are the fruits of these deep forms of inner exploration. From Shamans and Siddhas 2015 Retreat Description This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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. To learn more about upcoming programs in the heart of the Catskills with Robert A.F. Thurman, Isa Gucciardi Ph.D. and Dr Nida Chenagtsang please visit: www.menla.us.

Archive recording from the introductory class "How To Build a Buddhaverse + Buddhist Non-Dual Physics" from the Force For Good on-going class series held annually at Tibet House US in New York City and online through live-stream broadcast. Professor Thurman uses his translation of "The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti" to introduce the heroes of enlightenment (Bodhisatvas), the perfected worlds (Buddhaverses) they create through powerful arts and to the hidden meanings of the Heart Sutra. Presenting the short text as an analogy of the Mahayana sutras Robert A.F. Thurman elucidates the practical instructions given to the Vimalakirti's visitors during the fantastical events of their visit to his home related in the sutra. Containing elements from the full range of teachings of the Buddha, Professor Thurman guides a live translation of this beloved text and relates it's presentation of infinite relativity to "The Heart Sutra", The Four Noble Truths and to the teachings of Tsongkhapa. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Free Online Book + Suggested Reading:  “The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti” Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman available via www.84000.co. Force For Good: Vimalakīrti's Verses On Buddhaverses + Bodhisatvas - Ep. 182 was recorded at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources Class Introduction "How to Build a Buddhaverse and Buddhist Non-Dual Physics" of the Force for Good Series at Tibet House US February 2018. This recording is also available as a Tibet House US Member Video, to enjoy full access to 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 song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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. Force For Good: Vimalakīrti's Verses On Buddhaverses + Bodhisatvas - Ep. 182 Bob Thurman Podcast Photo of Sand Mandala by Wonderlane. To learn more about upcoming Force For Good programs with Robert A.F. Thurman & friends please visit: www.tibethouse.us.

Archive recording from the introductory class “How To Build a Buddhaverse + Buddhist Non-Dual Physics” from the Force For Good on-going class series held annually at Tibet House US in New York City and online through live-stream broadcast. Professor Thurman uses his translation of “The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti” to introduce the heroes of enlightenment (Bodhisatvas), the perfected worlds (Buddhaverses) they create through powerful arts and to the hidden meanings of the Heart Sutra. Presenting the short text as an analogy of the Mahayana sutras Robert A.F. Thurman elucidates the practical instructions given to the Vimalakirti’s visitors during the fantastical events of their visit to his home related in the sutra. Containing elements from the full range of teachings of the Buddha, Professor Thurman guides a live translation of this beloved text and relates it’s presentation of infinite relativity to “The Heart Sutra”, The Four Noble Truths and to the teachings of Tsongkhapa. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Free Online Book + Suggested Reading:  “The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti” Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman available via www.84000.co. Force For Good: Vimalakīrti’s Verses On Buddhaverses + Bodhisatvas – Ep. 182 was recorded at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources Class Introduction “How to Build a Buddhaverse and Buddhist Non-Dual Physics” of the Force for Good Series at Tibet House US February 2018. This recording is also available as a

Beginning this week’s two part podcast recounting Geshe Wangyal reaction to his translation of “The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti” Professor Thurman uses the text to introduce the heroes of enlightenment (Bodhisatvas), the perfected worlds (Buddhaverses) they create through powerful arts and to the hidden meanings of the Heart Sutra. Presenting the short text as an analogy of the Mahayana sutras Robert A.F. Thurman elucidates the practical instructions given to the Vimalakirti’s visitors during the fantastical events of their visit to his home related in the sutra. Containing elements from the full range of teachings of the Buddha, Professor Thurman guides a live translation of this beloved text and relates it’s presentation of infinite relativity to “The Heart Sutra”, The Four Noble Truths and to the teachings of Tsongkhapa. Podcast concludes with a reading of the poetry of Al Young by Gary Gach. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Free Online Book + Suggested Reading:  “The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti” Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman available via www.84000.co. Force For Good: Vimalakīrti’s Verses On Buddhaverses + Bodhisatvas – Ep. 182 was recorded at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources Class Introduction of the Force for Good Series at Tibet House US February 2018. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit:

Recorded at the inaugural Shaman and Siddhas retreat held 2015 at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa Robert A.F. Thurman is joined by Isa Gucciardi and Dr Nida Chenagtsang for a discussion on the intersection of Buddhism and Shamanism. Includes a discussion of the history of Tsongkhapa, the Ganden (Joyous) Community he founded, an introduction to the Buddhist conception of emptiness, it’s relationship to selflessness, meditation and the ‘royal reason of relativity‘ using stories from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Old Testament and the past lives of the Dalai Lama and the Buddha. Podcast includes a guided meditation on the Four Keys of Selflessness, This retreat on the cusp of the winter solstice, a time of natural inward self-reflection, focuses on the traditions of the “psychonauts,” explorers of the subtle realms of dream, death, and all “between” states. Such people are known as “shamans” in indigenous traditions and as “siddhas” or “adepts” in Buddhist and Hindu Tantric traditions. Isa Gucciardi joins Robert Thurman in exploring the deep and vast dimensions of these traditions, focusing on our planetary welcoming of various forms that consciousness takes in this time of global crisis, as she has done from time immemorial. Shamans and siddha adepts provide us with resources from long-developed, time-tested positive sciences and arts that help us celebrate the blessings of reality and live meaningfully in the midst of the ups and downs of our daily lives ever more realistically and happily. In this retreat, we will review the historic encounters between these two spiritual traditions from world indigenous and Indic regions and learn how they have informed one another from time immemorial. While steeped in philosophy and psychology, this retreat is also highly experiential in nature. We will explore methods of going inward drawn from both traditions including the Shamanic Journey and Indo-Tibetan Deity Meditation. The Shamanic Journey is an ancient and time-tested method that shamans around the world have used to develop a deep relationship with the powers of the Earth and Cosmos. Deity Meditation is a form of meditation that brings the meditator into an intimate understanding of the fields of wisdom, sensitivity, and power held by the deities of the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. We will explore the role of ritual and ceremony in both contexts and learn what role ritual and ceremony provide in bringing forward the realizations, sensitivities, and powers that are the fruits of these deep forms of inner exploration. From Shamans and Siddhas 2015 Retreat Description This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the history of Tsongkhapa, the Ganden (Joyous) Community he founded and leads a guided meditation on the Four Keys of Selflessness. Opening the podcast with a discussion of Eckhart Tolle’s personal discovery of relativity described in his best selling book “The Power of Now“, Robert A.F. Thurman explains how it relates to the teachings of Tsongkhapa and the Buddha’s Middle Way. Podcast includes an introduction to the Buddhist conception of emptiness, it’s relationship to selflessness, meditation and the ‘royal reason of relativity‘ using stories from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Old Testament and the past lives of the Dalai Lama and the Buddha. Podcast concludes with a reading of Three Dharma Poems by Feminist Beat Poet Diane di Prima by Gary Gach. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York and Wisdom Publications. Suggested Reading:  “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” Edited by Robert A.F. Thurman published by Wisdom Publication, 2018. Tsongkhapa’s Kindness + Four Keys of Selflessness – Ep. 181 was recorded during the “Shamans and Siddhas Retreat” + with Isa Gucciardi Ph.D., Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Robert A.F. Thurman & Mark Epstein, M.D. held in Phoenicia, New York October 2015. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 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”. To learn more about the writings and work Of Gary Gach please visit:

In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the history of Tsongkhapa, details of the Lama Tsongkhapa Day practices and leads a guided meditation on the Four Keys of Selflessness.

Studying the teachings of Tsong Khapa has been at the heart of Robert A.F. Thurman’s personal translation work and professional teaching career. In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the new edition of “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” by Wisdom Publications and leads a guided mindfulness meditation. Opening this week’s podcast with a short explanation of the Tsongkhapa’s teaching history in Tibet, Robert Thurman highlights Tsongkhapa writings focusing upon the “Garland of Supremely Healing Nectars” the dialogue between Karmavajra, The Nyingma Master Lhobrag Khenchen & the Bodhisattva Vajrapana, discussing his relationship with the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, modern Tibet and the Yongle Emperor of China of his time. Podcast includes a discussion of the use of some “Christian” terminology when translating Buddhist texts and ends with a discussion of Ling Rinpoche’s new biography by H.H. Dalai Lama‘s senior tutor including personal stories from Robert Thurman’s time spent with this legendary tutor and teacher. In the second half of this week’s podcast Professor Thurman leads a traditional Buddhist mindfulness meditation using the breath and mantra as one’s focus along with basic instruction of one’s physical posture during practice sessions taken from the Wisdom Academy Course “Sutra and Tantra: The Profound and Miraculous“. This week’s meditation is excerpted from the online course presented by Wisdom Publications with Robert A.F. Thurman students learn the inner science behind the tantric and sutric methods employed by scholars and adepts of India and Tibet on their paths to enlightenment, as well as how to apply such learning to their own personal practice of the path. To learn more abut this ongoing online offering please visit: www.wisdompubs.org Tsongkhapa’s Profound and Miraculous Wisdom – Ep. 177 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Park Troopers on Unsp

Studying the teachings of Zongkapa Lobsang Zhaba (Tsongkhapa) has been at the heart of Robert A.F. Thurman’s personal translation work and professional teaching career. In this two part podcast Professor Thurman discusses the new edition of “The Life and Teachings of Tsongkhapa” by Wisdom Publications and leads a guided mindfulness meditation. Opening this week’s podcast with a short explanation of the Tsongkhapa’s teaching history in Tibet, Robert Thurman highlights Tsongkhapa writings focusing upon the “Garland of Supremely Healing Nectars” the dialogue between Karmavajra,The Nyingma Master Lhobrag Khenchen & the Bodhisattva Vajrapana, discussing his relationship with the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, modern Tibet and the Emperor of China of his time. Podcast includes a discussion of the use of Christian terminology when translating Buddhist texts and ends with a discussion of Ling Rinpoche’s new biography by Dalai Lama including personal stories from Robert Thurman’s time spent with this legendary tutor and teacher. In the second half of this week’s podcast Professor Thurman leads a traditional Buddhist mindfulness meditation using the breath and mantra as one’s focus along with basic instruction of one’s physical posture during practice sessions taken from the Wisdom Academy Course “Sutra and Tantra: The Profound and Miraculous“. This week’s meditation is excerpted from the online course presented by Wisdom Publications with Robert A.F. Thurman students learn the inner science behind the tantric and sutric methods employed by scholars and adepts of India and Tibet on their paths to enlightenment, as well as how to apply such learning to their own personal practice of the path. To learn more abut this ongoing online offering please visit: www.wisdompubs.org Tsongkhapa’s Profound and Miraculous Wisdom – Ep. 177 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Park Troopers on Unsplash This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was thanks Wisdom Publications and was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. Stunning the Mind with Yoga is an excerpt from the archive recordings from the Tibet House US retreat “Buddha & the Yogis” with Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, John Campbell and Robert A.F. Thurman recorded at Menla’s Nalanda Conference Center in Phoenicia, New York, Summer 2011. Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF 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 song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ 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.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is entitled Reality and Intuition from the talk All One Gorgeous Mistake by Vajradarshini. A jewelled casket of a talk by Vajradarshini, with poetic accompaniment. Rumi meets Tsongkhapa in the Tavern of Ruin, and Dogen, Milarepa and Nagarjuna join them to talk about and#8216;selfand#8217; and and#8216;worldand#8217;. Joanna Macy turns up too — then many voices, mixed and mingled, explore the experience of being part of an Order and following the Buddhaand#8217;s way. Quite splendid stuff. Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Womenand#8217;s Convention, 2005

In this recording from his early days at Columbia University Professor Thurman explores Indo-Tibetan Buddhism in the intellectual setting of ancient India and Tibet, how it relates to modern philosophical thought and to the mindfulness revolution in popular culture. Focusing on the Dialecticist Centrism found in the writings of Aryadeva, Dharmakīrti, Dignāga, Tsongkhapa, Vasubandhu & in the teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama Robert Thurman provides an academic perspective on the Buddha’s teachings on Karma, The Subtle Body system, Reincarnation and the Yogācāra school’s “Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma” framework as the ground work for a frank exploration of the esoteric concept of super knowledge. Professor Thurman begins this podcast by detailing the cultural understanding + social context of the seemingly fantastical descriptions of psychic or super normal events found in Buddhist teachings + commentaries and a teaching on the indestructible drop or the “spiritual gene” residing in the heart chakra in the esoteric tantric system. Second half of podcast includes a comparison of the different Buddhist logicians and their perspectives on the five aggregates or Skandhas, a suggestion of Bruce Lamb’s “Wizard of the Upper Amazon: The Story of Manuel Manuel Córdova-Rios” and a guided thought experiment for busy people of any era. “Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People – Episode 159 of the Bob Thruman Podcast” photo, Created with love by Ryan McGuire via www.gratisography.com. 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. “Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People” podcast is an

In this recording from his early days at Columbia University Professor Thurman explores Indo-Tibetan Buddhism in the intellectual setting of ancient India and Tibet, how it relates to modern philosophical thought and to the mindfulness revolution in popular culture. Focusing on the Dialecticist Centrism found in the writings of Aryadeva, Dharmakīrti, Dignāga, Tsongkhapa, Vasubandhu & in the teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama Robert Thurman provides an academic perspective on the Buddha's teachings on Karma, The Subtle Body system, Reincarnation and the Yogācāra school's "Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma" framework as the ground work for a frank exploration of the esoteric concept of super knowledge. Professor Thurman begins this podcast by detailing the cultural understanding + social context of the seemingly fantastical descriptions of psychic or super normal events found in Buddhist teachings + commentaries and a teaching on the indestructible drop or the "spiritual gene" residing in the heart chakra in the esoteric tantric system. Second half of podcast includes a comparison of the different Buddhist logicians and their perspectives on the five aggregates or Skandhas, a suggestion of Bruce Lamb's "Wizard of the Upper Amazon: The Story of Manuel Manuel Córdova-Rios" and a guided thought experiment using traditional Indo-Tibetan for busy people of any age.   "Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People - Episode 159 of the Bob Thruman Podcast" photo, Created with love by Ryan McGuire via www.gratisography.com. 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. "Buddhist Inner Sciences: Super Knowledge For Busy People" podcast is an excerpt from a course taught by Robert A.F. Thurman at Columbia University, focusing mainly on his book "The Central Philosophy of Tibet" - a study and translation of Jey Tsong Khapa's "Essence of True Eloquence" (tib: drang nges legs bshad snying po)', but also addressing material in Jey Tsong Khapa's "Ocean of Reasoning" translated by Geshe Ngawang Samten & J Garfield, and in Aryadeva's "Four Hundred Stanzas" translated by Ruth Sonam. To listen to the full, unedited thirteen class series please visit: www.archive.org. To listen to more archive recordings from this class please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To Learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us.

Recounting stories from his last day teaching at Columbia University Robert AF Thurman opens this two part podcast with a discussion of Tsongkhapa’s “Essence of True Eloquence“, popularly known to Tibetans and those studying the Centralist Mind Training texts as “Tsongkhapa’s Iron Bow” due to it’s complexity as the ground for an in depth examination of the nature of Buddhahood + the subtle body system. Providing a brief history of the Lam Rim: Stages of The Path teachings Professor in this podcast uses Vesna Wallace’s translation of “The Kālacakra Tantra: The Chapter on Sadhana” as a guide laying out the background and context of initiations + sadhana practices encountered when studying Tantric Buddhism. Podcast includes a discussion of the Twenty Emptiness, The Dalai Lama’s First Incarnation, The Kings of Shambhala and a beginner’s lesson on Buddhist Non-Dualism. Second half of the podcast is a traditional Dharma teaching on the Three Bodies of the Buddha (Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya & Nirmanakaya) and how the science fiction genre, through it’s incarnations on screens, in the pages of books and in popular imagination is a modern form of societal sadhana allowing collective visualization of possible futures and as a way to unlock the human potential hinted at in Buddhist Tantra. “Science Fiction as Sadhana” is apart of the Buddhist Inner Sciences 101 Podcast Series taken from the Bob Thurman & Tibet House US archives which are intended to provide an introduction to the yogic, meditative & theoretical practices of the tradition. These recordings are intended to be general overviews & one should be studying with a qualified teacher before attempting or engaging in the practices. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘

Exploring the history of the “Lam Rim: Stages of The Path” a collection of mind training teachings preserved in Tibet, Professor Thurman provides an introduction to these cherished practices as refined + passed down by Tsongkhapa & the Dalai Lama lineage. Podcast includes a discussion of Gendün Druppa the First Dalai Lama, the centrality of the awareness of the possibility of infinite past + future lives, The Three Kinds of Suffering as presented in Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim teachings & how these teachings provide a systematized path to prepare one for the study of Buddhist Tantras. Concludes with a guided meditation on the exchange of Self + Other, Mother Kindness Recognition & the Causal Steps used in Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim teachings. This podcast was recorded at the “Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources: Madhyamaka – Lam Rim” Session of the Force For Good Series at Tibet House US in 2016 in New York City. The oral teachings of the tradition coming from Atisha had been passed to Atisha’s chief disciple, the layman Dromtonpa. He in turn passed on the lineage and emphasized the need for a thorough comprehension of the meaning of the Buddha’s actual words in their entirety, not omitting even a single word or syllable. The Lam Rim Lineage was given to Gampopa and places reliance on Atisha’s Light on the Path to Enlightenment, The Guideline Instruction Lineage and Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, that Atisha had travelled to an island near Java in order to receive.” Robert AF Thurman from Life & Teachings of Tsongkhapa To watch the full video recording of this & other Force For Good Teachings at Tibet House US please consider becoming a member. All past teachings from this on-going course are available as apart of the Tibet House US Member Archives. Full Access begins at $2 a month. To learn more about the benefits of Tibet House US Memberships please visit: 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’

  Exploring the history of the “Lam Rim: Stages of The Path” a collection of mind training teachings preserved in Tibet, Professor Thurman provides an introduction to these cherished practices as refined + passed down by Tsongkhapa & the Dalai Lama lineage. Podcast includes a discussion of Gendün Druppa the First Dalai Lama, the centrality of the awareness of the possibility of infinite past + future lives, The Three Kinds of Suffering as presented in Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim teachings & how these teachings provide a systematized path to prepare one for the study of Buddhist Tantras. Concludes with a guided meditation on the exchange of Self + Other, Mother Kindness Recognition & the Causal Steps used in Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim teachings. This podcast was recorded at the “Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Sources: Madhyamaka – Lam Rim” Session of the Force For Good Series at Tibet House US in 2016 in New York City. The oral teachings of the tradition coming from Atisha had been passed to Atisha’s chief disciple, the layman Dromtonpa. He in turn passed on the lineage and emphasized the need for a thorough comprehension of the meaning of the Buddha’s actual words in their entirety, not omitting even a single word or syllable. The Lam Rim Lineage was given to Gampopa and places reliance on Atisha’s Light on the Path to Enlightenment, The Guideline Instruction Lineage and Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, that Atisha had travelled to an island near Java in order to receive.” Robert AF Thurman from Life & Teachings of Tsongkhapa   To watch the full video recording of this & other Force For Good Teachings at Tibet House US please consider becoming a member. All past teachings from this on-going course are available as apart of the Tibet House US Member Archives. Full Access begins at $2 a month. To learn more about the benefits of Tibet House US Memberships please visit: 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 Studiesand 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. This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition.  

Tranquility Meditation for turning inward This practice aims to cultivate tranquillity and concentration by drawing one’s attention inward to a single object of meditation. Potentially effective in helping for people experiencing mental distraction, hyper-activity and insomnia. The guidance provided here is deeply indebted to and drawn from Tibetan Meditation master and scholar Tsongkhapa’s incomparable guide: [...] The post Meditation Streams – Tranquility Meditation appeared first on Arete House.

Tranquility Meditation for turning inward This practice aims to cultivate tranquillity and concentration by drawing one’s attention inward to a single object of meditation. Potentially effective in helping for people experiencing mental distraction, hyper-activity and insomnia. The guidance provided here is deeply indebted to and drawn from Tibetan Meditation master and scholar Tsongkhapa’s incomparable guide: [...] The post Meditation Streams – Tranquility Meditation appeared first on Arete House.

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains the Buddha's enlightenment & the philosophical clarity that Je Tsongkhapa brought to the mind training systems disseminated through monastic & meditative traditions of Tibet. Includes an overview of British biologist Rupert Sheldrake's Morphic resonance theory, the history of Tsongkhapa and the annual days cerebrating the founder of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, his parinirvana & enlightenment. Episode concludes with a discussion on selflessness, power loss & Tibetan Buddhist meditative symbolism with Dr Nida Chenagtsang & Isa Gucciardi Ph.D.

In this podcast Professor Thurman explains the Buddha’s enlightenment & the philosophical clarity that Je Tsongkhapa brought to the mind training systems disseminated through monastic & meditative traditions of Tibet. Includes an overview of British biologist Rupert Sheldrake’s Morphic resonance theory, the history of Tsongkhapa and the annual days cerebrating the founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, his parinirvana & enlightenment. Episode concludes with a discussion on selflessness, power loss & Tibetan Buddhist meditative symbolism with Dr Nida Chenagtsang & Isa Gucciardi Ph.D. It is generally accepted that the three greatest contributors in the annals of Tibet were Guru Padmasambhava, Atisha and Tsongkhapa, all of whom appeared when a great teacher was needed. Today we should strive to emulate Tsongkhapa’s peerless progress along the path. To hear as many teachings as possible and never to be satisfied with less than ultimate knowledge as the most important lessons that can be applied in life. It is imperative to appreciate and work towards the peerless goal of wishing to achieve enlightenment in order to help every other sentient being do exactly the same. Je Rinpoche’s example of scriptural learning and meditative application taken as a unified path show the essence of Buddha’s intent and the truly quick method of achieving enlightenment.” Robert AF Thurman from Wisdom Academy. This is an except from the Tibet House US Retreat “Shamans & Siddhas: Meeting at the Crossroads of Shamanism & Tantrism with Robert Thurman, Isa Gucciardi Ph.D. & Dr Nida Chenagtsang, recorded at Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York December 2015. To listen to more recordings from this & other past programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member. To learn more about the work of Isa Gucciardi & Robert Thurman join them in 2017 at Menla Retreat or visit: www.sacredstream.org.

Episode 10: In this teaching, Harvey Aronson/Lama Namgyal Dorje begins by introducing Tsongkhapa’s seven cause and effect precepts and the ways we actively cultivate love and compassion for all beings, which is very different from trying to remain emotionally indifferent to all beings.  We want to have a crisp, vivid engagement with others, not a […]

Jay L. Garfield directs the Smith's Logic and Buddhist Studies programs and the Five College Tibetan Studies in India program. He is also visiting professor of Buddhist Philosophy at Harvard Divinity School, professor of philosophy at Melbourne University and adjunct professor of philosophy at the Central University of Tibetan Studies. Garfield’s research addresses topics in the foundations of cognitive science and the philosophy of mind; the history of Indian philosophy during the colonial period; topics in ethics, epistemology and the philosophy of logic; methodology in cross-cultural interpretation; and topics in Buddhist philosophy, particularly Indo-Tibetan Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. Garfield’s most recent books are Minds Without Fear: Philosophy in the Indian Renaissance (with Nalini Bhushan, 2017), Dignāga’s Investigation of the Percept: A Philosophical Legacy in India and Tibet (with Douglas Duckworth, David Eckel, John Powers, Yeshes Thabkhas and Sonam Thakchöe, 2016) Engaging Buddhism: Why it Matters to Philosophy (2015), Moonpaths: Ethics and Emptiness (with the Cowherds, 2015) and (edited, with Jan Westerhoff), Madhyamaka and Yogācāra: Allies or Rivals? (2015). He is currently working on a book with Yasuo Deguchi, Graham Priest and Robert Sharf, What Can’t Be Said: Paradox and Contradiction in East Asian Philosophy; a book on Hume’s Treatise, The Concealed Operations of Custom: Hume’s Treatise from the Inside Out; a large collaborative project on Geluk-Sakya epistemological debates in 15th- to 18th-century Tibet following on Taktshang Lotsawa’s 18 Great Contradictions in the Thought of Tsongkhapa and empirical research with another team on the impact of religious ideology on attitudes toward death.  

Glenn Mullin Glenn and I talk about “humourful humility”, the power of the inner life, Buddhism, the first Tibetan fart joke and the beneficial presence of others. Biography Glenn H. Mullin is a Tibetologist, Buddhist writer, translator of classical Tibetan literature, and teacher of Tantric Buddhist meditation. He divides his time between writing, teaching, meditating, and leading tour groups to the power places of Nepal and Tibet. Glenn lived in the Indian Himalayas between 1972 and 1984, where he studied philosophy, literature, meditation, yoga, and the enlightenment culture under thirty-five of the greatest living masters of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. His two principal tantric gurus were the late great masters Kyabje Ling Dorjechang and Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, who were best known as Yongdzin Che Chung, the two main gurus of the present Dalai Lama. The list of Glenn’s other teachers and initiation masters includes the Dalai Lama, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche, Ngakpa Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen, Geshe Ngawang Dargyey, Geshey Rabten, and Gongsar Tulku. Glenn is the author of over 20 books on Tibetan Buddhism. Many of these (published by Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, NY) focus on the lives and works of the early Dalai Lamas. Some of his other titles include Tsongkhapa's Six Yogas of Naropa and The Practice of Kalachakra (Snow Lion); Death and Dying: The Tibetan Tradition (Arkana/Viking Penguin); Mystical Verses of a Mad Dalai Lama (Quest Books); The Mystical Arts of Tibet (Longstreet Press); and The Fourteen Dalai Lamas, as well as The Female Buddhas (Clear Light Books). He has also worked as a field specialist on three Tibet-related films and five television documentaries, and has co-produced five audio recordings of Tibetan sacred music. In 2002 his book The Fourteen Dalai Lamas was nominated for the prestigious NAPRA award for best book, and in 2004 his book The Female Buddhas won a Best Book Award from Foreword Magazine. After returning from India in 1984 Glenn founded and directed The Mystical Arts of Tibet, an association of Dharma friends that was instrumental in bringing the first tours of Tibetan monks to North America to perform sacred Temple music and dance, as well as create mandala sand paintings. He gave this to Drepung Loseling Monastery in 1994, and it continues to bring Tibetan spiritual culture on tours around the world. Glenn has also curated a number of important Tibetan art exhibitions. The first of these, “The Art of Compassion,” was created for Tibet House in New Delhi, and toured Europe for two years. Another, entitled "The Mystical Arts of Tibet, featuring personal sacred objects of HH the Dalai Lama," was created for the Summer Olympics of 1996 as a joint project with The Drepung Loseling Institute (DLI) and the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA). It premiered in Atlanta during the Summer Olympics of 1996, and then for the six years to follow toured North America. Recently (in 2001) Glenn curated "The Female Buddha: Women of Enlightenment in Tibetan Mysticism" as a joint project with OUMA and the Rubin Museum of Art in New York (RMA). In 2003 he curated “The Flying Mystics of Tibetan Buddhism,” again as a joint project between OUMA and the RMA. He also wrote the readers that accompanied these four exhibits. As well as leading tour groups to the Buddhist power places of Nepal and Tibet, Glenn acts as consultant and advisor to independent groups wanting to travel safely and meaningfully through these sacred sites.   You can read more about Glenn here. ---------- For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here.   With thanks to producer Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Professor Thurman discusses the potential dangers of cultivating an empty mind without also developing proper understanding of what emptiness is. Just meditating with our default understanding of reality can temporarily dampen our worries, but it won't completely overcome them. The danger is that we'll think we're already enlightened, and lose the motivation to completely transform our whole experience into a Buddhaverse. "A true bodhisattva does not develop strong meditative prowess at the wrong time. The abilities you attain with deep contemplation—the abilities to isolate oneself from relationships, to deaden the emotions, to withdraw when encountering obstructions, to palliate suffering with genuine detachment—can make you stick at a level of self-centeredness that stunts your spiritual growth." Robert A.F. Thurman “The Danger of “Just Meditate!” - Episode 19 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is an excerpt from a lecture given at Jewel Heart in New York City, May 7, 2015, as part of a lecture series called "Vajrayana and Emptiness." The Danger of “Just Meditate!” - Ep. 19 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash   To read more about programs with Robert A.F Thurman with Jewel Heart please visit: www.jewelheart.org. 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. To listen to more recordings from past Robert A.F. Thurman programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

Professor Thurman discusses the potential dangers of cultivating an empty mind without also developing proper understanding of what emptiness is. Just meditating with our default understanding of reality can temporarily dampen our worries, but it won’t completely overcome them. The danger is that we’ll think we’re already enlightened, and lose the motivation to completely transform our whole experience into a Buddhaverse. “A true bodhisattva does not develop strong meditative prowess at the wrong time. The abilities you attain with deep contemplation—the abilities to isolate oneself from relationships, to deaden the emotions, to withdraw when encountering obstructions, to palliate suffering with genuine detachment—can make you stick at a level of self-centeredness that stunts your spiritual growth.” Robert A.F. Thurman “The Danger of “Just Meditate!” – Episode 19 of the Bob Thurman Podcast” is an excerpt from a lecture given at Jewel Heart in New York City, May 7, 2015, as part of a lecture series called “Vajrayana and Emptiness.” The Danger of “Just Meditate!” – Ep. 19 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash   To read more about programs with Robert A.F Thurman with Jewel Heart please visit: www.jewelheart.org. 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. To listen to more recordings from past Robert A.F. Thurman programs please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member.

Professor Thurman introduces the Essence of True Eloquence (drang nges legs bshad snying po), discussing his own personal experience encountering and translating the Tsongkhapa's great work, and also Tsongkhapa's own experience and doubts about composing the work. He elaborates on the role of Manjushri in influencing Tsongkhapa to eventually compose it, and in influencing those who would wish to study it, to understand it. Professor Thurman is reading from his own translation of the Essence of True Eloquence (drang nges legs bshad snying po), published as The Central Philosophy of Tibet. This episode is an extract from a lecture given by Professor Thurman at Tibet House US on September 10th, 2014, in a lecture series called Profound Wisdom and Vast Compassion, which was a series of preparatory lectures given to prepare people for an event hosted by Tibet House US in NYC with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, also called Profound Wisdom and Vast Compassion. Tsongkhapa : Father Philo & Mother Sophia - Ep. 15 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Manuel Bauer, All rights reserved from www.dalailama.com. 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 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.

Professor Thurman speaks one on one to a student about meditation practices, quiescence (pali: samatha, sanskrit: śhamatha), insight (pali: vipassanā, sanskrit: vipaśhyanā) and meditative realization (bhāvanā). Includes a discussion of the common misunderstandings of the three, and how to use them on the path to enlightenment. "All phenomena of samsara and nirvana come about through cause and effect. This is never fallacious, never false. When we understand this and, in addition, have the underlying, sustaining support of our aiming at inherent existence fall apart, then we have entered the path pleasing to the Buddhas. When we understand voidness, we will no longer have cognition aimed at inherent existence. In this way, the basis for these mistaken cognitions to arise – their sustaining support, which is our grasping for inherent existence – will have fallen apart or disappeared. When we have gained understanding of renunciation, bodhichitta and voidness, through the power of listening to correct teachings on them and then thinking about and analyzing them until we gain conviction their meaning, we then need to devote ourselves single-pointedly to meditating on and realizing them. We need to do with great joyous perseverance as the famous masters of the past have done, for instance the well-known Milarepa (Mi-la Ras-pa), the great Gyalwa Ensapa (rGyal-ba dBen-sa-pa) and his spiritual sons, Kedrub Sanggye Yeshe (mKhas-grub Sangs-rgyas ye-shes), Tsongkhapa's close disciple, Ngawang Dragpa, and so on. Then we can reach the immemorial goal of enlightenment." HH Dalai Lama This "Meditation & Realization" podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101' Series using classic teachings from Robert Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. Buddhism 101 : Meditation + Realization - Ep. 11 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash.

We immediately go into the guided meditation. After the meditation, merging the mind with space, Alan shares and comments on various quotes from Asanga and Tsongkhapa on the implosion of the five senses while practicing Shamatha. After that, he tells a story about a yogi and his attendant travelling from Kham to Lhasa, finallizing in an elaboration on why there are so few people realizing Shamatha in the world today. Meditation starts at: immediately

Dr. Wallace continues with the text from Panchen Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen. He explains that the movement of awareness is caused by grasping. The object of mindfulness in this practice (awareness of awareness) is the cognisance and luminosity of awareness. Two ways are explained to "deal" with thoughts coming up: a) cut them off immediately, and b) just let them be, without grasping. Three metaphors are given for these two methods. After the guided meditation, Dr. Wallace goes into a question concerning two quotes from respectively Tsongkhapa and Padmasambhava. Meditation starts at: 20:04

Alan uses rats as an analogy for thoughts. When a cat (mindfulness) is present, rats (thoughts) stay away. During the bubonic plague, rats (thoughts) carried fleas (disturbing emotions) which carried the bacterial infection (e.g., depression or anxiety). Therefore, we need to treat rumination as public enemy #1. According to Tsongkhapa, we must complete eliminate rumination in order to achieve shamatha. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing method of your choice. For each breath cycle, arouse attention at in breath to counter laxity, and relax at out breath to counter excitation. In this way, refine your attention and dispel rumination. Breathe effortlesly as in deep sleep. Meditation starts: 9:27

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Four Rivers of Samsaraand#8221; is from the second talk from the 2009 UK Womenand#8217;s Order / Mitra Event titled and#8220;Generating Bodhi Mindand#8221; by Vajratara. She guides us through the second section of Tsongkhapaand#8217;s short text on and#8220;The Three Principle Aspects of the Pathand#8221;. The verses contain some strong and striking images for what it feels like being caught in Samsara and they come to life in Vajrataraand#8217;s talk. She relates how she nearly came to death herself swept away by a Indonesian river and that was just an ordinary river current, never mind the current of Samsara!

In today’s FBA Podcast, “Renunciation – Tasting Freedom,” Saddhanandi says at the beginning of this talk that she’s concerned she won’t fully convey the depth of inspiration she feels about her theme – she shouldn’t have worried, she does it full justice. Her various approaches to her subject include renunciation as giving up unreal expectations, as giving up compulsion, as continuity of purpose and commitment to values, as establishing freedom, as not being blown by the worldly winds. One of her telling quotes is ” … there is no spiritual development without renunciation, and no renunciation without spiritual development …” This is the first of three talks given on the 2009 UK Women’s Order / Mitra Event. It’s based on the first section of Tsongkhapa’s short text “The Three Principle Aspects of the Path”. The other talks in the series are “Generating Bodhi Mind” by Vajratara, and “The Path of the Buddha’s Delight” by Samantabhadri. Given at Taraloka, May 2009.

Settling the mind in its natural state. When mental afflictions come up, if you recognize them as such, you have a choice regarding whether you act on them. If you don’t recognize them you will simply act on the basis of the mental afflictions. Be present and observe with interest all that comes up even if they are not pleasant. Description of how to do the gentle vase breathing. Discussion of prana and the dangers of practicing pranayama without a qualified teacher; it is much easier to damage prana than to repair it. Meditation starts at 49:58 Questions (75:01) Question on the differences in Alan’s books particularly between Genuine Happiness and the Four Immeasurables. Question regarding the emptiness of the mind – that practice as the soft spot on the death star, leading to realization of other emptiness. Question regarding emptiness as a negative, what is the positive aspect? Discussion of different strategies between Tsongkhapa where it is just the sheer absence of inherent nature, and Mahamudra and Dzogchen which attends to emptiness with awareness in the nature of luminosity.

This afternoon's guided meditation on the immeasurable of empathetic joy focuses on cultivating the underlying causes of genuine happiness and flourishing. Alan Wallace reminds us that Tsongkhapa said that the easiest and most effective way to empower and energize one's practice is to take delight and satisfaction in it. The guided meditation begins at 12:30 in the recording. After the guided meditation, Alan answers these questions from the group: 1. Can you expand on the concept of collective karma that you mentioned recently? 2. Does Buddhism have a concept of free will, and how does this relate to non-self? 3. When I'm dwelling in the space of the mind, suddenly I remember that I am supposed to exhale and release, and I lose the concept of dwelling in the space of the mind. Then I'll just forget about exhaling anything, and breath and maintain awareness in this space... 4. In the practice of awareness of awareness, is there a difference in the way you release thoughts as compared to the practice of mindfulness of breathing? 5. Can you describe a different way of doing tonglen (sending and receiving) for those who, like myself, have difficulty letting go of (or allowing the incineration of) the suffering that is drawn in on the in-breath? 6. You've used the term "sealing the path" often - what does this mean and how does it relate to stream entry?

In this session Alan made an analogy between the practice of visualizing a Buddha image in the first stages of shamatha and the clarity we can expect to have in the first stages of the practice of awareness of awareness. According to Tsongkhapa we should be satisfied with maintaining just enough contact of the image in the first stages. As we progress on the path of shamatha we develop greater clarity and in the final stages we can see the image as being tridimensional and as vivid as in a dream. Similarly in the practice of awareness of awareness we shouldn’t expect to have a high degree of clarity in the first stages, but just enough continuity of being aware of being aware. The clarity and sharpness will kick in until stages 4 and 5. He also mentioned two important steps in this practice. The first point is to release all interest to the appearances arising in any of the 6 domains of experience. You’re not deliberately giving your attention to any appearance, if these arise, it’s ok, but if you’re caught in a thought you’re not doing the practice correctly. The second point is that it is quiet and in the silence there is awareness of awareness. You’re not sitting there and not doing anything, you are aware that you are aware.We then practiced according to the instructions given by Padmasambhava in “Natural Liberation” by directing our awareness to the space upwards, then to the right, left and downwards, then to the heart and finally releasing it into space.

"Principal Teachings of Buddhism" Pages 14-18 - Life of Je Tsongkhapa taught on Sept. 5, 2010 as part of the series Intro to Buddhism

"Principal Teachings of Buddhism" Pages 14-18 - Life of Je Tsongkhapa taught on Sept. 5, 2010 as part of the series Intro to Buddhism

This morning we practiced the final phase of Awareness of Awareness, and quoting from Alan's great analogy in the introduction to this practice: "Putting it in the Oven." The title comes from the succinct explanation of the practice as described by Tsongkhapa.This time it was just a brief 5 minute introduction and then we went into the meditation (as taught by Padmasambhava), the most profound of all Shamatha practices.With this method, the path and the fruit are similar in aspect.Enjoy as we did!(And if you were wondering if I really had to use another sky picture-- the answer is yes!)

A jewelled casket of a talk by Vajradarshini, with poetic accompaniment. Rumi meets Tsongkhapa in the Tavern of Ruin, and Dogen, Milarepa and Nagarjuna join them to talk about ‘self’ and ‘world’. Joanna Macy turns up too — then many voices, mixed and mingled, explore the experience of being part of an Order and following the Buddha’s way. Quite splendid stuff. To help us keep this free, please think about making a donation.