Remembering Robert Thurman, Buddhist Scholar
Remembering Robert Thurman (1941 – 2026)
A luminary recently passed, Bob Thurman, a Buddhist scholar and father of the actress Uma Thurman and grandfather of actress Maya Hawke. I had the privelage of interviewing him many times and enjoy his brilliance and joyful nature. There is more about him and the interview recordings below that you can listen to or view anytime to feed your soul.
On June 16, Bob Thurman left his physical body. He was and continues to be a light and blessing to all who have known him, heard him speak, or read his books and material.
I am grateful to have had four interviews with Bob on the New Thinking Allowed YouTube channel and associated podcast platforms (interviews below). I loved reading his books and will continue to cherish them. He is a deep and profound teacher whose messages, lessons, wisdom, and love will reverberate for years.
Whether you are religious, spiritual, or atheist, there may be pearls of wisdom to glean from his teachings.
I read his translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and conducted a whole interview with him about it (below). He said it was a mis-translation and that it is more accurately known as “Liberation through Understanding in the Between”, meaning the bardos, the afterlife, or between this life and the next. It is a book to help loved ones as they transition from this existence into the afterlife.
Robert Thurman, PhD, was professor emeritus at Columbia University where he was a teaching professor for 50 years on Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies. He was the first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk, ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for a short time and became a Tibetan Buddhist lay teacher. Robert was a close friend with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for 60 years. He was a leading worldwide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, skilled translator of Tibetan Sanskrit Buddhist literature, and passionate activist for the plight of the Tibetan people. Robert is a Padma Shri honoree from the President of India for bringing back Indian Buddhist literature that had gotten lost from the 12th Century.
He was Co-Founder and President of Tibet House US/Menla, the cultural center in service of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. He was host of the Bob Thurman Podcast: Buddhas Have More Fun. He is author of many books, including Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the Whole World and Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within. He is coauthor of Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit and Be a Whole Lot Happier. His most recent book is Wisdom is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life. His website is bobthurman.com.
My interviews with Bob are:
- Wisdom is Bliss with Robert Thurman, April 6, 2023 – https://youtu.be/fjg3Vo8r988
- Noble Truths: Live Stream with Robert Thurman, July 9, 2023 – https://youtube.com/live/NC1N19IA9yY
- Liberation Between Death and Rebirth with Robert Thurman, December 5, 2023 – https://youtu.be/_yObdjG691s
- The Dalai Lama: 60 Years of Friendship with Robert Thurman, November 4, 2024 – https://youtu.be/q1TOa-vBbRo
He was and is a great teacher of compassion, wisdom, love, and joy. Thank you, Bob!
Om Mani Padme Hum
Emmy Vadnais
Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L has over 20 years experience providing Holistic, Integrative Health, Wellness and Prevention Care in a variety of settings. She is a Holistic Occupational Therapist, Intuitive Healer, Health Coach, teacher, consultant, and writer. She provides holistic and integrative healthcare and intuitive development education to healthcare practitioners and organizations. She is the founder of the Holistic OT Community and is in private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is available for individual sessions, tutoring, classes, and consulting. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Visit her websites at EmmyVadnais.com and HolisticOT.org.
