In this podcast Professor Thurman provides the context of the Buddha's Enlightenment before launching into a succinct explanation of The Four Noble Truths.

Opening this week's episode with a discussion of the historical and spiritual setting in which the Buddha attained enlightenment, Robert A.F. Thurman gives an introduction to his discoveries and how they are applicable to modern society.

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us, the ‘universe,’ - a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion, to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

Albert Einstein

Podcast includes an overview of each of the Four Noble Truths and their relationship to compassion, emptiness and the blissful nature of reality.

Buddhism 101 : The Four Noble Truths Image by Joao Silas via www.unsplash.com.

"Buddhism 101 : The Four Noble Truths - Episode 124 of the Bob Thurman podcast was recorded at the 2016 Anxiety, Depression & Addiction Retreat at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York with Mark Epstein M.D.

This podcast is apart of the ‘Buddhism 101’ Series using classic teachings from the Robert Thurman archive to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition. is apart of the Buddhism 101 series using classic teachings from the archives of Robert AF Thurman to elucidate basic concepts of the tradition.

To learn more about the work of Mark + Bob join them for a Tibet House US Retreat in the heart of the Catskill Mountains please visit www.menla.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.