In this episode Professor Thurman talks about the Seventeen Great Scholars of Nalanda. They taught at Nalanda, which was a renowned Buddhist University, which traditionally is said to have grown out of a monastery established during the Buddha's time.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama often says that he is not necessarily a follower of this or that particular school of Tibetan Buddhism. Rather he traces his spiritual ancestry or lineage to the Seventeen Great Pandits of Nalanda.

Professor Thurman also explains the three main dispensations of Buddhist teachings, and shares with us a compelling biography of the great master Shantideva, one of the Seventeen Great Pandits.

This episode is an excerpt from the lecture given at Tibet House US in New York City, October 21, 2015, as part of a lecture series called “The Infinite Lifestyle: The Nalanda Path of Transcendent Perfections.”

Shantideva: Seventeen Great Pandits of Nalanda - Episode 45 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Image via Wikimedia.

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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.