Journey with Robert Thurman in Bhutan takes you on an inner and outer journey through the last remaining Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan as it transitions into the world’s newest democracy and develops to optimize Gross National Happiness. Professor Thurman’s expedition explores the inner science of Buddhism while exploring Bhutan’s stunning landscape and unique culture.
Professor Robert Tenzin Thurman is the first Westerner to be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, professor of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Columbia University, and co-founder of Tibet House US, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan civilization. Time Magazine, which chose him as one of its 25 most influential Americans, described him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Siddhartha, from Asia to America.”
This intimate insider’s look at the Land of the Thunder Dragon explores Bhutan’s sacred sites and temples, where Professor Thurman offers teachings and meditations that illuminate central principles of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths, the preciousness of human life, the immediacy of death, the wheel of life, and voidness and compassion. Combining an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient Buddhist texts and a contemporary sense of humor, Professor Thurman makes these profound teachings accessible and entertaining to all.
Professor Thurman also reveals the history of how Buddhism came to Bhutan and why it is essential for Bhutan’s future as a system of education to achieve its goals for Gross National Happiness.