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Module II

Basic Buddhism as the Arts and Sciences of Happiness
Robert Thurman, PhD

This series of lectures will introduce the basics of the Buddhist tradition as still usable today for the improvement of one’s life. The good thing about the modern adaptation is that one is not required to “be a Buddhist,” though that effort is something I and many others do enjoy doing. The Buddhist traditions of art and science offer their services of ethical reform, meditational development, and scientific knowledge and critical wisdom without demanding denominational allegiance, blind faith or mere obedience on the part of people who might be in need of those services. If you attend this course, it will provide you with a knowledge of the Four Noble Truths (adapted to today), the six transcending virtues—especially that of critical wisdom of emptiness, and the basic outline of what Tantra is. We will read together some selections from the Pali Dighanikaya, the Vimalakirti Sutra, and maybe on book on Tantra.

This course will be professionally recorded and made available eventually as an e-course from tibethouse.org.

(3 sessions) Thursday, November 4, Wednesdays, November 10 & 17, 7-9 PM

Registration #10FSB24T

Module Price: $70 / Members: $60
Individual prices for evening talks: $25 (cash) at door.

Please register through New York Open Center: 212.219.2527X200   

Robert A. F. Thurman, PhD, is professor of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Columbia University, President of Tibet House U.S., the translator of many philosophical treatises and sutras, and author of numerous books.