Category: Robert Thurman

On the Air: A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.: Science and Non-Duality Conference: The Emergent Universe

On the Air: A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.: Science and Non-Duality Conference: The Emergent Universe

Diane Solomon, host of A Meeting of the Ways on KKUP, and Isa Gucciardi discuss the upcoming Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose from October 18-22, 2017. Among other aspects of the conference, they also speak bout Isa’s presentation of a pre-conference workshop with Dr. Robert Thurman called Shamans and Siddhas, which explores the intersection between shamanic and Buddhist practice.

Read More
On the Air: A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Robert Thurman: Man of Peace

On the Air: A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Robert Thurman: Man of Peace

Diane Solomon, host of A Meeting of the Ways on KKUP, sits down with renowned Buddhist scholar Dr. Robert Thurman to discuss his no-holds-barred graphic novel, Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Thurman also discusses Tibet, countering violence with peace, his work with Tibet House US, and his upcoming Bay Area appearances.

Read More
Special Announcement: Robert Thurman’s Man of Peace Book Tour

Special Announcement: Robert Thurman’s Man of Peace Book Tour

Sacred Stream is happy to announce that it is sponsoring Robert A.F. Thurman’s Bay Area book tour for his new graphic novel, Man of Peace, which is a biography of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Dr. Thurman wrote this book in collaboration with William Meyers and Michael Burbank. This book is unique in that it captures all of the aspects of a very complex life in an accessible way.

Read More
Blog: Buddhist Perspectives on Grief and Loss

Blog: Buddhist Perspectives on Grief and Loss

By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.

In Robert Thurman’s prelude to his translation of Bardo Thodol, commonly translated as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, he takes to task scientific materialists’ perspective that death is a terminal state, a state of nothingness where life is destroyed. He points out that these materialists “have never observed even one material thing become nothing. Why should the energy reality of a state of awareness [life] ……be the exception to the law of physics that energy is conserved and only transformed?”

I have always appreciated Dr. Thurman’s willingness to take on monolithic prejudices, in the name of science, in response to spiritual questions. I have always felt the wholesale rejection of notions such as the possibility of life after death and the existence of spirit was highly unscientific. In order to step into the universe of life beyond death from the Buddhist perspective, we have to allow ourselves to be disabused of the ways in which we may have unwittingly digested the viewpoints of scientific materialism on these subjects simply because they dominate in our education system.

Read More
Video: Robert Thurman Discusses Man of Peace with Isa Gucciardi

Video: Robert Thurman Discusses Man of Peace with Isa Gucciardi

Isa Gucciardi sits down with renowned Buddhist scholar, Dr. Robert Thurman, who has co-written a no-holds-barred graphic novel about the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Read More
Blog: Embraced by the Sacred Feminine at Menla

Blog: Embraced by the Sacred Feminine at Menla

By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.

While I was on my way from California to Menla Retreat in New York, three feet of snow had been falling at Menla. Robert Thurman and I had scheduled our Embracing the Sacred Feminine course at the Spring Equinox with the idea that the Great Mother would be revealing herself through emerging bulbs and leaf buds. The weather in the Catskill Mountains is, however, unpredictable at any season. So, rather than sunning myself under budding apple trees at Menla, I found myself with bare trees, silent snow, and dark nights. Yet the power of the land of Menla became even more evident in the dark sparkle of winter.

Read More
A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.: Embracing the Sacred Feminine at the Spring Equinox

A Meeting of the Ways with Diane Solomon and Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.: Embracing the Sacred Feminine at the Spring Equinox

Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D., and Diane Solomon, host of A Meeting of the Ways, continue their discussion about the Spring Equinox and explore the concept of the Sacred Feminine and its relationship to the spring season. They touch upon some important insights about the Sacred Feminine that have emerged from the classes that Isa has taught on the subject for the last 15 years. Isa also talks about her collaboration with thought leader and Buddhist scholar, Dr. Robert Thurman, in co-teaching a class called Embracing the Sacred Feminine, and discusses the role of the feminine within Buddhist philosophy.

Read More
Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 3)

Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 3)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Embracing the Sacred Feminine. Bob talks about the experiential aspect of this workshop and how Isa helps make the material accessible. Isa and Bob talk about how the Sacred Feminine helps connect students to the healing part of themselves. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 2)

Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 2)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Embracing the Sacred Feminine. Bob talks about having the grandmother shamans at Menla and his revelatory dream. Isa and Bob share their experience of Menla as a magical place. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Embracing the Sacred Feminine. Bob points to the relationship between ancient India and the feminine principle. Isa explains the importance of men feeling comfortable with the Sacred Feminine and how Bob’s presence as a co-teacher helps men step into it. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Video: Sacred Feminine with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Embracing the Sacred Feminine. Bob points to the relationship between ancient India and the feminine principle. Isa explains the importance of men feeling comfortable with the Sacred Feminine and how Bob’s presence as a co-teacher helps men step into it. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 3)

Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 3)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Shamans and Siddhas: Meeting at the Crossroads of Shamanism and Tantrism. In this segment, Bob and Isa discuss the special presence at Menla and its relationship to H.H. Dalai Lama. Bob tells the story of Vimalakirti and describes a student’s experience of spontaneous healing at Menla. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 2)

Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 2)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Shamans and Siddhas: Meeting at the Crossroads of Shamanism and Tantrism. In this segment, Bob and Isa share their experience of teaching together and explore the way that both shamans and Siddhas use a similar kind of transmission process for healing and teaching. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Video: Shamans and Siddhas with Robert Thurman & Isa Gucciardi (Part 1)

Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi come together at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA, to discuss their workshop, Shamans and Siddhas: Meeting at the Crossroads of Shamanism and Tantrism. In this segment, Bob and Isa explore the role of the shaman and the role of the Siddha in ancient culture and examine the disconnect with nature that has occurred in modern society. This workshop regularly takes place at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY.

Read More
Blog: Interdependence

Blog: Interdependence

By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.

In a recent podcast, Robert Thurman, noted Buddhist scholar, asked, “What would you do if you realized that you would never be able to get off the subway car you were on this morning – that you were going to be with those people for infinity?”

For one thing, it would probably change the way we viewed those people. If we are all in a subway car together cruising through eternity, it would probably be a good idea to start figuring out how to get along.

I have spent many years trying to help people figure out how to get along through my Depth Hypnosis practice and teaching. Mostly I try to help people figure out how to get along with themselves – because you really can’t get along with anyone else until you have yourself figured out.

Read More