In this questions and answers session Professor Thurman and Sharon Salzberg discuss the interconnected nature of emptiness, compassion, and loving-kindness and the use of mandalas in meditation.

Opening with an in-depth exploration of the etymology of the Sanskrit term sunyata, Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the relationality of emptiness and it's connections to the agricultural language and culture of the Buddha's time.

Podcast includes discussions of : the symbolism and use of sand mandalas, the history of the Kalachakra "Wheel of Time" Tantra, the Buddhist perspective on bliss, space, time and the role of evolutionary inner yogas in reducing suffering for self and others.

Episode concludes with a reading of the work of Muriel Rukeyser by Gary Gach.

Emptiness & Mandalas : Questioning Buddhism - Ep. 227 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Manuel Bauer via www.dalailama.com

Gary Gregory Gach is an author, translator, and editor living in San Francisco. A dynamic speaker and teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism his works include the anthology “What Book!? Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop” and the forthcoming “Pause Breathe Smile – Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation is Not Enough”.

This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was brought to you in part through the monthly support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

Emptiness & Mandalas : Questioning Buddhism - Ep. 227 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded at the annual New Year's Retreat at Menla in Phoenicia, New York in 2015.

This podcast is apart of the on going series “Questioning Buddhism” in which Robert A.F. Thurman answers questions from those looking to learn more about the Buddha, his teachings and the history of those people, countries and cultures influenced by his ideas.

To submit your questions to be answered in future podcasts please visit: www.bobthurman.com.