Opening this week’s holiday podcast with a guided meditation from his book “Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within” Professor Thurman discusses the value of end of year celebrations, compassion and the yoga sciences in helping individuals of any tradition or religious background to escape the terminal lifestyle of self centered materialism.

Highlighting the common spiritual threads found in Christmas, Hanukkah, Losar & Pagan Solstice celebrations Robert Thurman discusses the symbolic and psychological value of such community gatherings detailing the history of solar and lunar celebrations in Judaism and of Tibet’s Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival.

Podcast includes a discussion of the Annual Tibet House US New Year’s Dharma and Yoga retreat with held at Menla with Sharon Salzberg, of upcoming programs at Kripalu and of Hatha Yoga‘s history, origins of it’s connections to Buddhist Vajrayana and to Unexcelled Yoga Tantras.

In the second part of this week’s episode Robert A.F. Thurman discusses his dream of creating a space at Tibet House US  with his colleague Dr. John Campbell for the development and daily practice of Buddhist Vajrayana yoga community.

In this week’s Bob Thurman podcast poetry segment Gary Gach reads the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Infinite Lifestyle : Yoga & End of Year Celebrations – Ep. 194 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo by Paul Cooper, All Rights Reserved.

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

Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert A.F. Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us.

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 “