An Exuberant Pioneer of Tibetan Buddhism in the West: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Robert Thurman

Arguably the most vital force in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, Dr. Robert "Bob" Thurman passed away on June 16 at his home in Woodstock, NY. Thurman’s accolades are legendary: the foremost expert on Tibetan Buddhism in the U.S., he held the West’s first endowed chair in Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, co-founded Tibet House US, and was the first American ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama—who recently remembered him as a "dear friend" who lived a deeply meaningful life of service. Beyond the academy, Time magazine named him one of the "25 Most Influential Americans." Dubbed by the press as "The Robin Williams of Buddhism" for his booming voice, infectious laugh, and unstoppable enthusiasm. As his close friend Richard Gere once noted, "He’s iconoclastic, he’s verbal, he’s funny, he’s avuncular... He turns people on." Thurman dedicated his life to making the Dharma a living, breathing force for social action. Join us for a guided meditation based on Thurman's re-translation of the Four Noble Truths as the Four Friendly Fun Facts, an exploration of his expansive legacy through video clips of his teachings, and an open community discussion to share how his wild-eyed bodhisattva spirit and vision of world-transformation might inspire our own lives and practices. Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville (IMCC) is dedicated to the practice of mindfulness awareness, also known as Insight or Vipassana Meditation. IMCC provides a full program of weekly meditation, ongoing classes, daylong programs, and retreats.