Bob Thurman

The Robert Alexander Farrar Thurman speeches break down initial preconceived notions on Buddhism. Thurman is an American Buddhist writer whose work and studies delve deeply into Buddhism and Buddhism culture.

Thurman was ordained and became a Buddhist in 1964, which made him the first American Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Thurman's speeches are mostly comprised of mainstreaming the teachings of Buddhism, but he also delves into art, politics and culture.

He is the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, the first bequeath chair in the field of study in the United States. He is also the co-founder and president of the Tibet House New York, which is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve the Tibetan Culture.