The plenary addresses on Friday evening by Robert Thurman and Rachel Naomi Remen served to officially open the program. Dr. Thurman is a captivating speaker with a wonderful sense of humor. He is a Professor of Religious Studies at Columbia University, and a founder of Tibet House where he works closely with the Dalai Lama. He has translated the Tibetan Book of the Dead, (Bantam,1994), and in his one hour speech he gave teachings straight from the book. He first asked that we relax and focus our attention, not in a serious, furrowed-brow way, but lightly. He then, through reading, guided us through the 4 phases of the dying process, the moonlit bardo spaces, the deepening darkness, and into the clear light. He finished, and when we opened our eyes to regard each other under the shimmering prisms of the ballroom lights, we knew that something was different, we had experienced an eternal truth, an endless moment. Dr.Thurman kept the dance going, kept us laughing. As he did, he transferred the teachings; the precious nature of obtaining a human birth, the three pillars, the four noble truths. We heard and were slightly changed, and then he projected that change over the whole of society, showing what would happen if we were to include our entire culture in this picture. The Tibetans did not start as a glorious enlightened civilization. They were once as we are, generally tribal and in constant conspiracy against each other. Over the years a small group changed the whole of their society with the teachings centering on an enlightened approach to death. If every time one dies one makes contact with the clear light, if only for an instant, then the clear light experience itself is a great teacher. If an entire culture were to recognize this they would have great compassion for each other, especially at the time of death.
The Great Adventure
The Inner Part of Inner Jourrneys
Editor: Iven Lourie
Contributing Editors: Grant Abrams, Paul Barry, Tamara Murray
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