In this podcast Professor Thurman discusses how the ideas of Darwin, Marx and Freud, although brilliant, are based on a rather despondent bottom line assessment: that we as humans are a bunch of helpless robots. But is it true that we can never understand our unconscious? Are we helpless victims of our genes? Are we the victims of our social settings?

By contrast, Buddhist ideas incite human beings to take responsibility for their own minds by fully understanding the inter-relatedness in the world, which in turn produces a natural ethical behavior.


Professor Thurman then engages his listeners into an interesting discussion of whether there is evidence or lack thereof for former and future lives.



Darwin, Marx, Freud & Buddha - Ep. 56 of the Bob Thurman Podcast was recorded was recorded on February 26, 2016.


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.


Listen to more archive recordings 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.


The songs “Trance Tibet” & ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.