Robert Thurman
(Redirected from Robert A. F. Thurman)
Robert Thurman (August 3, 1941 – June 16, 2026) was an American Buddhist scholar, author and translator, who has written, edited, and translated many books on Tibetan Buddhism.
He was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, before retiring in June 2019. He was also the co-founder and president of the Tibet House US in New York City, and the Menla Retreat and Spa in upstate New York.
Among his many translations are translations of:
- Vimalakirti Sutra
- Bardo Thodol (aka. "The Tibetan Book of the Dead")
- Essence of True Eloquence
- Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages
Selected publications
Robert Thurman's publications include:
- The Central Philosophy of Tibet: A Study and Translation of Jey Tsong Khapa’s Essence of True Eloquence, Princeton University Press, 1984
- The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1994
- Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, H. Abrams, 1996
- Tibetan Buddhism, HarperSanFrancisco, 1996
- Mandala: The Architecture of Enlightenment, Shambhala Publications, 1997
- Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art of Wisdom and Compassion, Harry N. Abrams, 1999
- Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness, Penguin, 1999
- Circling the Sacred Mountain: A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas, co-authored with Tad Wise, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1999
- Infinite Life: Seven Virtues for Living Well, Riverhead Books, 2004
- The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism, Free Press, Simon Schuster, 2005
- Anger, Oxford University Press, 2005
- The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000
- Brilliant Illumination of the Lamp of the Five Stages: Practical Instruction in the King of Tantras, “The Glorious Esoteric Community”, Thomas F. Yarnall (ed.), (Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences), New York: American institute of Buddhist studies. 2010
Further reading
- Official Website
- Robert A. F. Thurman, Menla.org
Robert Thurman, Tsadra Commons
Robert Thurman, Wikipedia
Robert Thurman, Rigpa Shedra Wiki- "Robert Thurman, Leading Interpreter of Tibetan Buddhism, Dies at 84". The New York Times. June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.