By Mark Ostler
Envision a gigantic tree, the most beautiful of trees touching the sky and in that tree sits the leaders, the mentors, the enlightened ones, those who lead you down the path. This Jewel Tree of Enlightenment is the vision that keeps one following the path.
On February 4 Robert Thurman, North America’s leading expert on Tibetan Buddhism, gave an amusing and engaging lecture concerning the path to enlightenment. The talk centred on Thurman’s new book “The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism,” which outlines practical meditations for everyday practice. As part of the UofT Bookstore Reading Series, the lecture filled Hart House’s Great Hall to capacity, many people having to sit on the floor up front or stand at the back.
Immediately after Thurman began to read from the introduction of his new book, the fire bell went off, but undeterred by the false alarm, the former Tibetan Buddhist monk – the first westerner to be ordained as such – read on, sharing excerpts from the introduction and the first chapter.
Thurman told the audience that enlightenment is simple, that ignorance or delusion is the opposite of enlightenment and that we are locked within the egocentric perspective, believing oneself to be only thing that is real and that it is the most important thing in the world. Adhering to this delusion one cannot be awakened to reality. Enlightenment is the realization that one’s individual perspective is not the only perspective.
Thurman also made references to popular culture, linking such movies as Star Wars and The Matrix with various aspects inherent in Buddhist philosophy.
Particularly poignant was his assessment of the end of the first Matrix film, in which Neo becomes awakened to his superhuman purpose and the fact that he is an individual and yet also encompasses the entire Matrix. The Columbia University professor likened this part of the film to the Buddhist belief that enlightenment is encompassing all beings.
Thurman was also very light hearted, frequently enjoying short fits of giddy laughter and making serious points inflected with humour. In referring to the common misconception that enlightenment is unconsciousness, Thurman said:
“So hit yourself on the head with a hammer and be Buddha.”
“The great bliss state is the state of reality. It is not some far away place,” he said, outlining the principle that the world of dissatisfaction is a fabrication and that we cannot see the true nature of the world because of our focus on suffering. Thurman asserted that we continue to be dissatisfied and miserable while swimming in a pool of bliss. “This is the cleverness of our stupidity.”
The talk was also infused with several jabs at current American politics, though Thurman made sure to avoid making the entire lecture about his country’s policies. However, he did address the detrimental aspects of other religious traditions. Most traditions, he said, consider it a sin to believe that the divine power is within oneself and other religious institutions describe salvation as being the result of membership in a specific club.
Thurman fiercely criticized our cultural fear of death, the conception that death is a dark, blank state of nothingness and the culture in which we try prolong our lives as much as possible. Facing death and realizing that there is nothing to be afraid of is liberating, he assured the crowd.
During the question and answer period, Thurman often veered off, after answering the questions posed, and touched on other issues. In one such case, he connected the situation of North American aboriginals to that of Tibet and its current occupation by China. In another, he humorously asserted the Buddhist view of the universe, being one in which the central god, Brahman, appeared after the universe’s creation and has no knowledge of how it works.
Thurman was eloquent, explaining the more complex concepts as well as time would allow and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself while at the same time, providing profound Buddhist insight into the nature of suffering, the universe and our understanding of reality. At one point during the talk, Thurman stated: “Buddhism is the response of awakened beings to unawakened beings wishing to be awakened.”
