Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life

by Robert Thurman

"Robert Thurman is a living treasure, one of today's most provocative spiritual thinkers." - Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional IntelligenceRobert Thurman, the preeminent scholar and interpreter of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy for the modern world, leads us on a joyful exploration into the nature of reality through Buddha's threefold curriculum of "super-education.""Buddha had to be an educator, rather than a prophet or religion founder, since he had achieved his goal of exact and complete understanding of reality by using reason, experiments to open his own mind, and vision to do so," Thurman writes. "From his own experience, he could help [others] as a teacher by streamlining the process. He could not just transplant his realization into their minds. They could not get their own realizations just by believing whatever he said. He could only provide them with a prospect of full realization along a path of learning and experiencing they could follow-they would have to travel on their own."This book is your invitation to travel that same road. Deeply felt and bracingly direct, it doesn't teach about the teaching-it is the teaching. Get ready to get real, and have fun along the way, as you chart a path to reliable, lasting happiness.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2021

Reviews

[Eric Hannemann · Rating 2 out of 5]

[ Book Thoughts 💭 ] Wisdom is Bliss by Robert Thurman: Four Friendly Facts That Can Change Your Life 🤔

I really wanted to love this book. Maybe it’s because I often read Dharma books, commentaries, and translations of Buddhist scriptures and sutras that I expected something fresh out of this exploration of Robert’s book. I didn’t.

I don’t understand the need to refresh Buddhist wisdom by changing words and phrases commonly used in teachings. Take, for example, the Noble Eightfold Path uses the translation term as “right view” and so forth from Sanskrit. We recognize this, it’s well known, and used everywhere in the West. Here comes along Robert who prefers to use the term “reality” instead of “right,” and reinterprets the whole path as “The Highway with Eight Lanes.” Oh, Robert, really?

He laughs at himself constantly in the text, so often that the reader no longer feels like they are having a discussion with the author. Instead, the reader feels like he just isn’t all that serious about what he’s saying. But he tried to convince you with the “right? “can you see that?” “So true, isn’t it?” The book tried to read as an intro to Buddhist wisdom, but the author uses adjectives to make it sound well put together and “smart.” It’s like Robert combed through the book and replaced words with Microsoft synonym editor to make him sound smarter.

After all this, I couldn’t clearly and concisely understand any of the content. So, to sum it up…

WORD SALAD. 🥗

[D.B. John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book after hearing the author on a podcast, so I was aware of some of the difficult and mind-stretching revelations it contains, its playful title notwithstanding. I have to be honest and say that a great deal of it was outside my comprehension. And yet... I couldn't stop reading it and finished it quite quickly. This is because I kept getting sparkles of understanding around the edges, bright threads of light I could occasionally follow into the immensity and depth of what Thurman is describing – the true nature of reality, the relativity of self. Much of it I would have thought is ineffable, inexpressible, and yet Thurman uses language very accurately and concisely. The impression is of vast learning condensed under great pressure into a diamond. The effort required to understand it, even partially, is very rewarding.
I was struck by how many 'modern' therapeutic prescriptions for happiness (most commonly mindfulness) are really just third-hand, watered down concepts from Buddhism. It makes more sense to go to the power and insight of the original source. The author modestly admits toward the end that he himself is far from enlightened, despite a lifetime of practice, and occasionally has doubts. One thing's not in doubt, because it's evident on every page: he has found reality to be pure happiness.

[Arash Farzaneh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regardless of whether you are new and curious about Buddhism or think you already have a good grasp and understanding of it, I would highly recommend adding to your library this wonderful and mind-blowing book by the renowned scholar Robert Thurman whom I had the pleasure and honor to personally interview on my podcast!

I have been fascinated with Buddhism since my youth and have read many books on the topic, but few are as clear, precise, focused, and well-written as this one! I love how Bob presents complex ideas not only in accessible, inspiring, and motivating ways and manners (he even references The Matrix!), but he also underscores the importance of fun and pleasure!

Many tend to have rather somber and serious (if not limited, close-minded and dogmatic) attitudes and views when it comes to religion and philosophies but few focus on the joys of fully and joyfully engaging with their chosen practice. And no, there is no hidden agenda here and you do not have to become a Buddhist to be a Buddhist!

Most of us, including myself, tend to have a mistaken notion about ego and nirvana, and, in reality, the Buddhist outlook is so much more uplifting and life-affirming than it may seem at first glance. Bob filters out and highlights all the essential points, clarifies on many occasions some potential mishaps and misunderstandings of this rich and influential tradition and way of life, and bases all these insights on the ancient original texts and manuscripts that he is not only perfectly and intuitively familiar with but also an expert on!

Moreover, he has a longstanding (spanning various decades!) friendship and connection with his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who is naturally and undoubtedly the perfect living embodiment in action, speech, and thought that wisdom is indeed bliss!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. I’ve heard so much about this author as a significant Western Buddhist teacher, so I was interested in reading his thoughts on the Four Noble Truths and Eight-fold Path. However, I just did not connect with his teaching style or foundational beliefs. His target audience was non-Buddhists, secular readers, or beginner Buddhists, which is made clear in the first chapter with lots of “cool kids” lingo. But the rest of the book was written with scholarly Buddhist language. Out of the grasp of beginners or someone just exploring Buddhism. As an intermediate Buddhist student, he made very familiar concepts quite confusing. He appeared to contradict himself in the chapter about right livelihood. I didn’t understand his transformation of right effort into right creativity. This was a miss for me. I would recommend Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das instead for a much more accessible presentation of these concepts.

[Rob Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking...Only observation I'd make is while the author shoots for a "friendly" explanation of Buddhist thought, one of the reasons I read the book was for a better understanding of the concepts behind all the words I don't understand, and while it substantiated much of what I thought I already understood, it failed to further my comprehension of the philosophy....

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but some of it went over my head. He prefers his own terminology like the "four friendly facts" instead of the noble truths. It is a quick read but not easy, imo.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating is based on the audio version. I found it difficult to follow. It felt like speeding on an interstate with incoming and outgoing vehicles likewise zooming about. The copious use of adjectives added to the getting-lost. I repeated the reading many times throughout to try to fathom what was happening. Likely, my enjoyment of the book would have been enhanced by reading the book.

This is my fourth 'reading' of Thurman. I much appreciate his scholarship and passion. Truly a bodhisattva being, and who reminds us of the place of intellect in the spiritual quest. I found it helpful to be reminded, more than I had been, of the scientific nature of Buddhism. Also, of the potential for Buddhist wisdom to help devotees of other, non-Buddhist ways. I myself have found Buddhism to assist in seeing the Christianity, especially the Gospels, of my earlier days in a new light. I have said to persons that Jesus was more Buddhist than Christian. I sincerely believe that, at least in regards to Zen Buddhism.

I found the last chapter a good summary. I much enjoyed the afterword, where he gives thanks to many persons. His being in tears when expressing gratitude says a lot about Thurman and that his life and work is one of love. Thank You!

[Elia Magali Morales Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Thurman translates much more than language

In this book he gives us a clear-eyed narrative of the process of development set forth by Shakyamuni Buddha two and a half millennia ago, with modern language. I appreciate this book for the transparency with which it explains Buddha’s spiritual technology, available to all of us, if only we realize that wisdom means we can exist in the realm of suffering and taste the bliss of Nirvana at the same time. We’re already there. We o Ly need to wake up to it. How? Read the book.

[Harley Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The most important thing determining the quality of your life is your mind and your own ability to master your mind.... Mindfulness gives you a much bigger range of choice and ability to create gaps and pause upon reactions so you can choose to move this way or that way. It's really very important!"

[Phil Calandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Thurman, the preeminent scholar and interpreter of Buddhism, discusses Buddhist philosophy and the Buddhist Path through discussion of the Three-Educations Path which is divided into the eight branches commonly known as the Eightfold Path in Buddhism. A chapter is dedicated to each Eightfold Path interlaced with the author's own struggles in his own personal Buddhist journey.

[Duk · Rating 1 out of 5]

incoherent babble

[Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shantideva Center Book Club discussion book.

[Kate Ellesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thurman's joy emanates from the pages of this ode to Buddhism - a guide to enlightenment and the path along the way, this book is especially engaging when Thurman shares his own journey.

[Endeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my son. I read stories to him when he was a child, but now at 19 a young adult of the 'wireless' wired digital world their generation are reading less and less, swiping more and more for short snaps of news and info, which does not feed the spirit nor inspire, nor build character but provides only technical knowledge onscreen. I still invites him (my son) to read out a chapter one day in a week to the family. I chose this book because I am aware that Prof. Thurman is a rare knowledge holder of Buddhist mind science, and culture who is also one of the handful of Westerners who has dedicated themselves to understanding this maze of profound works in a genuine way – about who we are, what is reality, and how do we relate to fulfill a meaningful life (deep questions ... that cannot be "onscreen" meme-d) The young man is reluctant as you probably guess - often saying ancient knowledge has nothing to do with modern life.

My son grumbles every time and then turns to the bookmarked page of 'Wisdom is Bliss'..where we last stopped... and becomes engross or at least I see and hear him reading more earnestly and the smug in his face is gone. So, like that, patiently: chapter after chapter, Prof. Thurman's treatment of a really challenging, philosophical and sometimes metaphysical subject has managed to be light, comprehensible, acceptable to young readers (meaning 18+ to 30 something since now with digital world, they mature more like animated cartoons, so to speak_) I am very, very gladden and feel blessings that there is Prof. Thurman who is 82 years old and a few great western birthed scholars of the Buddha's mindscience in N.America that has taken on tis great task of making some of the profound knowledge from the Tibetan pecha available to the modern world, in language that is easier to grasp. Don't believe me, try reading the original voluminous pecha/sutras. Prof. Thurman's 'Wisdom is Bliss' has managed to translate (philosophically, and science-based) and condensed some of the essential foundational knowledge for readers to work on. One book not to miss.