Recommendations of the Editorial team
Robert Thurman, father of actress Uma Thurman and co-founder of the cultural institution Tibet House in New York City, died at the age of 84.
Thurman’s death was announced by Tibet House on social media. The post said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Robert AF Thurman, eminent American Buddhist scholar, co-founder of Tibet House US, author and translator, whose teachings shaped countless lives, passed away on Tuesday morning, June 16, in Woodstock, New York.”
The post was captioned “Om Mani Padme Hum,” a Sanskrit mantra that translates to “Praise the Jewel in the Lotus.” Thurman founded Tibet House in 1987 with the aim of preserving Tibetan culture. Over the years, the institution has hosted annual benefit concerts with artists such as Patti Smith, FKA Twigs, David Byrne, Billy Corgan and others.
First Western monk of the Dalai Lama
On his website, Thurman is described as “the first Western Tibetan Buddhist monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” In a letter from the Dalai Lama published by Tibet House, he wrote: “As you know, Bob and I have enjoyed a warm friendship of many years since we first met in India in the late 1960s. As a scholar of Buddhism, he possessed a truly remarkable body of knowledge, including his command of the Tibetan language. He dedicated his entire professional life to passing on this knowledge – not only to his students, but also to the world through his writings and teachings.”
He continued: “He deeply understood that the survival of Tibetan Buddhist culture is inextricably linked to the future of Tibet itself. I greatly appreciated his commitment to the Tibetan people and their culture, which was so visibly expressed through institutions such as Tibet House. Bob led a fulfilling life and left a legacy that will long inspire future generations of students of Tibetan Buddhism and its culture. I am confident that the merit he has accumulated through a life of service to humanity, will bear fruit in lives to come.”