Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Preserving Tibetan Traditions

Robert Thurman was the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. In light of China's actions in the Tibet, he has since become an advocate for the region's culture. He cofounded the American Institute for Buddhist Studies and the Tibet House.

27:36
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on July 22, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 22, 1988: Interview with Robert Thurman; Interview with Bonnie Koloc and Howard Levy; Interview with Frances Williams; Commentary on bad memories.
Queue
09:34

"You Make it Work or You Find Something Else to Do"

Now in her 80s, Frances Williams is still acting -- long after many of her peers have retired. She has a storied career in theater and film, and helped found nine theater companies. An advocate for meaningful roles for African Americans, she now costars in the television show Frank's Place.

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
23:13

The Year of Tibet.

We discuss Tibet with Robert Thurman. Thurman is professor of Indo-Tibetian Buddist Studies at Columbia University, the organizer of the Year of Tibet activities, and the first American to be ordained a Tibetian Buddist monk by the Dalai Lama.

Interview
Queue
26:56

Buddhist Monk and Tibetan Activist Dr. Robert Thurman.

Dr. Robert Thurman, the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He later returned to the United States and established The Institute for Buddhist Studies at the University of Massachusetts. He visited Tibet in the fall of 1987 and is now setting up a Tibet House in New York City.

Interview
Queue
44:04

'Open Road' Recounts Dalai Lama's Global Journey

Journalist Pico Iyer has a long history meeting with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet who lives in exile in India. Iyer joins Fresh Air to discuss how the Dalai Lama is responding to the current Tibetan uprising and protest against Chinese rule.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

32:56

Remembering Irish singer–songwriter Glen Hansard

Best-known for his band The Frames and his part in the 2007 film Once, Hansard got his start as a street busker in Dublin. He died July 29 in a motorcycle crash. Originally broadcast in 2008.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

08:42

Celebrating Tony Bennett on what would have been his 100th birthday

Bennett, who died in 2023, was known for a string of hits, including "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Kevin Whitehead offers an appreciation and remembers some of Bennett's lesser-known songs.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

08:52

'I Want Your Sex' urges Gen Z to get a little more X-rated

In the new comedy "I Want Your Sex," Olivia Wilde plays an LA-based artist who initiates a dominant-submissive relationship with her younger employee, played by Cooper Hoffman. It's the first new feature in 12 years from the queer cinema pioneer Gregg Araki, and it's opening in theaters today after premiering to much acclaim in January at the Sundance Film Festival. Our film critic, Justin Chang, has this review.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue