Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness

by Robert A.F. Thurman

Book Overview

The New York Times calls him "America's number one Buddhist." He is the co-founder of Tibet House New York, was the first American Tibetan Buddhist monk, and has shared a thirty-five-year friendship... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573220906
• ISBN13: 9781573220903
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

If you believe we are all in this together...

Reviews of this book are divided by whether the reader agrees with Thurman's politics. That's not a book review. If you agree that the wealth and happiness of every person depends upon the whole of human history and existence, and that we are all equally responsible for and connected to each other and the planet, then you will agree with the author. If you believe it's everyone for himself (I choose my pronoun deliberately) based on rugged individual talent existing all by itself and making gains at the expense of who and whatever is in the way, then you probably won't. In either case, this book is a thoughtful and humorous presentation of Buddhist philosophy as it may be applied to everyday western life, and the section on how to effect change is worth reading. In fact, it's worth reading this book just to be inspired to visualize the kind of world we could create, if we didn't each think "this whole party is for us."

Inner Revolution as a View beyond Ego

I believe all critic is but a glimpse on how one grasps the world, and in this, I mean we perceive a split image and tainted with our own personal baggage. Some fine things have been said about the author, about politics and about the author's personality, yet very little has been said about the work: the book.This is perhaps one of the finest books to shed light in the dilema of the individual in a complex social matrix and its struggles to break free and achieve some sort of personal mission or calling. The book makes an excellent bridge, analyzing planetary history, describing moments in which the collective need to create new ways to experience and understand, catapulted the planet into a new frequency of understanding; this described in terms of an Axial period in History. Thurman's ability to describe and phrase the very nature of Ego and what we all have collectively come to call "personality" is fascinating. The importance of this book is in its capacity to present a diagnosis of our era and the very things that have held us back: meaning that human beings have a mission or pursuit, that of being happy, of being a better human being and with this intention he is also saying that we, as a society (and very much so the society in power) have created a fractured and very little avenue for human kind to experience itself in a dimension beyond suffering.I can not understand why there is criticism on the book being political, since we all respond to structures of rule and power, if the possibility of all beings achieving happiness is not on our politicians agenda, then who are the serving? Whose interest is it? Inner Revolution is an invitation to remind us of our Human right to achieve happiness for oneself, others and the planet at large. It is a door to glimpse beyond that which we have all in a way forgotten: the freedom to pursue our true nature.

Bob Thurman hits points that cause deep reflection

Bob Thurman is such a treasure in the literature of modern Buddhism that we shall probably wait until he's gone before we take notice. 'Revolution' speaks of his 'Cold' revolution theories and how little we realize about what we can actually attain as Buddhists, Americans ...people. The indexed entries at the rear of the book are so thought provoking they require an intensive solitude to digest them and find how applicable each one is in our own lives. More wonderful work from a truly understanding buddhist scholar of our time. The audio lectures that coincide with the book are a great supplement and ease the retention of the material.

Enlightenment technology to change the world

Robert Thurman is indeed a controversial academic figure in that he is amazingly dedicated to the Buddhist way and is no-holds barred excited about what he talks and writes of. I have seen Professor Thurman speak - he is an experience. What is best and perhaps most disturbing about his writing/speaking is his extraordinary attachment to myth as the main teaching tool for Tibetan Buddhist principles, and history. The Inner Revolution is a fine example of his unique style and presentation of ideas. There are many books on Buddhism that can leave a reader high and dry, and grasping for anything material, this is not one of them. The Inner Revolution present a refreshing history of Buddhism's political successes in Indian and early Tibetan societies, its transforming character, and an authentic vision of the world altering Tibetan Buddhist belief system (and one wonderful poem). The last chapter of the Inner Revolution includes ten methods by which to alter the world, changing the material universe into a "Buddha-verse." These transforming ideas may leave readers a little uncomfortable, myself included, but modifying the world from the inside out can do that.I think of Inner Revolution as accessible Thurman, and a good place to start if one desires knowledge of the Tibetan Buddhist system or the book's author. I enjoyed and highly recommend this book.If you have comments or would like to discuss Tibet, or refugee communities please contact me. Thanks.

Inspired writing on some difficult subjects

Prof. Thurman writes a book which can only be the product of a lifetime of experience. He first sets upon a task I had yet to see successfully achieved: an accurate description of how one proves to oneself the non-existence of the ego and the self, accessible for the layperson. This kind of superb writing can only come from an individual with long years of true practice and reflection. He then draws a remarkable chart of the progess of civilization as we know it. Finally, these two threads are masterfully woven together as Prof. Thurman shows us how the principle of enlightenment could be applied in our present society. It was very refreshing and encouraging to read such a spiritual view of our history, one that does not resort to metaphysics or unintelligible mysticism. Prof. Thurman's work stands as both socio-political philosophy and spiritual philosophy, achieving a fusion with a vitality and relevance of its own