The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment of Tibetan Buddhism

I really enjoyed this book and found the teachings very helpful and beautiful. It may be too much for a beginner, but if you already have some Buddhist background you will probably find this book well worth your time. I plan to listen to it again because I know there is more than I could possibly get on just my first listen.

Thurman breaks down the essential daily practice of Tibetan Buddhism into a wonderfully simply set of steps - literally the enlightenment engine - of how to practice. His genius is taking what can otherwise be difficult concepts and making them understandable, actionable and ... beautiful. Its not necessarily for the beginner but it can be. It is well worth the effort, giving the thoughtful listener essential tools for living an enlightened life. Highly recommended.

I would recommend this to those who have studied Buddhism some and have a fairly good handle on some of the big concepts. This teaching is pretty dense and quick. It is also fantastic. I will have to listen to this a number of times for it to sink in. I am super glad I got it--a good value for 1 credit.

I'm a big fan of Bob Thurman, but when I first started listening to this book, I was slightly put off. A lot of exaggerated imagery about gems, rubies & diamonds & sapphires hanging from a tree, yeah yeah, we get it: The Three Jewels. But there's something about listening to Bob Thurman speak that makes me unable to abandon anything he's speaking about, so I continued on. Eventually I warmed up to the "magical talk" and understood it to be symbolism and got over it. Plus, his enthusiasm and strange accent are very engaging. The second half of the audiobook was MUCH more interesting and got into the practical things like practice, that I was hoping for. The next time I listened to it, I picked up on many things I had not the first time around, and I was surprised. I guess I needed a warm-up run. Then I listened to it a third time, and again, got even more from it. So overall I am glad that I bought it. But for anyone who listens to it the first time and is slightly put off, I would really recommend hearing him out. He does go somewhere, and it is worth the wait.

This is deep- and hard to follow material I have struggled with for years... Thurman does an excellent job of making it understandable. I found the guided meditations extremely useful. Thank you

Fantastic! A bit advanced, as others have said here, but regardless of your level, this listen has so many "jewels" that it's worth listening to many times!

It seems trite but I find it hard to express the gratitude I feel for receiving this great teaching
from a truly great teacher. ROBERT Thurman makes the complex and esoteric clear as a bell

I am an more advanced practitioner, and love to listen while I work (draw. He is clear, he is inspiring, he is open, he is gracious -- truly a wonderful listen! I will listen again and again . . .
His wonderfully expressive reading, his proper pronounciations, and his short chants add to the enjoyment. It also has been enjoyed by members of my family who are beginners on the path, or others who are not necessarily interested in Buddhism.

Robert Thurman is the master, at least in the USA. He presents a very open-minded approach to Buddhism that even the non-religous or people from other religisons can appreciate and take pieces from to expand their mind and live a calmer and more balanced life.

Thurman presents in a very easy to understand format the truth about our existence and ultimate goal, and shows the path all humans must and will eventually follow. His meditations are well structured and condensed, yet one can always come back to them and practice them many times