Renowned American scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, Padma Shri awardee and longtime friend of the Dalai Lama, Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, passed away at the age of 84 in Woodstock, New York, Tibet House US announced on Wednesday.
In a statement posted on social media, Tibet House US said Thurman, a prominent Buddhist scholar, author, translator and co-founder of the institution, died on Tuesday morning. The organisation noted that his teachings and writings had influenced generations of students and practitioners of Buddhism around the world.
Expressing condolences, the Consulate General of India in New York described Thurman as one of the world’s foremost scholars of Buddhism and a great friend of India.
“Professor Thurman’s lifelong dedication to Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies helped bring the timeless wisdom of Lord Buddha to generations across the world and deepened appreciation of India’s rich spiritual heritage,” the Consulate General said in a post on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Professor Thurman in New York in June 2023. During the meeting, the two exchanged views on how Buddhist values could help address contemporary global challenges. They also discussed India’s Buddhist heritage and efforts to preserve and promote it.
According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Professor Thurman made significant contributions to the study and dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism through his extensive writings, translations and academic work.
He served as the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and was President of Tibet House US as well as the American Institute of Buddhist Studies.
Professor Thurman was widely recognised for translating and interpreting Tibetan Buddhist philosophical and religious texts for international audiences. Among his notable works was the English translation of the Vimalakirti Sutra from the Tibetan Kagyur.
The father of Hollywood actor Uma Thurman, he was regarded as one of the most influential voices in Buddhist scholarship. In 1997, he was named among the 25 most influential Americans, while New York Magazine included him among its influential figures in religion in 2006.
