A personal friend of the Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman was the first American ordained as a Tibetan monk. Now a college professor and Tibetan scholar, Robert—also the father of actress Uma Thurman—shares with Dr. Oz his insights on Tibetan traditions.
In his book Infinite Life: Seven Virtues for Living Well, Robert outlines the seven key virtues he says have changed his outlook on life. Robert talks to Dr. Oz about five of those virtues:
Wisdom: "Wisdom is not an intellectual thing," Robert says. In fact, he believes that being connected to others in deep, bonding relationships and focusing on the "selfless nature of reality" will help you achieve wisdom.
Generosity: Generosity is a way of celebrating the fruit of wisdom, Robert says. Once you are aware of your connection to others, generosity will become a part of your daily life, he says.
Justice: Justice is taking the old saying "Treat others as you want to be treated" to heart, Robert says. By being aware of your relationships with other people, you develop a strong sense of empathy. "You don't act in a way that violates the space of another," says Robert.
Patience/Tolerance: Recognizing the virtues of patience and tolerance means you don't react to suffering inflicted on you with involuntary anger; instead you strengthen yourself so you can bear anything, Robert says. "If you are immune to anything, no one can hurt you."
Creativity: Once you understand the first four virtues, you will develop a deeper sense of empathy, and creativity will come naturally to you. According to Robert, you will approach every aspect of your life with creativity.
Printed from Oprah.com on Wednesday, June 19, 2013
