Check out the video and article. He discusses…no surprise…why the Dalai Lama matters (that’s the title of his new book). The answer might seem easy enough, but it’s anything but. Nothing’s harder than non-viloence in the face of violence, of ‘extending the open hand of friendship to one’s enemies.’

This Wednesday, Bob Thurman will ‘do’ elephant journal’s hometown of Boulder–headlining our ‘elevision’ talk show. Come (early bird ticket getters save a couple bucks).

An excerpt: “He is one of Time Magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, a professor at Columbia University, father of actressUma Thurman…and a Tibetan monk. 

Robert Thurman may not look the way many of us imagine a monk, but he is every bit a Tibetan monk. In fact, he was the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan monk and has been friends with the Dalai Lama for 45 years.Thurman came to the University of Miami Wednesday to talk to students about his latest book, “Why the Dalai Lama Matters.” In the book, Thurman explains how he believes that China can evolve as a human rights leader by freeing Tibet. In an exclusive interview with NBC6.net Thurman said, “The Tibet cause is a key cause… where you can replace despair with hope. You can demand a miracle from the Chinese. Demand a miracle from the Tibetans. Demand a miracle from the universe.” Thurman believes that should China make such an effort, it would be an act of humanity on par with the end of apartheid in South Africa. To learn more about Thurman and Tibetan issues, click here to visit his official Web site.”