Reflections on Maintaining Creativity, Inspiration and Hope

Join us for an online conversation between artist Rima Fujita, author Pico Iyer and chef Eric Ripert, discussing their personal experiences of maintaining creativity, inspiration, and hope in the context of our pressing world crises.

This conversation will be moderated by Professor Robert Thurman and followed by a Q & A. Note: questions must be submitted in advance no later than June 20th to [email protected]

Suggested donation: $50

Those who need financial assistance may offer a donation on a sliding scale starting at $20. Any need-based requests beyond this can be submitted to [email protected]

We encourage those who are able to contribute generously to support Tibet House.

Pico Iyer is the author of 15 books, translated into 23 languages, including The Open Road, drawing on his first 34 years of talks and travels with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2019, he brought out three books, including twinned works on his longtime home, Autumn Light and A Beginner’s Guide to Japan. He also served as Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton, Guest Director of the Telluride Film Festival and the first official writer-in-residence at Raffles Hotel, Singapore. His four talks for TED have received more than 10 million views so far.

Eric Ripert is the chef and co-owner of the New York restaurant Le Bernardin, which holds three Michelin stars and has maintained a four-star rating from The New York Times for more than three decades. He is vice chairman of the board of City Harvest, a New York-based food rescue organization, and author of five cookbooks and a New York Times bestselling memoir, 32 Yolks. His sixth cookbook, Vegetable Simple will be available in September 2020.

Rima Fujita is a visual artist who has exhibited her work internationally for the last 27 years and an author of several picture books including “Save The Himalayas.” As a founder of Books For Children Rima has created many educational books and has donated 15K copies to Tibetan refugees in exile. Her picture book on H.H.The Dalai Lama’s life will be published in 2021 from Wisdom Publications. For more information, visit www.rimafujita.com

Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of Tibet House US and it’s Menla Retreat & Spa. A world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, translator of Buddhist texts, and writer of popular Buddhist books. He recently has been awarded the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honor for achievement in enriching Indian education and literature. His most recent book is the 300 page graphic novel, Man of Peace: the Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. For more information visit: bobthurman.com