POPULARITY
Ep. 84 (Part 2 of 2) | Lama Surya Das, beloved meditation teacher, scholar, pioneer of bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, and author of the bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within among many more, shares bright gems of wisdom from his extensive experience practicing Dzogchen, his long immersion in meditation retreats, and studying in person with the great spiritual teachers of Asia. Lama Surya is dedicated to getting the word out, and to young people especially, that the timeless teachings of the great masters are every bit as important and transformative in today's modern world as they ever were. One doesn't need to go on retreat to come to a place of wonder, understanding, and appreciation for life; Lama Surya assures us that daily practice of attentive awareness on the path of “awakefulness” is doable and effective in today's world. This is the path that leads to self-knowledge, and we just need to explore and investigate to discover for ourselves that realization of the Great Perfection, of oneness, is never far away.Lama Surya embellishes his teachings with humorous tales of his early explorations with psychedelics, his spiritual adventures in India, how he came to undertaking not one but two 3-year silent retreats in the great Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen, and coming home afterwards with a mission for transmission. He talks about divine love and how amazing and influential it was to hang out with spiritual teachers who actually practice unconditional love, here and now. Lama Surya Das' own deep caring and compassion shine through his words, and his well-known “jolly lama” humor often elicits laughter from Roger and John. “There are a lot of lanes on the highway of awakening, you just want to watch you don't go off into the ditch.” His authentic, endearing humility shines through as well. He is certain that “if I can do it, you can do it, anyone can do it.” Recorded September 7, 2022.“Spiritual elixir is the greatest panacea for our inner world: mind, body, heart & soul.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Going to India, discovering the practice of of Vipassana and the cave retreat yogi tradition of Tibet (01:31)What timeless teachings did Lama Surya Das discover in his 3-year Dzogchen retreat? Love is not the same thing as light (05:21)Mother Teresa on loneliness and love, and meeting spiritual teachers who really lived the talk (07:44)Living, practicing, surrendering: learning that love is greater than any dichotomy of like or dislike (08:36)Teaching of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche: “Don't expect the struggle to end.” (10:45)Coming back after the long retreat (11:47)We need an applied dharma that works for the postmodern world today (13:08)Continuing the practice with a second 3-year Dzogchen retreat (14:04)How Lama Surya Das became a Dzogchen teacher and started the Dzogchen centers (16:57)The importance of spending more time with daily practice and integrating it into your life: retreats are not for everyone (18:21)How long does it take to awaken? Awakening is very personal (21:08)Pointing towards awakening: absolute truth and relative truth, the middle way (23:44)What's next for Lama Surya Das? The 3 H's: healthy, harmonious & helpful—teaching young people, spiritual activism (26:46)Epistemological
Ep. 83 (Part 1 of 2) | Lama Surya Das, beloved meditation teacher, scholar, pioneer of bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, and author of the bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within among many more, shares bright gems of wisdom from his extensive experience practicing Dzogchen, his long immersion in meditation retreats, and studying in person with the great spiritual teachers of Asia. Lama Surya is dedicated to getting the word out, and to young people especially, that the timeless teachings of the great masters are every bit as important and transformative in today's modern world as they ever were. One doesn't need to go on retreat to come to a place of wonder, understanding, and appreciation for life; Lama Surya assures us that daily practice of attentive awareness on the path of “awakefulness” is doable and effective in today's world. This is the path that leads to self-knowledge, and we just need to explore and investigate to discover for ourselves that realization of the Great Perfection, of oneness, is never far away.Lama Surya embellishes his teachings with humorous tales of his early explorations with psychedelics, his spiritual adventures in India, how he came to undertaking not one but two 3-year silent retreats in the great Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen, and coming home afterwards with a mission for transmission. He talks about divine love and how amazing and influential it was to hang out with spiritual teachers who actually practice unconditional love, here and now. Lama Surya Das' own deep caring and compassion shine through his words, and his well-known “jolly lama” humor often elicits laughter from Roger and John. “There are a lot of lanes on the highway of awakening, you just want to watch you don't go off into the ditch.” His authentic, endearing humility shines through as well. He is certain that “if I can do it, you can do it, anyone can do it.” Recorded September 7, 2022.“Timeless wisdom is an endangered natural resource.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Lama Surya Das, dedicated practitioner, spiritual teacher, pioneer of bringing the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism to the West (01:09)How Lama Surya Das got to where he is now: his humor, his education, going to India and meeting his guru (03:57)Spiritual elixir is the greatest panacea for our mind, body, heart & soul (07:32)A core theme of Buddhist teaching: check it out for yourself (09:16)Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, the height of Tibetan Buddhism: awakefulness is the way (10:32) Mahamudra evergreen teachings of nondual awareness: we're all buddhas by nature (15:52)If everything is perfect as it is, how come we feel like crap? (18:08) Self-knowledge is the way to wisdom: growing up to be a true mensch (18:45)The five wisdoms (gnoses), mirror-like wisdom, discriminating wisdom, and how they apply to now (21:20)Lucid faith, unshakeable realization (22:57)Lama Surya Das' first vision of God, “beyond oneness or noneness” (24:28)Who are we really? Are we consciousness? What about the unconscious, the subconscious? (32:22)Replicating ego death in meditation, sensing Presence, experiencing beingness (33:33)“If I can do it, you can do it, anyone can do it.” (34:49)The middle...
Join Lama Surya Das and Jo Tastula in this beautiful Dharma conversation.Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.”Surya has spent over forty-five years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers, and has twice completed the traditional three-year meditation cloistered retreat at his teacher's Tibetan monastery. He is an authorized lama and lineage holder in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, and a close personal disciple of the leading grand lamas of that tradition. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center and Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its branch centers around the country. Over the years, Surya has brought many Tibetan lamas to this country to teach and start centers and retreats. As founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he regularly helps organize its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is also active in interfaith dialogue and charitable projects in the Third World. In recent years, Lama Surya has turned his efforts and focus towards youth and contemplative education initiatives, what he calls “True higher education and wisdom for life training.”Lama Surya Das is a sought after speaker and lecturer, teaching and conducting meditation retreats and workshops around the world. He is a published author, translator, chant master (see Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart CD, with Stephen Halpern), and a regular blog contributor at The Huffington Post and Elephant Journal, as well as his own AskTheLama.com blog where he shares his thoughts and answers questions from the public.Much gratitude to the sponsors of Yoga Heart Mind!ww.solemechanics.com.au 15% off with promo code WATKINS6162 https://www.themilkcleanse.comPromo code STUARTWATKINS for 10% offhttps://sacredtaste.comPromo code STUARTWATKINS for 10% offhttps://blessitbee.com.au/r?id=af1ac8Promo code STUART for 10% offSupport the show (https://stuartwatkins.org/podcast/)
Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.”Surya has spent over forty-five years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers, and has twice completed the traditional three-year meditation cloistered retreat at his teacher's Tibetan monastery. He is an authorized lama and lineage holder in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, and a close personal disciple of the leading grand lamas of that tradition. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center and Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its branch centers around the country. Over the years, Surya has brought many Tibetan lamas to this country to teach and start centers and retreats. As founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he regularly helps organize its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is also active in interfaith dialogue and charitable projects in the Third World. In recent years, Lama Surya has turned his efforts and focus towards youth and contemplative education initiatives, what he calls “True higher education and wisdom for life training.”Lama Surya Das is a sought after speaker and lecturer, teaching and conducting meditation retreats and workshops around the world. He is a published author, translator, chant master (see Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart CD, with Stephen Halpern), and a regular blog contributor at The Huffington Post and Elephant Journal, as well as his own AskTheLama.com blog where he shares his thoughts and answers questions from the public.Surya Das has been featured in numerous publications and major media, including ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, New York Post, Long Island Newsday, Long Island Business Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, The Jewish Free Press, New Age Journal, Tricycle Magazine, Yoga Journal, The Oregonian, Science of Mind, and has been the subject of a seven-minute magazine story on CNN. One segment of the ABC-TV sitcom Dharma & Greg was based on his life (“Leonard's Return”). Surya has appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, and twice on The Colbert Report.Surya is the author of fourteen books which are must haves for everyones library.Follow Surya here: www.surya.org www.dzogchen.orgFacebook- @lamasuryadasTwitter- @LamaSuryDasInstagram- @lamasuryadasusaSurya also has a virtual retreat coming up July 24-26, 2020. This is his annual summer meditation retreat that has been transformed into a virtual retreat, for obvious reasons.The direct link is https://dzogchen.org/virtual-meditation-retreat/To listen or watch my first episode with Lama Surya Das click here:https://stuartwatkins.org/podcast/lama-surya-das/With love,StuSupport the show (https://stuartwatkins.org/podcast/)
Lama Surya Das is an American lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.”He is a poet, chantmaster, spiritual activist, author of many books and an all round beautiful person. He has long been involved in charitable relief projects in developing countries and in interfaith dialogue. Lama Surya Das is a Dharma heir of Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche, a Nyingma master of the non-sectarian Rime movement, with whom he founded the Dzogchen Center. His name, which means "Servant of the Sun" in a combination of Sanskrit and Hindi, was given to him in 1972 by the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba.Surya has spent over forty five years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers, and has twice completed the traditional three year meditation cloistered retreat at his teacher's Tibetan monastery. He is an authorized lama and lineage holder in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, and a close personal disciple of the leading grand lamas of that tradition. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center and Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its branch centers around the country. Over the years, Surya has brought many Tibetan lamas to this country to teach and start centers and retreats. As founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he regularly helps organize its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is also active in interfaith dialogue and charitable projects in the Third World. In recent years, Lama Surya has turned his efforts and focus towards youth and contemplative education initiatives, what he calls “True higher education and wisdom for life training.”I first met Lama Surya Das while on retreat with Ram Dass and it was beautiful to dive into this podcast chat with him. I deeply appreciate his wisdom balanced with and wonderful sense of humour. I hope you enjoy our chat!To support the podcast please visit https://stuartwatkins.org/podcast/Follow the work of Lama Surya Das at http://www.surya.orgSupport the show (https://stuartwatkins.org/podcast/)
S4P Radio, Season 2, Episode 4 with Lama Surya Das on Tibetan Dream Yoga Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “the American Lama”. He has spent over forty-five years studying Zen, Vipassana, Yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with many of the great old masters of Asia, among them, some of the Dalai Lama’s own teachers. He is an authorized lama in the Tibetan Buddhist order, a leading spokesperson for Buddhism and contemporary spirituality, a translator, poet, meditation master, chant master, and spiritual activist. Lama Surya Das is the author of the international bestselling Awakening trilogy: Awakening the Buddha Within, Awakening to the Sacred andAwakening the Buddhist Heart, as well as his latest book, Make Me One with Everything: Buddhist Meditations To Awaken From The Illusion Of Separation and nine others. In 1991 he established the Dzogchen Foundation and Dzogchen Retreats (www.dzogchen.org). In 1993,with the Dalai Lama, he founded the Western Buddhist Teachers Network and regularly organizes its International Buddhist Teachers’ Conferences. Today Lama Surya Das teaches and lectures around the world, conducting dozens of meditation retreats and workshops each year andis a regular contributor at The Huffington Postand Elephant Journal. His podcast “Awakening Now” can be found on the Be Here Now Network and his blog, Ask the Lamaat askthelama.com. Lama Surya’s lecture and retreat schedule can be viewed on his website surya.org. You can follow Lama on Facebook (Lama Surya Das), Twitter (@LamaSuryaDas), and Instagram (lamasuryadasusa). Lama Surya Das resides in Lexington, Massachusetts. In this awesome episode of Sleep4Performanc Radio, Surya Das and I discuss Tibetan Dream Yoga and much more, including; The basics of Buddhism Did the Buddha talk about sleep? How does meditation help you relax and reduce stress? Why and how meditation helps you sleep? Why does meditation make me less sleepy? The benefits of meditation retreats. Dream yoga, how it works? The benefits of dream yoga in our waking life How can people support the Dzogchen centre? Contact me at iandunican@sleep4performance.com.au or on Twitter @sleep4perform
On this special episode of Awakening Now, Lama Surya reflects on the life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Surya shares his experiences studying under the Dzogchen master who shared his wisdom and grace with all who sought it.
Lama Surya Das brings on his longtime friend John Krishna Bush, who is a director, artist, and writer as well as being a wise devotee of Neem Karoli Baba. It was John that took a young Lama Surya on his first pilgrimage and introduced Surya to his Guru. He was given the name Krishna in 1971 by his guru in India – Neem Karoli Baba, introduced in Be Here Now as Maharaji. shares the influence that his spiritual path has on his work. He and Lama Surya Das talk about practice, pilgrimage, and more on this episode of, Awakening Now.
Author and educator, Susan Kaiser Greenland, chats with Lama Surya Das about teaching the younger generation. How do we not only bring old teachings and wisdom into the modern world but bring it into the secular world as well? Lama Sura Das and Susan discuss the role of family and devotion. The importance of being open to the perspective and wisdom children have to offer is emphasized. How do we teach loving kindness and compassion without raising children to be passive and without boundaries? All this and more on this week's episode of Awakening Now! Show Notes 01:05 - After a warm salutation and brief introduction, Lama Surya and Susan get right into the topic of bringing mindfulness and awareness into a secular education system. How do we teach our next generation the principals of the practice to bring the more peace, harmony, and wisdom into the world? We also need to remember to listen as much as we teach because young minds have plenty of wisdom to share as well. 3:55 - Susan talks about the now common practice of young adults spending longer periods of their post education life at home. Despite the societal stigmas surrounding the practice, "Failure to Launch", Susan and Lama Surya agree that there are great developmental benefits to the arrangement for the whole family. Lama talks about leaving home for India early on, and how it affected him. How he built a spiritual family and community while he has been away. 10:35 - More talk of how working together with and listening to the younger generation is important for everyone. How our future is interconnected and we need cooperate and work together to forge forward. Susan reflects on how older universal principals and teachings have made their way to the present. But have they been watered down and simplified too much? How do we introduce devotion without seeming hokey or losing the structure? 18:25 - Beyond just modernizing old practices, what does it look like bringing them into a completely secular context? Teaching kindness and boundaries without raising kids to be pushovers. Even as adults we need be mindful of discernment and what really matters and deliver that lesson to our youth. 26:50 - A story of the Dalai Lama visiting President Clinton and the lesson he instilled. He said to the president," You are the most powerful man in the world and everything you do should be full of compassion and the wish to help". How certain words can be loaded and how we should approach them in the modern world. 32:15 - One of the most important lessons that Susan has learned is concisely unpacking concepts to children one piece at a time. The usefulness in breaking things down like this applies not only to kids but to adults as well. 39:40 - How moderation and balance are as important as ever in these times of extreme views and actions. We need to apply the ABC's of mindfulness (attention, balance, and compassion) more often then we do now. Susan explores the concept of balance further and how it is important to recognize your threshold and limits. 44:45 - Mindfulness is readdressed, Susan explains the importance of teaching the skills of quieting, seeing more clearly, and re-framing toward caring and connecting. Susan Kaiser Greenland is a lawyer, teacher, and author from Los Angeles, CA. Kaiser Greenland and her husband founded The InnerKids Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that taught secular mindfulness in schools and community-based programs in the greater Los Angeles area from 2001 through 2009. She now tours the country showing educators and parents how to incorporate mindfulness into their teaching and development of their children. Keep up with Susan and read her blog here. Amazon Recommendations Mindful Games - by Susan Kaiser Greenland The Mindful Child - by Susan Kaiser Greenlan
Tune in as Sister Jenna interviews Lama Surya Das on the America Meditating Radio Program. Lama Surya Das is an American-born lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.” He has long been involved in charitable relief projects and in interfaith dialogue. Lama Surya has spent over forty years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers. He is a published author, translator, chant master, and a regular blog contributor at The Huffington Post, as well as his own AskTheLama.com blog site where he shares his thoughts and answers questions from the public each week. Lama Surya travels, teaches and leads meditation retreats throughout the world. He is often called upon as a Buddhist spokesman by the media and has appeared frequently on TV and radio. He has been featured in numerous publications and major media, including ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The Washington Post, to name a few. Lama Surya is the author of thirteen books, including his most recent bestseller, “Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now.” Visit his website at www.surya.org Get the OFF TO WORK CD by Sister Jenna Like America Meditating on Facebook and Download our FREE Pause for Peace app.