Podcasts about Vajrayana

In this episode I host a dialogue between Lama Justin von Bujdoss and Charlie Morley. Justin and Charlie share their extensive experience as modern teachers of Vajrayana, compare notes on the state of Tantra in the West, and reflect on the responsibility of openly teaching previously restricted, esoteric practices. Justin and Charlie wrestle with the tension between conserving traditional religious forms and innovating to meet today's moral sensibilities and technological currents. They suggest changes they would like to see in both Asian Buddhist cultures and Western society, consider the pros and cons of long meditation retreats in today's world, and call for hierarchical equality for women practitioners and teachers. I invite Justin and Charlie to reveal the underlying principles that guide their desired reforms and consider the pitfalls of advocating change without awareness of one's guiding rationale. Justin and Charlie also discuss the role of neuroscience in the furthering of Buddhist understanding, reveal the potential trauma-healing power of dream yoga and dark retreat, and share their thoughts on the impact of fatherhood on one's religious life. … www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. 01:52 - State of the Dharma in 2025 06:12 - Secret practices now widely available 09:37 - Whiteness and misogyny 10:02 - Why are secret practices openly taught? 11:49 - Conservatism is the achilles heel of the Karma Kagyu sect 12:23 - Controversy about online empowerments 14:32 - Understanding emptiness 16:00 - Dream empowerments 17:48 - Technology and survival of Buddhism 19:22 - Amulets of protection 21:16 - 4th turning of the wheel of Dharma 23:58 - Trauma, racism, and classism, refugees 25:54 - Working for the NYC Department of Corrections 28:41 - Potential of dream yoga and dark retreat for healing trauma 29:19 - Why don't Tibetan lamas talk about trauma? 29:55 - Cultural overlay, Tibetan identity, and religion 32:44 - Western calls for reform vs traditional Tibetan values 48:53 - Conservatism vs reform 51:43 - Real religion vs mere cultural overlay 52:31 - N vs 3-year retreat 58:14 - Different versions of ngondro 01:02:12 - Classical Indian approaches to tantra 01:03:12 - How to reform without losing the spirit of the religion 01:04:28 - The energy of the tradition 01:06:28 - Justin's desire for social change in Vajrayana 01:08:41 - Wisdom keeper vs lineage holder 01:12:51 - 2-way revolution 01:14:20 - How to decide what should be changed vs what should be preserved 01:18:32 - Charlie's collaboration with Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche 01:22:05 - Charlie criticises misogyny in Tibetan Buddhism 01:23:50 - Transgender and non-binary people in Himalayan Buddhist contexts 01:27:49 - Religious traditions are diverse and evolving 01:30:11 - Yogis and practice results 01:33:41 - Fatherhood and Dharma 01:36:37 - Long retreats are not important if you can rest in rigpa 01:39:29 - Dharma Dads workshop 01:42:09 - How important is ordination? 01:43:31 - Why is ordination so emphasised? 01:46:04 - Justin almost became a monk 01:48:22 - Advice for parents 01:49:14 - Charlie reflects on impending fatherhood and not being a monk 01:50:38 - Steve's concluding remarks 01:51:11 - Steve urges a deeper investigation into motives behind advocacy for change 01:52:01 - Culture and Dharma essence 01:53:01 - Charlie's concluding remarks and encouragement for practitioners 01:54:04 - Justin's concluding remarks 01:54:15 - Praise for Guru Viking Podcast, and encouragement to practitioners … Previous episodes with Justin: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=bujdoss 
 Previous episode with Charlie: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=morley … Find out more about Justin: - https://justinvonbujdoss.com/ Find out more about Charlie: - http://www.charliemorley.com/ … For more interviews: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

This is Part 18 of my recital of the "The Life & Liberation of Padmasambhava," a translation of "Padma Thang-yig," by Yeshe Tsogyal. In this episode, we'll read Cantos 35 & 36.

This is part 8 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we'll be reading Eihei Dōgen's “Shobogenzo” the chapter entitled “Soku-Shin-Ze-Butsu” meaning "Mind Here and Now Is Buddha" which he wrote in 1239.

This is Part 176 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll finish reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 176 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

Citações e trechos dos livros “Enlightened Courage” e “The Heart of Compassion”, de Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910 - 1991) foi um mestre budista tibetano da tradição Nyingma do Vajrayana, reconhecido como um dos maiores lamas do séc. XX.Aos 11 anos Dilgo Khyentse entrou para o mosteiro e recebeu ensinamentos de mais de 50 professores de todas as quatro tradições de linhagem. Dos 15 aos 28 anos, viveu em retiro silencioso, em eremitérios e cavernas remotas, atualizando todos os ensinamentos que havia recebido anteriormente. Quando deixou o Tibete e foi para o exílio, viajou por todo o Himalaia, Índia, sudeste da Ásia, Europa e América do Norte, transmitindo e explicando os ensinamentos aos seus muitos discípulos. Aqueles que assistiram aos ensinamentos de Rinpoche relatavam que ele poderia ensinar sem esforço, sem pausa e por longos períodos.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche desempenhou um papel vital na preservação do budismo tibetano, especialmente durante o exílio. Seus ensinamentos influenciaram discípulos no mundo todo, incluindo líderes espirituais como o Dalai Lama.

This is Part 175 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is part 7 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we'll be reading Eihei Dōgen's 'Shobogenzo' the chapter entitled “Ju-Undo-Shiki” meaning "Rules for the Hall of Heavy Cloud" which he wrote in 1239.

This is Part 174 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

Emily Horn is joined by renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg to share reflections on her beloved teacher, Dipa Ma, a Bangladeshi meditation master, who was known for her extraordinary concentration, profound insight, and unwavering kindness. Sharon recounts her personal experiences with Dipa Ma, highlighting her maternal yet fierce presence, her ability to see deep potential in her students, and her unique approach to integrating mindfulness into daily life.Episode Links:

This is Part 173 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

This is Part 172 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga VI," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

Citações e trechos do livro “Smile at Fear”, de Chögyam Trungpa.Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939 - 1987) foi um estudioso, professor, artista, poeta e mestre de meditação da tradição budista Vajrayana.Nascido no Tibete, foi reconhecido como a 11ª encarnação do Trungpa Tulku e treinado nas tradições Kagyu e Nyingma. Após a invasão chinesa, fugiu para a Índia e, mais tarde, estudou no Reino Unido, onde também explorou a cultura ocidental. Pioneiro na disseminação do budismo tibetano no Ocidente, Trungpa foi autor de mais de duas dezenas de livros em inglês.Em 1970, mudou-se para os Estados Unidos, e nos quinze anos seguintes, fundou uma rede de várias centenas de centros de meditação budista nos Estados Unidos e Canadá.Trungpa ficou conhecido por sua abordagem inovadora e muitas vezes controversa do budismo, chamada “Budismo Shambhala”. Ele enfatizava a aplicação dos princípios budistas no cotidiano, abordando a espiritualidade com autenticidade, sem idealizações. Seus ensinamentos incluíam a importância da meditação, a compreensão da mente e a coragem de enfrentar a realidade como ela é. Ele também introduziu conceitos como “louca sabedoria”, desafiando convenções para despertar insights profundos.

In this electrifying episode, we dive into a radical fusion of Keiji Nishitani's basho, Nietzsche's fierce life-affirmation, and Vajrayana Buddhism's Tantric fire to rethink creativity, mindfulness, and human potential. Forget the brain-wiring hype—neurodivergent brilliance comes from the grind of a misfit world, and we all have an infinite well of mind to tap if we dare. Rejecting monastic escape, we explore awakening as a warrior's dance in life's crucible, tempered like the faith in Canada's anthem, where every struggle is divine. Get ready for a wild ride through philosophy, faith, and the absurd!

Podcast: This week on the show we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Bob Noha, co-editor of and contributor to Aikido – The Art of Transformation: The Life & Teachings of Robert Nadeau, published recently by Park Street Press, a division of Inner Traditions. A widely influential figure in the development of Aikido in America, Robert Nadeau is known as one of the few American direct disciples of Aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba O-sensei. Now an 8th dan Aikido master teacher, Nadeau has taught generations of students, and several have become prominent teachers in their own right. However, he has never written about his life or philosophy, always reserving his most pointed lessons for those who practice with him in person. This book tells the story of Robert Nadeau's life journey and his distinctive approach to teaching Aikido as a way to access the inner energetic aspects of the art, a transformational approach with universal applications in daily life, even for non-Aikidoists. The authors explore Nadeau's early interest in martial arts and all things spiritual as a teenager in California in the 1950s, his seminal training under Morihei Ueshiba at Aikido Hombu Dojo in Tokyo in the 1960s, and the following six decades of training, experimenting, refining, and teaching as he worked to introduce Aikido to the wider world, even beyond the traditional dojo. They lay out Nadeau's core concepts, describe his simple-but-effective practices for personal development, and convey his time-tested approach to the inner training at the heart of Aikido in a very accessible way. They also include first-person accounts from Nadeau's students, including Dan Millman, Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Peter Ralston, and Renée Gregorio, who recall their personal experiences of training with him, retell conversations with him, and describe insights and lessons learned, sharing how he affected their lives, sometimes quite profoundly. Bob Noha, 6th Dan, began practicing Aikido in 1966 in Mountain View and shortly thereafter began training with Robert Nadeau Sensei, which started a lifelong friendship. Bob opened the first Aikido school in the Washington, DC, area in 1970 and taught arrest/restraint tactics to US Military Police at Andrews Air Force Base in 1974. Then, in 1975, he established the first Aikido school in Buffalo, New York. He founded Aikido of Petaluma in 1983 and continues to serve as its chief instructor. Bob traveled to Japan to further deepen his Aikido training in 1998, 1999, and 2006. In addition, he is also a devoted student and teacher of t'ai chi and has a background in several other martial arts. More information about Robert Nadeau and Bob Noha's work can be found at:   Robert Nadeau on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org,   Aikido of Petaluma website: www.aikidopetaluma.com,   Aikido – The Art of Transformation website: www.nadeaushihan.com.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the Lama Chöpa prayers, visualizations, and offerings. He mentions that this sort of explanation is not common within the Tibetan tradition, but for Westerners, he wants to provide some detail. Rinpoche says that the essential point is faith. If the prayers are recited with deep devotion, they become powerful. In this way, any mantra or prayer contains the complete path to enlightenment, and we receive all the blessings and realizations. Rinpoche gives the example of the refuge prayer. He says that when it is recited with devotion, it contains the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha. Otherwise, it's just like a parrot or a tape recorder; there's no meaning.Rinpoche explains how to make The Four Immeasurable Thoughts more powerful by relating them to tong-len and generating each one within oneself and all sentient beings. He also notes that when we recite the word “happiness”, we should think of “enlightenment”, not just ordinary pleasure.Rinpoche describes how to generate special bodhicitta by first thinking of the suffering of one hell being and then extending this to realize that there are numberless hell beings. Therefore, we generate the thought to free them from the unbearable sufferings of the hell realm and general suffering and bring them to enlightenment. In the same way, we think of a preta being, animal, human being, sura being, asura being, and intermediate stage being. Rinpoche urges us to use this reasoning to feel the sentient beings in our heart and think of them like a mother who has a beloved child. This becomes our motivation for actualizing the profound path, the yoga of the guru-deity.Rinpoche goes on to explain the visualization of the refuge merit field and how to make offerings. He mentions that there are three aspects of offering: making the offering, the yoga of eating, and charity to sentient beings. He describes how the Mahayana way of eating is by making charity to the sentient beings living in your body. He further explores the Vajrayana method of making tsog offerings. By practicing the yoga of eating, we make an unbelievable purification, and each mouthful becomes a quick path to achieve enlightenment. Rinpoche concludes the session with a reminder to dedicate the merit while recalling emptiness. This makes the merit inexhaustible and protects it from being destroyed by heresy or anger.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Podcast: This week on the show we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Lama Lhanang Rinpoche and Mordy Levine, authors of The Beginner's Guide to Karma – How to Live with Less Negativity & More Peace, published recently by New World Library. Twenty-six centuries ago, the Buddha fleshed out the universal law of the spiritual realm: karma. The law of karma holds that our actions, our words, and even our thoughts inevitably produce effects that return to us in some form — in this lifetime or a future one. Today, most Westerners have a passing familiarity with the concept of karma, which amounts to “what goes around comes around.” This is true as far as it goes, but it merely scratches the surface of a complex and fascinating topic. In The Beginner's Guide to Karma, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche and Mordy Levine encourage readers to forget what they've heard about karma and look at the subject afresh. Delving into Buddhist scripture and tradition, the authors give a comprehensive outline of karma that incorporates psychology, ethics, and metaphysics. Using everyday language and real-life examples, they clear away myths, illustrate how karma works in daily life, and offer daily practices to build positive karma. The Beginner's Guide to Karma neatly sums up the Buddhist worldview and makes a compelling case for Buddhism as a way of life that nurtures compassion, joy, and inner peace in an uncertain world. Born in the Amdo region of historic Tibet, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche received a traditional monastic education and later studied under several respected Tibetan lamas. Today, he teaches Vajrayana Buddhism at the Jigme Lingpa Center in San Diego, California, where he lives with his wife and child. Mordy Levine is an entrepreneur, a meditation teacher, and the president of the Jigme Lingpa Center. He also created the Meditation Pro Series, a meditation program designed to alleviate chronic health issues. He lives in Rancho Santa Fe, California, with his wife, Elizabeth. More information about Lama Lhanang Rinpoche and Mordy Levine's work can be found at:   Jigme Lingpa Center website: www.buddhistsandiego.com,   Institute for Balance and Movement website: www.mordylevine.com,   The Beginners Guide to Karma at New World Library: newworldlibrary.com.

Podcast: This week on the show we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Roger Jackson, author of Saraha – Poet of Blissful Awareness, published this year by Shambhala as part of its Lives of the Masters series. Saraha, “the Archer,” was a mysterious but influential tenth-century Indian Buddhist tantric adept who expressed his spiritual realization in mystic songs (dohas) that are enlightening, shocking, and confounding by turns. Saraha's poetic verses served as a basis for the exposition, in Tibet, of mahamudra, the great-seal meditation on the nature of mind that permeates every tradition of Buddhism on the Tibetan plateau. This is the first book to attempt a thorough treatment of the context, life, works, poetics, and teachings of Saraha. Roger Jackson is Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies and Religion at Carleton College. He has nearly 50 years of experience with the study and practice of Buddhism, particularly in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His special interests include Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ritual; Buddhist religious poetry; religion and society in Sri Lanka; the study of mysticism; and contemporary Buddhist thought. Roger is a highly respected and beloved scholar, Dharma teacher, and writer. He has authored many scholarly books and articles, and is a frequent contributor to Lion's Roar, Buddhadharma, and Tricycle magazines. More information about Roger Jackson's work can be found at:   Saraha at Shambhala Publications: www.shambhala.com,   Roger Jackson at Lion's Roar: www.lionsroar.com,   Roger Jackson at Tricycle: tricycle.org,   Roger Jackson at Carleton College: apps.carleton.edu,   Roger Jackson on The Mystical Positivist #398: mysticalpositivist.blogspot.com,   Roger Jackson on The Mystical Positivist #348: mysticalpositivist.blogspot.com.

Andy generously shares his personal practice story (don't call it a spiritual journey…) from young Catholic doubts to a midlife crisis that sent him exploring the wilds of the mind in Tibetan Buddhism, and why he turned his back on it to face the wall with us. Can Tibetan Buddhism teach us a few things we lack? Can Zen find a way to help Vajrayana relax? Is anxiety and crisis the best thing that can happen to your meditation?? Find out here!

In this episode of Our Beloved Teachers, dharma teacher Leigh Brasington reflects on his transformative experiences studying with Ven. Ayya Khema, one of his most influential teachers. Leigh shares how Ayya Khema's clarity, discipline, and groundbreaking teachings on meditation, including the jhānas, shaped his practice and teaching path. The conversation also delves into Ayya Khema's extraordinary life story and her pivotal contribution toward reviving the Theravāda fully ordained nun's Sangha.Episode Links:

There are of course innumerable similarities between the life and message of the Buddha and Swami Vivekananda: in a future lecture, I hope to sketch this out in much more detail. I think there is a particularly strong resonance between Swami Vivekananda's various spiritual experiences and realizations (and also his highest ideal of serving God man) and the Boddhicitta/Boddhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism. One day, I will make a strong case for the Mahayana Buddhist interpretation of Sri Ramakrishna's life and teaching. Of course, in terms of modality, Sri Ramakrishna emphasized a Tantrik, deity-oriented approach which leads us into exciting Vajrayana territory too. A discussion comparing Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya and Dharmakaya to Vaikhari, Madhyama and Pasyanti Vak is of course fore coming. And I have a desire to do a short biography on Milarepaji also, perhaps on his Parinirvana which is the full moon of Bumjur Dawa (by the Tibetan Lunar Calendar) I believe. It will be around Shiva Ratri time!Naturally all these links between Shiva, Swami Vivekananda and the Buddha are particularly pronounced in Varanasi, especially near Sarnath where the Buddha spoke the words that would resound timelessly through eternity! There is a striking resemblance to what he spoke about and what Swami Vivekananda spoke out, a resemblance that is of course more tangibly felt in this place than intellectually cognized. Since I happen to be in Sarnath on Christmas Eve, I thought I'd reflect a little on that in this talk. Jai Jesus Christ! Jai Buddha! Jai Swami Vivekananda Guru Maharajji Ki Jai!Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMAnd if you feel moved to donate to support me and this work, you're welcome to here:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jaimakaliSupport the show

Each of Lojong's 59 slogans are composed of carefully selected words that can become powerful and reliable resources on the spiritual path. One's own words. Years ago, when Jampal Norbu worked on a Tibetan to English translation of the Lojong verses he was surprised to learn that Trungpa Rinpoche's well-know translation of Verse 30, “Don't be so predictable,” was not quite direct or literal. In this episode, Jampal Norbu begins his two part examination of Lojong's most provocative verse. 

Discover the profound teachings and history of Buddhism in this enlightening podcast with Pushpa Raj Bajracharya. We explore the origins of Buddhism and dive deep into the journey of Siddhartha Gautam as he transitioned from prince to Buddha. Learn about the true meaning of Vipassana meditation, its connection to Buddha Gyan, and the transformative power of finding oneself. This podcast unpacks the fascinating differences between Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada Buddhism, highlighting their unique practices and philosophies. Explore the stages of meditation, the concept of Samadhi, and why only one Buddha can exist at a time. Discover the intriguing history of Newar Buddhism, its evolution, and the rich cultural significance of Swoyambhu's rings and Buddhist art. We also shed light on the lesser-known practices of Vajrayana Buddhism, including the fire jump ritual, and the spiritual role of Bajracharyas, emphasizing that it's more than just a caste. The podcast delves into reincarnation, vegetarianism in Buddhism, and how some Newar Buddhist villages avoided taxes through their unique traditions. Finally, we discuss the current state of global Buddhism, its relevance in modern times, and its connection to Tibetan Buddhism. Whether you're interested in Buddhist history, meditation, or cultural traditions, this podcast offers a deep dive into the heart of Buddhism. Join us as we unravel these topics and more in this thought-provoking discussion!

Join our poetry Salon and Open Mic: https://parallax-media-network.mn.co/share/5hSLvQW7bNszFGEo?utm_source=manual Tim Pickerill Tim is a Brooklyn-based Artist, Musician, Writer, and Vajrayana practitioner within the Karma Kagyu lineage under the Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Diamondway Buddhism, led by teacher Lama Ole Nydal. An Anthropologist and Artist by training, he spent 10 years studying extensively in Western Esoteric traditions, as well as Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, and Sanskrit, before taking initiation into the Diamondway in 1998.

Host Michael Taft talks with Vajrayana teacher and author Charlie Awbery about the meaning of their practice name Rin'dzin Pamo, Tantra, curiosity, new developments in the Evolving Ground community, the role of play and spontaneity in Vajrayana, a special invocation written by them and David Chapman, when the teacher/student relationship breaks down, transformation, and how to liberate the shadow.Rin'dzin Pamo, also known as Charlie Awbery, author of Opening Awareness; a Guide to Finding Vividness in Spacious Clarity, is a meditation and leadership coach. They are also the co-founder of Evolving Ground a community of contemporary Vajrayana practice. Rin'dzin practiced and studied Vajrayana for thirty years alongside working in international development and human rights. They write at vajrayananow.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The term warrior typically implies aggression. So what does it mean to be a "Warrior of Compassion?”In this insightful talk, Dale Borglum introduces the concept of the bodhisattva, or "warrior of compassion," emphasizing the transformative potential of emotions like grief and anger when approached with mindfulness and an open heart. He explores how Buddhist teachings provide tools for navigating emotions and fostering compassion amidst societal and personal challenges.  Dale contrasts empathy, which is simply feeling another's pain, with compassion, which involves an open-hearted connection to suffering that can inspire action—or sometimes inaction—based on wisdom.Dale underscores the importance of embodying compassion both for others and for oneself, suggesting that self-compassion is a vital precursor to true altruism. He explains three qualities of compassion—connectedness, spaciousness, and warmth—and encourages staying present with discomfort rather than avoiding it. Through mindfulness and Vajrayana techniques, Dale demonstrates how suffering can become a pathway to awakening, connecting deeply with others, and cultivating a heart spacious enough to hold even the most challenging emotions and experiences.______________Dale Borglum is the founder and Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a pioneer in the conscious dying movement and has worked directly with thousands of people with life-threatening illnesses and their families for over 45 years. In 1981, Dale founded the first residential facility in the United States, The Dying Center, for people who wished to die consciously. He has taught and lectured extensively on the topics of spiritual support for those with life- threatening illness, on caregiving as a spiritual practice, and on healing at the edge — the edge of illness, of death, of loss, of crisis. Dale has a BS from UC Berkeley and a PhD from Stanford University. He is the co-author of 'Journey of Awakening: A Meditator's Guidebook.' He has taught meditation for the past 50 years and hosts the 'Healing at the Edge' podcast.Learn more at https://www.livingdying.org/ ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

In this 3-part series, Danadasa covers the "Three Great Turnings" of the wheel of the dharma that resulted in the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.In this final talk, he explores the Vajrayana tradition's emphasis on holistic self-acceptance and using all aspects of experience—including anger—as part of the spiritual path. He discusses the contrast between early Buddhism's emphasis on self-liberation, Mahayana's interconnectedness, and Vajrayana's transformative approach that integrates even difficult emotions. By reframing anger as energy that can be directed toward wisdom or compassion, Vajrayana encourages acceptance and the practice of self-love as a pathway to freedom.Danadasa also reflects on the cultural influences shaping different Buddhist practices, such as Tibetan Buddhism's devotional aspects compared to Western Buddhism's rationalist tendencies. He shares his personal journey through conflict and how Vajrayana practices helped him transform anger and grief into deeper wisdom. Central to his teaching is the idea of surrender—letting go of control and embracing impermanence, which leads to the unworldly bliss of freedom from attachment. Through cognitive dissonance and contemplative affirmations, Danadasa encourages trusting the process of transformation, fostering forgiveness, and connecting with higher wisdom.______________Danadasa (he/him) began meditating and practicing Buddhism in 1993 and was ordained in the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2011 at the San Francisco Buddhist Center. At his ordination, he received his Buddhist name Danadasa which, in Sanskrit, means “servant of generosity”. In 1995, he developed a heart connection with the archetypal Buddha Amitabha, rooted in the Japanese Pure Land tradition Jodo Shinshu (known in the Western world as Shin Buddhism), and has been practicing an Amitabha sadhana (devotional practice) since 2011.Danadasa is deeply passionate about teaching meditation, mindfulness and Buddhism in a somatic and embodied way, bringing the Buddha's teachings to life in our imaginations through images and storytelling. Embodied practice is the path of getting out of our heads and into our bodies, for it is in our bodies that liberation reveals itself.Over the past 20 years, Danadasa has held various administrative and leadership roles within the San Francisco Buddhist Center (SFBC). And in 2023, he resigned from all of his formal SFBC roles, as well as taking a break from teaching for a period of wandering in the wilderness, free from the external responsibilities, expectations and social norms of the monastery, following in the footsteps of the great “crazy wisdom” Mahasiddhas of the past. Since then, many lineage Masters and archetypal Buddhas have provided Danadasa with guidance and inspiration, including Tilopa, Naropa, Padmasambhava, Vajrakilaya, and Machig Labdron. In 2024, Danadasa received Vajrayogini initiation and empowerment. Through Vajrayogini, the Mother of All the Buddhas, the meaning of the Buddha's words is beginning to reveal itself. ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Vince Fakhoury Horn is joined again by dharma teacher Trudy Goodman, founder of InsightLA, to share reflections on her beloved teacher, Kōbun Chino Otogawa. Kobun (February 1, 1938 – July 26, 2002), also known as Chino Otogawa Roshi, was a Japanese Zen priest who brought his unique and deeply compassionate teachings to America. Renowned for his unconventional approach, he emphasized practicing dharma within daily life, often blending traditional Zen wisdom with a quiet, everyday presence that resonated with many students. In this conversation, Trudy shares stories of Kobun's compassionate presence, his devotion to helping those suffering, and his profound yet playful approach to teaching.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this 3-part series, Danadasa covers the "Three Great Turnings" of the wheel of the dharma that resulted in the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.Here in Part 2, he explores how Mahayana Buddhism builds on early Buddhist teachings to emphasize interconnectedness and engagement with the world. He contrasts embodied imagination—a tool for liberation—with fantasy, which is mere escapism. Through imagination, we can transform harmful narratives into those fostering peace and well-being. Danadasa highlights the Mahayana method of creating archetypal symbols, like Amitabha Buddha, to inspire and guide practitioners, encouraging reliance on higher wisdom rather than individual control.He also addresses balancing inner peace with active engagement in a polarized world. By using meditation to cultivate an inner “bounded space,” individuals can replenish emotional resilience and learn to let go of toxic tendencies, such as mental proliferation and polarization. Danadasa emphasizes that true freedom arises not from avoiding the world but from embracing impermanence and interconnectedness, offering practical steps for thriving in challenging circumstances.______________Danadasa (he/him) began meditating and practicing Buddhism in 1993 and was ordained in the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2011 at the San Francisco Buddhist Center. At his ordination, he received his Buddhist name Danadasa which, in Sanskrit, means “servant of generosity”.  In 1995, he developed a heart connection with the archetypal Buddha Amitabha, rooted in the Japanese Pure Land tradition Jodo Shinshu (known in the Western world as Shin Buddhism), and has been practicing an Amitabha sadhana (devotional practice) since 2011. Danadasa is deeply passionate about teaching meditation, mindfulness and Buddhism in a somatic and embodied way, bringing the Buddha's teachings to life in our imaginations through images and storytelling. Embodied practice is the path of getting out of our heads and into our bodies, for it is in our bodies that liberation reveals itself. Over the past 20 years, Danadasa has held various administrative and leadership roles within the San Francisco Buddhist Center (SFBC). And in 2023, he resigned from all of his formal SFBC roles, as well as taking a break from teaching for a period of wandering in the wilderness, free from the external responsibilities, expectations and social norms of the monastery, following in the footsteps of the great “crazy wisdom” Mahasiddhas of the past. Since then, many lineage Masters and archetypal Buddhas have provided Danadasa with guidance and inspiration, including Tilopa, Naropa, Padmasambhava, Vajrakilaya, and Machig Labdron. In 2024, Danadasa received Vajrayogini initiation and empowerment. Through Vajrayogini, the Mother of All the Buddhas, the meaning of the Buddha's words is beginning to reveal itself. ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Podcast: This week on The Mystical Positivist, hosts Stuart Goodnick and Rob Schmidt feature two episodes from the Western Baul Podcast Series recorded earlier this year. In the first hour we present the talk, Cultivating Transparency: Realizing the Emptiness of the Stories You Tell Yourself, and in the second hour we present the talk, Languaging Nonduality. The podcast descriptions are as follows: Cultivating Transparency: Realizing the Emptiness of the Stories You Tell Yourself We could say that all we know about ourselves cognitively are stories we tell ourselves. These are not necessarily obvious to us because they play so constantly. We respond to the universe through the stories that filter our experience. How do we work with this since we can't think ourselves out of this box? Transparency hints at a different way of relating to stories. Many stories we identify with are cultural views. Stories in and of themselves are not a problem; they are a feature of what it is to be human. It's when we hold onto stories that they capture our energy and attention so we don't come back to the present and to the next event gifted to us by the universe. Transparency involves listening, seeing, generosity of spirit to others and ourselves, without reactivity to a story. This is not trivial work and a tool we have is self-observation, which is an energetic and not an analytical act. One feature of mature practice is relaxation of the tense form of attention we compulsively hold. This can allow for humor and for different kinds of spaces or chambers to be created. Belief is an emotional relationship with a lie. When a story turns into a belief, we can't put it down. Resistance manifests differently in the three centers that are discussed in the Gurdjieff work. It is a rich vein to mine to reclaim energy of attention we've invested in story. Conscious suffering is the willingness to be present with resistance. Practice can be seen as an offering rather than as a story with an agenda to wake up. Creativity is an end in itself, the universe doing what it most wants to do. When not bound by our stories, we can accept the universe's invitations to engage in higher work.is a Western spiritual tradition founded by George Gurdjieff, a mystic of Greek and Armenian origin who taught in Russia, Europe, and America and died in 1949. The system he developed out of his own spiritual search, which is shrouded in mystery, is completely unique and geared toward working with a modern mindset of “waking sleep” in the West. The Fourth Way Tradition has been considered by some to be humorless and dogmatically committed to a rigid system of practices and ideas, but this ignores Gurdjieff's own flexibility ranging from playfulness to penetrating compassion. Today's speakers are dharma heirs of Tayu Meditation Center's founder Robert Daniel Ennis, whose teachings were anchored in the Fourth Way but ranged widely beyond that source material.  Languaging Nonduality Grounded practice gives us direct experience of the pervasiveness of the mechanical, identified mind. Before we have direct experience of something, linguistic representations are ineffective at transmitting what it is. There is a distinction between results and practice. A teaching can be the result of practice, such as loving our neighbor, but we may consider it as a practice that we are unable to embody without having cultivated the necessary quality of being. Seeing the world as non-dual is a result, not a practice. When nonduality is taken as an intellectual proposition, mind pastes over experience and co-opts the spiritual process, which is not realization. There are poets like Ursula Le Guin who use language to “point at the moon” or the sacred. There has to be some work with mind for the intuition and depth of nonduality to take root and inform all aspects of our lives. We may not be in a new paradigm of spiritual practice, but we are in a new paradigm of access to information and teachings. Nonduality is one way among others to talk about reality. Different spiritual approaches work for different people. For many, something has to be dislodged from its static position around the heart. There's truth to being non-dual and to being dual, which is paradoxical and indicative of a greater mystery. We can be grateful for language that brings our attention to something bigger than the small self. It's not words but the carrier wave, where someone is coming from, that transmits what words point to. It's helpful to hang out with people who share spiritual intention. Everyone doesn't need to be involved in formal spiritual practice; lives are equally valid. The Western Baul Podcast Series features talks by practitioners of the Western Baul path. Topics are intended to offer something of educational, inspirational, and practical value to anyone drawn to the spiritual path. For Western Bauls, practice is not a matter of philosophy but is expressed in everyday affairs, service to others, and music and song. There is the recognition that all spiritual traditions have examples of those who have realized that there is no separate self to substantiate—though one will always exist in form—and that “There is only God” or oneness with creation. Western Bauls, as named by Lee Lozowick (1943-2010), an American spiritual Master who taught in the US, Europe, and India and who was known for his radical dharma, humor, and integrity, are kin to the Bauls of Bengal, India, with whom he shared an essential resonance and friendship. Lee's spiritual lineage includes Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Swami Papa Ramdas. Rob Schmidt and Stuart Goodnick are the spiritual directors of Tayu Meditation Center. Rob has made contributions to the practice of anthropological archaeology and currently runs Tayu's spiritual bookstore in Sebastopol, California, Many Rivers Books & Tea. Stuart is an engineer in a Fortune 500 company and plays the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) as a spiritual practice. More information about Tayu Meditation Center can be found at: Many Rivers Books and Tea Website: www.manyriversbooks.com, Western Baul Podcast Website: westernbaul.org.

In this 3-part series, Danadasa covers the "Three great turnings" of the wheel of the dharma that resulted in the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.Here in Part 1, Danadasa touches on Theravada perspectives, emphasizes the original teachings of the Buddha from the Pali canon, such as the concept of the "two darts": physical pain as inevitable (the first dart) and the additional suffering we create through our mental reactions (the second dart). He explains that liberation lies in recognizing these reactions as echoes from the past rather than intrinsic truths, allowing us to let them naturally fade. This practice shifts our perspective from intellectual understanding to embodied wisdom. He also connects these teachings to social polarization, highlighting the need to balance inner peace with outer engagement. By setting boundaries, cultivating resilience, and embracing impermanence, Danadasa urges us to navigate modern challenges compassionately, breaking free from habitual suffering and fostering harmony within ourselves and with others.______________Danadasa (he/him) began meditating and practicing Buddhism in 1993 and was ordained in the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2011 at the San Francisco Buddhist Center. At his ordination, he received his Buddhist name Danadasa which, in Sanskrit, means “servant of generosity”.  In 1995, he developed a heart connection with the archetypal Buddha Amitabha, rooted in the Japanese Pure Land tradition Jodo Shinshu (known in the Western world as Shin Buddhism), and has been practicing an Amitabha sadhana (devotional practice) since 2011. Danadasa is deeply passionate about teaching meditation, mindfulness and Buddhism in a somatic and embodied way, bringing the Buddha's teachings to life in our imaginations through images and storytelling. Embodied practice is the path of getting out of our heads and into our bodies, for it is in our bodies that liberation reveals itself. Over the past 20 years, Danadasa has held various administrative and leadership roles within the San Francisco Buddhist Center (SFBC). And in 2023, he resigned from all of his formal SFBC roles, as well as taking a break from teaching for a period of wandering in the wilderness, free from the external responsibilities, expectations and social norms of the monastery, following in the footsteps of the great “crazy wisdom” Mahasiddhas of the past. Since then, many lineage Masters and archetypal Buddhas have provided Danadasa with guidance and inspiration, including Tilopa, Naropa, Padmasambhava, Vajrakilaya, and Machig Labdron. In 2024, Danadasa received Vajrayogini initiation and empowerment. Through Vajrayogini, the Mother of All the Buddhas, the meaning of the Buddha's words is beginning to reveal itself. ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Podcast: This week on the show we feature a prerecorded conversation with OM C. Parkin on the challenges and paradoxes around languaging Non-Duality and how to tune into the silence between the words when engaging with a sacred text. OM C. Parkin is a renowned European wisdom teacher and the founder of the mystery school, Enneallionce, and Gut Saunstorf, a modern monastery. His books also include Intelligence of Awakening - Navigating the Wisdom Path, The Birth of the Lion, and The Digital Age - A Critical View from a Wisdom Perspective. OM embodies in his work the link between Eastern non-duality and Christian mysticism, of depth psychology and philosophy, beyond the limits of religions and confessions. He often references the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, which has been revived in the 20th century by Shri Ramana Maharshi, Shri H.W.L. Poonja, the American Gangaji, and others. OM acts in the tradition of these teachers and by being rooted in early Christian teaching. His work in the tradition of silence can be described by three functions: teacher (of wisdom), healer (of the soul), seer (of the heart). He has been supporting people to find their true nature for more than 30 years and founded the modern Satsang movement in Europe. More information about OM C. Parkin's work can be found at: OM C. Parkin website: www.om-c-parkin.com, Gut Saunstorf website: www.kloster-saunstorf.de, OM C. Parkin at Gateways Books & Tapes: www.gatewaysbooksandtapes.com, OM C. Parkin previously on The Mystical Positivist on 27JAN24: mysticalpositivist.blogspot.com, OM C. Parkin previously on The Mystical Positivist on 24SEP22: mysticalpositivist.blogspot.com.

Episode #280: Matthew Schojan started abusing drugs at the tender age of 11, in response to some very challenging family dysfunction. One could then scarcely expect that he would later develop into a serious meditation and yoga practitioner one day. In an interview recorded before the pandemic and the military coup, Matthew goes into detail about his spiritual journey, and how it ultimately led him to Myanmar.He eventually got his life on track when he was 20, and made the commitment to become sober while living in New York. It was a terrifying experience, as he was beset by anxiety and other emotions that the intoxicants had long suppressed. He eventually took up yoga, later finding refuge at the local Zen center in Brooklyn. Then September 11th happened, which recreated the anxiety and fear, and amid all the destruction, he was initially unable to reach out to friends or family for support. Matthew gave in and had a cigarette, his first in three years.That cigarette evolved into a relapse of hard partying and drug use, which he soon found troubling and empty. This time, however, he found more stable salvation in the form of Dharma Punx, led by Noah Levine, and its more mindful community; it was there that he eventually met the woman who would become his wife.From there, he decided to take a full spiritual plunge. Matthew studied under Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Jack Kornfield, Martine Batchelor, and S.N. Goenka among others, studying Zen, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. “There was definitely a lot to learn,” he says. “Each time you go down one path, other things open up, and you start to learn more…” To Matthew, the key point is that different teachings have clear, practical applications.Matthew's journey to the Golden Land took shape over many years. He and his wife eventually arrived there after eight years living and working in Thailand. When they finally moved to Myanmar, Matthew was surprised at the many differences between the two countries and their Buddhist culture and practice, in spite of their geographic proximity.Matthew closes by discussing the connection between mental health and meditation.Ironically, Matthew's comments are even more relevant today than in 2020 when the talk was recorded. At that time, Matthew noted the challenges for mental health sector in wider Myanmar, referencing government data that 95% of people needing treatment couldn't find any support. Yet now, so many Burmese are facing traumatic circumstances with the fallout from the military coup that mental health issues are being discussed openly in Myanmar more than ever before.

Niguma is considered one of the most important and influential yoginis and Vajrayana teachers of the 10th or 11th century in India. Born in Kashmire, she was a dakini, and one of the two female founders of the Shangpa Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism, along with dakini Sukhasiddhi. Her birth name was Shrijnana (or Palgyi Yéshé in Tibetan). From the perspective of the spiritual lineage, it is said that Niguma's spiritual realisation originates directly from the Buddha Vajradhara, rather than from any living human teachers. The great meditation master and translator, Marpa Lotsawa received teachings from Niguma on at least two occasions. Marpa is said to have visited Niguma each time he traveled to India. Sources say that he sought out Niguma on the advice of Naropa, Niguma's brother. The elusiveness of Niguma is typical of the lore of the dakini, the very embodiment of liminal spiritual experience. Music: State Azure - Foundations 1

Cynthia Jurs is a dharma teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Order of Interbeing of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and in recognition of her dedication in carrying out the Earth Treasure Vase practice, she was made an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Cynthia recounts a fateful meeting with a venerated Lama in Nepal whose formidable assignment sent her on a thirty year pilgrimage into diverse communities and ecosystems with holy vessels to bring healing and protection to the earth. https://earthtreasurevase.org/ Summoned By The Earth book: https://www.summonedbytheearth.org/ Listen to Nature Revisited on your favorite podcast apps or at https://noordenproductions.com Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4s9d7 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yx28t Podlink: https://pod.link/1456657951 Support Nature Revisited https://noordenproductions.com/support Nature Revisited is produced by Stefan van Norden and Charles Geoghegan. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions - contact us at https://noordenproductions.com/contact

Podcast: This week on the show we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Ken McLeod, Buddhist teacher and author the recently released book, The Magic of Vajrayana. In today's conversation, we discuss Ken's recent English translation of The Diamond Sutra from the Tibetan and his development of a new commentary. The Diamond Sutra is one of the most influential early Mahayana sutras that has been central to a number of Buddhist traditions such as Chan and Zen. It describes a way of being and acting that is not mediated by the conceptual mind. Ken's approach to his translation and his upcoming commentary is less about understanding the meaning of The Diamond Sutra and more about how to engage with the text so that its magic can infuse and inform the Being of the practitioner. One of the more innovative Buddhist teachers today, Ken McLeod is known for his clear explanations, poetic translations, and pragmatic approach to practice. He is one of the first generation of Western teachers in the Tibetan tradition and one of the few to be authorized to transmit the full scope of these teachings to students. In particular, his approach resonates strongly with those whose path lies outside established institutions. After graduating with a degree in mathematics, Ken cycled across Europe to Istanbul and then continued his journey overland to India. In 1970 he met his principal teacher Kalu Rinpoche at his monastery near Darjeeling. There Ken began a study and practice in Tibetan Buddhism that lasted more than twenty years. He completed the traditional three-year retreat program two times, translated for many teachers, and helped set up Buddhist centers in Canada and the United States. After his teacher's passing, Ken moved away from the hierarchical structures of Asian Buddhism to explore new approaches. In 1990, he founded Unfettered Mind in Los Angeles. His approach of one-on-one consultations roiled the Buddhist world in the early '90s, but was quickly recognized as a viable way to teach and guide students in the West. He made individual interviews a central feature of the many retreats he taught in California, New Mexico, and British Columbia. Through numerous small groups in Southern California, he developed the materials that became the encyclopedic meditation manual, Wake Up to Your Life. Now retired from formal teaching, he lives in Northern California where he hikes and writes. His writings and translations include The Great Path of Awakening (1987), Wake Up to Your Life (2001), An Arrow to the Heart (2007), Reflections on Silver River (2014), A Trackless Path (2017), and The Magic of Vajrayana (2022), as well as a corpus of articles and translations in Tricycle and other Buddhist magazines. More information about Ken McLeod's work can be found at:  Unfettered Mind website: www.unfetteredmind.org.

Wystan Bryant-Scott is a Buddhist meditation teacher who has spent roughly two and half years of his life practising in an intensive residential monastic setting. He has studied under teachers in multiple Buddhist traditions, including Theravada, Vajrayana, Zen, and Dzogchen, and is a certified teacher of previous podcast guest Shinzen Young's Unified Mindfulness system. Wystan is also on the Board of Advisors of the Qualia Research Institute. I've been continually impressed by the depth and clarity of Wystan's realisation so I'm glad to share my recent conversation with him with you today.  

Devotion is one of the many expressions of faith. When understood clearly, devotion can hasten the process of awakening for the student on the spiritual path, ripening and maturing them in a simple and direct way. Elizabeth brings us through various definitions of devotion, explores devotion as an experience, and considers the cultural and interpersonal challenges that can arise through misunderstanding the nature of the teacher/student dynamic.

In this episode of Buddhist Geeks, Brian Newman discusses his journey into deep jhāna meditation practice, initially motivated by a desire to become a better listener. He explores his training in the rigorous Pa-auk tradition, the challenges and breakthroughs he experienced, and the balance between traditional and more modern approaches to jhāna, ultimately advocating for a playful, less rigid approach to accessing these deep states of concentration.Episode Links:

Joining us on the show this week is dharma teacher, author, and environmental activist, Cynthia Jurs. Cynthia is a teacher in Thich Naht Hanh's Order of Interbeing as well as an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She is largely recognized for her work with the Earth Treasure Vase practice which has brought her all around the world to a diverse array of cultures and ecosystems. She released her first book, ‘Summoned by the Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel' earlier this year which is now available wherever you order your books. In this conversation, we explore the treasure vase practice as well as the reclamation of the feminine, householder practice, and collective awakening.  gaiamandala.net Show Topics - What are the Earth Treasure Vases? - The World as Spiritual Teacher - Traveling to the World's most Dangerous Places - Why are we so Busy Minded? - Reclaiming the Feminine - Feeling Our Vulnerability - Pilgrimage and Ceremony - Intention Setting - How To Practice in a Busy Life - Householder Practice - Needing to Awaken as a Community

Practices of guardianship — invoking guardian deities, enlisting spirit help, clearing spaces of questionable energies, and establishing boundaries around ritual, communal, and personal space — are common to animate traditions across the world. In many traditions, guardianship is absolutely central as we navigate a world of forces, not all of which are traditionally seen as beneficial. So traditional practitioners — even as they commune with the natural world — also draw clear boundaries, send wayward spirits fleeing, and even do battle with malefic energies. Such practices challenge modern western minds and are often dismissed as 'superstitious' or as the least important part of any traditional practice. They rub up against modern visions of a cosmos or a natural world that is 'all good', as they suggest the existence of things like malefic forces that are incompatible with a modern rationalist vision. So modern spiritualities forgo traditional understandings of guardianship and promote a vision of 'openness' within a universe that is 'all good.'  Yet many traditions focus a lot of attention on closing, sealing, and directly establishing boundary. Even in non-dual traditions that see a cosmos ultimately beyond yes and no and good and evil, practitioners spend years establishing boundary, cultivating discernment, and invoking guardian entities. With the rise of modern freeform spiritual experimentation, people are invoking and inviting spiritual forces and navigating heightened states of consciousness often without any attention to guardianship. In such a time, when mental states are fragile and traditional safeguards are no longer in place,  it can be important to understand what guarded space looks like personally and ritually. Guardianship practice needn't be complicated. It starts very simply, with offering and gratitude, and with how we navigate our own thoughts and feelings. Featuring conversations with Tantric scholars Dr. Ben Joffe, Dr. Hareesh Wallis, and Dr. Sthaneshwar Timalsina, author and Ayurvedic Doctor Robert Svoboda, sculptor Rose B. Simpson and activist Nadia Irshaid Gilbert, this episode dives deep into how traditional systems have viewed guardianship practice and its necessity in an age of spiritual free-for-all and excessive exposure to internet imagery. Listen on a good sound system at a time when you can devote your full attention.Support the Show.

The Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkuni is the founder of Heartwood Refuge, an intentional spiritual community in North Carolina, and abbess of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist Order. A former Christian pastor, the Venerable Pannavati is often thought to be the only fully-ordained African-American woman in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. She is also ordained in the Mahayana tradition and has Vajrayana empowerments and authorization to teach.In this episode, we explore the Venerable Pannavati's journey from Evangelical Christianity to a trans-lineage Buddhism, discussing the methods of transformation of consciousness, simple and complex religious perspectives, the serving of different needs and capacities on the spiritual path, a ‘relational' and ‘American Buddhism,' trans-lineage Buddhism, syncretism and a Ri-me approach to ecumenism, sectarianism in Buddhism, the ordination of Theravadan Buddhist nuns, legacy and leaving no footprints, new inter spiritual language, and the ‘Dharma Gospel' of Dharma Voci.Heartwood Refuge & AcademyDharma Voci's Album: InvocationCharis FoundationGolden Turtle SoundSupport the Show.

In the episode on "Technological Metamodernism," Vince Fakhoury Horn and Stephen Reid discuss the intersection of technology, metamodernism, and the potential middle paths that navigate between techno-optimism or e/acc and eco-dystopianism or doomerism. They explore how emerging technologies can be aligned with deeper values, such as sovereignty, relationality, and wholenss, while also addressing the challenges of our current technological trajectory​.Episode Links:

In this episode, filmed on location in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, I am joined by Naljorma Tsül'dzin, an internationally acclaimed performance artist and ordained apprentice in the Aro gTer sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsül'dzin recalls her childhood in rural Ireland, early cultural and occult explorations, substance abuse and recovery, and her international career as a performance artist under the name “Kira O'Reilly”. Tsül'dzin traces her history with the Aro gTer sect of Tibetan Buddhism, from first encounter to full ordination, reveals her religious robes and the reactions they provoke, and explains her ongoing fascination with the Great Stupa in Kathmandu. Tsül'dzin also considers the intersection of art and religious expression, the tension between practice and performance, ritual and spectacle, and reflects on her long-standing work with Serbian conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep264-vajrayana-performance-art-naljorma-tsldzin Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Inspiring example of Jomo Samphel Dechen Rinpoche 06:30 - Working with body and physicality as a practitioner 09:34 - Childhood in Catholic rural Ireland 11:55 - The 80s goth scene 12:43 - Linda Montano's insight on Tsül'dzin and subcultures 14:07 - Occult explorations 15:09 - Substance abuse and entering recovery 16:29 - Studying fine art at university 17:36 - Encountering the Aro gTer Buddhist sect 20:22 - Group practice format in the Aro gTer 22:44 - Attraction to the Aro gTer 23:37 - Internationally acclaimed performance art career 29:08 - Deepening Buddhist practice 30:47 - Ordination and Kathmandu 31:28 - Performance art and religious ritual 32:50 - Meeting Marina Abramović 35:25 - The Golden Bough and ritual as performance art 36:16 - Working with Marina Abramović 37:50 - Performing at Marina Abramović' recent London retrospective at the Royal Academy of Art 39:16 - West/East influence 41:34 - Marina Abramović as a teacher 43:45 - Wearing religious robes 44:48 - Conversations arising from wearing robes in public 47:08 - Explaining the colour scheme 49:56 - Robes and participation 53:00 - Fasting and preparing for the 12-day Royal Academy performance 57:41 - Street Dog Care 58:43 - Reflecting on spiritual experiences 01:00:20 - Time and space 01:02:27 - Why spend so much time in Boudha? 01:06:22 - Practice vs spectacle 01:07:15 - Prostrations 01:08:08 - Art and the Aro gTer 01:09:44 - Secular vs religious art 01:12:04 - Disappointment with Western Buddhist art 01:14:08 - Recommendations for when visiting Boudha 01:14:36 - How to have impromptu conversations … Boudhanath Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=gFGJpi-fnLtxeyZ5 
… To find our more about Naljorma Tsül'dzin, visit: - https://www.instagram.com/naljormatsuldzin/ - https://www.kiraoreilly.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Host Michael Taft speaks with eminent Buddhist teacher, translator, and author Ken McLeod about how to use the Diamond Sutra as a practice text. What is the sutra really getting at? Is it merely an ancient and enigmatic philosophical puzzle or can we use it as a powerful pointing out instruction?Ken McLeod began his study and practice of Buddhism in 1970 under the eminent Tibetan master Kalu Rinpoche. After completing two three-year retreats, he was appointed as resident teacher for Kalu Rinpoche's center in Los Angeles, California, where he developed innovative approaches to teaching and translation. After his teacher's death in 1989, Ken established Unfettered Mind, a place for those whose path lies outside established institutions. His many published works include Wake Up to Your Life, A Trackless Path, and his latest book, entitled The Magic of Vajrayana. Ken's website: Unfettered MindYou can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All great spiritual lineages point us back to that which defies concept and language. Authentic practitioners describe awakening as being touched by a sense of awe, overcome by the beauty, fierceness and power of being. To be in AWE is a natural human experience. Ironically, so is the discomfort that leaves us restless with the experience, making it almost impossible to bear. Our inability to bear the ineffable gives rise to dualism and our conflict with faith.

Host Michael Taft speaks with meditation coach Peter McEwen about the traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice of tummo, deity yoga, the subtle body, ways that tummo practice can go wrong, bliss and semen retention, existential terror and staying with disturbing experience, and much more.Peter McEwen is a meditation coach and the founder of The Field, which offers training, community, and the demystification of basic contemplative practices. Peter McEwen has been an ordained Vajrayana yogi since 1993 under the tutelage of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche, and Bruce Tift. He has completed the traditional 3-year retreat curriculum of Vajrayana Buddhism.Awakening Embodied Awareness Peter's new course pageYou can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Vince Fakhoury Horn presents on The Phases of Insight, a contemplative map that charts the process from the moment one begins seeking, up to the moment of initial awakening.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Buddhist Geeks, Vince Fakhoury Horn shares his experience of working with the meditation startup Jhourney, and raises concerns about their insufficient training and appropriation of Buddhist meditation practices, advocating for a more responsible and deeply informed approach to secularizing Jhāna meditation.Episode Links:

A reading of the timeless teaching of Naropa's - "The Summary of Mahamudra". English version by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Erik Pema Kunsang Nāropā (1016-1100) was an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's instructions inform Vajrayana, particularly his six yogas of Naropa relevant to the completion stage of anuttarayogatantra. He was also one of the gatekeepers of Vikramashila monastery which is located in Bihar. Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, Tibetan: ཕྱག་ཆེན་) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Music: David Parsons - 'Abode of Shiva'