Bad gurus, tosh gurus and good gurus

Bad gurus, tosh gurus and good gurus

Author: Alex Wilding September 4, 2024 Duration: 23:51
A heavy criticism of the whole "Shambhala" cult, describing the behaviour of Chogyam Trungpa and his chief defender, Pema Chodron, recently went viral on the net. I had intended to express some thoughts about these issues sometime, so it seemed like the time had come. I reveal nothing new here - this is just stuff to think about. Trungpa's "wedding" to his Nth wife Words or phrases you might want to look up: Pema Chodron Cassidy and Zeoli Mahasiddha Lakshminkara Tilopa Sogyal Lakar Robert Spatz Ole Nydahl Vajrayana   #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #cult #abuse In the early weeks of this podcast I included an approximate script, not particularly well edited, on a blog page. For the episode dropped on 4 September entitled “Bad gurus, tosh gurus and good gurus” and for episodes due to be dropped from 18 September onwards, starting with “Jyekundo / Yushu: travelling in East Tibet” there is a transcript file which is much closer to the actual words used. Note that other distribution platforms do not necessarily pass this on, and if you want to read it you may need to listen on podbean. YouTube has been making its own transcript, which was an unholy mess.  I think I have now deleted all of these "auto-generated" scripts, but it will not be possible to retrospectively add properly edited transcripts to episodes prior to September 2024.

Hosted by Alex Wilding, The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism explores what it means to walk a tantric path today. This isn't a theoretical study, but a grounded conversation about integrating profound teachings into everyday life. The focus here is often on the lay practitioner's journey, delving into the roles and experiences of Ngagapas-householder yogis-and the living traditions of the Nyingma school. Each episode grapples with the real questions that arise when ancient practices meet contemporary complexities, from managing relationships and work to navigating doubt and discovery. You'll hear discussions on scripture, ritual, and meditation, but always through the lens of practical application. The aim is to demystify Vajrayana without diminishing its depth, offering a space for sincere exploration. This podcast serves as a companion for those curious about how these potent teachings can transform not just one's inner world, but the way we move through the modern one. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered how the esoteric becomes embodied in the ordinary.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.
Podcast Episodes
The Seven line prayer to Guru Rinpoche [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:07
Beside the best-known mantras used in popular Tibetan-style Buddhism – the famous “Mani”, Tara and Guru Rinpoche for example – there are a number of prayers which are also very widely known and used. The “Seven Line Pray…
Emptiness. Or nothing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:19
Emptiness (shunyata, or tongpa in Tibetan) is an utterly core theme in Buddhist teaching. When we first hear about it, we usually don’t have much idea what it’s about at all. We may mistake it for some kind of void, or a…
Ngondro: Do I really have to? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:56
When you start to get “serious” (whatever that is and however you try to define it) about your vajrayana practice you will face the question of the “preliminaries” or “foundation practices”. Best to be warned about what’…
Pharping - Can I go back? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:07
A powerful Vajrayogini shrine, Guru Rinpoche caves, and much, much more. Pharping is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Kathmandu valley. A shorter episode, but with a nice bit of a flute tune! The Vajrayo…
Bardos: Are you dead yet? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:59
What does the “Tibetan Book of the Dead” tell us about being dead? Will we see the Peaceful and Wrathful deities? Bardo Tibetan Book of the Dead Bardo Thodol The 42 Peaceful Deities of the Bardo The 58 Wrathful Deities o…
Karma - it's not fate! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
The fruit of our actions – our karma – is said to be unavoidable. Sooner or later, every action comes back to us. But that does not mean that everything that happens to us is predetermined. Bonus speculation on the funda…
Sankhu and the Princess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:09
She was a new bride, but for the help she gave I call her a princess! The pilgrimage trip to the Vajrayogini shrine at Sankhu could have been a LOT, LOT worse. The Welcome Gate at Sankhu town The damaged main temple at t…
Dakinis - what the **** are they? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
In dreams, in the wild, dark woods where reality starts to break apart and become entangled in vision, where fear and ecstasy dance and sing, you may meet the dakini. Is she your mother, your lover, your friend? Will she…
Big cycles, little cycles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
From monster practice cycles that need a whole Dharma Centre to work through in a year to the handful of practices an individual carries out daily. What are practice cycles for? Is 550 pages enough? Words or phrases you…
When dear ones die [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:38
How is the death of loved ones treated in Tibetan-style Buddhist circles.