Buddhist confession

Buddhist confession

Author: Alex Wilding August 27, 2025 Duration: 20:25

Confession is a big thing in Buddhist practice. But there is no priest to forgive your sins on God's behalf. It is more nuanced than that. 


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: 60

The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.
Podcast Episodes
Bread and Butter Verses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Some verses you'll hear again and again. Not a definitive list – there ain’t no such thing. But if you know these by heart and can join the recitation at the drop of a hat, you will achieve one great thing: you will look…
What is the Lama for? Actually? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
Q: Is the lama your boss? Big daddy? Friend? Mate? Therapist? A: Mostly not Then what? Words or phrases you might want to look up: Jamgon Kongtrul Treasury of Knowledge Longchen Rabjampa #Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje…
Empowerments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:32
Empowerments – what happens? You’ve been to a Buddhist ceremony. Perhaps you knew it was an empowerment. Whatever does that mean? Are you cooked? Words or phrases you might want to look up: Einweihung Ermaechtigung, Ermä…
Am I a vajrayana practitioner? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:40
Or are you a vajrayana practitioner? Is it a question of rites and rituals and pictures and mantras? Or is it something deeper? Empowerment card showing a vajra Words or phrases you might want to look up: Vajrayana Samay…
Namo Buddha - best of three? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:18
Namo Buddha - the smallest, but perhaps most beautiful, of the three stupas of the Kathmandu valley: Where the Buddha is said to have sacrificed himself to a tigress: And where this temple, study and retreat centre now s…
Ultimate Practices? Mahamudra and Dzogchen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:26
Mahamudra and dzogchen are often spoken of as the “highest” practices of Tibetan Buddhism. How very exciting! Are they really? What does “highest” mean anyway? And what is the difference between mahamudra and dzogchen? M…
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…