Lost and lonely in samsara

Lost and lonely in samsara

Author: Alex Wilding September 11, 2024 Duration: 19:04

Refuge, the Three Jewels and the Bodhisattva vow...

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

  • Refuge (Buddhist)
  • Dharma
  • Sangha
  • Three Jewels
  • Bodhisattva
  • Bodhicitta
  • Perfect Conduct – Ascertaining the Three Vows (by Dudjom Rinpoche)
  • Jewel Ornament of Liberation
  • Words of My Perfect Teacher
  • Three kayas
  • Sutras
  • Bodhicaryāvatāra

And the verse:

Sang gya cho dang tshog kyi chog nam la Jang chub bar du dag ni kyab su chi Dag gi jin sog gyi pai so nam gyi Dro la pan chir sang gye drub par shog

Approximate text at this blog post.

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: 60

The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.
Podcast Episodes
Tsopema Nuns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:56
The podcast will have to take a back seat for some months as I work on a project aimed at publishing biographies of a few of the nuns, and the sometimes heroic journeys they undertook to arrive at the caves above Tsopema…
Buddhist retreat - but why? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:15
"To get enlightened" is such a watery explanation. Mindfulness largely misses the point. This was a retreat about a specific deity. Whatever that is! #Tibetan #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Retreat
Vajrayana is like Mormonism??? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
Really intended as a brief video on YouTube. Is the Vajrayana "just" a clever technique within conventional Mahayana, or is it really something different.
Tarra for now! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:16
Goodbye to Series 2 - and what of the future?
Buddhism - A Starter Kit! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:05
You've been looking at Tibetan Buddhism? You want to start? But you still don't know how? This might help.
Actual Magic - And Dirt! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:29
Like it or not, magic is interwoven with Tibetan Buddhism. Is it symbolic? Or is it real?
Devotion - how and why? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:07
Devotion (mögü) - another Tibetan word that doesn't quite correspond to its English usage.
Empowerments again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:52
How do empowerments actually work?
Mind Your Language! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
Should we read our texts in Tibetan? In English? Using phonetics? Does it make any sense to read phonetics without understanding the Tibetan? Questions, questions...
Buddhist confession [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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.