Paraphernalia - Bits and Bobs

Paraphernalia - Bits and Bobs

Author: Alex Wilding March 5, 2025 Duration: 23:12
Note: the next episode, no 44, will be the last of Season 1. Season 2 is in the works! Buddhism is all about simplicity, isn’t it? Well, no, at least not when it comes to Tibetan style Buddhism. The very essence may be simple, but typical practice makes use of an enormous amount of kit - malas, dorjes, bells, hand-drums large and small, trumpets, vases, conch shells... As beginners, we may well be tempted to start collecting some of those magical bits and pieces, but if we’re not careful we end up with a lot of clutter on our table, and little idea of what to do with it. Is any of this necessary, and how much of it is even useful?   Mala with counters, dorje and bell And more: Words or phrases you might want to look up: Mala Mala counter strings and clips Mandala plate with/without rings Dorje and bell Damaru Kangling   #Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Dzogchen #Nyingma #Dorje

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: 61

The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.
Podcast Episodes
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.
What the tsok? What to expect. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:53
Tsok pujas are a big feature of Tibetan-style Buddhism as it is actually practiced, but newcomers often don't have a blind clue what's going on - explanations are hard to find. So here is a rundown with a bit of backgrou…
Secret Teachings in Tibetan Buddhism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:14
When secret teachings are spoken of in Tibetan Buddhism, the word "secret" is much closer in meaning to "sacred" or "holy" than it is to the meaning of "unknown to outsiders". When the 15th Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje, refer…
Pilgrimage. And did those feet... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:31
How does pilgrimage fit into the Buddhist way of doing things? Plus the Guru Rinpoche mantra sung to a tune you might not have expected. Words or phrases you might want to look up: Walsingham Hajj Kumbh Mela Lumbini Bodh…