Ep268: Sitting with Terror - Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron

In this episode I am joined by Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director of Saraswati Bhawan Publications.

Khandro Kunzang recalls her childhood samadhi experiences and communications with animal spirits, her meetings with great gurus, and her own path of mystical experiences.

Khandro Kunzang recounts stories about Lama Dawa and Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche including tales of mirror divination, precognitive dreams, chulen mastery, and other yogic feats.

Khandro Kunzang also explains how to work with terror and collapse of the Self, how to hold a place in one’s practice for uncertainty, and the importance of the student’s capacity when working with a guru.

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https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep...

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Early life and connection to nature
03:06 - Exposure to Eastern religion and samadhi experiences
05:38 - Powerful experience with a Buddha statue at 14 years old
08:07 - Initial Buddhist seeking
09:44 - Involvement in New Age
10:03 - Transformative resonance with Yeshe Tsogyal’s biography
12:42 - Collapse of the Self structure
14:11 - Active Buddhist involvement
16:31 - Taking refuge and life falling apart
18:34 - All in for Dharma
20:29 - Meeting Lama Dawa and open discussion of the spirit realm
26:29 - Karmic affinity with Lama Dawa
28:16 - Invitation to meet Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
29:59 - Accompanying Lama Dawa on a 9 month tour
33:10 - The influence of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
34:10 - Childhood communication with nature spirits and interest in environmental activism
38:20 - Dreams of guardian angel / dharma protector
40:42 - Feelings of alienation and other awakening experiences
44:58 - Past life as a Kagyu retreat master
47:00 - New Age interpretations
50:17 - Time as a sound healer
53:00 - More than mere appearances
54:13 - Trauma and the subtle body
55:52 - Lama Dawa’s yogic emphasis on experience
58:42 - Lama Dawa’s criticisms of scholars
59:55 - Bad death of a geshe
01:00:29 - Lama Dawa’s skill in debate
01:02:06 - Disillusionment with scholarship and social status
01:03:25 - Using the body to process trauma and “stuff” on retreat
01:05:21 - Intense experiences on retreat
01:07:18 - Discipline and music
01:09:08 - Constructive criticism and student capacity
01:11:27 - History of Lama Dawa and Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
01:18:40 - Mastery of stone chulen and other yogic feats
01:23:12 - Mirror divination and other prognostication
01:31:21 - Living with a collapsed Self
01:33:16 - Sitting with terror and holding the place for uncertainty
01:36:14 - Working with the edge
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To find our more about Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, visit:
- https://www.phurbathinleyling.org/kha...

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James