453. Lama Tsültrim Allione - a podcast by Rick Archer

Lama Tsültrim Allione is an author, internationally known Buddhist teacher, and the founder and resident lama of Tara Mandala Retreat Center. She is the author of

Women of Wisdom,national bestseller Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, which is now translated into seventeen languages, and
Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine.Born in New England to an academic and publishing family, Lama Tsultrim traveled to India in her late teens and in 1970, at the age of twenty-two, was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun by H. H. the Sixteenth Karmapa. After four years living as a nun in the Himalayan region, she returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a family of three children. She has a Master's degree in Buddhist Studies/Women's Studies from Antioch University. Her writings and teachings come from her sublime Tibetan lamas as well as her experience as a Western woman and mother. She is known for her ability to translate the wisdom of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition into clear teachings that are relatable and relevant to Western audiences. Lama Tsultrim continues to guide Tara Mandala, as the resident lama, as well as thousands of students around the world. She was named Buddhist Woman of the Year in 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information on Lama Tsultrim Allione watch a documentary on her life, Feeding Your Demons, and visit the Tara Mandala website.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook GroupTranscript of this interview

Interview recorded May 8, 2018.Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.


Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:58 - The Beginning of My Journey in India00:06:36 - Discovering Joy in Dharamsala
00:10:08 - The Black Hat Ceremony and Buddhist Legends00:13:26 - Witnessing a Lama's Miraculous Handprint
00:16:26 - The Rock Experiment and the Power of Faith00:19:41 - The Dharma and Buddhist philosophy
00:22:32 - Meeting the Karmapa and Finding My Guru00:26:04 - Ordained by His Holiness in Bhutan
00:29:36 - Physical Benefits of Prostrations00:32:40 - The Decision to Leave Monasticism
00:36:12 - Dedication of Merit to Benefit All Beings00:39:50 - Finding Compassion through Personal Loss
00:43:12 - Inequity between Men and Women in Buddhism00:46:27 - Women and Nature in Religion
00:49:53 - The Reciprocal Relationship Between Nature and Human Beings00:53:15 - The Divine Feminine and Immanent Presence in Creation
00:56:00 - The Radiance of the Phenomenal World00:59:34 - The Divine's Discipline and Natural Disasters
01:03:32 - The Archetype of the Fierce Feminine01:06:53 - The power of the mandala practice in transforming the mind
01:10:09 - Testimonials: Activism and Healing01:13:19 - Ontological existence of the Daikinis
01:16:09 - Experiential Investigation and Integration with the Elements01:19:22 - Empowerment through Dakini Mandala Practice
01:22:18 - Making Progress in the Good01:25:11 - Holding Absolute and Relative Truths
01:28:03 - Recognition by Lamas in Tibet01:31:29 - Working for Her
01:34:13 - Building on Past Life Development01:37:11 - batgap.com and Links to Your Website

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