In this episode, I am joined by Lopon Yudron Wangmo, American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and author of several books including her recent “Clearing the Way to Awakening”.
Lopon Yudron Wangmo offers an analysis of the shortcomings of today’s Buddhist literature, details the writing process for “Clearing the Way to Awakening”, and reveals the stylistic and language choices she made to better reach the average reader.
Lopon Yudron Wangmo describes the power of the ngondro preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism and explains the techniques of mantra recitation, prostrations, mandala offerings, bodhicitta generation, tummo, śamata, and more.
Lopon Yudron Wangmo extols the benefits of turning away from worldly life and towards religion, reports the fruits of her own practice such as profound peace and joy, warns about the danger of following a guru without first testing him, and advises on how to work with the supernatural dimension of Buddhism.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep303-clearing-the-way-to-awakening-lopon-yudron-wangmo
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Clearing the Way to Awakening
01:52 - The problem with today’s Buddhist literature
03:20 - Sublime topics
04:22 - Style considerations for today’s reading level
06:03 - Learning to write more simply for the average reader
07:18 - Patrul Rinpoche and avoiding imitation
08:30 - What is awakening?
09:09 - Local context in Buddhist cultures
10:34 - Buddha’s description of his awakening
12:37 - Working with the supernatural dimension of Buddhism
14:25 - The ālaya vijñāna and the unconscious mind
17:34 - Buddha nature vs being driven and unconscious
18:57 - Gradualist vs subitist awakening
20:22 - The role of ngondro and the power of visualisation
22:51 - The power of recitation
24:05 - The power of prostrations
26:17 - The power of maṇḍala offerings
28:13 - Why esoteric practices are not appropriate for most people
30:00 - The secrets to completing your ngondro
32:27 - The importance of motivation
33:15 - The anti-climax of realising the nature of mind
35:33 - Tummo and śamata
36:50 - Origin of the ngondro system + Theravada critique
39:17 - Taking refuge
40:30 - Generating bodhicitta and practicing the four immeasurables
41:12 - Vajrasattva and purification practice
42:21 - Merit making and guru yoga
44:06 - If you don’t like it, don’t practice it
45:04 - Yudron asks for Steve’s opinion
46:58 - Choose your Buddhism
48:23 - Disillusionment with saṃsāra and choosing Buddhism later in life
50:03 - The power of choice and acquired ADHD
51:43 - Get on it
52:38 - The power of disillusionment and renunciation
55:07 - The peace and joy of turning away from the world
57:41 - The suffering of loneliness and the fruits of practice
01:00:09 - The mechanism of spiritual contentment
01:02:04 - Yudron on the importance of disclosing attainments
01:03:28 - Spiritual saints
01:04:13 - Political lamas and checking out gurus
01:05:32 - Personal relationship with the guru
01:07:13 - We’re all devoted to something
01:09:09 - Pitfalls of ngondro: anxiety, OCD, depression, and PTSD
01:14:06 - Yudron’s struggles with depression and anxiety
01:19:34 - Boomer Buddhists
01:20:04 - Preliminary or foundational?
01:22:06 - Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s advice about retreat
01:23:38 - Congratulated by Vajrasattva and the ontology of deities
01:26:45 - Spontaneous feelings of love
To find out more about Lopon Yudron Wangmo, visit:
- https://www.yudronwangmo.com/
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
