Naomi Levine, an author on Tibetan Buddhism and spirituality, delves into apocalyptic prophecies within the Kālacakra tantra. She discusses the Kali Yuga, highlighting its signs such as moral decay and climate change. Levine shares insights on the mystical kingdom of Shambhala and the prophesied holy war against barbarian hordes. The conversation touches on the Dalai Lama's Kālacakra initiation rituals and the role of sacred sites in balancing energy. Ultimately, she reflects on how to embrace hope amid the looming sense of impending apocalypse.
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insights INSIGHT
Kali Yuga Overview
The Kali Yuga, the Dark Age, is a vast, cyclical time period within Hindu cosmology, adopted by Buddhists.
It's characterized by moral, spiritual, and environmental decline, unlike the linear time concept.
insights INSIGHT
Spiritual Decline in Kali Yuga
As the Yugas progress, materialism intensifies, diminishing spiritual pursuits.
Enlightenment through simply hearing teachings, common in the Buddha's time, is now rare.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Dating the Kali Yuga
Naomi Levine couldn't find a definitive start date for the Kali Yuga, with some sources placing the Buddha within it.
One scholar suggests it began 1500 years ago, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding its origin.
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In this episode I am once again joined by Naomi Levine, author, under her birth name Norma Levine, of several books including ‘The Miraculous 16th Karmapa’, ‘A Quest For The Hidden Lands’, and ‘Chronicles of Love and Death: My Years With The Last Spiritual King of Bhutan’.
In this interview, Naomi discusses her latest writing about the apocalyptic prophecies of the Kālacakra tantra, a Tibetan Buddhist scripture promoted by the Dalai Lama.
Naomi discusses the doctrine of the dark age known as the “Kali Yuga” including its origins, its signs and symptoms, and Buddhist ideas about its unfolding. Naomi tells the story of Shambala, a mystical kingdom ruled by enlightened, bodhisattva kings, and reveals the prophesied holy war which the Kālacakra tantra claims will see the Shambala army face off against barbarian hordes.
Naomi also discusses the surprising implications of the Dalai Lama’s mass Kālacakra initiation rituals, the role of stūpas and other religious monuments in geomantic magick, and how she personally deals with a sense of impending apocalypse.
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https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep288-apocalypse-now-naomi-levine
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics Include:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - What is the Kali Yuga?
06:38 - Moral and environmental degeneration
10:14 - When did the Kali Yuga begin?
12:39 - Signs of the Kali Yuga and climate change
15:55 - Multi-dimensional reality and hidden lands
17:44 - Naomi’s pilgrimage to the hidden land of Pemako
20:42 - The Pure Lands in Buddhist cosmology
21:57 - The kingdom of Shambala
26:25 - Seeking Shambala
27:28 - The Kālacakra Tantra
30:28 - Prophecy of the battle of Shambala
33:42 - Good vs evil
35:26 - Does the Kālacakra refer to Islam?
37:42 - Why does the 14th Dalai Lama give Kālacakra initiations?
39:33 - Inner or outer battle?
43:01 - Tai Situ’s interest in the timespan between Buddhas
44:55 - Is Shambala just a myth?
46:09 - What is Shambala?
47:35 - Shangri-La and Hilton’s “Lost Horizons”
48:28 - Chogyam Trungpa’s version of Shambala
51:50 - How geomancy and building stupas affect world events
52:48 - Stupas as geomantic magic
56:56 - Cancelling Jane Austen
57:52 - Dissolution of the elements
59:45 - Tukdam
01:01:47 - How Naomi responds to the end times
01:05:33 - The constantly shifting drama of world events
01:06:43 - Suggestion for non-Buddhists
01:07:48 - Naomi asks Steve’s opinion
01:09:14 - Prophecies of lamas and other mystics
01:10:09 - Apocalyptic thinking and displaced death anxiety
01:10:31 - Naomi’s attitude towards death
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Previous episodes with Naomi Levine:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=naomi
To find out more about Naomi Levine, visit:
- https://www.facebook.com/naomilevine111
- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Norma-Levine/author/B001K86LZ4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James