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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Published in 1933, 'Lost Horizon' by James Hilton follows the story of Hugh Conway, a British consul, and three other strangers who escape political unrest in China by boarding a plane that is hijacked and crash-lands in the Tibetan Himalayas. They find shelter in the mystical and utopian lamasery of Shangri-La, where they encounter a society that values moderation, peace, and harmony. The novel delves into profound themes such as the exhaustion of passions, the importance of moderation, and the contrast between the tranquility of Shangri-La and the chaos of the outside world. The characters must decide whether to stay in this paradise or return to the stresses and wars of civilization, leading to a thought-provoking exploration of human values and societal responsibilities[1][3][5].
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Chögyam Trungpa
This book by Chögyam Trungpa addresses the common pitfall of spiritual materialism, where the ego converts spiritual practices into self-improvement, reinforcing the ego instead of achieving true liberation. Trungpa's teachings emphasize the need to recognize and avoid this trap, encouraging a path of mindfulness and the cultivation of inner strength and confidence. The book has resonated with students for nearly thirty years and remains a fresh and relevant guide for spiritual practitioners today.
The Miraculous 16th Karmapa
The Miraculous 16th Karmapa
Naomi Levine
Chronicles of Love and Death: My Years With The Last Spiritual King of Bhutan
Chronicles of Love and Death: My Years With The Last Spiritual King of Bhutan
Naomi Levine
A Quest For The Hidden Lands
A Quest For The Hidden Lands
Naomi Levine
Not Dark Yet, But Getting There, the Kali Yuga
Not Dark Yet, But Getting There, the Kali Yuga
Naomi Levine
The Myth of Freedom
The Myth of Freedom
Chogyam Trungpa
Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones
Naomi Levine
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
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