Ep275: I Was A Tantric Disciple - Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron 2
Oct 11, 2024
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Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director at Saraswati Bhawan Publications, shares her transformative journey under the guidance of ngakpa Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche. She delves into the profound trust in the guru-disciple relationship, revealing her rigorous training and insights into tummo practice. Khandro recounts her guru’s psychic abilities and the intense loyalty required from students. The discussion also highlights integrity, the challenges of spiritual authority, and the intricate dynamics of mentor-student relationships.
Khandro Kunzang reflects on her transformative apprenticeship under Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, encompassing profound Tibetan Buddhist practices and deep trust.
The podcast underscores the essential qualities of a worthy student, emphasizing honesty, commitment, and readiness for rigorous spiritual practice.
Khandro Kunzang explores the dual motivations in spiritual practices, balancing self-interest with the aspiration to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of others.
Deep dives
Apprenticeship Under Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
Khandro Kunzang details her unique apprenticeship under Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche in Nepal, which encompassed various Tibetan Buddhist practices. Her training progressed from Yidam practices to Tummo, emphasizing the strong trust established between the guru and disciple. This relationship led to intense and immersive experiences, where she actively participated in empowerments and divination activities, gaining insights into her spiritual path. Kunzang's stories about her teacher's psychic abilities illuminate the profound depth of the guru-disciple dynamic and the expectations placed on students.
The Value of a Strong Guru-Student Relationship
Khandro Kunzang emphasizes the importance of a close relationship with a guru, highlighting the qualities that make a student worthy of such a bond. A devoted student must be open, honest, and willing to engage deeply in spiritual practices, particularly in the rigorous nundro. The practices she undertook, including making tormas and participating in rituals, reflect the commitment required to cultivate trust and respect within this sacred relationship. This reflects a broader teaching on the differences between those who impart Dharma with lineage authority versus those lacking that backing.
Challenges and Learning Experiences
Khandro Kunzang shares personal challenges she faced during her intense training in Nepal, including feelings of confusion and frustration while working with her teacher's teachings. The tours with Lama Dawa not only served as a learning experience but also as a test of her capacity to adapt to different environments and cultural expectations, all while juggling personal commitments. Throughout this process, she also navigated tensions between her role as a nun and the expectations surrounding spiritual practice, particularly regarding the consort relationship. This balancing act highlights the complexities of maintaining vows while seeking deeper spiritual connections.
The Significance of Honesty and Trust
Honesty and transparency are fundamental aspects of the relationship between a teacher and student in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, as conveyed by Khandro Kunzang. Rinpoche's methods of testing students ensured that only those open to genuine spiritual growth would receive his teachings. These tests often involved direct and sometimes uncomfortable inquiries about students' lives, highlighting the emphasis on sincerity. Such accountability not only cultivates trust but also encourages students to remain committed to their spiritual journey and adhere to their vows.
Navigating Self-Interest in Spiritual Practice
Khandro Kunzang discusses the dual aspects of motivation for students in their spiritual practices, exploring both self-interest and the aspiration for enlightenment. While self-interest is inherent, maintaining a focus on bodhicitta—the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of others—remains crucial for genuine progress. Conflicts can arise when personal desires overshadow the collective goals of practice, necessitating a deeper introspection among practitioners. This nuanced understanding of motivation enriches the spiritual journey and fosters a commitment to uphold the integrity of both teacher and student dynamics.
In this episode I am once again joined by Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director of Saraswati Bhawan Publications.
Khandro Kunzang details her apprenticeship in Nepal under renowned ngakpa Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, outlines the course of her training from yidam practice to tummo and beyond, and reflects on the profound trust involved in the guru-disciple dynamic.
Khandro Kunzang shares stories about Kunzang Dorje’s psychic powers, his testing the honesty and obedience of potential students and even other lamas, and the price he paid for adhering to his yogic ideals by refusing involvement in politics and religious institutions.
Khandro Kunzang explains the value of a close relationship with a guru, what it takes to be a worthy student to a spiritual master, and considers the differences between those who teach dharma with or without lineage authority.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep275-i-was-a-tantric-disciple-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron-2
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Finding the guru
02:08 - US Tour with Lama Dawa
06:13 - Personal time and teachings with Lama Dawa
08:08 - Insistence on ngondro
09:16 - Proposing a consort relationship
14:23 - Meeting Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche in Nepal
16:46 - Past life test
20:48 - Receiving Dudjom Tersar 3 Roots Empowerment
22:00 - Challenged to drink alcohol as a nun
24:41 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche agrees to become Khandro’s teacher
25:23 - Further ngondro and 6 month retreat
27:01 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s clairvoyance and psychic powers
28:51 - How Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche tested seekers and students
30:29 - Exposing infidelity between a student and lama
31:23 - The importance of honesty and trust
32:23 - A pride offering
34:13 - Follow-through and other conditions of samaya
36:40 - A disobedient student
38:28 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s attitude towards high lamas
40:51 - The price of purity
42:52 - Exploitation of Westerners
44:15 - Ngakpas don’t form groups
45:20 - Faith in the guru
47:03 - Challenged by Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
49:11 - Arguing with Lama Dawa
50:09 - The value of having a close relationship with a teacher
52:12 - Wrathful teaching vs abuse
53:57 - 2 dimensions of mentorship
55:08 - Motivation and lama wannabes
57:29 - Critique of bad lamas who come to the West
59:20 - What makes a real student?
01:00:27 - Importance of work ethic and personal sacrifice
01:02:30 - Self interest and hidden agendas
01:04:14 - Who is authorised to teach the lineage?
01:07:07 - Selecting a lineage holder
01:08:37 - Different levels of teacher
01:10:02 - The burden of being enthroned
01:12:56 - Khandro details her training under Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
01:14:28 - Generation stage for ḍākinī, lama, and yidam
01:16:02 - Tummo and completion stage practices
01:19:40 - Rare pipe practice
01:23:23 - Private and public enthronements
01:25:28 - Further completion stage practices and Vajrakīlāya
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Previous episode with Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep268-sitting-with-terror-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron
To find our more about Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, visit:
- https://www.phurbathinleyling.org/khandro-kunzang/
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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