Ep293: Secrets of Consort Practice - Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron

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Feb 14, 2025

Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director of Saraswati Bhawan Publications, shares her profound experiences as a spiritual consort to a Tibetan lama. She discusses the rigorous preparations and yogic practices involved in consort work, touching on its contentious nature, particularly regarding life extension. Khandro also offers insights on how to navigate guidance from a guru and reveals why she is finally speaking publicly about this secretive practice.

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INSIGHT

The Graduated Path

Khandro Kunzang emphasizes the importance of following a structured path in Tibetan Buddhist practice, rather than randomly picking teachings.
She highlights the graduated path (Maha, Anu, Ati) as a way to ensure practitioners reach Ati Yoga without obstacles.

INSIGHT

Ati Yoga as Fruition

Khandro Kunzang explains the Nyingma lineage's view of Ati Yoga (Dzogchen) as a fruition of the gradual path.
She says that consistent practice builds energy, mental capacity, and purification, preparing one for the effortless path of Ati Yoga.

ANECDOTE

Secret Training in Nepal

Khandro Kunzang shares her experience of intensive, secret training with Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche after he moved into her house in Nepal.
She received teachings at night, practiced discreetly, and was instructed not to disclose her training to prevent jealousy among other students.

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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 reveals her experience as a spiritual consort to a Tibetan lama, and shares her understanding of this controversial practice. Khandro Kunzang recalls how she became a consort, details her extensive preparations, and explains the coarse and subtle body yogas involved. Khandro Kunzang also discusses the use of consort practice for life extension, how to respond if a guru suggests you become his consort, and why it is that she is now talking publicly about this hitherto secret practice. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep293-secrets-of-consort-practice-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - The graduated path 04:28 - The fruition of Dzogchen and Ati Yoga 05:41 - The effortless path 06:34 - Dzogchen mistakes 07:40 - Is a 3 year retreat necessary? 08:42 - Personalised retreat with guru 09:32 - Signs of accomplishment on retreat 14:31 - Secret training with Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 16:03 - Jealousy of Tibetan students 17:33 - Pure Dzogchen vs gradual path 21:04 - How do I know my practice is working? 23:50 - The ultimate test of practice 25:30 - Lama Dawa’s terminal cancer and yogic death 31:17 - The practice of yogic dying 33:11 - Physiological signs of tukdam 34:07 - Death of Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 35:42 - Miraculous behaviour of Lama Dawa’s relics 37:42 - Difficulties and challenges during Lama Dawa’s end of life 42:08 - Personal restoration during the pandemic 42:48 - The ultimate teaching 43:25 - Displacing grief to keep the show on the road 46:48 - When to begin consort practice? 50:37 - Authentic consort practice is very rare 52:01 - Classic consort stories 53:41 - Abusive lamas and gurus who claim expertise in consort practice 55:10 - The support role of a guru’s consort 56:50 - An “activity consort” 58:19 - Preparing to be Lama Dawa’s consort 59:13 - Using a consort to extend your life 01:00:59 - Using pipes to open the urethra 01:04:49 - Training to purify the lower chakras and draw in the essence fluid 01:06:49 - Working with the thigle drops 01:07:17 - Using eros to experience emptiness 01:08:20 - Consort practice is not romantic 01:08:49 - Extreme consort practice 01:10:06 - Unresolved traumas in consort practice 01:11:05 - Is vajrolī mudrā really possible? 01:13:22 - Jñānamudrā and self practice 1:17:06 - Test your lama if he suggests consort practice 01:20:48 - Why talk openly about secret consort practice? 01:21:24 - Disrobing as a nun to engage in tantric practice 01:23:17 - Seeing your teacher as a living Buddha 01:24:16 - Motives for marrying Lama Dawa  … Previous episodes with Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=khandro%20kunzang To find our more about Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, visit: - https://www.phurbathinleyling.org/khandro-kunzang/