The Wisdom Podcast Lama Alan Wallace: Dzokchen Dialogues (#202)
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Jan 18, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Lama Alan Wallace, a key figure in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, shares his deep insights from decades of practice and teaching. He explores the intersection of mindfulness, Dzokchen, and Western psychology, emphasizing how these practices can cultivate emotional awareness. The conversation delves into achieving pure awareness and the essence of nirvana, highlighting the importance of compassion and wisdom. Lama Alan also reflects on the transformative power of silence during retreats, offering a captivating glimpse into the depths of spiritual realization.
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Lama Wallace's Retreat Journey
- Lama Alan Wallace shared his journey from aspiring yogi to scholar and meditator, repeatedly entering and exiting retreat.
- His ongoing retreat since 2022 aims to reach irreversible bodhisattva path realization, supported fully by his wife.
Shamatha's Unique Mental Stillness
- Shamatha meditation involves distinguishing the mind's stillness from its mental activity, resting in awareness beyond engagement.
- This practice differs from Western conceptions, offering a unique path to mental stillness and focus.
Substrate Consciousness in Meditation
- The substrate consciousness (alaya) is experienced as a vacuous mind space distinct from sensory and mental activities.
- Awareness can turn inward to illuminate this substratum, a precursor to deeper Dzogchen realization called self-illuminating mindfulness.
