Buddha at the Gas Pump 740. Lawrence Pintak – Lessons from the Mountaintop
Oct 22, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Lawrence Pintak, an award-winning journalist and scholar with a PhD in Islamic Studies, shares his journey in Tibetan Buddhism. He reflects on how spiritual practices shifted his perspective on war reporting and explores essential questions about human nature and the challenges of spiritual ego. Pintak discusses the importance of grounding in one tradition while also learning from others. He emphasizes the vibrational power of sacred words and considers whether humanity is moving toward an age of enlightenment.
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Anchor Your Practice
- Spiritual breakthroughs require a rooted tradition to be integrated safely into life.
- Without an anchor, powerful experiences can destabilize and “screw you up.”
Teacher Manifested By Karmic Timing
- Lawrence and his wife unexpectedly hosted a Tibetan lama after a telex announced his arrival in Indonesia.
- The encounter confirmed the idea that a teacher appears when the student is ready.
War Shows Human Extremes
- War reporting exposed Lawrence to extreme human behavior, showing both cruelty and deep spirituality.
- Those contrasts intensified his search for meaning and spiritual practice.
