During a recent trip to Nepal, I met with Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism.
Glenn was in Kathmandu to lead a group of pilgrims into tantric retreat and graciously agreed to film with me at various sacred sites before and after their retreat.
In this video, Glenn and I travel to Pharping where we explore sacred sites, temples, and meditation caves.
We meet a student of Glenn’s who performs a fire pūjā after a multi-year cycle of tantric retreat, enter the meditation cave of Padmasambhava, view a self arising Tara image, and encounter guard dogs at the Vajrayoginī temple.
Glenn converses with monks, explains the meaning of prayer flags, and traces the esoteric history of the region.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep369-esoteric-pharping-lama-glenn-mullin
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Pharping as a sacred site
01:32 - Pāṃthiṅpa brothers
02:21 - Fire pūjā footage
03:02 - Esoteric meaning of the fire puja
04:17 - Guru Rinpoche’s enlightenment place
04:43 - Other great masters who practiced in Pharping
06:05 - History of Tibetan monasteries in Pharping
09:27 - Ra Lotsawa Tulku’s monastery
10:17 - View of the developing valley
10:58 - Self-arisen (rangjung) Tara shrine
11:21 - Ganesh in Buddhism
11:51 - Entering the shrine and viewing the self-arisen Tara
12:26 - About the rangjung phenomenon
13:48 - Lighting the butter lamp
15:56 - Drupthob Rinpoche and persecutions
18:58 - 5 visions of Tsongkhapa
19:16 - Retreat huts
20:00 - About prayer flags
21:16 - Origin of the Dalai Lamas
23:00 - Prayer in Buddhism
24:52 - Evening vs morning kora advice
26:20 - About Thrangu Rinpoche
27:31 - Namo Buddha and the Buddha’s sacrifice
28:28 - Towards the Asura cave
30:12 - Guru Rinpoche cave
31:51 - Hand print of Guru Rinpoche
33:00 - Entering the cave
34:04 - Walking and conversations
37:11 - Vajrayoginī temple
38:31 - Kathmandu’s Buddhist past
40:25 - Remarks on religious conflict
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Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin
To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit:
- http://www.glennmullin.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
Thanks to Norbu Samphel for checking my translation of the Tibetan language.
