Tibetan Buddhism Vajranaya by Lama Glenn

https://youtu.be/DnyoGmURsXo

In this interview I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhist Lama Glenn Mullin.

Glenn takes a deep dive into the use of yidam, or meditation deities, in Buddhist tantra including the role of personal preference, karmic coincidence, and divination in choosing the right yidam for you. 

Glenn reveals his own primary yidam practice and details the unusual experiences around his initiation as well the effects of the yidam practice over his lifetime.

Glenn also explains the use of ritual instruments, mudra, and choreographed hand gestures in Tantric practice, and discusses what it means to become an accomplished practitioner of these disciplines.

Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro 
00:47 - How to choose a practice deity 
11:54 - How to determine your karmic dispositions and tales of empowerments 
18:13 - Divination and karmic coincidence 
24:57 - Effects of Yamantaka tantric practice on Glenn 
44:42 - What is a yidam really?
54:10 - What does it mean accomplish a practice?
01:02:23 - Tantric use of ritual instruments, mudra, and choreographed hand gestures
1:26:04 - Founding ‘The Mystical Arts of Tibet’ touring group

February 25, 2022

Lama Glenn Mullin is a Tibetologist, Buddhist scholar, and teacher of Tantric Buddhist meditation. He divides his time between writing, teaching, meditating, and leading tour groups to the power places of Himalayan region. He studied and received vital lineage transmissions from over thirty-five of the greatest masters of the time from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Glenn Mullin has authored more the 30 books on Tibetan Buddhism, many of them focused on the lives and translations of the works of the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 

Glenn Mullin’s website: https://www.glennmullin.com 

In this conversation, Lama Glen Mullin and Dr. Miles Neale discuss:

・The meaning and role pilgrimage plays in Tibetan Buddhist Culture

・The outer, inner, and secret forms pilgrimage

・The relationship of mythology and sacred geography

・The power of pilgrimage to heal sickness

・The magic of the Kathmandu valley

・Secrets of the Boudanath and Swayambunath stupas

・Psychedelics in Hindu and Buddhist tantra

・Padmasambhava cave and Vajrayogini shrine in Pharping

・Advices for embarking on pilgrimage

https://www.gradualpath.com/podcasts/wisdom-keeper-podcast/episodes/2147690733

https://youtu.be/OdmzPOKPLR8

In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhist Lama Glenn Mullin.

Glenn explains the 4 Classes of Buddhist Tantra - Kriya, Charya, Yoga, and Anuttarayoga - including their history and development, and what distinguishes them from each other in practice and view.

Glenn reveals the structures of each level of Tantra, compares their creation and completion stage practices, and discusses the possible Persian origin of the Bön and Nyingma schools and their classification systems.

Glenn also guides a walk-through of the Kriya Tantra practice of Avalokiteshvara, using his own translation of the 3rd Dalai Lama’s practice text to illuminate each step.

Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro 
00:48 - Life update and current projects 
06:29 - The history and development of the 4 Classes of Tantra 
18:18 - The classic metaphor for explaining the 4 Class classification system
21:45 -The secret code language of the Hidden Meaning Tantras
24:04 - The structures of the different classes of Tantra 
26:24 - Generation stage and the three Kayas
31:54 - Each Tantra is a living lineage
34:31 - Bön influence on the Nyingma School’s Tantric classification
40:54 - Ati Yoga and Dzogchen 
43:43 - Prerequisites for practicing Tantra 
44:22 - Persian influence on the Bön and Nyingma codification
49:54 - Differences in the khyerim practices of the 4 Classes of Tantra
54:08 - Detailed Kriya Tantra practice walkthrough
1:10:47 - Chenrezig, Majushri, Tara, and Amitayus Kriya Tantras 
1:13:10 - Kriya Yoga dzogrim practices 
1:14:37 - How to practice multiple Tantras
1:17:24 - 3rd Dalai Lama on the 7 Stages of Chenrezig Kriya Tantra