The Lion-Faced Guru Podcast - Pragmatic Explorations of Nondual Tantra, Vajrayana & Dzogchen Amrita Mandala Sangha

In this dialogue between Amrita Baba and his student Amrita Simha, the listener is given a down-to-earth presentation of the subtle body of meridians. How this subtle anatomy relates to physical trauma, as well as how it can relate to light body or immortality body. Baba and Simha also discuss practices from various traditions of eastern internal arts, and how these practices are applied in Amrita Mandala practices, and their own experiences with these practices.



Content:


00:00 Introduction: Lightbody, Rainbow Body, Immortality, Jesus
01:00 All beings have buddhanature, full enlightenment, Mahasiddha Interviews
03:20 Two different parts of full enlightenment, Baba's upcoming book about lightbody
05:20 Wisdom as basis, Enlightenment of the mind, theory/view is important
09:15 Mind is abstract, pragmatic dharma, Baba's book, 13 Bhumi Model
14:00 How does it feel to attain Wisdom Emptiness? Samsaric echoes and Trauma in meridian system
20:15 Discovery of Meridian Field, Help of Gurus, Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Trauma unaffected by buddhist practice
24:00 Hindu gurus: Babaji, Mataji, Thirumular and Agastya, grandfather of hindu dharma, Hindu Yoga Tantra
27:40 Enlightenment in this life, Difference between designs of hindu and buddhist practices
31:30 First cultivation of Wisdom, then cultivation of Bliss; Spontaneous Bliss - Sahajananda, Gross blisses, Hugging Saint Amma
36:15 Karl Amrita Simha discusses Wisdom Emptiness; Trauma, Experience at Wedding, Accessing trauma
43:00 Two different energy systems, Baba's observations about different types of practice, Zen Buddhism, Dantien/Tanden
46:00 Cultivating the wrong field, Awakening does not come through Embodied Practice, Qi Gong, Chinese Internal Martial Arts
50:00 Standing practice/Zhan Zhuang, Amrita Asana Yoga, Yi Jin Jing, Yi Quan, Yi - Physicalized Concentration
57:10 Physical nonduality, Amrita Asana Yoga explained, Importance of Yi, Second Course of Yi Quan
1:08:00 Working with Unified Body Frame; Standing, Kettlebell, Asana; Nine Pearls of Tai Chi
1:10:45 Guru Yoga and Taoist Immortals, Lao Tzu, Lieh Tzu; Extremely Fine Energy; 13 Bhumi Model
1:15:50 Fourth Dantien, Mikao Usui Reiki, Kriya Yoga, Mahasiddha Bhumis
1:18:50 Teachings change and get altered over time; Which teachings are really "traditional"
1:21:00 Physical, Meridians, Trauma, Acupuncture
1:23:05 Four Dantiens, Four Amrita Chakras; Are not easy to find; Sitting, Standing
1:29:00 Lightbody: How do you get there?
1:32:00 Amrita Mandala method, Rainbow Body Yoga: Mahayoga, Anuyoga, Atiyoga: Bodhicitta
1:35:10 Freedom or Happiness for all beings
1:38:30 How it all connects? More about Taoist Immortals and Zhan Zhuang as Spiritual Practice
1:43:25 Du Xinling; Taoist Master who attained Rainbow Body, Patrick Kelly's discussion, Tai Chi Push Hands; Baba, Terayama Roshi and Zen Arts
1:50:30 Art of Awareness is the Art of Arts, Zen Arts, Zen Calligraphy, Zen Martial Arts
1:53:30 About Dantiens and Meridian purification
1:57:05 Vast Effects of Trauma on the body and mind, Psychotherapy, Psychology
2:04:30 Standing practice defined; Fourth Dantien, Nine Pearls, and Yi
2:07:00 Physical Nonduality and Cessation of the Body; Non-abiding Nirvana
2:10:20 Amma's siddhis
2:13:00 Siddhis related to the physical body
2:15:15 How physical siddhis appear? Source of fuel
2:19:00 Concluding words and Prayers


More Info: https://www.amritamandala.com

Shane gives an account of his spiritual journey and experiences along the Amrita Mandala path from initial awakening in 2017 to first stage of Buddhahood / perfect realisation of emptiness over one and a half years ago in September 2021 (this episode recorded Thursday 23rd March 2023).

Shane also shares his insights about the samsaric self and its mechanism, how it works and how to work with it in practice rather than against it. And traps that might occur on the path, which we need to be aware of. In the end, there are accounts of what happens after emptiness realization, how one begins the purification of the physical cells and what experiences and insights that might entail.



Content:


0:00 Mahasiddha Interview - Shane
5:27 The initial insight was very powerful
17:54 Massively explosive experience
29:50 “Love has no barriers”
38:55 10th perfection "an implosion”
47:43 Mahasiddha Bhumis
54:48 “Hilarious!” - Final understanding of samsaric mind
59:14 Dealing with Dark Nights
1:13:12 Not a good idea to think you’re nearly finished!
1:19:29 There is a path yet it doesn’t exist
1:32:32 Lightbody cessations
1:42:32 Naked to the Universe
1:54:28 The clarity is so energising
2:04:20 More than ever it feels like my path

More Info: https://www.amritamandala.com

In this interview, Helena Ahlbäck from Finland shares the story of her path to full emptiness realization and the attainment of 10th bhumi.

We are told her story of finding bodhicitta, the heart of enlightenment, and how it carried her to realization and away from plateauing in practice.

How she experienced the various stages of the path and bhumis, meaning what are the various challenges she had to face as she went along?

And how is it the practice of post-emptiness, meaning the "leaping over" into luminosity and Light Body?

And much more about the life, view, and conduct of a yogini of our time.

Content:

0:00 Mahasiddha Interview - Helena Ahlbäck
4:04 Finding the Dharma
12:06 Awakening: “finally I could breathe”
28:24 Bodhicitta: rocket fuel for progress
36:41 11th Bhumi: dialling in to the natural state
39:04 Perfections: deeper and deeper clarity
50:44 Cessations: Buddha nature revealed in full
58:24 Perfecting the 10th: trusting the process
1:04:24 Final cessation: the moment & unwavering certainty
1:15:02 The Tantric way: embracing all aspects of life
1:25:41 Tiniest trace of confusion: you’re still screwed!
1:33:55 Light body practise (post-emptiness)
1:44:26 Cessations into light body

More info: www.amritamandala.com

In this interview, we meet with Robert Andersson from Sweeden, who shares his story of spiritual endeavors and insights!

Robert reveals how he achieved his first awakening insight using the Just One Look Method.

He describes his post-awakening practice, the mingling of the samsaric mind and the original mind -  or what in Amrita Mandala is referred to as Bhumi Openings and Bhumi Perfections.

Lastly, we hear about his realization of Dharmadatu Exhaustion,-

when one's recognition of one's primordial mind is completely stable and with no regression.

The interview also includes an interesting discussion on emotions; what is a healthy view of emotion from a dharma perspective and how does one who has reached realization experience emotions? And, he tells the story of how bodhicitta was coming through in his life pre-awakening and how he views bodhicitta now.

Finally, the motivation for the rarest and most sought-after Spiritual Achievement; namely the Light Body/Rainbow Body, the ultimate fruit of the spiritual path.

Thank you so much Robert for your effort, bravery, and generous sharing!

May all beings benefit!

0:00 Mahasiddha Interview - Robert Andersson
4:24 Explanation of the 13 Bhumi Model (our Path Map)
6:56 What drew Robert to spirituality?
16:37 Initial awakening with Just One Look Method
21:35 Finding Amrita Baba
25:15 Illness & slow progress
28:35 First Bhumi perfection
31:48 Ramp it up! Taking every opportunity to practice
39:14 Final Bhumis
42:11 To enlightenment: "I needed to get it done!"
51:52 “Like it always should have been”
59:14 Compassion, emotion and energetics
1:07:43 Going for Rainbow Body

In this interview we are taken through the path of Amrita practitioner Ugi. He started his path with the search for happiness, be it through relationship, self-development or career. Eventually ending up finding the futility in of these endeavours and being pulled towards Dharma practice.

When so encountering dharma and meditation teachings, we hear about the pitfall of Shamata practice, especially related to view-teachings on how to view thoughts. And we hear about the many variations of the modern non-dual stage, and how that compare to the lineages of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Then there is the encountering with the Amrita Mandala lineage and teachings, and we are given clear in-depth descriptions of the Ugi’s insights and path:

• The first Breakthrough or Awakening, seeing one’s own mind for the first time.

• The phase and practices that we use for this breakthrough to mature and stabilize.

• The stage of one-taste of thoughts and emotions.

• Description of the stages of cessation and working with "substrate" mind at a very late point of practice.

• The point of Exhaustion where one "flip" into the sameness of samsara and nirvana, and you do not stray from all pervasive wakefulness anymore, one has completed the Trechöd practice and reached the forth vision.

• These stages of insights are discussed here both from the point of view of Bhumis, as is Amrita Mandalas path map, and in relation to the Four Yogas of Mahamudra, so a comparison of two different path maps.

The interview was conducted by Amrita practitioner Chris Protheroe.

Content:

0:00 Mahasiddha Interview - Ugi Müller
6:46 What drove Ugi to spirituality?
13:33 Initial awakening
19:19 The 'light bulb' moment
23:28 Process of Mahamudra Vipashyana
26:58 Direct access to Buddha Nature
38:29 Non-dimensionality
45:39 6th Bhumi: One-Taste & Cessations
53:05 Final battle with Mara & Enlightenment
1:01:36 Doubts about Buddhahood
1:11:14 Effortlessness
1:15:36 Post-emptiness practice
1:21:19 Is this possible?

More Information: www.amritamandala.com

In the 7th episode of the Lion-Faced Guru Podcast, Kim Rinpoche, Lama Karl and Acharya Ugi from the Pemako Buddhist lineage will talk about one of the essential aspects of dharmic practice: Bodhicitta, the aspiration to achieve Buddhahood for the liberation of all sentient beings. 

As simple and straightforward this aspect of Bodhicitta might seem, it’s one of the topics so many practitioners of Dharma struggle with. And a quick look into Dharma literature reveals that this isn’t due to a lack of explanation. The books are full of explanations regarding Bodhicitta.

Yet, people have a hard time connecting their own experience to it which often leads to doubt, confusion and hesitation towards the Dharma and their practice thereof.

In the following pragmatic discussion, we will address these difficulties from our own personal understanding that we’ve come to due to our own experiences and challenges with the aspect of Bodhicitta.