About this episode
Lama Tsomo is an American lama, author, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation. She followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that ultimately led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Tsomo learned Tibetan to study with her teacher Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, and now shares the teachings of the Namchak lineage in the US and abroad. Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is the author of the award winning Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? An Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice. She is passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change. Website: namchak.org Books: Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling?: A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice The Lotus & the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript and summary of this interview Interview recorded March 25, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:53 - Becoming a Lama and the Responsibilities 00:08:24 - A Journey in Spiritual Exploration 00:13:06 - The Insubstantiality of Matter 00:17:29 - Conversations on Reincarnation and Mindstream 00:22:00 - The Three Bodies in Tibetan Buddhist Practice 00:26:37 - Parallels in Different Traditions and the Holographic Quality of the Universe 00:31:18 - Joining with the Whole Ocean 00:36:23 - The difference between anger and acting violently 00:40:14 - The Five Afflictive Emotions and Enlightenment 00:44:47 - Total Awareness Beyond the Nervous System 00:49:38 - The Subtle Body and Enlightenment in Buddhism 00:54:01 - The Antidote to the Three Poisons 00:59:03 - Different Branches of Buddhism 01:02:55 - Finding What Works and the Power of Sangha 01:07:29 - The Power of Connection and Community 01:11:21 - Starting Learning Circles and Traveling for Teachings 01:15:11 - The Importance of Live Instruction in Meditation 01:19:30 - Visualization and Familiarity 01:23:44 - The Mud Pit and Cleaning the Windshield 01:27:12 - The Importance of Guru Yoga 01:31:35 - The Purpose of Birth and Evolution 01:35:40 - Major Shifts in Spiritual Development 01:40:29 - Mother Nature's Wrath 01:43:58 - Exploring Self-Realization and the Use of Drugs 01:47:38 - Gamma Waves and Enlightenment 01:52:11 - Enlightenment and the Afterlife 01:56:12 - The complexity of the universe's intelligence 02:00:25 - The Two Truths in Buddhism 02:04:50 - Accessible Meditations and Additional Resources 02:08:43 - Conclusion and Farewell