About this episode
Lama Tsültrim Allione is an author, internationally known Buddhist teacher, and the founder and resident lama of Tara Mandala Retreat Center. She is the author of Women of Wisdom, national bestseller Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, which is now translated into seventeen languages, and Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. Born in New England to an academic and publishing family, Lama Tsultrim traveled to India in her late teens and in 1970, at the age of twenty-two, was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun by H. H. the Sixteenth Karmapa. After four years living as a nun in the Himalayan region, she returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a family of three children. She has a Master's degree in Buddhist Studies/Women's Studies from Antioch University. Her writings and teachings come from her sublime Tibetan lamas as well as her experience as a Western woman and mother. She is known for her ability to translate the wisdom of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition into clear teachings that are relatable and relevant to Western audiences. Lama Tsultrim continues to guide Tara Mandala, as the resident lama, as well as thousands of students around the world. She was named Buddhist Woman of the Year in 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information on Lama Tsultrim Allione watch a documentary on her life, Feeding Your Demons, and visit the Tara Mandala website. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 8, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:58 - The Beginning of My Journey in India 00:06:36 - Discovering Joy in Dharamsala 00:10:08 - The Black Hat Ceremony and Buddhist Legends 00:13:26 - Witnessing a Lama's Miraculous Handprint 00:16:26 - The Rock Experiment and the Power of Faith 00:19:41 - The Dharma and Buddhist philosophy 00:22:32 - Meeting the Karmapa and Finding My Guru 00:26:04 - Ordained by His Holiness in Bhutan 00:29:36 - Physical Benefits of Prostrations 00:32:40 - The Decision to Leave Monasticism 00:36:12 - Dedication of Merit to Benefit All Beings 00:39:50 - Finding Compassion through Personal Loss 00:43:12 - Inequity between Men and Women in Buddhism 00:46:27 - Women and Nature in Religion 00:49:53 - The Reciprocal Relationship Between Nature and Human Beings 00:53:15 - The Divine Feminine and Immanent Presence in Creation 00:56:00 - The Radiance of the Phenomenal World 00:59:34 - The Divine's Discipline and Natural Disasters 01:03:32 - The Archetype of the Fierce Feminine 01:06:53 - The power of the mandala practice in transforming the mind 01:10:09 - Testimonials: Activism and Healing 01:13:19 - Ontological existence of the Daikinis 01:16:09 - Experiential Investigation and Integration with the Elements 01:19:22 - Empowerment through Dakini Mandala Practice 01:22:18 - Making Progress in the Good 01:25:11 - Holding Absolute and Relative Truths 01:28:03 - Recognition by Lamas in Tibet 01:31:29 - Working for Her 01:34:13 - Building on Past Life Development 01:37:11 - batgap.com and Links to Your Website