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