Christina Monson spent decades studying with the meditation master Chatral Rinpoche in the mountains of Nepal and translating and practicing the teachings of Sera Khandro. But it was facing stage four cancer that revealed whether decades of practice could meet the greatest pain with the greatest teaching. This conversation, recorded less than a year before Christina's passing, offers a window into what it means to follow one's heart all the way through, free of regrets.

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Time notes:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:02:18] Meeting Chatral Rinpoche

[00:08:48] Seeing Her Ego Up Close

[00:14:10] A Nomad's Temperament

[00:17:57] Mountain Retreat

[00:25:08] Discovering Sera Khandro

[00:27:30] The Rhythm of Retreat

[00:28:48] No Sessions, No Breaks

[00:32:09] About Sera Khandro

[00:36:37] Grief and Terminal Diagnosis

[00:43:47] Everything as a Test of Practice

[00:47:45] Natural Process of Illness

[00:49:04] Precious moments

[00:51:18] Sera Khandro's Song of Severance

[00:58:58] The Power of Her Realization

[01:01:02] Chatral Rinpoche's Prayer

[01:05:19] The Impossibility of Translation

[01:10:40] Following One's Heart, No Regrets

This conversation originally aired on Dec 21, 2022

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Christina Monson was a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, and Tibetan language translator, and interpreter with over 30 years of study, translation, and practice experience in Buddhism.

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Links:

A Dakini's Counsel: Sera Khandro's Spiritual Advice and Dzogchen Instructions

By Sera Khandro and translated by Christina Monson

https://www.shambhala.com/a-dakini-s-counsel.html?srsltid=AfmBOoryRwpUExBE8808dsuCtSMUzURCGSXpNh6n5hr1l10NsLOcG0DO

A Song of Amazement Inspired by Practice Experience

by Sera Khandro

https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/sera-khandro/song-of-amazement

Spontaneous Advice Connected with a Prayer

by Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche

https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/chatral-rinpoche/spontaneous-advice-connected-with-prayer

Post-Listen Episode with Sally Kempton

https://oliviaclementine.com/sally-kempton-on-tantra-divinity-shakti-the-subtle-influences/