Series 2 - Episode 10

With Josh, of Integrating Presence, I am being asked to introduce you to Bhutan, Vajrayana and the upcoming Global Peace Prayers Festival to be held 4th to 19th November 2025.

(Ai assist:) overview of Bhutan's history, including its self-imposed isolation until the 1970s, the influence of Padmasambhava (the "second Buddha"), and how Vajrayana Buddhism integrates compassion, wisdom, and power into daily life and governance.The festival, centered around honoring the 70th birthday of Bhutan's fourth king on November 11, has evolved from a single Kalachakra empowerment into a two-week event featuring large-scale pujas (rituals), mantra chanting for protection and peace, a three-day Kalachakra mandala ceremony (focusing on non-duality and interdependence), global prayers dedicated to the king, and a nuns' ordination ceremony to advance women's roles in Vajrayana. The event aims to promote global peace amid ongoing conflicts, drawing on Buddhist concepts like bodhicitta (Buddha nature in all beings) and the power of mantras to counter greed, hatred, delusion, ignorance, and jealousy.They address misconceptions about Bhutan, such as the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF, now $100/day, covering most travel costs for high-value, low-volume tourism). The conversation emphasizes the festival's timeliness in a world of war rhetoric, climate change, and AI-driven modernity, advocating for bridging ancient devotional practices with contemporary tools like a mantra-logging app (Guru App) to engage youth and foster a "butterfly effect" of positive energy. Participation options include in-person attendance (with visa and travel details), live streaming via Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) on YouTube, virtual mantra contributions, or organizing local watch parties. The episode concludes with reflections on preserving pure Dharma amid technological shifts, encouraging discernment and inner peace.Overall, the podcast blends educational insights on Bhutanese Buddhism with calls to action for global harmony, making it appealing for Buddhists, spiritual seekers, and those interested in sustainable societies. The tone is conversational, respectful, and occasionally light-hearted www.globalpeaceprayers.org Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) Official live streams: / @bbsbhutan / bbschannel2 globalpeaceprayers.org/old/registration.php Travel Agent: IntrekParo: bhutanintrek.com email: [email protected]: +97577227840mantra app: guruapp.bt (will launch on November 4th the initial day of event)FB page: / 61579817360896 IG: / gppbhutan Enlightened Leadership the Book of sitting PM: penguin.sg/book/enlightened-leadership/ Integrating Presence on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/integrating-presence/id1556570867

Series 2 Ep 9

Reflections on Nepal’s events from the Dharma point of vue.

Announcement and refresher after a long silence.

Episode #9 - Musings on experiencing tremors in Bangkok on Friday 28th March as a result of the EQ in Myanmar - The grandiose gatecrashing of impermanence in one’s life is something to always be ready for.

Series 2 - Episode 8 - Dylan’s experience at Plum Village France, is a journey of self discovery and exploration in finding balance with a new practice diverging from his foundational Thai Forest Tradition Vipassana he is accustomed to. Our converation browses various topics such being at ease with a practice while keeping precepts and discipline.

Series 2 Episode 7 - Join me as Vivien unpacks her experience of spending one full month in self retreat at Wat Boonyawad - a secluded monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition.

Ajahn Dtun is a Maha Thero from the Ajahn Chah lineage -

About Ajahn Chah

Previous conversation with Vivien

Series 2 Episode 6: Vagaboots is a photographer and graphic designer from Italy and while you listen to him you can get a glimpse of his stunning photography.

The love for long-distance walking is a character traits of Vagaboots, who in a previous episode told us about his walk on foot across India - Here he tell us all about how and why he joined the Maha Khumb Mela in Prayagraj and eventually how he had to walk away from it -

Join us on IG, FB, YouTube too.

Season 2 Episode 5 - Bangkok Series

As she landed in Bangkok, we meet Vivien at Wat Po in Bangkok, sit down and started a 5 hours long exchange of ideas on practice, experiences of living Monasteries and the more. An excerpt of our conversation is shared as she shares insights and hindsights on self-retreats. We will meet her again when she exits the retreat.

Mentioned here is Wat Boonyawad

Find us on IG, FB, YouTube and Apple Podcasts Dhamma on The Sidewalk.

Season 2 Episode 4 - Bodhgaya Series

With Thukten Yeshi from Bhutan, we meet again to talk about his recently published novel The Monk Without Dharma - How will Tompo, the protagonist realise the emptiness of all phenomena and reach the rainbow body?

The brilliant reader-friendly fiction with short paragraphs is a genuine self-discovery journey on the realisation of the emptiness of all phenomena.

Available on Amazon and in Nepal at Tibet Bookstore on Tridevi Margh

See also : Season 1 Episode #27 Nothing Is As It Appears

Episode #3 - Bodhgaya Series - What is it like to follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama and photograph him for a significantly close distance? This is what Neal Watkins did for 15 yrs + and here he tells us a bit about his experience also with various sanghas in India. Join me in welcoming Neal to the podcast.

Mentioned in the conversation:

Kalachakra

Root Institute for Wisdom Culture - Bodhgaya

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Taking Refuge meaning

Spiti Valley

Teaching Archives of the HHDL

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