In this interview I had the pleasure of talking with my good friend Lorin Roche. Lorin is an author, a translator, and has been teaching meditation since 1968.

In our discussion we cover the multi-dimensional meanings of Sanskrit, Lorin’s early years as a renegade meditation teacher in the 60s, the possibilities and dangers of meditation, the oppressed spiritual genius of women, and why each individual has a unique, personal doorway to the meditative state.

Topics Include:

- Lorin’s philosophy of translation

- The many dimensions of meaning and the music of the Sanskrit language

- The range of possible meanings of the word ‘Yoga’

- The 112 doorways to meditation offered by the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

- Meditation as a natural state

- How to find your personal doorway to meditation

- Why so much meditation practice is an unknowing echo of childhood relationship patterns

- How the inner critic disguises itself as spiritual teaching

- The dangers of meditation

- Lorin’s early years as a renegade meditation teacher in the 60s and 70s

- Why very few meditation teachers actually listen to their students

- How Lorin learned to meditate

- Why a lot of people are doing the wrong kind of meditation for them

- Teaching meditation vs practicing meditation

- The pros and cons of the ancient lineage model

- Structures of authority and the open space of live teaching

- Lorin’s filters for evaluating the ancient traditions and their techniques

- The renunciate’s contempt of householders

- The problems of householders adopting monk and nun teachings

- Living out the path of desire as a spiritual path

- Why monastic teachings harm young people

- Meditation as a celebration of a life of fullness

- The spiritual genius of women

- Traditional doctrines of the inferiority of women

- How to filter out the oppressive elements of the ancient traditions

- The many natural gateways to meditation

- How to build your own approach to meditation

- Working with Lorin

To find out more about Lorin visit:

lorinroche.com

radiancesutras.com

meditationtt.com

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Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James