In this interview I am joined by Thupten Phuntsok, Buddhist teacher who, after 21 years as a monk in the Gelugpa order, disrobed to live the life of a lay person in New York City.

Phuntsok describes his childhood in Haiti, and the awakening of his desire to become Christ-like and dedicate his life to spiritual contemplation. Phuntsok shares his subsequent explorations in Western Esotericism, Indian yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism including studies under Rato Rinpoche and Geshe Lobsang Tharchin.

Phuntsok also shares his views on the dysfunctions of modern sexuality, the scholastic emphasis of his Gelugpa training, the 6 Yogas of Naropa, and reveals the surprising reasons why after two decades he chose to leave the monastic life behind.

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Video version at: https://www.guruviking.com/ep121-leaving-monasticism-thupten-phuntsok/

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:49 - Childhood spiritual leanings

03:21 - Why Phuntsok did not become a Catholic priest

04:46 - Christian vs Buddhist monasticism

06:13 - Interest in reading and meeting Kyongla Rato Rinpoche

09:50 - What does it mean to be Christ-like

12:46 - Tonglen and substitutionary atonement

13:55 - Studies with Rato Rinpoche, the Himalayan Institute, and Rosicrucianism

19:31 - Meeting Sermey Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin

23:55 - Social context, Hinduism & Buddhism

25:26 - Phuntsok’s daily practice

27:24 - Daily esoteric practice of Rosicrucianism

31:00 - States of high concentration and the lack of masters

34:45 - Ordination as a Buddhist monk

40:28 - Family opinion on Phuntsok’s ordination

42:34 - Struggles as a monk

49:22 - Sexuality and celibacy

51:52 - Modern sexuality is dysfunctional, multi-generational trauma

55:22 - Analysis of dysfunctional sexuality

01:02:50 - How did Phuntsok arrive at this view?

01:21:31 - Why Phuntsok didn’t live in a monastery

01:30:00 - Doctrinal education under Geshe Lobsang Tharchin

01:39:05 - 6 Yogas of Naropa and sacrilegious views on tantra

01:43:49 - Disrobing as a monk after 21 years

01:50:23 - Out of touch with people

01:57:43 - Teaching activities

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To find out more about Thubten Phuntsok, visit:

- https://www.thuptenphuntsok.com/

- https://www.youtube.com/c/ThuptenPhuntsok

- https://www.patreon.com/thuptenphuntsok

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James