In this episode I am once again joined by Naomi Levine, author, under her birth name Norma Levine, of multiple books including ‘The Miraculous 16th Karmapa’, ‘A Quest For The Hidden Lands’, and ‘Chronicles of Love and Death: My Years With The Last Spiritual King of Bhutan’.

Naomi discusses her various publications about the Karmapas, focusing in particular on the lives and activities of the 16th and 17th of that line.

Naomi describes the magical powers and spiritual aura of the 16th Karmapa, recounts her own and others’ experiences of his supernatural potency, and recalls the process of compiling stories of his miraculous activities.

Naomi explores the controversies around the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, including his recognition, escape from Tibet, interactions with the Tibetan government in exile, and various accusations in the media.

Naomi also speculates about the futures of both the Tibetan political cause and the Tibetan religious institutions after the death of the Dalai Lama.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep208-karmapa-tales-naomi-levine-2

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

01:12 - 16th Karmapa’s miraculous powers

02:51 - Meeting the 16th Karmapa in England

05:08 - Apolitical

06:51 - Political intrigue and persecution of the Karmapas

09:02 - The 16th Karmapa’s freedom

10:13 - The controversy of the 17th Karmapas

11:50 - Escaping from Tibet but captured in Dharamsala

22:35 - Politics and Dharma

24:03 - The unravelling of the Tibet cause

26:23 - The future of Tibetan religion

28:56 - Did the Tibetan government In exile block the 17th Karma’s activities?

31:41 - The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s current situation

34:11 - Compiling satires for ‘the book’

36:15 - A black hat ceremony story

43:18 - How did the Karmapa become so supernaturally powerful?

48:22 - Allegations against the 17th Karmapa

57:05 - The role of the 17th Karmapa in discovering the Shabdrung’s yangsi

01:07:54 - Separating personal religious practice from religious politics

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Previous episode with Naomi Levine:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep190-love-death-in-the-himalayas-naomi-levine

To find out more about Naomi Levine, visit:

- https://www.facebook.com/naomilevine111

- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Norma-Levine/author/B001K86LZ4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James