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’.

In this interview, Naomi discusses the life of Freda Bedi, born in 1911 and also known as Sister Palmo; activist, radical, and the first Western woman to take full ordination in Tibetan Buddhism.

Naomi recounts Freda’s upbringing, education at Oxford University, controversial marriage to the communist activist BPL Bedi, flight from Nazi Germany, and arrival in India.

Naomi describes Freda’s conversion to Buddhism, ordination, and founding of the ‘Young Lama’s Homeschool’, where she taught English to young Tulkus such as Chogyam Trungpa, Ringu, Thupten Zopa, Chokyi Nyima, and more.

Naomi also discusses Freda’s religious practice, the remarkable circumstances of her death, and shares the accounts of Buddhist lamas who ascribe to Freda high spiritual attainments.

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Video episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep223-the-spiritual-odyssey-of-freda-bedi-naomi-levine-3

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - Writing about Freda Bedi

06:00 - The extraordinary death of Freda Bedi

10:56 - Living through remarkable times

12:30 - Born in a working class family

13:06 - Time at Oxford University

14:34 - Marrying Baba Pyare Lal ‘BPL’ Bedi

16:02 - Participation in Gandhi’s freedom movement

17:36 - Childhood meditation

20:41 - Flight from Nazi Germany

21:57 - Trouble in Kashmir

26:04 - Learning meditation under Sayadaw U Titthila and experiencing shunyata

27:14 - Friendship with Indira Gandhi and refugee work in Assam

29:02 - Founding the Young Lama’s Homeschool

31:01 - Convincing 16th Karmapa to travel to the West

33:31 - First Western woman to attain enlightenment?

35:01 - Didi Contractor on Freda Bedi

40:36 - Why is Freda Bedi not better known?

45:33 - Turbulent times and war

44:57 - Complexity and charisma

46:42 - How did Freda Bedi penetrate elite political and religious circles?

51:36- Ayang Rinpoche on Freda Bedi’s death

54:40 - Freda Bedi’s Marxism

58:27 - Ambiguities and motherhood

01:01:20 - The home life of great humanitarians

01:04:30 - BPL Bedi’s miraculous healing powers

01:09:32 - Freda Bedi’s spiritual and meditation practices

01:17:09 - Audio recording of Freda Bedi

01:35:44 - Kabir’s intention to make a film about Freda Bedi

01:36:16 - Naomi’s great admiration for Freda Bedi

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Previous episodes with Naomi Levine:

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

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

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