In this episode, filmed on location in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, I am joined by Dorje, an American Vajrayana practitioner born in 1947.

Dorje recounts his childhood in the American South, his move to San Francisco in 1968, and his involvement in the early days of the gay liberation movement. He recalls the arrival of AIDS in 1981, the traumatic deaths of his close friends, and the impact of his own HIV diagnosis.

Dorje explains his conversion to Buddhism in the midst of a chaotic and stressful life, his 25 years as an ordained monk, the power of Yamantaka practice, and his understanding of the spiritual path.

Dorje also explores the deep relevance of the core teachings of Buddhism to his experience of the AIDS crisis, describes the rhythms of grief and death, and shares what he has learned about helping the dying.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep262-life-of-liberation-dorje

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:03 - Dorje’s upbringing

02:07 - Dorje as a boy

02:59 - Career aspirations and becoming a lawyer

04:16 - Arriving in San Francisco in 1968

04:38 - Involvement in the civil rights movement

06:28 Early days of the gay liberation movement

09:13 - The Cockettes

11:48 - Gay political organising in Atlanta

14:02 - Arrival of AIDS in 1981

15:21 - Deaths of Dorje’s close friends

16:10 - Dorje’s HIV diagnosis

16:45 - Stages of grief

18:50 - Dorje’s HIV related legal and political work

20:39 - Activism vs realpolitik

23:06 - Encountering Buddhism

25:08 - Reading DT Suzuki and Evans-Wentz

25:46 - Shamata in a highly stressful of life

28:29 - Drawn to Tibetan Buddhism

30:39 - The life of the Buddha

33:57 - Modern insulation from sickness and death

36:14 - The Buddha’s quest for enlightenment

39:18 - 4 noble truths and the core of Buddhism

42:26 - How to develop wisdom

44:10 - The spiritual path

47:38 - Ordaining as a Buddhist monk

52:12 - The 3 jewels of refuge

54:05 - Challenges of living as a monk

56:14 - Moving to Nepal

57:48 - Why were some people slow to recognise the danger of HIV

01:02:25 - Helping the dying

01:03:27 - The rhythm of grief

01:06:43 - Actors and magicians

01:08:42 - Facing his own death

01:10:01 - The power of Yamantaka practice

01:12:10 - Living with an HIV diagnosis

01:17:06 - Leaving monasticism and solo retreat during Covid

01:19:28 - Aspiration to help those newly diagnosed with HIV

01:23:19 - How to help those with a new diagnosis

01:24:10 - Side effects of medication

01:25:31 - Climate change in Kathmandu

01:25:42 - Hippy trail and changing fashions

01:26:35 - Experimentation with psychedelics

01:27:51 - Unsung heroes of civil rights

01:28:53 - Dorje’s Great Stupa kora practice

01:30:07 - Compassion and the goal of practice

01:31:33 - Kora around the Great Stupa

01:32:34 - Developing compassion for others

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Boudhanath Interviews playlist:

- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=gFGJpi-fnLtxeyZ5

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James