In this episode, I am joined by Lopon Yudron Wangmo, American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and author of several books including her recent “Clearing the Way to Awakening”.

Lopon Yudron Wangmo offers an analysis of the shortcomings of today’s Buddhist literature, details the writing process for “Clearing the Way to Awakening”, and reveals the stylistic and language choices she made to better reach the average reader.

Lopon Yudron Wangmo describes the power of the ngondro preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism and explains the techniques of mantra recitation, prostrations, mandala offerings, bodhicitta generation, tummo, śamata, and more.

Lopon Yudron Wangmo extols the benefits of turning away from worldly life and towards religion, reports the fruits of her own practice such as profound peace and joy, warns about the danger of following a guru without first testing him, and advises on how to work with the supernatural dimension of Buddhism.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep303-clearing-the-way-to-awakening-lopon-yudron-wangmo

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:04 - Clearing the Way to Awakening

01:52 - The problem with today’s Buddhist literature

03:20 - Sublime topics

04:22 - Style considerations for today’s reading level

06:03 - Learning to write more simply for the average reader

07:18 - Patrul Rinpoche and avoiding imitation

08:30 - What is awakening?

09:09 - Local context in Buddhist cultures

10:34 - Buddha’s description of his awakening

12:37 - Working with the supernatural dimension of Buddhism

14:25 - The ālaya vijñāna and the unconscious mind

17:34 - Buddha nature vs being driven and unconscious

18:57 - Gradualist vs subitist awakening

20:22 - The role of ngondro and the power of visualisation

22:51 - The power of recitation

24:05 - The power of prostrations

26:17 - The power of maṇḍala offerings

28:13 - Why esoteric practices are not appropriate for most people

30:00 - The secrets to completing your ngondro

32:27 - The importance of motivation

33:15 - The anti-climax of realising the nature of mind

35:33 - Tummo and śamata

36:50 - Origin of the ngondro system + Theravada critique

39:17 - Taking refuge

40:30 - Generating bodhicitta and practicing the four immeasurables

41:12 - Vajrasattva and purification practice

42:21 - Merit making and guru yoga

44:06 - If you don’t like it, don’t practice it

45:04 - Yudron asks for Steve’s opinion

46:58 - Choose your Buddhism

48:23 - Disillusionment with saṃsāra and choosing Buddhism later in life

50:03 - The power of choice and acquired ADHD

51:43 - Get on it

52:38 - The power of disillusionment and renunciation

55:07 - The peace and joy of turning away from the world

57:41 - The suffering of loneliness and the fruits of practice

01:00:09 - The mechanism of spiritual contentment

01:02:04 - Yudron on the importance of disclosing attainments

01:03:28 - Spiritual saints

01:04:13 - Political lamas and checking out gurus

01:05:32 - Personal relationship with the guru

01:07:13 - We’re all devoted to something

01:09:09 - Pitfalls of ngondro: anxiety, OCD, depression, and PTSD

01:14:06 - Yudron’s struggles with depression and anxiety

01:19:34 - Boomer Buddhists

01:20:04 - Preliminary or foundational?

01:22:06 - Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s advice about retreat

01:23:38 - Congratulated by Vajrasattva and the ontology of deities

01:26:45 - Spontaneous feelings of love

To find out more about Lopon Yudron Wangmo, visit:

- https://www.yudronwangmo.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James