In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Nida Chenagtsang, Buddhist teacher, doctor of Tibetan Medicine, and author of "Foundations of Vajrayana”.

Dr Nida discusses the foundations of tantric practice, shares the power of its intensive ngondro practices, and reveals how to face one’s emotions with Vajrayana methods.

Dr Nida also explains the nyingthig genre of heart drop teachings, differentiates true freedom from spiritual bypass, and shares an anecdote of a student who experienced a temporary awakening.

Dr Nida also probes me about the Buddhist doctrines of suffering and taking refuge, explains the difference between good and bad attachment, and reveals why Buddha Shakyamuni does not require respect.

…

Video version:

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

…

Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

00:55 - New books

02:40 - About the ngondro book

03:49 - Dr Nida’s history of ngondro practice

05:18 - Yuthok’s Nyingthig

08:29 - The nyingthig genre of Tibetan spiritual texts

15:59 - 5th Dalai Lama’s mastery of Yuthok Nyingthig

17:52 - Tibetan medical and astrological training

20:09 - Jamgon Kongtrul’s Yuthok Nyingthig commentary

21:27 - Dr Nida’s experiences as a teacher

23:47 - The importance of asking questions

27:25 - When Buddhism makes people more stressed

29:43 - Extreme freedom and spiritual bypass

30:50 - 2 types of realisation

33:38 - Importance of ngondro

38:53 - Prostrations are a perfect yoga

42:04 - The teacher must connect with students

46:40 - Good attachment vs bad attachment

48:53 - 4 Noble Truths

49:35 - Making the ngondro personal to you

51:06 - Practice must begin where you are

53:54 - Making practice truly personal

58:45 - Buddhist gospel

59:53 - Spiritual bypass in Buddhism

01:00:22 - Anecdote about a temporary awakening

01:02:24 - Dr Nida probes Steve about taking refuge

01:06:09 - A new language of refuge

01:06:55 - Guru traumas

01:09:00 - You are a Buddha

01:10:42 - Final teaching of Dzogchen

01:12:09 - Buddha Shakymuni did not require respect

01:14:16 - Soothing emotional suffering

01:16:33 - Many methods of Vajrayana

01:17:25 - Facing your emotions

…

Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang:

- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida

To find out more about Dr Nida Chenagtsang, visit:

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

- http://www.skypressbooks.com/

…

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James