In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Buddhist nun Guruma Dhamma Vijaya.

Guruma recalls her childhood in Kathmandu Valley, the religious life of her Newar Vajrayāna family, and why she turned to Theravāda Buddhism and took ordination as a nun.

Guruma recounts her extensive training in Mahasi and Goenka meditation styles, compares tantric techniques to ānāpānassati, and offers her understanding of the essence of Buddhist teaching.

Guruma details her educational journey, describes her life-changing encounter with feminism while studying in the USA, and tells the story of obtaining a PhD on the subject of Buddhist Feminism.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep344-nepali-buddhist-nun-guruma-dhamma-vijaya

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:50 - Homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha

01:54 - Blessing and welcome

02:33 - Question etiquette in different cultures

03:17 - Guruma’s Newar childhood in Kathmandu Valley

06:11 - Guruma’s education pathway to PhD

06:36 - Family dynamics

07:30 - First meeting with Buddhist nuns

09:46 - From Vajrayāna to Theravāda

11:12 - Desire to be a nun

12:48 - Attending a teaching by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya

13:54 - The loss of the bhikkhunī ordination lineage

14:28 - Becoming a nun

17:54 - 4 years of study in Taiwan

19:20 - Meditation and further studies in Burma and India

20:02 - Studying meditation under Mahasi Sayadaw and S.N. Goenka

26:37 - Mahasi vs Goenka

27:37 - 4 points of Goenka meditation

29:10 - Ānāpānassati meditation is the Buddha’s teaching

29:55 - Guruma’s practie

30:51 - Vajrayāna vs Theravāda

36:27 - Body mantras and Vajrayāna threats

39:15 - Choosing Ānāpānassati over Vajrayāna

43:23 - Freedom from suffering

45:38 - The essence of Buddhist teaching

47:25 - Encountering feminism

54:58 - Messy status of nuns in Nepal

01:03:02 - Theravāda revival

01:05:39 - Tragic reason why Guruma’s teacher became a nun

01:08:14 - Buddhist pilgrimage sites

01:08:54 - Life is precious and exhortation to practice

01:1341 - Dedication prayer and blessing

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Kathmandu Interviews playlist:

- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=4U8rRVEHKA4Z28oF

Find out more about Guruma here:

- http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html

- https://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James