During a recent trip to Nepal, I met with Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism.

Glenn was in Kathmandu to lead a group of pilgrims into tantric retreat and graciously agreed to film with me at various sacred sites before and after their retreat.

In this video, Glenn and I travel to Pharping where we explore sacred sites, temples, and meditation caves.

We meet a student of Glenn’s who performs a fire pūjā after a multi-year cycle of tantric retreat, enter the meditation cave of Padmasambhava, view a self arising Tara image, and encounter guard dogs at the Vajrayoginī temple.

Glenn converses with monks, explains the meaning of prayer flags, and traces the esoteric history of the region.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep369-esoteric-pharping-lama-glenn-mullin

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:57 - Pharping as a sacred site

01:32 - Pāṃthiṅpa brothers

02:21 - Fire pūjā footage

03:02 - Esoteric meaning of the fire puja

04:17 - Guru Rinpoche’s enlightenment place

04:43 - Other great masters who practiced in Pharping

06:05 - History of Tibetan monasteries in Pharping

09:27 - Ra Lotsawa Tulku’s monastery

10:17 - View of the developing valley

10:58 - Self-arisen (rangjung) Tara shrine

11:21 - Ganesh in Buddhism

11:51 - Entering the shrine and viewing the self-arisen Tara

12:26 - About the rangjung phenomenon

13:48 - Lighting the butter lamp

15:56 - Drupthob Rinpoche and persecutions

18:58 - 5 visions of Tsongkhapa

19:16 - Retreat huts

20:00 - About prayer flags

21:16 - Origin of the Dalai Lamas

23:00 - Prayer in Buddhism

24:52 - Evening vs morning kora advice

26:20 - About Thrangu Rinpoche

27:31 - Namo Buddha and the Buddha’s sacrifice

28:28 - Towards the Asura cave

30:12 - Guru Rinpoche cave

31:51 - Hand print of Guru Rinpoche

33:00 - Entering the cave

34:04 - Walking and conversations

37:11 - Vajrayoginī temple

38:31 - Kathmandu’s Buddhist past

40:25 - Remarks on religious conflict

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Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin:

- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin

To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit:

- http://www.glennmullin.com/

- https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Thanks to Norbu Samphel for checking my translation of the Tibetan language.