In this episode I am joined by Khandro Déchen, Lineage Lama, alongside her husband and teaching partner Ngak’chang Rinpoche, of the Aro gTér tantric house holder tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

We learn about Khandro Déchen’s upbringing and career in nursing, and how working with the sick and dying prepared her for her role as a spiritual teacher.

Khandro Déchen recounts her first meeting and subsequent courtship with the man who would later become both her teacher and husband, Ngak’chang Rinpoche.

We learn about Khandro Déchen’s practice in the hidden places of the Himalayas and her contact with great Lamas such as Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche .

Khandro Déchen also discusses power differentials between teacher and student, females teachers and the patriarchy, her love of Kum-Nye physical practices, and more.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep65-khandro-dechen-english-ngakma/

Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

0:00 - Intro

0:59 - Khandro Déchen’s upbringing and meeting Ngak’chang Rinpoche

7:04 - Why Buddhism was so appealing to Khandro Déchen

8:40 - Khandro Déchen’s nursing career

11:53 - Principles for working with the sick and dying

15:15 - How Khandro Déchen works with spiritual students

17:28 - Khandro Déchen’s sisters conversion to Buddhism

19:57 - Early days of the Aro gTer

20:55 - Beginning a romantic relationship with Ngak’chang Rinpoche

27:14 - The power differential between teacher and student and its implications

34:04 - Chimé Rigdzin Rinpoche making the relationship public

36:40 - Meeting Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche

41:12 - Stories about Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Samphel Dechen

44:54 - How Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche viewed Ngak’chang Rinpoche

47:05 - Why Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche didn’t have many students

48:52 - ‘King of the Universe’

50:22 - Where did Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s charisma come from?

51:01 - Khandro Déchen’s practice in the hidden places of the Himalayas

58:18 - Meeting the current incarnations of Dudjom Rinpoche

1:00:39 - Navigating being both the wife and student of Ngak’chang Rinpoche

1:02:47 - Considerations as Lamas raising children

1:09:58 - Khandro Déchen’s work in yidam drawing

1:14:12 - The physical practices of Kum-Nye

1:18:34 - Do female teachers bring a unique perspective?

1:23:24 - Gender politics over Khandro Déchen’s lifetime

1:27:44 - The end result of practice

1:28:33 - Patriarchy as male power

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Check out my previous interviews with Khandro Déchen:

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep16-ngapka-chogyam-and-khandro-dechen-guru-viking-interviews/

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep39-ngakchang-rinpoche-and-khandro-dechen-pandemic-edition/

To find out more about Khandro Déchen, visit:

- -http://arobuddhism.org/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

– www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James