Dos, don'ts, and who cares (some do) about wearing the red-and-white striped "Ngagpa shawl".

A crucial text for the mahamudra tradition of, in particular, the Kagyu traditions descended from Marpa the Translator

Season 2 is coming soon

Final episode of Season One!

Groping towards the dharma in the midlands of England in the 1960s.

Bookworm paradise: Birmingham Central Library as it was then:

Words or phrases you might want to look up (in no particular order, and some best forgotten!):

Man, Myth and Magic (magazine)

Gurdjieff

PD Ouspensky

Paul Brunton

Anagarika Govinda

Edward Conze

Alexandra David-Neel

Evans-Wentz

Christmas Humphreys

Marco Pallis

Waddel’s “Lamaism: Buddhism of Tibet”

Lobsang Rampa

H P Blavatsky

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Dzogchen #Nyingma

Note: the next episode, no 44, will be the last of Season 1. Season 2 is in the works!

Buddhism is all about simplicity, isn’t it? Well, no, at least not when it comes to Tibetan style Buddhism. The very essence may be simple, but typical practice makes use of an enormous amount of kit - malas, dorjes, bells, hand-drums large and small, trumpets, vases, conch shells...

As beginners, we may well be tempted to start collecting some of those magical bits and pieces, but if we’re not careful we end up with a lot of clutter on our table, and little idea of what to do with it. Is any of this necessary, and how much of it is even useful?

Mala with counters, dorje and bell

And more:

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Dzogchen #Nyingma #Dorje

Termas and tertons – spiritual treasures and their finders – are an inescapable feature of some branches of Tibetan Buddhism. Come along for the magical ride!

A phurbu

A ngagpa, undoubtedly a practitioner of termas.

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Dzogchen #Nyingma #Terma #Terton #Dudjom

Most traditions of Buddhist practice have nothing that resembles the tulku tradition. In the Tibetan traditions, you can’t get away from them. What are they? And what are they good for?

Karma Pakshi, one of the first tulkus.

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Mahamudra #Dzogchen

Come with me over the plains of Amdo in a little blue and white bus 30 years ago.

We have a couple of dozen pilgrims, two Chinese drivers and a supply of diamox. Should be fine!

Stupa at Benchen

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Mahamudra #Dzogchen

Some verses you'll hear again and again.

Not a definitive list – there ain’t no such thing. But if you know these by heart and can join the recitation at the drop of a hat, you will achieve one great thing: you will look good!

The "Three Jewels"

The Refuge formula:

Lama la kyab su chi o

Sangye la kyab su chi o

Chö la kyab su chi o

Gendün la kyab su chi o

Some words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Refuge #Bodhicitta

Q: Is the lama your boss? Big daddy? Friend? Mate? Therapist?

A: Mostly not

Then what?

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Lama

Longchen Rabjampa, one of the most famous Nyingma Lamas.