Lama Tsomo is an American lama, author, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation. She followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that ultimately led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Tsomo learned Tibetan to study with her teacher Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, and now shares the teachings of the Namchak lineage in the US and abroad. Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is the author of the award winning Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? An Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice. She is passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change.
Website: namchak.org
Books:
- Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice
- Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling?: A Westerner’s Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice
- The Lotus & the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Transcript and summary of this interview
Interview recorded March 25, 2018
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
- 00:03:53 – Becoming a Lama and the Responsibilities
- 00:08:24 – A Journey in Spiritual Exploration
- 00:13:06 – The Insubstantiality of Matter
- 00:17:29 – Conversations on Reincarnation and Mindstream
- 00:22:00 – The Three Bodies in Tibetan Buddhist Practice
- 00:26:37 – Parallels in Different Traditions and the Holographic Quality of the Universe
- 00:31:18 – Joining with the Whole Ocean
- 00:36:23 – The difference between anger and acting violently
- 00:40:14 – The Five Afflictive Emotions and Enlightenment
- 00:44:47 – Total Awareness Beyond the Nervous System
- 00:49:38 – The Subtle Body and Enlightenment in Buddhism
- 00:54:01 – The Antidote to the Three Poisons
- 00:59:03 – Different Branches of Buddhism
- 01:02:55 – Finding What Works and the Power of Sangha
- 01:07:29 – The Power of Connection and Community
- 01:11:21 – Starting Learning Circles and Traveling for Teachings
- 01:15:11 – The Importance of Live Instruction in Meditation
- 01:19:30 – Visualization and Familiarity
- 01:23:44 – The Mud Pit and Cleaning the Windshield
- 01:27:12 – The Importance of Guru Yoga
- 01:31:35 – The Purpose of Birth and Evolution
- 01:35:40 – Major Shifts in Spiritual Development
- 01:40:29 – Mother Nature’s Wrath
- 01:43:58 – Exploring Self-Realization and the Use of Drugs
- 01:47:38 – Gamma Waves and Enlightenment
- 01:52:11 – Enlightenment and the Afterlife
- 01:56:12 – The complexity of the universe’s intelligence
- 02:00:25 – The Two Truths in Buddhism
- 02:04:50 – Accessible Meditations and Additional Resources
- 02:08:43 – Conclusion and Farewell
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