Ep369: Esoteric Pharping - Lama Glenn Mullin

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. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep369-esoteric-pharping-lama-glenn-mullin Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … 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 … 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.