Ep307: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism - Lama Justin von Bujdoss & Charlie Morley
Freitag, 23. Mai 2025 · 1 h 57
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Shownotes
In this episode I host a dialogue between Lama Justin von Bujdoss and Charlie Morley.
Justin and Charlie share their extensive experience as modern teachers of Vajrayana, compare notes on the state of Tantra in the West, and reflect on the responsibility of openly teaching previously restricted, esoteric practices.
Justin and Charlie wrestle with the tension between conserving traditional religious forms and innovating to meet today’s moral sensibilities and technological currents. They suggest changes they would like to see in both Asian Buddhist cultures and Western society, consider the pros and cons of long meditation retreats in today’s world, and call for hierarchical equality for women practitioners and teachers.
I invite Justin and Charlie to reveal the underlying principles that guide their desired reforms and consider the pitfalls of advocating change without awareness of one’s guiding rationale.
Justin and Charlie also discuss the role of neuroscience in the furthering of Buddhist understanding, reveal the potential trauma-healing power of dream yoga and dark retreat, and share their thoughts on the impact of fatherhood on one’s religious life.
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- State of the Dharma in 2025
- Secret practices now widely available
- Whiteness and misogyny
- Why are secret practices openly taught?
- Conservatism is the achilles heel of the Karma Kagyu sect
- Controversy about online empowerments
- Understanding emptiness
- Dream empowerments
- Technology and survival of Buddhism
- Amulets of protection
- 4th turning of the wheel of Dharma
- Trauma, racism, and classism, refugees
- Working for the NYC Department of Corrections
- Potential of dream yoga and dark retreat for healing trauma
- Why don’t Tibetan lamas talk about trauma?
- Cultural overlay, Tibetan identity, and religion
- Western calls for reform vs traditional Tibetan values
- Conservatism vs reform
- Real religion vs mere cultural overlay
- N vs 3-year retreat
- Different versions of ngondro
- Classical Indian approaches to tantra
- How to reform without losing the spirit of the religion
- The energy of the tradition
- Justin’s desire for social change in Vajrayana
- Wisdom keeper vs lineage holder
- 2-way revolution
- How to decide what should be changed vs what should be preserved
- Charlie’s collaboration with Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
- Charlie criticises misogyny in Tibetan Buddhism
- Transgender and non-binary people in Himalayan Buddhist contexts
- Religious traditions are diverse and evolving
- Yogis and practice results
- Fatherhood and Dharma
- Long retreats are not important if you can rest in rigpa
- Dharma Dads workshop
- How important is ordination?
- Why is ordination so emphasised?
- Justin almost became a monk
- Advice for parents
- Charlie reflects on impending fatherhood and not being a monk
- Steve’s concluding remarks
- Steve urges a deeper investigation into motives behind advocacy for change
- Culture and Dharma essence
- Charlie’s concluding remarks and encouragement for practitioners
- Justin’s concluding remarks
- Praise for Guru Viking Podcast, and encouragement to practitioners
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Previous episodes with Justin:
- guruviking.com/search?q=bujdoss
Previous episode with Charlie:
- guruviking.com/search?q=morley
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Find out more about Justin:
- justinvonbujdoss.com
Find out more about Charlie:
- charliemorley.com
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For more interviews:
- guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
