Ep344: Nepali Buddhist Nun - Guruma Dhamma Vijaya

In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Buddhist nun Guruma Dhamma Vijaya.

Guruma recalls her childhood in Kathmandu Valley, the religious life of her Newar Vajrayāna family, and why she turned to Theravāda Buddhism and took ordination as a nun.

Guruma recounts her extensive training in Mahasi and Goenka meditation styles, compares tantric techniques to ānāpānassati, and offers her understanding of the essence of Buddhist teaching.

Guruma details her educational journey, describes her life-changing encounter with feminism while studying in the USA, and tells the story of obtaining a PhD on the subject of Buddhist Feminism.

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Video version: guruviking.com/podcast/ep344-nepali-buddhist-n…

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha
01:54 - Blessing and welcome
02:33 - Question etiquette in different cultures
03:17 - Guruma’s Newar childhood in Kathmandu Valley
06:11 - Guruma’s education pathway to PhD
06:36 - Family dynamics
07:30 - First meeting with Buddhist nuns
09:46 - From Vajrayāna to Theravāda
11:12 - Desire to be a nun
12:48 - Attending a teaching by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya
13:54 - The loss of the bhikkhunī ordination lineage
14:28 - Becoming a nun
17:54 - 4 years of study in Taiwan
19:20 - Meditation and further studies in Burma and India
20:02 - Studying meditation under Mahasi Sayadaw and S.N. Goenka
26:37 - Mahasi vs Goenka
27:37 - 4 points of Goenka meditation
29:10 - Ānāpānassati meditation is the Buddha’s teaching
29:55 - Guruma’s practie
30:51 - Vajrayāna vs Theravāda
36:27 - Body mantras and Vajrayāna threats
39:15 - Choosing Ānāpānassati over Vajrayāna
43:23 - Freedom from suffering
45:38 - The essence of Buddhist teaching
47:25 - Encountering feminism
54:58 - Messy status of nuns in Nepal
01:03:02 - Theravāda revival
01:05:39 - Tragic reason why Guruma’s teacher became a nun
01:08:14 - Buddhist pilgrimage sites
01:08:54 - Life is precious and exhortation to practice
01:1341 - Dedication prayer and blessing

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Kathmandu Interviews playlist:
- youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU4…

Find out more about Guruma here:
- tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html
- arthurmachen.org.uk

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James