Love & Liberation with Olivia Clementine

Tashi Dekyid Monet is a Tibetan scholar, writer, and translator who grew up in the Eastern Tibetan Highlands in the rhythms of nomadic and agricultural life, where time is measured by light and shadow, where songs carry cosmological wisdom and where knowing the face of the land means being woven into a web of reciprocal relationships with all four realms of beings. Through explorations of oral tradition, sacred geography, spiritual songs, and the concept of tendrel, or auspicious connection, Tashi offers insights into ways of knowing that nurture belonging, protect sacred knowledge, and recognize land itself as a teacher. Time notes: 00:00:00 — Introduction 00:01:30 — Nomadic Highlands, Sacred Peaks 00:07:00 — Village Life as Education 00:10:00 — Light, Shadow, Flowers and Birds Tell the Time 00:16:00 — Knowing the Face of the Land 00:19:30 — When Land Extends Your Very Self 00:22:30 — Songs That Carry Cosmological Wisdom 00:26:00 — Tashi Sings 00:29:30 — The Yogi Shabkar and the Sacred Mountain 00:34:00 — A Dream Visit With the Mountain King 00:38:00 — Four Realms 00:42:30 — Consequences of Breaking Reciprocity 00:46:00 — The Secret Layer 00:50:00 — Protecting Knowledge From Extraction 00:54:00 — What Is Tendrel? 00:58:00 — Recognizing Auspicious Connections 01:02:00 — Raising Children in a Foreign Land 01:06:00 — Tashi Sings: Exquisite Abundance 01:10:30 — A Closing Prayer for Auspiciousness ~ Links: Post-listen episode: Drukmo Gyal: Ngakma Lifestyle, Slowing Down & Balancing the Inner Elements https://oliviaclementine.com/drukmo-gyal-ngakma-lifestyle-slowing-down-balancing-the-inner-elements/ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Time notes: [00:07:45] - Lakota and intuition [00:10:29] - The highest intelligence [00:16:03] - The spiritual umbilical cord [00:21:20] -33 intelligences [00:27:51] - Relationship with time and timelessness [00:31:37] - Morning ritual of perception [00:34:48] - Innocence [00:40:42] - The elder at the creek [00:46:16] - Language of grief [00:54:16] - Using energy wisely Music included is from Tiokasin called 'Butterfly Against the Wind' This conversation originally aired on February 22, 2022 ~ Links: Tiokasin Ghosthorse and First Voices Indigenous Radio https://firstvoicesindigenousradio.org/production/tiokasin-ghosthorse Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts Post-Listen suggested episode with Kunzang Choden https://oliviaclementine.com/kunzang-choden-bhutanese-heritage-dorji-linga-part-one/

Christina Monson spent decades studying with the meditation master Chatral Rinpoche in the mountains of Nepal and translating and practicing the teachings of Sera Khandro. But it was facing stage four cancer that revealed whether decades of practice could meet the greatest pain with the greatest teaching. This conversation, recorded less than a year before Christina's passing, offers a window into what it means to follow one's heart all the way through, free of regrets. ~ Time notes: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:18] Meeting Chatral Rinpoche [00:08:48] Seeing Her Ego Up Close [00:14:10] A Nomad's Temperament [00:17:57] Mountain Retreat [00:25:08] Discovering Sera Khandro [00:27:30] The Rhythm of Retreat [00:28:48] No Sessions, No Breaks [00:32:09] About Sera Khandro [00:36:37] Grief and Terminal Diagnosis [00:43:47] Everything as a Test of Practice [00:47:45] Natural Process of Illness [00:49:04] Precious moments [00:51:18] Sera Khandro's Song of Severance [00:58:58] The Power of Her Realization [01:01:02] Chatral Rinpoche's Prayer [01:05:19] The Impossibility of Translation [01:10:40] Following One's Heart, No Regrets This conversation originally aired on Dec 21, 2022 ~ Christina Monson was a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, and Tibetan language translator, and interpreter with over 30 years of study, translation, and practice experience in Buddhism. ~ Links: A Dakini's Counsel: Sera Khandro's Spiritual Advice and Dzogchen Instructions By Sera Khandro and translated by Christina Monson https://www.shambhala.com/a-dakini-s-counsel.html?srsltid=AfmBOoryRwpUExBE8808dsuCtSMUzURCGSXpNh6n5hr1l10NsLOcG0DO A Song of Amazement Inspired by Practice Experience by Sera Khandro https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/sera-khandro/song-of-amazement Spontaneous Advice Connected with a Prayer by Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/chatral-rinpoche/spontaneous-advice-connected-with-prayer Post-Listen Episode with Sally Kempton https://oliviaclementine.com/sally-kempton-on-tantra-divinity-shakti-the-subtle-influences/

Stay tuned for our next season coming to you later in the year ...

Today, our guest is the Balinese high priest, Ida Pedanda Gede Putra Watulumbang Manuaba also known as Ida Pedanda Watulumbang. We meet at his house and learn about his path to becoming a priest and some of the spiritual beliefs and practices in the Balinese Hindu tradition. Time notes: 00:01:00 Becoming a priest 00:05:00 Ceremonies 00:06:45 Ritual and adornment 00:10:45 Balinese cremation 00:12:25 Karma and daily correction 00:16:29 Fearless Death 00:19:00 Daily spiritual tending ~ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Kulavadhuta Satpurananda (Khyapababa) was initiated into the secret oral tradition of the great Indian lineage of Buddhist tantra at the age of five. He then spent decades practicing under great Indian gurus and mystics. Kulavadhuta is an artist, teacher and research guide in Buddhism, Tantra, Sufism, and the Indigenous practices of Mystics of India and Tibet. And at the heart is an Avadhuta, one who has transcended worldly concerns and even the dharma. Time notes: 00:00:00 Introduction 01:05:80 Spiritual matriarchy from birth 0:6:30 Early spiritual experiences 00:10:00 Near-death experiences as a child 00:11:00 Knowledge making him an orphan 00:14:00 Spiritual experience with Baba Ramnath Aghori 00:22:00 Cremation ground practice 00:22:56 Internal conflict around Ma, the divine goddess 00:28:00 Renunciation with Ma Annandamoyee 00:30:00 Leaving his family and material support, for spiritual life 00:34:00 Museum iconography consultant and designer 00:37:00 Confirmed as an Avadhuta 00:41:00 Self-initiated into Buddhist tantra 00:44:00 Why Vedas are not Khyapababa's cup of tea 00:49:00 Comparing Christian Gnostic, Wrathful Sufi Order, and Leftist Tantra 00:55:00 2 Essences of cremation ground practice 00:57:00 5 Deaths 00:50 Compassionate exorcism 01:03:00 Taking obstacles as the game of life 01:08:00 Life beyond the world and dharmas 01:11:00 Meeting his spiritual partner and marrying at 60 01:15:00 Meaning of a tantric practitioner 01:16:00 On tantric partnership and 5 elemental relationship 01:23:00 Baul traditions historical Siddhas 01:30:00 Ngakpa robes, dreadlocks, and earrings 01:34:00 Non-importance and samadhi 01:38:00 Baba shares a doha by Lalan Shah Fakir of Kushthiya, Bangladesh,19th Century. Lalan made it clear in his teaching songs that Vajrayana came up to Vaishnavism and Sufism to create Sahajiya Bauls of Bengal. His Teachings are pointing out to Voidness and Tantrayoga. 01:38:48 Closing: Khyapababa sings about the Guru ~ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Kunzang Choden is one of Bhutan's most legendary authors. We meet in Bhutan in the Tang Valley, where Kunzang's family has lived since the 15th century, land that is tied to the Tibetan yogic master Longchenpa and treasure revealer Dorji Linga. This is part one of two. To watch the video version, you can visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql8T0ZqtrBM ~ Time notes: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:41 Lineage land and Kings 00:03:47 Treasure revealer Dorji Lingpa 00:10:18 Intense childhood recollections 00:15:00 Intergenerational homelife 00:19:50 Seasonality 00:28:42 Kunzang's way of writing 00:30:00 Recording dreams 00:32:00 Kuzang's new memoir Ogyen Choling https://www.oling.bt Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is a bhikṣuṇī, author and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. She also spent twelve years living and practicing in a remote cave in the Himalayas. Today's timenotes: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:17 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche 00:06:45 Togden and togdenma (yogi and yogini) lineage and history 00:8:05 16th Karmapa and Khampagar 00:09:30 Requests leading to the Togdenma revival 00:10:36 Jetsunma's cave retreat in Lahaul 00:14:15 Finding proper Togdenma mentors 00:21:22 Togden Acho 00:24:24 Becoming officially Togdenma 00:28:31 Khampagar lineage in Tibet 00:31:00 Practice group system 00:33:00 Togdenma practice path and contemporary additions 00:40:00 Full bhikkhunī ordination with HH Je Khenpo. 00:44:35 The four fold sangha Links: Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo https://tenzinpalmo.com/ Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery https://dglnunnery.com/ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Today's episode is part two of three parts. ~ Time notes: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:15 Subtle body, mind and prana 00:11:30 Yidam and reflections of the universe 00:13:40 Tsa-lung and trulkhor 00:18:51 Modernization influence on dedication, asceticism and health. 00:24:00 Chu Rey, wet sheet ceremony 00:31:00 Tsa-lung lama Jamtsen Chodron 00:33:40 Chudlen retreats 00:37:00 Mundane and sacred, collective and individual 00:39:00 Togal and trekchod 100 day winter practice 00:46:00 On memorization and reading as a means of realization 00:50:00 Tantric practice form of learning 01:00:00 Yogin Pema Dorje and a song of devotion 01:06:00 Yogin Pema Drimed 01:13:00 Sherab Zangmo and Urgyen Chodron 01:16:00 Sky burial 01:21:00 Recognizing signs 01:24:00 Cultivating a whole person ༓ Listen to Part One here: On Gebchak's History & Yogic Activity in the Realm of the Meditators https://oliviaclementine.com/elizabeth-mcdougal-the-gebchak-yoginis-part-one/ About Elizabeth: Elizabeth McDougal, known also as Tenzin Chozom, grew up in Western Canada and then trained as a Buddhist nun in India and on the Tibetan Plateau for seventeen years. Towards the end of her time as a nun – she studied a Masters of Indian philosophy at Banaras Hindu University and then a PhD (2021) at the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on the modernisation of Tibetan Buddhist practice lineages and on pedagogy as a crucial bridge in translating pre-modern wisdom traditions to the modern world. Elizabeth currently lives in Australia with her human and animal family where she lectures at Nan Tien Institute in applied Buddhist studies. She continues to serve as a Tibetan-to-English translator for Gebchak Wangdrak Rinpoche and other practice lineage lamas. Elizabeth published a book in 2024 called "The Words and World of Gebchak Nunnery: Tantric Meditation in Context."

This is a visual episode that is meant to be watched. You can watch it here: https://oliviaclementine.com/tibetan-handicraft-society-master-carpet-weavers/ ~ Today's episode takes place at the Tibetan Handicraft Society in McCleoud Ganj, in northern India. This Handicraft Society was founded in 1963 to support Tibetan refugees, and Tibetans who have grown up in exile and Tibetan arts and culture. Today we learn about this member run society and see some of these master weavers as they bring these traditional Tibetan carpets to form. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:58 Tenzin Rigsang on the Handicraft Society's origin and purpose 00:04:10 On material sourcing and design 00:06:33 How the cooperative is organized and the influence of modern times on this traditional art. 00:8:35 Dawa Dolma on how long it takes to weave a carpet 00:09:27 Tsering Dolkar on her path to becoming a weaver 00:11:02 Tsetan as she completes a carpet. Glimpses of weavers and carpet makers Yangchen Galmo, Tenzin Worser, Tsetan, Tseyang, Tala, Kelsang Tsokey and Daju. ~ The Tibetan Handicraft Society https://tibetan-handicraft-society.site123.me/ Order carpets here or contact the society for more custom commissions https://tibetan-handicraft-society.site123.me/on Love & Liberation website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Watch our conversation and see images of Jetsunma's path here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Mu1fPYtik Today our guest is Her Eminence Sakya Jetsunma Kunga Trinley Palter. Jetsunma is the granddaughter of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin and the eldest daughter of the 42nd Sakya Trizin and Dagmo Kalden Dunkyi. Jetsunma is also a tulku, the reincarnation of the Nyingma practitioner and treasure revealer, Khandro Tare Lhamo. We sit down and talk about her life thus far, being raised as a Jetsunma in the Sakya lineage, how she spends her time, and what she aspires for in the future. Timenotes: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:39 Growing up in a dharma lineage from the 12th Century 00:03:25 Becoming a nun 00:04:09 A day in Jetsunma's life 00:06:58 Who inspires Jetsunma t 00:09:00 About her family 00:10:40 On being the reincarnation of Khandro Tare Llamo 00:12:43 Her first retreat at 14 years old 00:14:25 Being the first Jetsunma to do the Phurba Cham 00:15:50 Qualities of a meaningful life 00:17:52 Advice for taking care of one's mind 00:19:45 Jetsunma's life aspirations 00:20:20 Closing images and Tara's Song at Dawn ~ Melodius offering: Tara's Song at Dawn by Dechen Wangmo ~ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts Submit your music to Love & Liberation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv8PanRA-TLoo-PVbfhpH6mlMslpuKad3PqQH8cgkMHGz1YQ/viewform

00:01:30 The mandala principle 00:04:32 Enlightened organizing principle of the universe 00:09:45 Mandalas for practice 00:16:12 Vajrakilaya mandala 00:19:25 Field of blessing 00:21:22 Lama Dawa and Guru Rinpoche Prophecies 00:24:18 Lama Dawa mirror divining the locations for Vajrakilaya mandalas. 00:27:16 Elements as vehicles for blessings 00:31:00 Subtle and physical aspects of elements 00:35:00 Disrupting and repairing subtle realms of existence 00:46:00 Building and empowering the Vajrakilaya mandalas 00:51:00 Working up to practicing Vajrakilaya 00:56:00 Qualities of the phurba 00:57:28 When to begin wrathful practices 01:04:00 Not making plans 01:06:00 The story of Guru Rinpoche and Vajrakilaya in Yanglesho 01:08:00 On Yeshe Tsogyal using Vajrakilaya practice ~ Khandro Kunzang: https://www.phurbathinleyling.org/khandro-kunzang/ Have your music played on Love & Liberation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv8PanRA-TLoo-PVbfhpH6mlMslpuKad3PqQH8cgkMHGz1YQ/viewform Previous episodes with Khandro Kunzang: Cultivating Siddhis, Tukdam, Lineage Protection & Consortship https://oliviaclementine.com/khandro-kunzang-cultivating-siddhis-tukdam-lineage-protection-consortship/ Lineage of Oral Instruction, Real Teachers & Himalayan Yogas of Tsa lung and Tummo https://oliviaclementine.com/khandro-kunzang-the-oral-instruction-lineage-ngagpas-himalayan-yogas-of-tsa-lung-and-tummo/ Elemental Spirits, Vajra Armor & Dharma Marriage https://oliviaclementine.com/khandro-kunzang-elemental-spirits-vajra-armor-dharma-marriage/ Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

Watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSDGe4xRfA ~ Today we meet at the headquarters of Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamshala, India with Dr. Tsering Norbu, who has worked here for over 30 years and is the director of both the Culture and Materia Medica departments. 00:01:00 Dr. Tsering's medicine heritage and path 00:01:49 Born into a lineage of Sowa Ripga doctors, how it has changed. 00:05:00 About Men-Tsee-Khang Institute Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute 00:07:50 Bringing together tradition and science 00:10:30 Changing landscapes affecting medicinal plants 00:11:00 Medicinal plant cultivation methods and challenges. 00:20:00 Making precious pills 00:22:00 Life-span and storage of medicine. 00:24:00 4 Medical Tantras (Gyushi) and medicinal species variation. 00:27:00 Farmers resistance to growing medicinal varieties 00:29:00 Medical research field trips in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachel Pradesh and other areas. 00:32:00 How imbalances have changed over the decades and what is most needed for modern times. 00:34:00 Painting plant thangkas and their purpose 00:40:00 Closing thoughts about the future ~ Men-Tsee-Khang Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute https://mentseekhang.org/ Podcast https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts Enjoy these conversations? Please leave a review here. Scroll down to Review & Ratings. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-liberation/id1393858607