Tantra Illuminated with Dr. Christopher Wallis

How do ancient teachings remain alive across centuries, and what can their transmission reveal about the living heart of Tantra?In this conversation, Hareesh is joined once again by fellow Sanskrit scholar Dr. Ben Williams to discuss ongoing research and upcoming textual publications in the field of Tantric studies. Together, they explore the origins of the Śiva Sūtras, the tradition of writing commentaries on mysterious scriptural aphorisms, and historical manuscript evidence revealing an unbroken seventeenth-century lineage in Kashmir. The conversation also touches on Ben's collaborative work on devotional hymn literature, his research into historical ritual manuals, and a new course on meditative practices. Offering a glimpse into both the living tradition and the scholarship that continues to illuminate it, this episode highlights how careful study helps preserve and deepen our understanding of these extraordinary teachings.Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org.Find out more about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages at https://www.tantrailluminated.org/calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this illuminating conversation, Hareesh and Ācārya Malcolm Smith trace the philosophical and experiential meeting points between Tantra and Dzogchen, while honoring their distinct lineages. The discussion touches on the origins of Dzogchen, the role of direct recognition in awakening, the tension between conceptual purification and non-conceptual realization, and how both traditions articulate the play of emptiness and manifestation. Moving beyond comparison, the dialogue reveals a shared spirit of inquiry that transcends dogma—where luminous awareness recognizes itself through diverse expressions of wisdom.Discover more of Ācārya Malcolm Smith's work at https://www.zangthal.com/. Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org.Find out more about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages at https://www.tantrailluminated.org/calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this archival conversation originally recorded in 2016 for The Mystical Positivist radio show, Hareesh joins hosts Stuart Goodnick and Dr. Robert Schmidt to reflect on the meeting point between spiritual experience and critical inquiry. The dialogue traces Hareesh’s early encounters with meditation and grace, the unfolding of his path through the Shaiva Tantra tradition, and the pitfalls of constructing a “spiritual ego.” Together, they explore how genuine awakening requires both love and discernment—the courage to look beyond comforting beliefs into the deeper reality that transcends them.Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org.Find out more about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages at https://www.tantrailluminated.org/calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if awakening is not only an inward journey, but also a maṇḍala woven of our relationships with others and the world?This episode turns to the animist and tantric vision of relationality, where every connection—whether with people, nature, or the subtle dimensions of being—forms part of a greater sacred whole. Through the lens of classical teachings, animism and myth we are invited to reimagine relationships not as distractions from reality but as vital expressions of it, mirrors in which the Self recognizes itself. The conversation opens into how intimacy, conflict, and community can all become doorways into deeper awareness, and how the maṇḍala of relationality reveals the inseparability of self and other.Find out more about The Emerald and The Mythic Body HERE. Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org.Find out more about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages at https://www.tantrailluminated.org/calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to live from the deepest truth of who we are?This episode turns toward the question of authenticity—not as a fixed identity, but as a living presence that shines through when we release the layers of conditioning and self-concept. The episode unpacks how the authentic self is discovered not by constructing a new persona, but by attuning to the spacious, luminous awareness that underlies every moment. Listeners are invited to reflect on the difference between social roles and essential being, and to consider how daily life can become a practice of remembering what is already whole and real within.Take Kiran’s free course here.  Send an email to [email protected] with the subject ‘Ready for FYM!’ to receive 50% off the course Free Your Mind.Free tools for Sanity ebook HERE. Use coupon code tapwxmc at checkout.Kiran’s Website: https://kirantrace.com/Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode offers a clear, grounded conversation on one of the most misunderstood aspects of Tantra: the role of sexuality. In dialogue with Ashton Szabo, we trace the origins of this confusion, distinguishing between classical Tantra and modern neo-Tantra, and examining how the term itself was co-opted in the West. Listeners are introduced to the true context of sexual practice in the original Tantric tradition—not as a means of enhancing pleasure, but as a rare and advanced form of spiritual realization. The conversation concludes with reflections from the Tantrāloka on how the most intimate experiences can, under the right conditions, dissolve separation and reveal the undivided nature of reality.Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org.Find out more about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages at https://www.tantrailluminated.org/calendar . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.