Ep285: Swayambhu Stūpa - Lama Glenn Mullin

Dec 20, 2024

Lama Glenn Mullin is a spiritual teacher and Tibetologist with over 30 books on Buddhism. He shares captivating insights about the Swayambhu Stūpa, a revered site for both Buddhists and Hindus. Glenn discusses the rich history and architecture of the stūpa, the legendary origins of Tibetan culture, and insights on the Tulku tradition. He delves into the connections between Shaivism and Tantric Buddhism, and even touches on the use of psychoactive substances in spirituality. Join in as he weaves together history, culture, and profound teachings.

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INSIGHT

Shared Sacred Sites

The concept of exclusivity is rare in many Asian traditions, unlike some Semitic religions.
Himalayan power centers are often shared by various traditions, including Shaivism and Buddhism.

ANECDOTE

Shiva Babas and Charas

Shiva Babas gather at Pashupatinat Temple every November and smoke hashish chillums as a holy sacrament.
Shiva sprinkled stardust, which became the plant Charas is made from, seeing enlightenment's difficulty in modern times.

INSIGHT

Clairvoyant Power

Five ways generate clairvoyant power: meditation, dream yoga, substances, and two others.
Some Buddhists use sacraments, especially in remote villages, but meditation is most stable.

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During a recent trip to Nepal, I met with frequent podcast guest Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism. Glenn was in Kathmandu to lead a group of over fifty pilgrims into tantric retreat in the nearby mountains and graciously agreed to film with me at various sacred sites before and after their retreat. In this video, Glenn and I travel to Swayambhu Stūpa, a sacred monument venerated by both Buddhists and Hindus. First, we circumambulate the base of the hill. Then Glenn is joined by some of his students and ascends the hill to the main stūpa. Along the way, Glenn explains the history of the site as well as the symbolism of its architecture, sacred statues, and inscriptions. Glenn also discusses Shaivite and Tantric Buddhist relations and their shared power centres, the three kāyas and the tulku tradition, and the use of psychoactive substances such as soma in spiritual practice. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep285-swayambhu-stpa-lama-glenn-mullin Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - History of Swayambhu 04:07 - Recent development at Swayambhu 07:32 - Glenn jokes with the ladies of the cleaning team 09:29 - Legendary origins of the Tibetan people 10:52 - The Tamang people 11:28 - Maoist mountain guerrilla activities 14:51 - Je Tsongkhapa statue 15:28 - The death of the Buddha and the 8 Great Stūpas 16:54 - Glenn explains mantras of compassion, wisdom, and power 17:45 - Sang offerings and sang kilns 19:50 - On Bodhi trees 20:52 - Shaivite and Buddhist relationships and shared power centres 22:29 - Shiva Babas, chillum smoking, and use of drugs in spiritual practice 24:04 - 5 ways to generate clairvoyant power 24:38 - Buddhist use of mind-altering substances and sacraments 26:00 - Bengali masters in Swayambhu 26:56 - Religious exclusivity 29:01 - Use of substances such as soma in tantric Buddhism 31:08 - Nagi Gompa and Tulku Urgyen’s sons 33:10 - Circumambulating a perimeter stūpa 35:09 - The cultural significance of circumambulation 36:00 - Bönpo Triten Norbutse Monastery and dark retreat 37:02 - Teaching on the 3 kāyas 39:29 - Explanation of the tulku tradition 43:44 - Further explanation of the 3 kāyas in terms of method and enlightenment 46:53 - Meaning of offering butter lamps 48:45 - Glenn’s practice of giving money to beggars 51:10 - The monkey temple 52:05 - Exponential merit during Saga Dawa 53:52 - Ritualised scripture recitals 55:01 - Carving sacred mantras and symbols on slate 57:17 - The power of statues and temples 59:07 - The meaning of “Swayambhu” 01:01:11 - Explanation of stūpa design 01:02:36 - Explanation of dharmaśālās 01:05:10 - Buddhas past, present, and future; and the spread of Buddhism 01:10:14 - Teaching on the 5 animals 01:13:04 - Circumambulating the main stūpa 01:15:02 - Mantra and prayer offering site for protection of babies 01:16:14 - Teaching on the five elements and transforming emotions 01:18:07 - Challenging spiritual elitism 01:19:42 - Legends of previous Buddhas’ visits to Swayambhu … 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 section.