Dedicated to liberation in all its forms, Deconstructing Yourself is passionate about fearlessly investigating, attempting, and questioning all things to do with awakening, meditation, mindfulness, brain hacking, consciousness, neurofeedback, and more.Your host Michael W. Taft interviews some of the most interesting thinkers, authors, and teachers around, as well as other offerings. In this hard-hitting, radical, and fun podcast we look at secular post-, non-, un- Buddhism, Vajrayana, nondual Hindu Tantra, philosophy, the neuroscience of the sense of self, neurofeedback and the consciousness hacking movement, aspects of artificial intelligence, entheogens, and much more.If you’re looking for fresh directions, free from dogma and conformism, think of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast as the radical cafe where you can hear from the most interesting luminaries either from the outside edges of dharma, or a fresh take from more traditional teachers. If you’re interested in more, check out the Deconstructing Yourself website at https://deconstructingyourself.com.
https://deconstructingyourself.com
episode 27: Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism, with Chandra Easton
Chandra Easton and Michael Taft talk about gender and sexual misconduct in Buddhism, why compassion must be a part of spiritual practice, and the place of the guru in modern culture. Chandra shares her personal story of dealing with sexual misconduct at the hands of her teacher, tantric practices as a technology for awakening, internalized patriarchy, and how love and kindness is the whole point of spiritual practice. Also included are guidelines for choosing a teacher, reimagining Tantric practices in non-binary ways, and much more.
Chandra Easton studied Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and Tibetan language at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India, and translated Tibetan Buddhist texts on meditation with B. Alan Wallace. Chandra has taught meditation and yoga since 2001. She has studied with many Tibetan and Western Buddhist teachers such as H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Karmapa, Lama Tsultrim Allione, B. Alan Wallace,Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche, and Jennifer Welwood. She is currently the Assistant Spiritual Director & Head Teacher at the Tara Mandala Retreat Center. To learn more visit www.shunyatayoga.com and www.taramandala.org.
Links
The teachings of Chöd
Namkhai Norbu
Lama Tsultrim Allione
The Alchemical Body
The Anam Cara
Show Notes
2:57 - Chandra’s move to Colorado
4:14 - The Tara Mandala retreat center
6:35 - The Chöd practices
11:33 - Namkhai Norbu and “self-secret”
14:33 - The technology of Tantra
20:38 - The motivation of compassion
25:54 - Guru sexual misconduct and The Feminine in Buddhism
34:04 - The Buddha’s views on women
37:38 - The Tantra movement
40:01 - Women in Buddhism and what needs to change
44:41 - Women-run sanghas
47:39 - Gender in Tantric practices
52:16 - Sexual abuse and spiritual leaders
59:05 - How to choose a teacher
1:05:04 - Qualities to look for in a teacher
1:10:11 - Is the guru still needed?
1:13:05 - The Soul Friend
1:15:40 - The story of the Grandma and the Dog’s Tooth
1:19:54 - The teacher vs. the teachings
1:28:35 - Education changing the female experience in Buddhism
You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.