t.k. talks about the best spiritual path and then explains the distinction between knowing and realizing. Enjoy!

May we be ever blessed by the Guru's sublime wisdom haranguing! 

0:18 Introduction to the Vajrayana Path
4:36 The Start of My Spiritual Search
10:19 Paths and Practices Explored
16:01 Family Influence on Spirituality
23:11 Encountering Vajrayana
23:32 Knowing vs. Realizing
25:44 The Nature of Knowledge
31:22 Subject and Object in Reality
40:37 Conclusion and Reflections

t.k. gives a sublime discourse on prayer, focusing on contemplative prayer as longing for divine experience. He contrasts cataphatic prayer, which contemplates divine attributes, with apophatic prayer, embracing the ineffable mystery. Rinpoche also includes a brilliant exposition of prayer within the context of the Vajrayana path!

We're so blessed to have this brilliant teaching. Enjoy!

0:05 Introduction to Prayer
1:27 Contemplative Prayer Defined
4:47 Vajrayana Perspectives
5:39 The Attributes of Deity
9:09 Transformative Blessings
14:56 Devotion and Offerings
17:08 The Nature of Submission
21:22 Alchemical Transformations
25:27 Completion Phase Practices
32:25 The Prayer of Realization
37:20 The Journey from Form to Formless
41:36 The Mystery of Re-emergence
45:14 Fearlessness in Contemplation

In this episode, t.k. kindly teaches us by discussing revelatory passages from his wonderful recent book, The Concealing and Revealing.: The Wisdom of Reality Only. https://a.co/d/iYvdJFx

Topics include:

Finding Strength in Choices





The Nature of Suffering 



Transforming Negative Habits



The Friction of Change



Elation vs. Exaltation



Symbols of Spirituality



The Limits of Language



The Paradox of Spiritual Freedom



Starting from Reality 



Realization Beyond Ideas



Love Beyond Boundaries



The Nature of Spiritual Paths

Enjoy!

The Wisdom Blessings of the Guru are always welcome! And we welcome this latest episode of The Freedom Place Podcast where t.k. graces us by discussing some select passages from his new book, The Concealing and Revealing.: The Wisdom of Reality Only - https://www.amazon.com/Concealing-Revealing-wisdom-Reality-Only/dp/B0FD4NJCVM/

Enjoy!

In this latest recording, t.k. discusses the nature of compassion, the meaning of the title of the new book The Concealing and Revealing.: The Wisdom of Reality Only, the role of the Guru, and the nature of Love. 

We are truly blessed to have another interview and opportunity to listen to sublime wisdom teachings. With deep and profound gratitude to the spiritual master for sharing wisdom with us, we give thanks. Please enjoy!

The Concealing and Revealing.: The Wisdom of Reality Only by t.k. - https://www.amazon.com/Concealing-Revealing-wisdom-Reality-Only/dp/B0FD4NJCVM/

In this recording, t.k. discusses meaningfulness again, touching upon various types of meaning, the history of meaning in modern times with regard to humanism and existentialism, and how ultimate / divine meaning is discovered and exactly what that is and is not...

We are truly blessed to have yet another sublime teaching delivered via podcast, and we're very grateful to receive it.

Please enjoy!

In this recording, Traktung Rinpoche graciously discusses nothingness as the essence of reality.

We are blessed to have yet another sublime teaching to enlighten our minds. Enjoy!

One way that we approach the understanding of nothingness from a Western religious context is the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus where he fell down and was blinded by brilliant light. Meister Eckhart’s description of this gives us some crucial insight into this Divine mystery:  

"Paul rose from the ground and with open eyes saw nothing. I think this text has a fourfold sense. One is that when he rose up from the ground with open eyes, he saw Nothing, and the Nothing was God; for when he saw God, he calls that Nothing. The second: when he got up, he saw nothing but God. The third: in all things he saw nothing but God. The fourth: when he saw God, he saw all things as nothing."[1]  

These four statements about what St. Paul meant are all correct and true simultaneously. This is what is meant and understood by Divine nothingness.
[1] Meister Eckhart, The Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart, trans. Maurice O’C. Walshe (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2009), 137.

We are so grateful to be blessed with another episode of The Freedom Place Podcast in which Traktung Rinpoche graciously discusses identity and language.

Identity, while functional, is, in the light of truth, itself is a mistake. Language, while efficacious for navigating our mundane existence, is rooted in duality and, therefore, not sufficient to accurately describe reality.

Please enjoy!

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa! For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

"Hail Mary, Mother of God, teach me the heart, and your surrender."

In this interview, t.k. discusses the profound visions of Mary that he was blessed with and the manner in which these visits affected the course of his spiritual life. Originally recorded in April 2019, this podcast is a collection of four separate interviews. One of the major aspects discussed is the prayer that Mary gave to t.k. to recite one million times and then have five other men recite as well. This prayer's meaning is multilayered and t.k. spends considerable time teaching us how it works. Additionally, he shares how his mother, Jeane Kirkpatrick, also had visions of Mary. This was a mind-blowing and heart-melting interview that clocks in at almost 3 hours. Enjoy!

The outro music is "Consecration Prayer" from the Vessel of Love album by Servants of Mary, recorded in support of the recitation of Mary's prayer.

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. answers questions sent in by a listener of the podcast. We love listener questions, so to have t.k. answer your questions in an upcoming episode, please send them to me, Greg Kaminsky, via Facebook Messenger, or email them to info@tsogyelgar.org.

The questions answered in this episode are:

1. Is it possible to achieve liberation from the fetters of greed, hatred, and delusion in this lifetime? Is this level of freedom possible? If so, in what sense, and what are the most important means for achieving it?

2. A second question is about the importance of meditation. I have a career, children and a girlfriend. However, enlightenment is very important to me and I am interested in advice as to how I can best progress within my own circumstances. I have maybe 5 or 6 hours available a day during the week. How would that time best be spent if my goal is to progress towards freedom and awakening?

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "As if in a dream." A haunting beautiful wisdom poem by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche that reminds us of the ephemeral quality of this appearance-emptiness we call our lives. It is sung by Tsochen Khandro and was recorded at Tsogyelgar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ3rzUm5gqk

Welcome to the 14th episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. discusses breath. How does one work with breathing for spiritual work? What is the human subtle body and how does this process structure relate to breath? What are the inner and secret aspects of air that allow spiritual practitioners to access the life force? And many more questions are answered in this exceptional teaching provided by t.k.

If you have any additional questions or comments about what has been presented here, even if it's to ask for the name of or link to a source, please contact us at info@tsogyelgar.org.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Beyond Words" by Just A Tourist from their excellent album, "In the Woods of Nowhere" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yKIP7NtcOE.

Welcome to the 13th episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. discusses magic. What is magic? How is it practiced? What are the differences between wisdom magic and mundane magic? Additional highlights include a consideration of different approaches to practicing magic, why wisdom magic is much more powerful than magic performed without wisdom, sex magic, plant magic, and why it is only worthwhile pursuing a magical practice in the context of an authentic spiritual path. Now, I've been studying and practicing magic in a variety of contexts for the past 15 years or so. During that time, I've read innumerable books on the subject, performed countless rituals and meditations, and spoken with hundreds of teachers and other practitioners. However, after meeting t.k. and his friends, I witnessed and experienced magic of such an exquisite and sacred nature that it was truly astounding. And since then, the displays of this magical power I've been privy to have been reality-shattering in a number of ways. As a result, I've been wanting to record an interview with t.k. on this topic for more than 2 years. But I advise caution if you're someone that has ideas about how magic can serve you, what constitutes an authentic magical practice, or are a follower of Aleister Crowley, what is said here may come as a bit of a shock. But I implore you to listen with an open mind and accept my recommendation that what you're about to hear is the most accurate and wise exposition on the subject of magic that I've been blessed to encounter.

If you have any questions or comments about what has been presented here, even if it's to ask for the name of, or link to a source please contact us at info@tsogyelgar.org.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Unmade and Made" by Just A Tourist from their masterful album, "Sunlight Revealed." https://youtu.be/kIGU4AvHvQo

Welcome to the twelfth episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. I'm your host, Greg Kaminsky. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. discusses meaning. What is meaning? Where can it be found? Does it come from outside us, do we create it, or is it found outside of relationality? In this conversation, t.k. presents meaning, not as a particular meaning of this or that, but meaningfulness itself as divinity. Please leave us questions or comments, or send them to info@tsogyelgar.org.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Ultimate View Meditation and Action" by Honey Rain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qm1ViBRKpE&t=90s

https://www.traktungkhepa.com

Welcome to the eleventh episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. discusses Socrates' ancient aphorism, "Know Thyself." He describes the way in which delusion arises as a process structure and how this process structure, mistakenly perceived as an individual (a subjective self in a world of objects) engages in unconscious lying in order to armor and protect itself. This self-lying is the pivot point for one who is on a spiritual path as the place where one can engage in the work of knowing thyself.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Land of Unmaking" by Just a Tourist, from their album Narrow Canyons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w74JJlor0w

Welcome to the tenth episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. I'm your host, Greg Kaminsky. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. discusses the notion of spiritual authority and the value of holding an attitude of questioning. One of the teachings here is that it is the quality and integrity of the spiritual teaching that invests the teacher with authority, not the other way around. Also, it is vitally important that students and those seeking to learn not accept what they are taught at face value, but deeply consider the teachings and then ask questions to ensure their understanding.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "How Will You Live?" by Just a Tourist from their excellent recent album, Ruined for Business. https://open.spotify.com/album/730Z2u5jv0wefNUcgIUH0t

Welcome to the ninth episode of The Freedom Place podcast featuring interviews with American-born sage, Traktung Khepa. I'm your host, Greg Kaminsky. For more information about t.k. and his work, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

In this interview, t.k. answers three questions sent in by a listener of the podcast. We'd love to make listener questions a regular feature, so to have t.k. answer your questions in an upcoming episode, please send them to me, Greg Kaminsky, via Facebook Messenger, or email them to info@tsogyelgar.org.

The three questions answered today are:

1. If the theistic concept of God is wrong, what is holding Being in place?

2. If the theistic concept of God is wrong, how can you explain cause and effect?

3. Would you talk more about how the emptiness discovered in meditation is not a mere nothingness, a nihilist materialist version of emptiness?

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Six Questions - You Can Go Where You Please" by Honey Rain.

Welcome to the eighth episode of The Freedom Place podcast! This is a platform for distributing interviews with and teachings of American-born sage Traktung Khepa.

This is the second part of an extraordinary interview where t.k. talks about the human quest for ultimate meaning, art history and the development of perspective, the philosophical developments of existentialism and post-modern deconstructionism, and non-duality. In this segment, he spends a considerable amount of time discussing the essence and nature of reality from the perspective of an enlightened being, the esoteric schools of the west, that realization is not limited by culture or geography, and that authentic esoteric schools exist almost like appendant bodies affiliated with major religious traditions. Finally, we spend some time talking about the way esotericism and justice interface.

Feel free to leave comments or questions or send them to info@tsogyelgar.org. For more information, visit https://www.TraktungKhepa.com.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Red and Black" by Chen from the amazing album called Unstilted. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6aqrXB7pjMuB33pw3t8woy

https://www.traktungkhepa.com/

Welcome to the seventh episode of The Freedom Place podcast! This is a platform for distributing interviews with and teachings of American-born sage Traktung Khepa.

This is the first part of an extraordinary interview where t.k. talks about the human quest for ultimate meaning, art history and the development of perspective, the philosophical developments of existentialism and post-modern deconstructionism, and non-duality. What he presents is a brilliant historical analysis of western art and philosophy that demonstrates a long-term cultural vectoral momentum in which all concepts and suppositions, whether artistic, philosophical, religious, scientific, or personal are questioned and may be undercut, leaving the field open for the potential exploration of non-dual reality. As an aside, I find that considering this approach provides redemption from feelings of ambivalence and my own judgments about modern culture to a much greater degree than I expected.

Feel free to leave comments or questions or send them to info@tsogyelgar.org. For more information, visit https://TraktungKhepa.com.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is the title track from Just a Tourist's wonderful brand new album, "Ruined for Business," available where you buy music!

https://www.traktungkhepa.com/

Welcome to the sixth episode of The Freedom Place podcast! This is a platform for distributing interviews with and teachings of American-born sage Traktung Khepa.

In this extraordinary interview, t.k. talks about the pre-preliminaries of Tantric practice and the way to approach the considerations that are foundational to an esoteric path. He stresses over and over how not contemplating these considerations deeply enough to break through the inertia of habits of daily life often causes issues for practitioners later on the path. What is being discussed here is an alchemical contemplation that engages the intellect, emotions, and conduct, in that order, to truly understand the object of contemplation. If one were to truly contemplate the considerations of precious human birth, impermanence, the law of cause and effect, and that delusion will not end until one consciously puts an end to it, then, theoretically, most obstructions and hindrances to practice and realization would be cut through like a hot knife through butter. t.k. also expresses how the masters and adepts of every esoteric tradition recognize this form of contemplation as the starting point of the path.

Feel free to leave comments or questions or send them to info@tsogyelgar.org.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "Blue Flame" from Just a Tourist's wonderful brand new album entitled "Ruined for Business," available where you buy music!

https://www.traktungkhepa.com/

Welcome to the fifth episode of The Freedom Place podcast! This is a platform for distributing interviews with and teachings of American-born sage Traktung Khepa.

In this extraordinary interview, t.k. answers my questions about alchemy. I've been wanting to do this interview for some time since discovering t.k.'s accomplishment of the alchemical path. If you've ever wondered, as I have, whether it's possible to evolve beyond the human state, or to know the first matter and how the philosopher's stone is created and its function, you're about to find out. As far as I'm aware, this is the first interview of its kind where these questions are definitively answered. There is much to consider here, but ultimately, once one decides if they believe it is possible, the next consideration is whether to engage the methods of the path in order to prove it for oneself...

Feel free to leave comments or questions or send them to info@tsogyelgar.org. For more information, visit TraktungKhepa.com.

The intro music is "Devotion" by David Modica and the outro music is "In Your Body" from Just a Tourist's wonderful brand new album entitled "Ruined for Business," now available where you buy music!

https://www.traktungkhepa.com/