Ep67: Tummo, Hypnosis, & Realising Rigpa - Dr Ian Wickramasekera
In this episode I am once again joined by Dr. Ian Wickramasekera, Bön Buddhist practitioner and associate professor of Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University.
We learn how a divination from a Tibetan master radically changed the direction of Ian’s life, and how he encountered the man who would later become his teacher, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.
Ian recounts how, on an intense tummo meditation retreat, he attained to the Dzogchen spiritual realisation known as rigpa, and its profound consequences in his life.
Ian also discusses how he uses energy practices such as tsa lung and Tibetan yoga in his clinical practice to treat personality problems, substance abuse, and more.
Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Topics Include
0:00 – Intro
0:46 – Receiving a personal mirror divination from Lama Dawa
9:30 – Ian’s previous life as a monk at Tashiding Monasteryin Sikkim
10:50 – Trying to meet Namkhai Norbu
13:09 – Encountering the Bon master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
15:02 – Meeting Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and learning lucid dreaming
19:41 – Personal interactions with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
26:40 – Choosing to follow the Bon path
30:30 – Taking refuge with Ato Rinpoche
36:42 – Advice for studying in dharma and hypnosis
40:20 – Learning Tummo from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in retreat
45:38 – Realising Rigpa
50:11 – Was this a glimpse or an abiding shift?
55:02 – Did tummo practice directly cause Ian’s realisation?
56:40 – The mind-body effect of tummo and chakra practice
1:05:57 – About Daniel P Brown
1:08:48 – Directly experiencing the subtle body anatomy
1:10:04 – The experience of rigpa and devotion
1:14:37 – Empowered to teach tsa lung and shiné
1:15:51 – The effect of rigpa on cognitive work
1:20:22 – Criteria for combining dharma and hypnosis
1:24:25 – Rigpa, tsa lung, the personality structure, and substance abuse
1:32:12 – How Ian uses Tibetan yoga and tsa lung in his therapy practice
1:36:55 – Confirming Ian’s realisation with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
1:44:01 – Receiving pointing out instructions from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
1:46:26 – Similarities between Dzogchen and hypnosis
1:48:28 – Ian’s opinion about NLP
1:51:37 – Humility on the spiritual path
1:53:52 – Ian’s prophecy cliffhanger
Previous episodes with Ian:
To find out more about Ian, visit:
https://www.naropa.edu/faculty/ian-wickramasekera.php
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James