Ep205: My 49 Day Dark Retreat - Justin Von Bujdoss 2
Justin Von Bujdoss, an American Buddhist teacher, chaplain, and author of ‘Modern Tantric Buddhism’.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Justin describes his powerfully transformative dark retreat practice in which he embarked on multiple 7-day and 49-day meditation retreats in complete darkness under the guidance of Dr Nida Chenagtsang.
Justin recalls his life-changing encounter with the rarefied religious experience of rigpa, and details his visions of spiritual beings, animals, elements, and Bardo deities.
Justin recounts his first meeting with Dr Nida, how he became his student, and explains the significance of Dr Nida’s endorsement of Justin as both a Dzogchen teacher and dark retreat guide.
Justin also reveals the daily routine and practice instructions for dark retreat, and reflects on current trends within Buddhism and nonduality in America today.
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Justin’s personal practice revolution
02:27 - Meeting Dr Nida Chenagtsang and showing him a secret text
06:10 - Dr Nida’s qualities as a teacher
08:00 - Justin’s 25 years of Mahamudra practice
08:18 - Preparing to enter dark retreat
08:56 - The impact of multiple 7 and 49-day retreats
13:35 - 7-day preparatory dark retreat
15:03 - Intense visionary experiences and risk of psychosis
18:38 - Dr Nida’s dark retreat terma
20:48 - Justin’s previous experience with dream yoga and visions
22:57 - Dark retreat instructions and opening visionary capacity
27:48 - Undermining the visual system binary
24:37 - Justin’s visions of the Bardo deities
27:46 - Contradictions in Mahamudra and forcing it
31:38 - Daily routine and practice schedule in dark retreat
36:38 - No contact with Dr Nida during the retreat
38:45 - Visions of the purified elements
42:00 - Visions of animals and dead people
42:59 - Visions of beings who offered gifts to Justin
43:30 - Did Justin relive his traumas?
45:22 - Quitting prison chaplaincy
47:50 - How chaplaincy falls short of resting in rigpa
50:56 - Profound healing opportunity of dark retreat
54:50 - Rigpa supersedes Justin’s ordination
56:18 - The totality of everything occurs right here
59:54 - Endorsed by Dr Nida to teach Dzogchen
01:04:10 - Justin’s special karmic connection with Dr Nida and other tulkus
01:07:00 - Justin’s loss of social functionality post-awakening
01:09:25 - How Justin’s teacher punctured his ego
01:12:54 - Struggles with students who are fixated on tantra
01:16:42 - Student retention and abusive teaching methods
01:18:18 - Where is Buddhism going in America?
01:19:13 - Is Tibetan Buddhism trendy?
01:23:08 - Dark retreat as liberating psychotherapy
01:25:45 - Dark retreat as the ultimate experience product for psychonauts
01:27:30 - Assessing those who wish to embark upon dark retreat
01:31:22 - Where to find out more
Previous episode with Justin Von Bujdoss:
Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang:
To find our more about Justin Von Bujdoss, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James