Ep286: Mystic Astrologer - Radha Krishna Upadhyaya
Radha Krishna Upadhyaya is an astrologer, clairvoyant, Kriya Yogi, and disciple of Tibetan Buddhist master Sakya Trizin.
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Radha Krishna recalls his birth and childhood in Western Nepal, his traditional Brahmanical education and service to great saints, and his initiation into his family’s Kuladevata lineage devoted to Mashta Devata.
Radha Krishna recounts details of his years in forest retreat, his practice of Kriya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta and the process of purifying the energy channels, and why an encounter with Sakya Trizin radically reoriented his life towards Buddhist practice.
Radha Krishna also discusses his own and his family’s history of siddhi powers, his encounters with spiritual beings and mysterious forest creatures, describes his unique astrological method, and shares five observations about the Westerners for whom he has provided divination services.
Some notes on timestamps:
Many thanks to Suyog Shrestha for interpreting during the interview.
I have preserved the original Nepali language exchanges (labelled in the accompanying timestamps as “N”) as well as Suyog’s English language interpretation (E).
I have labelled my questions (Q) when questions are separated from the English language answer by some distance.
I have left the timestamp unlabelled during passages in which shorter exchanges of Nepali and English are interwoven and to which the non-specialist viewer can listen without confusion.
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Benefits of Kora, circumambulation
02:27 - Why make offerings
03:31 - Power of blessed places
05:07 - 4 types of liberation
05:56 - Brahmin birth and upbringing (Q)
06:33 - Brahmin birth and upbringing (N)
07:31 - Brahmin birth and upbringing (E)
09:26 - Astrological significance of Panditji’s birth (Q)
09:36 - Astrological significance of Panditji’s birth (N)
11:05 - Astrological significance of Panditji’s birth (E)
12:49 - Brahmanical education and childhood interests (Q)
13:10 - Unusual childhood traits (N)
15:02 - Unusual childhood traits (E)
16:49 - Coming of age and Brahmanical education (N)
17:20 - Coming of age and Brahmanical education (E)
18:40 - Why was Panditji sent to be educated?
19:25 - Time serving great saints (Q)
19:42 - Time serving great saints (N)
21:55 - Time serving great saints (E)
23:43 - Brahmanical curriculum and subjects of study (Q)
23:47 - Brahmanical curriculum and subjects of study (N)
25:09 - Brahmanical curriculum and subjects of study (E)
25:52 - Initiation into the family Kuladevata deity lineage (E)
26:59 - Details about the family Kuladevata deity lineage (Q)
27:23 - Details about the family Kuladevata deity lineage (N)
29:28 - Details about the family Kuladevata deity lineage (E)
30:18 - Receiving guidance from the deity (E)
31:18 - Rites of propitiation of Mashta Devata and the deity as source of knowledge (N)
32:41 - Rites of propitiation of Mashta Devata and the deity as source of knowledge (E)
34:01 - The deity enters a devotee’s body as a chosen vessel (N)
35:26 - The deity enters a devotee’s body as a chosen vessel (E)
36:43 - Panditji’s siddha grandfather (N)
39:23 - Panditji’s siddha grandfather (E)
41:16 - Stories of the power of Mashta Devata (E,N)
46:17 - A story of Śaṅkarācārya’s encounter with Panditji’s grandfather (N,E)
51:23 - Has Mashta Devata ever entered into Panditji? (Q)
51:35 - Has Mashta Devata ever entered into Panditji? (N)
52:31 - Has Mashta Devata ever entered into Panditji? (E)
53:29 - The desire for deeper spiritual practice and retreat (Q)
53:53 - The desire for deeper spiritual practice and retreat (N)
57:37 - The desire for deeper spiritual practice and retreat (E)
01:00:23 - Encounter with a mysterious forest creature (E)
01:01:31 - Living in the forest, family intervention, and fleeing marriage (N)
01:03:06 - Living in the forest, family intervention, and fleeing marriage (E)
01:05:10 - Who was the mysterious forest creature? (Q, N, E)
01:09:09 - 7 years wandering in India; study of Advaita Vedanta and Kriya Yoga (Q)
01:09:26 - 7 years wandering in India; study of Advaita Vedanta and Kriya Yoga (N)
01:12:51 - 7 years wandering in India; study of Advaita Vedanta and Kriya Yoga (E)
01:16:50 - Effects of this period of yogic practice (Q)
01:17:17 - Effects of this period of yogic practice (N)
01:20:05 - Effects of this period of yogic practice (E)
01:22:11 - Panditji’s unusual astrology method (Q)
01:22:17 - Panditji’s unusual astrology method (N)
01:23:46 - Panditji’s unusual astrology method (E)
01:26:23 - Sadhana-based astrology lineage (Q)
01:26:29 - Sadhana-based astrology lineage (N)
01:27:26 - Sadhana-based astrology lineage (E)
01:28:24 - Responsibilities and requirements for the siddha practitioner (Q)
01:28:39 - Responsibilities and requirements for the siddha practitioner (N)
01:31:23 - Responsibilities and requirements for the siddha practitioner (E)
01:34:13 - Miraculous siddhi powers of Kriya Yoga and meditation (Q)
01:34:57 - Miraculous siddhi powers of Kriya Yoga and meditation (N)
01:36:39 - Miraculous siddhi powers of Kriya Yoga and meditation (E)
01:39:51 - Therapist’s intuition vs perception of karma (N,E)
01:41:04 - Liberating a patient’s karma (Q)
01:41:09 - Liberating a patient’s karma (N)
01:41:42 - Liberating a patient’s karma (E)
01:42:09 - Meeting Sakya Trizin and a profound turn towards Buddhism (Q)
01:42:34 - Meeting Sakya Trizin and a profound turn towards Buddhism (N)
01:44:13 - Meeting Sakya Trizin and a profound turn towards Buddhism (E)
1:46:51 - Physical pain and other obstacles during inner yoga (Q)
01:47:24 - Physical pain and other obstacles during inner yoga (N)
01:48:23 - Physical pain and other obstacles during inner yoga (E)
01:49:13 - Why was Panditji open to Sakya Trizen and Buddhism? (Q)
01:49:50 - Why was Panditji open to Sakya Trizen and Buddhism? (N)
01:51:54 - Why was Panditji open to Sakya Trizen and Buddhism? (E)
01:53:52 - Gradual opening, despite social cost (N)
01:54:33 - Gradual opening, despite social cost (E)
01:56:23 - Impressed by Sakya Trizen (Q)
01:56:34 - Impressed by Sakya Trizen (N)
01:57:08 - Impressed by Sakya Trizen (E)
01:58:18 - Did Panditji stop being a Brahmin priest? (Q)
01:58:29 - Did Panditji stop being a Brahmin priest? (N)
01:59:35 - Did Panditji stop being a Brahmin priest? (E)
02:00:28 - Dramatic loss of social position (Q)
02:00:42 - Dramatic loss of social position (N)
02:01:40 - Dramatic loss of social position (E)
02:02:18 - Accomplishment in Buddhadharma (Q)
02:02:30 - Accomplishment in Buddhadharma (N)
02:02:59 - Accomplishment in Buddhadharma (E)
02:03:14 - Explanation of Panditji’s current astrology practice (Q)
02:03:53 - Explanation of Panditji’s current astrology practice (N)
02:07:23 - Explanation of Panditji’s current astrology practice (E)
02:14:37 - 5 observations about Westerners and Western culture (Q)
02:15:05 - 5 observations about Westerners and Western culture (N)
02:18:19 - 5 observations about Westerners and Western culture (E)
02:20:52 - Concluding remarks and advice for Steve (Q)
02:21:08 - Concluding remarks and advice for Steve (N)
02:22:59 - Concluding remarks and advice for Steve (E)
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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James