Ep65: English Ngakma - Khandro Déchen

Interviews

Oct 23

In this episode I am joined by Khandro Déchen, Lineage Lama, alongside her husband and teaching partner Ngak’chang Rinpoche, of the Aro gTér tantric house holder tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

GuruViking · Ep65: Khandro Déchen - English Ngakma

We learn about Khandro Déchen’s upbringing and career in nursing, and how working with the sick and dying prepared her for her role as a spiritual teacher.

Khandro Déchen recounts her first meeting and subsequent courtship with the man who would later become both her teacher and husband, Ngak’chang Rinpoche.

We learn about Khandro Déchen’s practice in the hidden places of the Himalayas and her contact with great Lamas such as Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche .

Khandro Déchen also discusses power differentials between teacher and student, females teachers and the patriarchy, her love of Kum-Nye physical practices, and more.

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Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

Topics include:

0:00 – Intro
0:59 – Khandro Déchen’s upbringing and meeting Ngak’chang Rinpoche
7:04 – Why Buddhism was so appealing to Khandro Déchen
8:40 – Khandro Déchen’s nursing career
11:53 – Principles for working with the sick and dying
15:15 – How Khandro Déchen works with spiritual students
17:28 – Khandro Déchen’s sisters conversion to Buddhism
19:57 – Early days of the Aro gTer
20:55 – Beginning a romantic relationship with Ngak’chang Rinpoche
27:14 – The power differential between teacher and student and its implications
34:04 – Chimé Rigdzin Rinpoche making the relationship public
36:40 – Meeting Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
41:12 – Stories about Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Samphel Dechen
44:54 – How Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche viewed Ngak’chang Rinpoche
47:05 – Why Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche didn’t have many students
48:52 – ‘King of the Universe’
50:22 – Where did Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s charisma come from?
51:01 – Khandro Déchen’s practice in the hidden places of the Himalayas
58:18 – Meeting the current incarnations of Dudjom Rinpoche
1:00:39 – Navigating being both the husband and student of Ngak’chang Rinpoche
1:02:47 – Considerations as Lamas raising children
1:09:58 – Khandro Déchen’s work in yidam drawing
1:14:12 – The physical practices of Kum-Nye
1:18:34 – Do female teachers bring a unique perspective?
1:23:24 – Gender politics over Khandro Déchen’s lifetime
1:27:44 – The end result of practice
1:28:33 – Patriarchy as male power