We journey into the mandala of the empowered feminine with Lama Tsultrim Allione and the tantric dakinis.
Through her own story of loss and spiritual seeking, paired with mandala meditations and rituals, Lama Tsultrium Allione shows us how to embody the enlightened, fierce power of the sacred feminine—the tantric dakinis. Learn more about mandala meditation and the dakinis in Lama Tsultrim’s newest book: Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine
Show Notes
Journey into the Mandala (Opening) – Melanie and Lama Tsultrim reflect on the impact that the aspect of the divine feminine has at a societal and personal level. Lama Tsultrim speaks to the way that practice with the Mandala of the Five Dakinis can affect the individual and reverberate into the greater world around them.
“There is a need for women to own the fierce feminine. Not fierce as in angry or nasty, but fierce like a wild animal in the protection of her young. We need a practice, an inner path to find that potency and to be able to hold the fierce feminine in its wisdom aspect – that is the Dakini Mandala. Dakinis are the embodiment of feminine wisdom in the Tibetan tradition, equal to Buddhas.” – Lama Tsultrim Allione
Finding the Center (11:50) – Lama Tsultrim talks about finding equanimity in the face of fear. She speaks more of how mandala practices can act as a brake to slow us down and center into wholeness.
“This is us as human beings. We all have these obstructive patterns. We all have the potential for wisdom and we all can transform.” – Lama Tsultrim Allione
Re-Integrating (24:30) – We look at the lessons that re-integrating with the elements can teach us about the unfolding of the divine feminine, finding balance and re-integrating in our lives. Lama Tsultrim speaks about the unfolding of the divine feminine in her own life.
“The elements are considered to be the dakinis. The work with the elements is extremely powerful and transformative. It’s not the conceptual experience of appreciating the elements, it’s union with that element and in that union, you go to a different level of consciousness. It’s entering into a very deep level of vastness – because when you enter into the elemental practices, the experience of each element is vast.” – – Lama Tsultrim Allione
Make Your Own Seat (35:45) – Melanie speaks with Lama Tsultrim about the emerging presence of the divine feminine in the Western world. Lama Tsultrim talks about breaking out of the patriarchal system she studied under and her role in making room for the divine feminine, and women as a whole, in Buddhist practice.
Inner Revolution (54:40) – What about the cultural push-back against issues facing women today, like we saw with the #METOO movement? Lama shares perspective on how personal practice can shape our reactivity and allow us to make a larger impact in the world around us.
Ram Dass gives a talk on the greater social action that occurs we all begin to change ourselves on Ep. 107 of the Here and Now Podcast.
