Podcasts
Chandra Easton:
Learning From Suffering Our Karmic Hurdles And Tantra Now
Can suffering actually be a gem – a silver lining? How can suffering actually become our guiding light on our spiritual journeys?
My guest today helps us understand the value and importance of suffering through the Tibetan Buddhist lens. Lopön Chandra Easton is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher, scholar and author. She is the Vajra Teacher at the Tara Mandala Retreat Center and professor at the USCB Religions Department.
Awakening Wisdom
CHANDRA EASTON ON EGO, SUFFERING, AND FEEDING YOUR DEMONS
Chandra Easton is a senior Dharma teacher, author, and translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. She is well renowned for her efforts to elevate the empowered feminine in Buddhism. Chandra has a deep lineage of study under the guidance of prominent Tibetan and Western Buddhist teachers, beginning her journey in Buddhist practice at the age of four. She’s spent decades bridging traditional Tibetan teachings with a modern approach, making profound wisdom practices accessible and relevant for today’s world. We spoke together live at Esalen this fall where we explored her latest book, “Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom”, diving deep into themes of ego, suffering, and the transformative practice known as ‘Feed Your Demons.’
New podcast With Bob Thurman
A TIBET HOUSE US MENLA CONVERSATION WITH CHANDRA EASTON
Join us for a dynamic conversation about the 21 Taras, Tantra, and Justice, particularly the 8th Tara, Tara Aparajita, “Justice Tara.” Have a listen!
Deity Yoga and the 21 Taras with Chandra Easton
Tantra Illuminated with Dr. Christopher Wallis (Tantra Illuminated Podcast) (June 7, 2024)
This week’s episode features a conversation with Chandra Easton, also known as Lopön Yeshe Dawa Zangmo, a Dharma teacher, author, and translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. Since 2001, she has taught Buddhism and Hatha Yoga. In 2015, she was awarded the title of Vajra Teacher, Dorje Lopön (Vajrāchārya), signifying a tantric master in Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, by Lama Tsultrim Allione and H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. She regularly leads retreats and teaches Dharma both nationally and internationally. Chandra’s new book, Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom, explores the 21 manifestations of Tārā in Tibetan Buddhism as she seeks to bring forth the voice of the empowered feminine in Buddhism. Our discussion touches on her personal journey through Buddhism, on the essence of the 21 Tārās as a gateway to look past our mental constructs of selfhood and discover our deeper nature, and the power of deity yoga.
Embodying the 21 Taras with Chandra Easton
Host Michael Taft speaks with meditation teacher Chandra Easton about her new book Embodying Tara: 21 Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom, the background of Green Tara, why there are 21 different manifestations, the inspirations for the book. Chandra’s lifelong relationship with Green Tara, and we take an especially deep dive into manifestation number thirteen, the so-callled “Demolition Tara.”
Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton has taught meditation and yoga since 2001. She has had the good fortune to study with many Tibetan and Western Buddhist teachers such as H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Karmapa, Lama Tsultrim Allione, B. Alan Wallace, and Jennifer Welwood. She is currently the Assistant Spiritual Director & Head Teacher at the Tara Mandala Retreat Center. Chandra has published several books, including her new book Embodying Tara: 21 Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom.
209. Lopon Chandra Easton on Feminism in Buddhism + Tara, the Goddess of Compassion.
In this episode of Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis, Waylon talks with Buddhist teacher and fellow “Dharma Brat” Chandra Easton about her new book, Embodying Tara via Shambhala Publications.
They also speak about feminism in Buddhism, auspicious coincidence, and bring some understanding re what’s up with “deities” in the non-theistic tradition of Buddhism.
Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom is on sale via Shambhala Publications.
A Tibet House US Menla Conversation with Dr. Robert Thurman and Chandra Easton – Ep. 333
Vision, Visualization, and Vajrayana
Host Michael Taft speaks with Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton about her recent work with the 21 manifestations of the Goddess Tara, some aspects of Green Tara, and especially the role of vision and visualization in Vajrayana, and Buddhism more generally. Beginning with the somewhat negative role of the eyes in early Buddhist practice, moving through the Mahayana sutras talking about “enlightened eyes,” and the “Eye of the Buddha,” and culminating with the rainbow light practices of Vajrayana and Dzogchen. Topics include: Nagarjuna’s vision metaphor of emptiness, the esoteric subtle channel from the heart to the eyes, meditation on kasinas, and much more.
Vajrayana and Deity Yoga
Buddhist Teacher and author Lopön Chandra Easton talks with Michael Taft about Vajrayana, her own pilgrimage and experiences in India, the struggle to bring motherhood, sexuality, the feminine, and the female voice into spiritual life, the power of yidam or deity yoga, how Westerners relate to deity yoga, and a look into the practice of the 21 Taras.
Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism: An Interview
Chandra Easton and Michael Taft talk about gender and sexual misconduct in Buddhism, why compassion must be a part of spiritual practice, and the place of the guru in modern culture. Chandra shares her personal story of dealing with sexual misconduct at the hands of her teacher, tantric practices as a technology for awakening, internalized patriarchy, and how love and kindness is the whole point of spiritual practice. Also included are guidelines for choosing a teacher, reimagining Tantric practices in non-binary ways, and much more.
Vajrayana Training and Feeding Your Demons
Lopön Chandra Easton is a Westerner who grew up in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. Listen to this podcast to learn more about her training and approach to teaching Dharma in the west.
