Justin Von Bujdoss - Modern Tantric Buddhism: Embodiment and Authenticity in Dharma Practice

While there has been much material produced on the modernization of Theravada and Zen Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism remains undertreated. Modern Tantric Buddhism makes a significant contribution to filling that lacuna by offering a timely and potent revisioning of the tradition. Interweaving lived religious experience, tantric texts, and critical theorists, von Bujdoss shows how Western tantra can transform the structural afflictions of colonialism, whiteness, and patriarchy. For academics, he provides instructive and valuable primary data to theorize the multiple forms that Vajrayana Buddhism is taking after and beyond modernity.

ANN GLEIG, associate professor of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Central Florida, and author of American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity

In todays world, where tantra has been wrongly equated with sexjustifying hedonism and reinforcing narcissismand amidst the hyperdrive of modern materialism, now more than ever we need a serious, in-the-world practice that neither denies our humanness, nor seeks to transcend it. Modern Tantric Buddhism realigns us with tantras original core values of integrity, authenticity, and true empowerment. Lama Justin von Bujdossscholar, yogi, householder, and chaplainshows us what tantra is really all about and how to meet the immediacy of our everyday experiences with greater wisdom and compassion. Impressive in its scope, grounded in lineage, and exceedingly accessible, this book helps professional caregivers and lay practitioners alike transform illness, trauma, death, and all that constitute our ordinary life, into the active ingredients of spiritual awakening. This book reflects, here and now, our true naturethat as embodied spiritual beings, we are already free. What a timely, breath of fresh air.

DR. MILES NEALE, author of Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human

Lama Justin von Bujdoss offers us an introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism unlike any other of which I am aware. Arising from his courageous application of tantric insights to hospice work, prison ministry, and the task of healing the earth, this book has a unique freshness of approach that will engage a broad spectrum of readers. While engaging us in the narrative of his own quest, von Bujdoss embeds anecdotes within the contemplative attitude that Milarepa termed the best of samayaskeeping to contemplative awareness at all times. Modern Tibetan Buddhism thus wins over our attention by moving with us in the struggles of daily life, no matter where we mindfully follow the sigh of our breath.

REV. FRANCIS V. TISO, author of Rainbow Body and Resurrection: Spiritual Attainment, the Dissolution of the Material Body, and the Case of Khenpo A Ch

Copyright 2019 by Justin von Bujdoss. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.

Published by

North Atlantic Books

Berkeley, California

Cover design by Jasmine Hromjak

Book design by Happenstance Type-O-Rama

Printed in the United States of America

Modern Tantric Buddhism: Embodiment and Authenticity in Dharma Practice is sponsored and published by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences (dba North Atlantic Books), an educational nonprofit based in Berkeley, California, that collaborates with partners to develop cross-cultural perspectives, nurture holistic views of art, science, the humanities, and healing, and seed personal and global transformation by publishing work on the relationship of body, spirit, and nature.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Von Bujdoss, Justin, author.

Title: Modern Tantric Buddhism: Embodiment and Authenticity in Dharma
practice / Justin von Bujdoss.

Description: Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 2019. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019010660 (print) | LCCN 2019018273 (ebook) | ISBN
9781623173968 (ebook) | ISBN 9781623173951 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Religious lifeTantric Buddhism. | Spiritual lifeTantric
Buddhism.

Classification: LCC BQ8936 (ebook) | LCC BQ8936 .V66 2019 (print) | DDC
294.3/925dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019010660

This book includes recycled material and material from well-managed forests. North Atlantic Books is committed to the protection of our environment. We print on recycled paper whenever possible and partner with printers who strive to use environmentally responsible practices.

Dedicated to Tsunma Dechen Zangmo, Vajravarahi, and Palden Lhamo Dusolma. May your blessings destroy the limits of broken ego-clinging, leaving a trail of ordinary, authentic liberation everywhere.

Modern Tantric Buddhism could never have been written without the kindness of others. In this regard, I feel blessed. Most directly, I am indebted to my wife, Cheryl, and to my three wonderful sonsPico, Winston, and Marcusall of whom continue to grace me with their patience, grounding, love, and joy. I am similarly indebted to my parents, Martha and Nicholas, for holding space for me to become who I have become and for rolling with the endless change and my years of travel in Asia. Thank you for helping me find the time and space to nurture the seeds that have grown into this book.

My dharma siblings Dekila Chungyalpa and Erik Bloom provided unquestionable support and encouragement, which can only be accounted for, or explained, as being the fruit of lifetimes of mutual care for one another. Whether here in the West or in Sikkim or Bodh Gaya, thank you for patiently listening to the raw forms of my musings and for offering your wise reflections. I am especially indebted to Dekila for sharing her precious mother, Tsunma Dechen Zangmo, with me.

Fellow travelers on the path Westin Harris, Reverend Francis Tiso, PhD, and Lama Charlyn Edwards have made meaningful contributions during the composition of this book. In the case of Westin Harris and Rev. Francis Tiso, this has taken the form of graciously permitting me to build upon their existing translations of the works of Padampa Sangye and Milarepa, respectively. Lama Charlyn Edwards has remained a close mentor and spiritual friend, introducing me to important academic works pertaining to Indian tantric traditions, especially the exceptional academic work of Professor Harunaga Isaacson, whose lecture series on Ratnakarasantis Hevajra sadhanas in July of 2018 has proven to be a vital, inspirational balm, which continues to remain impactful.

I would be nothing without my teachers. Whether it be Tsunma Dechen Zangmos endless creativity and passion for embodiment; Pathing Rinpoches masterful power of ritual and authenticity as a tantrika of the old school; Bokar Rinpoches oceanic love, compassion, and patience; or the sheer power and intensity demonstrated by Gyaltsab Rinpoche, I have benefitted from experiencing, through these Tantric Buddhist masters, the beauty, dynamism, and warm breath of this living tradition. Through them, and our work together, this living tradition has become an inseparable part of me. For this I will always be grateful, and I look forward to the ways in which our relationships will yield the fruit of our mutual aspirations. These teachers have proven to me that tantric tradition has a power and applicability that will forever endure.