Good day to everyone, nice to be here!
Last sunday I interviewed Kim Katami for the second episode of the Lion-Faced Guru Podcast.
Kim Katami is the founder and head teacher of Pemako Buddhism, a pragmatic international Vajrayana Buddhist Sangha. And in this podcast we extensively about Kim's experiental insights on the path (as a practitioner and as a teacher), the importance of transparency regarding attainments aswell as his own style of teaching Vajrayana to western people in a fresh, non-dogmatic and effective way.
Here's the link to the podcast on youtube:
https://youtu.be/YI_HVYUj6u4
Topics included:
00:00 Introduction by Ugi Muller
3:30 What have been 2-3 biggest changes in your life due to practice?
4:00 Existential confusion (dukkha) and mystical experiences since childhood
8:50 Finding dharma and meditation properly
9:30 Intuiting that awakening or enlightenment was the answer
11:00 Zen times in Japan with two Zen masters
12:45 Being forced to admit that Zen practice didn't work
15:15 Finding a new path from Kriya Yoga and Shaiva Tantra
18:10 Practicing Shaiva Tantra, opening heart but again, no awakening
19:50 Awakening through Muruga mantra
21:05 Deities of Shaiva Tantra
22:10 More about the first shift
23:30 How was the first shift like? Before and after
25:00 Problem I had and Shakyamuni had
26:00 How further shifts started happening
28:15 Visits of spiritual masters since childhood
29:45 Figuring out that awakening experiences are universally related to specific energy centers
31:10 13 bhumis or awakenings related to 13 energy centers that everyone has
32:40 Energy reading skill from Zen Art
34:30 Analysis of bhumis or stages
36:00 Meaning of 11th shift or bhumi opening
37:50 Meaning of full buddhahood
40:15 Vipashyana meditation becomes very easy and effective with the stabilisation of basic awareness
41:10 How have your habits and patterns changed?
42:30 Buddhists have mapped out everything about meditative process
47:30 Effect of shifts and tantric practice
48:05 Panic attacks and social anxiety
50:00 Basic theory of vipashyana meditation or ”buddhist meditation”
51:35 The way how Kim Rinpoche teaches meditation
53:40 Buddhist methods typically discuss shamatha and vipashyana
55:10 It is not necessay to practice shamatha meditation
58:45 When did you have your first recognition of the natural state?
1:03:30 Oneness, exalted consciousness etc. are not it
1:04:35 Vajrayana buddhist masters have been very clear about the nature of mind
1:05:50 Rigpa, knowing awareness, knowledge, wisdom
1:07:10 Only basic awareness can end existential confusion, according to tantric masters
1:08:30 All sentient beings have buddhanature, according to mahayana buddhism
1:10:50 Development and influence of monasticism
1:12:00 In tantra everything can be used for practice and there is no need for renounciation
1:13:25 Tantra suits Western lay people's lifestyle perfectly
1:14:40 How do you teach recognition of the natural state?
1:15:20 Learning practices from nonphysical masters
1:16:20 Tantra has been everywhere, not only Tibet
1:19:20 Receiving teachings from masters and remembering practices such as the Two-Part Formula for Awakening from past lives
1:19:45 Recognition of the natural state needs to be prioritised always
1:22:50 Two ways to recognise reality: Dynamic Concentration of dzogchen or tantric practice of guru and deity mantras
1:24:50 Gentle vs. Dynamic Concentration
1:27:05 Dynamic Concentration works for all and doesn't require empowerment
1:28:30 Can you practice vajrayana without a teacher?
1:32:00 What is pragmatic vajrayana buddhism? Pedagogics of dharma
1:35:10 We need to have clear basic instructions, not vague nonsense
1:36:05 Natural state outside of practice
1:36:40 First formal meditation instructions at the age of 7 from a judo teacher
1:38:20 Martial arts, sauna and cold water snaps people out of their minds
1:41:10 People go from one release to the next
1:42:05 Sincerity and honesty is the most important thing in all kinds of relationships, including between teachers and students
1:44:10 In pragmatic dharma experiences and attainments are openly discussed. Why?
1:45:00 Secrecy is one of the big problems in the present dharma culture
1:47:15 Harmful habits of the old dharma culture compared to the open style of modern education
1:48:15 The only thing that will satisfy those with existential confusion
1:49:30 Power to the people, dropping dogmatism
1:50:30 Saraha's pith instructions and Mahamudra tradition
1:52:30 Common sense is absolutely necessary
1:53:20 How do people progress through the bhumis or stages in Pemako Buddhist Sangha?
1:54:35 Two-Part Formula is a specific technique for awakening/first shift
1:56:05 Two-Part Formula works for everyone and is used by teachers from other traditions and lineages
1:57:00 Tantric practices after the first awakening
1:57:20 Fastest and slowest bhumi openings
1:58:35 Why some people open bhumis faster than others?
2:01:30 Enjoy and keep practicing for the existential wellbeing of all beings
2:05:10 Dynamic Concentration in Tibetan dzogchen compared to Pemako Buddhism
2:07:45 It is very easy to access the natural state if you have the right tools
2:09:30 The best thing a dharma practitioner can do
2:10:00 About Pemako Buddhist activities
