Guru Viking Podcast

In this interview I am joined by Thupten Phuntsok, Buddhist teacher who, after 21 years as a monk in the Gelugpa order, disrobed to live the life of a lay person in New York City. Phuntsok describes his childhood in Haiti, and the awakening of his desire to become Christ-like and dedicate his life to spiritual contemplation. Phuntsok shares his subsequent explorations in Western Esotericism, Indian yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism including studies under Rato Rinpoche and Geshe Lobsang Tharchin. Phuntsok also shares his views on the dysfunctions of modern sexuality, the scholastic emphasis of his Gelugpa training, the 6 Yogas of Naropa, and reveals the surprising reasons why after two decades he chose to leave the monastic life behind. … 

Video version at: https://www.guruviking.com/ep121-leaving-monasticism-thupten-phuntsok/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Childhood spiritual leanings 03:21 - Why Phuntsok did not becom