Redesigning the Dharma

Episode 18 with Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma is the second part of a two-part conversation with Todd Norian, the founder of Ashaya Yoga® [https://www.ashayayoga.com/]. The conversation centers on Tantra Yoga and how it offers a nondual and joyous framework for understanding life. The episode picks up with Todd sharing his journey of integrating body, mind, and heart through Tantra Yoga. This opens the discussion on topics such as the metaphysics of Shaiva Shakta Tantra, concerns within traditional guru culture, how Tantra supports emotional agility, and the importance of courage and compassion when sitting with discomfort. The dialogue wraps up with an introduction into Ashaya Yoga, and is an insightful episode on navigating spiritual teachings while emphasizing personal growth and emotional understanding. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * 00:00 Introducing Todd Norian * 02:58 The Metaphysics Of Tantra Yoga * 09:10 Transcendence and Immanence in Tantra * 16:24 Navigating Teacher-Student Relationships * 26:58 Using Tantra Yoga To Explore And Accept Emotions * 45:51 The Three C's of Emotional Agility GUEST BIO: Todd Norian, E-RYT 500, YACEP, internationally acclaimed yoga teacher, founder of Ashaya Yoga, author of Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, A Memoir [https://www.ashayayoga.com/book], musician, acharya in Blue Throat Yoga, and a Kripalu Legacy Faculty, teaches classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings both live in-person and online, for students and teachers all over the world. A student of yoga since 1980, Todd brings a depth of inner strength, devotion, vulnerability, and an unapologetic sense of humor to everything he does. Todd seeks to awaken others to their inherent potential for healing and joy by integrating the body, mind, and heart through Ashaya Yoga and meditation. In 2012, Todd founded Ashaya Yoga®, an alignment-based, heart-centered practice which uses the five elements and the teachings from the Nondual Tantra tradition to build strength and flexibility while giving students access to a universe of power within. He is a guest teacher at many renowned spiritual centers and conferences including Kripalu Center, Omega Institute, Esalen, and the Toronto Yoga Show. As a classically trained jazz musician, Todd created several music albums for yoga and relaxation, including the world-renowned Bija: Soothing Music and Mantras for Yoga and Meditation. [https://www.ashayayoga.com/store/music] ASHAYA YOGA [https://www.ashayayoga.com/] ASHAYA YOGA ON INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashayayoga/] ASHAYA YOGA ON FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/AshayaYoga/]

Episode 17 with Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma is the first part of a two-part conversation with Todd Norian, the founder of Ashaya Yoga® [https://www.ashayayoga.com/]. The conversation centers on Tantra Yoga and how it offers a nondual and joyous framework for understanding life. Todd begins the discussion by debunking some misconceptions of Tantra and then dives deeper into some of the core tenets of the practice, including its view on suffering, the balance between transcendence and embodiment, and the value of embracing life's full spectrum of experiences and emotions. This episode highlights a more integrated approach to the householder path and encourages listeners to view life, including its challenges, as part of their awakening journey. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * 00:00 Introducing Todd Norian * 03:03 Defining Tantra Yoga and Clearing Up Misconceptions * 12:10 The Balance Between Transcendence and Immanence * 17:56 Questioning Perfection and the Guru Tradition * 23:46 Embracing The Discomfort of Challenging Emotions Like Loneliness and Grief * 33:39 Three Guiding Questions For Spiritual Awakening and Empowerment Through Tantra GUEST BIO: Todd Norian, E-RYT 500, YACEP, internationally acclaimed yoga teacher, founder of Ashaya Yoga, author of Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, A Memoir [https://www.ashayayoga.com/book], musician, acharya in Blue Throat Yoga, and a Kripalu Legacy Faculty, teaches classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings both live in-person and online, for students and teachers all over the world. A student of yoga since 1980, Todd brings a depth of inner strength, devotion, vulnerability, and an unapologetic sense of humor to everything he does. Todd seeks to awaken others to their inherent potential for healing and joy by integrating the body, mind, and heart through Ashaya Yoga and meditation. In 2012, Todd founded Ashaya Yoga®, an alignment-based, heart-centered practice which uses the five elements and the teachings from the Nondual Tantra tradition to build strength and flexibility while giving students access to a universe of power within. He is a guest teacher at many renowned spiritual centers and conferences including Kripalu Center, Omega Institute, Esalen, and the Toronto Yoga Show. As a classically trained jazz musician, Todd created several music albums for yoga and relaxation, including the world-renowned Bija: Soothing Music and Mantras for Yoga and Meditation. [https://www.ashayayoga.com/store/music] ASHAYA YOGA [https://www.ashayayoga.com/] ASHAYA YOGA ON INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashayayoga/] ASHAYA YOGA ON FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/AshayaYoga/]

Episode 16 with Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma features a conversation with Justin Kelley, PhD, the Executive Director at Tergar Institute [https://tergarinstitute.org/] and Tergar Schools [https://tergarschools.org/]. Raised in rural Massachusetts, Justin’s transformative journey began in Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal. This discussion dives into the role of the scholar-practitioner, his extensive research in Buddhist philosophy and meditation, his role as executive director in the Tergar community, the importance of balancing traditional and contemporary learning methods, and the challenges and adaptive strategies for transmitting Vajrayana Buddhism in the modern world. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * 00:00 Introduction to Justin Kelley, PhD * 05:24 Justin’s Journey with Buddhism * 19:44 Meeting Mingyur Rinpoche * 27:20 Tergar Institute & Tergar Schools: Mission, Curriculum, and Approach Towards The Tradition * 34:57 Adapting Vajrayana Teachings and Discussing Power Dynamics in Traditional Institutes * 46:16 Psychedelics & The Importance of Stabilizing The View GUEST BIO: Justin Kelley, a scholar-practitioner deeply engaged in both the academic and practical realms of Tibetan Buddhism, was raised on a farm in rural Massachusetts. His path took a transformative turn when he spent a decade immersed in Tibetan refugee communities across India and Nepal, where he dedicated himself to studying Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and meditative practices. In 2021, Justin earned his PhD from Rice University’s Department of Religion, under the mentorship of Dr. Anne C. Klein, a distinguished professor of Religious Studies. His scholarly interests are expansive, encompassing the meditative and philosophical systems of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, phenomenology, contemplative studies, and learning theory. Justin's research is particularly focused on the nuanced processes of personal transformation—how these transformations are cultivated and the outcomes they yield. His dissertation explored Longchen Rabjam’s ontology of purity within the framework of the Great Completeness (Dzogchen), contributing to a larger project aimed at tracing the genealogy of purity throughout Buddhist history. In addition to his work in Buddhist theory and practice, Justin is passionate about the learning process and the art of pedagogy. His teaching philosophy is grounded in a transformative approach, emphasizing engaged and applied pedagogies that foster inclusive and empathetic learning environments. Whether in a classroom or digital setting, Justin is committed to creating educational experiences that honor the full spectrum of human experience. Currently, Justin serves as the executive director of two interrelated organizations: Tergar Schools and the Tergar Institute. At the heart of both organizations is the seamless integration of Tibetan Buddhist theory and practice with contemporary approaches to learning, with Tergar Schools focusing on primary and secondary education and the Tergar Institute on continuing and higher education. TERGAR INSTITUTE [https://tergarinstitute.org/] | TERGAR INSTITUTE ON FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/tergarinstitute] | TERGAR INSTITUTE ON INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/tergarinstitute] TERGAR SCHOOLS [http://www.tergarschools.org/] | TERGAR SCHOOLS ON FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/tergarschools] | TERGAR SCHOOLS ON INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/tergarschools]

Episode 15 with Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma features a conversation with Sara Lewis, PhD, LCSW, the co-founder and director of training and research at Naropa University’s center for Psychedelic Studies. This conversation explores the intersection psychedelic-assisted therapy, healing intergenerational trauma, building resilience in the face of adversity, and how having a background grounded in contemplative practices can support with the preparation and integration of using plant medicines like ayahuasca and soma for greater healing. The conversation delves into the diverse frameworks for psychedelic-assisted therapy and advocates to make these transformative experiences accessible and meaningful for a wide range of individuals. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * 00:00 Introducing Sara Lewis, PhD, LCSW * 03:07 The Intersection of Psychedelics and Dharma * 08:54 Somatic Experiencing Why Groundedness Is Important When Using Psychedelics * 14:33 How To Integrate Insights After Ceremony * 25:44 Traditional vs Modern Approaches For Psychedelic Use * 42:52 How Psychedelics And Buddhism Can Support With Healing Trauma GUEST BIO: Sara Lewis, PhD, LCSW is co-founder and Director of Training and Research at Naropa University's Center for Psychedelic Studies. Sara earned her PhD at Columbia University in medical anthropology and public health; her research sits at the intersection of religion, culture and healing with an emphasis on non-ordinary states. As a Fulbright scholar, she conducted long term ethnographic research in India, culminating in her book, Spacious Minds: Trauma and Resilience in Tibetan Buddhism, which investigates how Buddhist concepts of mind shape traumatic memory and pathways to resilience. Sara has also published research on ayahuasca and spiritual emergencies. As a contemplative psychotherapist, she specializes in intergenerational trauma and healing through Somatic Experiencing and psychedelic-assisted therapy. She is an Associate MDMA-Assisted Therapy Training Consultant for Lykos Therapeutics and provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in her private practice in Boulder, CO. CONNECT WITH SARA [https://www.spaciousmindspsychotherapy.com/] SARA AT NAROPA UNIVERSITY [https://www.naropa.edu/profile/sara-lewis/] SARA ON LINKEDIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-lewis-5516b9289/]

EPISODE SUMMARY: Episode 14 of Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma features a conversation with writer, psychotherapist, and ayahuasca integration coach, Kerry Moran. Kerry shares her fascinating journey of living in Kathmandu and practicing Dharma, to becoming a psychotherapist with a private practice in Portland, and finally moving to Peru and working closely with ayahuasca for spiritual and therapeutic purposes. The conversation delves into how her background in Dzogchen and depth psychology enhances her work with psychedelics, the transformative power of ayahuasca, and the importance of integration in psychedelic experiences. Listeners will learn about the feminine archetype of the dakini, the embodied nature of ayahuasca experiences, and the role of compassion and embodiment in spiritual growth. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * 00:00 Guest Introduction * 02:21 Kerry's Journey into Dharma: Living and Practicing in Kathmandu * 10:27 Transitioning and Practicing Depth Psychology * 18:56 Ayahuasca Through A Tantric Lens * 27:16 Integrated and Embodied Healing After An Ayahuasca Ceremony * 44:33 How Dharma and Plant Medicine Can Be Synergistic In Inspiring Awakening GUEST BIO: Kerry Moran is a psychotherapist and writer who brings decades of experience in Vajrayana Buddhism and depth psychology to the integration of ayahuasca. She lives in the Sacred Valley of Peru, where she works, locally and internationally, as an ayahuasca integration therapist. Her approach is both spiritual and practical, working to ground the wisdom of ayahuasca in daily life. Among other things, she's a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, an archetypal astrologer, and an apprentice tabaquera. Kerry's personal experience with master plants provides the foundation of her integration work with clients. She's worked intensively with ayahuasca for the past 10 years and has completed a lengthy series of plant dietas with a Peruvian tabaquero. Other plants she considers her teachers are iboga and huachuma (San Pedro). Kerry's therapeutic approach blends depth psychology with the non-dual teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and a profound respect for the wisdom of the plants. You can find much more on her website, ayahuascawisdom.com, including an insightful blog about ayahuasca integration. CONNECT WITH KERRY [https://ayahuascawisdom.com/] INTEGRATING AYAHUASCA: 10 WEEKS OF SKILLS & SUPPORT TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CEREMONIES [https://integrate.ayahuascawisdom.com/p/integrating-ayahuasca]