Ep355: The Accidental Buddhist - Doug Nurnberg
Doug Nurnberg has been a close student of Tarthang Tulku for over 50 years and is project manager and board member of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute (SINI).
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Doug recalls his childhood in a conservative farming family in Kansas, how an out of body experience saw him embark on a search for meaning, and why he sometimes thinks of himself as an “accidental Buddhist”.
Doug describes his 50 year discipleship under Tarthang Tulku; recounts stories of conflict, trust, and unusual teaching methods; and reveals his impressions of the personality and capabilities of Tarthang Tulku the man.
Doug also reflects on work ethic as a path to enlightenment, why he has deferred meditation practice to preserve Tibetan culture and further the aims of his teacher, and the role of esoteric geomancy in the building of grand stupas and statues around the world.
00:00 - Intro
01:02 -Tour of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute
09:45 - Library and scripture collections
12:54 - Books by Tarthang Tulku
13:27 - Revelations of Mind
14:39 - Deferring practice to preserve the Tibetan culture
16:30 - Setting up a printing press at Ratna Ling
17:55 - Doug’s childhood in Kansas
19:47 - Accidental Buddhist
20:30 - Excellence in athletics
21:39 - Winning the national championship and an out of body experience
24:16 - Searching for meaning
25:41 - Meeting Tarthang Tulku
28:29 - Conflicts during construction projects for Tarthang Tulku
34:29 - Horses and Tarthang Tulku’s teaching methods
37:59 - Permaculture projects
42:17 - Work ethic as a path to enlightenment
46:04 - Tarthang Tulku’s individualised teaching style
48:37 - Why such grand scale projects?
52:36 - Geomancy and sacred building projects
56:29 - Difficult relationship with Tarthang Tulku
01:01:33 - Leaving in frustration for 10 years
01:03:22 - Family obligations
01:05:37 - Political instability in America
01:08:12 - Family concern about Doug’s involvement with Tarthang Tulku
01:10:40 - Tarthang Tulku the man
01:14:59 - Devotion to the guru
01:17:19 - Tarthang Tulku’s unusual capacities
01:21:21 - Doug’s understanding of Buddhist doctrine
01:27:36 - Gratitude to Tarthang Tulku
01:29:56 - Thinking about death
01:31:14 - Does Doug want to be enlightened?
01:33:19 - Buddhism is a natural state
To find our more about Doug Nurnberg, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James