Christiana Polites is a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, long time collaborator of Tibetan spiritual teacher Nida Chenagtsang, and founder of Sky Press Books, Pure Land Farms, the Sowa Rigpa Institute, and more.
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Christiana recalls her privileged upbringing in Manhattan, New York; her education in comparative religions at Harvard University; and her deep involvement in the 90s New York yoga scene.
Christiana talks about her discipleship under and collaborations with Nida Chenagtsang, reflects on the tantric guru-disciple relationship, and considers the trend of asking one’s guru for advice about life choices.
Christiana shares her own journey to personal empowerment and self-direction, why working closely with a guru requires adaptability, and gives a potted history of the many religious and cultural organisations she has founded.
00:00 - Intro
02:42 - Upbringing in Manhattan
05:54 - Beginnings of spiritual questioning
06:50 - History of religions class
09:08 - New York yoga in the 90s
10:55 - Spiritual side of yoga in the 90s
13:00 - Body bliss
16:37 - Quitting yoga overnight
22:05 - Studying comparative religions at Harvard
25:55 - Influential professors and deciding against academia
28:43 - Areas of study
30:18 - Life-changing 3 months in Bodhgaya
32:46 - A survey of the 3 yanas
35:02 - Connecting with Tibetan Buddhism
37:52 - Gradual vs sudden awakening
39:42 - Constitutional type vs karma
41:03 - Pros and cons of kapha/bad kan constitution
42:38 - Character change vs peak experiences
44:49 - Fruits of the path
45:47 - Adaptability and working with Dr Nida
47:52 - Dr Nida’s spontaneous creativity
49:28 - Life after Harvard, further study of Tibetan Buddhism, and Chinese medicine studies
52:14 - Gurus in Colorado
53:22 - Decision not to study @ Naropa
53:42 - When did Christiana become a Buddhist?
55:25 - Plant medicines and meeting Dr Nida
01:01:26 - Taoist medicine studies in China
01:05:33 - Asking Dr Nida for advice and founding Yanchenma Healing Arts
01:10:47 - Culture of asking the guru for life advice
01:13:37 - Becoming personally empowered and the burden of logistics
01:20:40 - Healthy separation
01:22:48 - Having a dharma centre
01:24:13 - Reflections on the guru-disciple relationship with Dr Nida
01:30:43 - What motivates Christiana’s practice?
01:34:48 - Basic teachings vs advanced practices
01:40:03 - Founding Sky Press Publications
01:48:02 - Founding the Sowa Rigpa Institute
01:50:17 - Founding Yangchenma Arts and Music with Simone Giuliani
01:52:51 - An auspicious year
01:54:55 - An unusual sangha
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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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