YSP 10 Ian Baker | Tibetan Yoga, Hidden Lands, and Bringing Esoteric Teachings to Light

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ian Baker about his many journeys into Tibet and Tantric Buddhism, the power of hidden lands (beyul), isolated mountain retreats, Tibetan physical yogas (trulkhor), receiving guidance from H.H. the Dalai Lama, the nature of secrecy and esoteric teachings, and a preview of the upcoming online course, YS 110 | Tibetan Yoga.
Speaker Bio
Ian Baker is the author of several books on Himalayan and Tibetan religion and culture, including Tibetan Yoga: Principles and Practices, The Dalai Lamas Secret Temple: Tantric Wall Paintings from Tibet, and The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet’s Lost Paradise.
He received a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Oxford, pursued further graduate studies in Buddhism and Medical Anthropology at Columbia University and University College London, and recently completed his doctorate in Medical Humanities at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland.
He was lead curator for the 2015-16 London exhibition, ‘Tibet’s Secret Temple: Body, Mind and Meditation in Tantric Buddhism’ and was recognized by National Geographic Society as one of seven ‘Explorers for the Millennium’ for his fieldwork illuminating the Tibetan tradition of ‘hidden lands’ (beyul), idealized sites of yogic practice. His current research focuses on the contemporary interface of Indo-Tibetan yoga with art and science.
Links
YS 110 | Tibetan Yoga: Histories, Practices, Transformations | www.yogicstudi...
Tibetan Yoga: Principles and Practices (2019, Inner Traditions) | www.amazon.com...
independent.ac...
ianbakerjourne...
Note: We apologize for the lesser audio quality of this episode. We experienced some technical audio difficulties while recording.

[@Spectre2434]

I always get the sense that he's translating from Tibetan when he's speaking.

[@bradbryant3810]

I am a student of one of your Chatral Sngye Dorje Rinpoche's Sangha Brother, Loppon Jigma Thutop Namgyal Rinpoche, who was my 1st Guru's (Lama Tharchin Rinpoche), whose Root Guru was Loppon Rinpoche's Father, (Sherab Dorje Rinpoche, the extremely long-haired former Abbot of Repkong Monastery in Tibet). As you, no doubt, know well, completed 6 years of Ngondro under Chatral Rinpoche

[@yoya4766]

Whilst Ian has considerable experience and knowledge on his subject, which is interesting. His actual manner of speaking is boring, monotone and dry. As most of his talks are rather long, its gets tedious.
I appreciate he repeats the same script many times, but there's just no natural inflection which keeps things light and engaging.

[@yoya4766]

@@ratking6260 Having to double the speed just to listen to a video, pretty much confirms what I say. I haven't the time or inclination to bother, if he can't get his pacing right.

[@yoya4766]

@@ratking6260 Successful at failure too? Speed only gives the illusion of learning, which fools some, not all.

[@bernardofitzpatrick5403]

Light and entertaining .... Kinda sums up the state of superficiality we are blighted with in 2022. Fluff is the order of the day.

[@yoya4766]

@@bernardofitzpatrick5403 I said 'engaging' actually! Nothing to do with superficiality or fluff. Being monotone, dry and bland doesn't make it deep. The most profound things can be said in jest. But the old fogeys who attend such talks like to belive dull equals important.

[@PeterKoperdan]

@@yoya4766 "Speed only gives the illusion of learning, which fools some, not all." says the person who "haven't the time or inclination to bother [to learn], if he [Baker] can't get his pacing right." [FACEPALM]
Marpa undertook an immensely hard and dangerous journey to travel from Tibet to India just to get access to precious teachings. You get handed the teachings on a platter and you *poor baby* can't learn because speaker boring, talk long, learning tedious. Ohhhhh nu nu nu , come to mommy, she will put on Tom & Jerry so that baby can be entertained.
If you actually are on the Path, then take your head out of your ass, cut the ego bullshit and approach life with greater humility. Otherwise you will never get anywhere. The whole point of the Path is to shed the illusion of self and experience Truth. If the baby thinks that it is awesome, it will forever stay a baby.