Tantra Illuminated Podcast with Dr. Christopher Wallis – “Finding Freedom in Troubled Times”

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In this grounded and compassionate conversation, Dr. Tina Rasmussen reflects with with Dr. Christopher Wallis on the nature of awakening in the midst of difficulty — personal, collective, and existential. Speaking from decades of lived inquiry and realization, she points toward a freedom that does not depend on circumstances being resolved, but emerges through honesty, deep presence, and allowing in relation to one’s own experience.

Tina clarifies ‘purification’ on the spiritual path as a process of clearing obstacles – not moral judgment or an antidote for supposed impurity. She describes the four key practice categories she teaches of heart practices (purification of heart), focused attention (purification of mind), open monitoring (purification of view) and self-transcending (purification of identity). Heart practices soften resistance to suffering, while mind purification quiets compulsive thoughts, revealing deeper insight. Precision in this practice is key, like proper form in exercise.

The dialogue touches on fear, grief, resilience, and the quiet strength of resting as awareness itself. This episode invites a slower listening, revealing how freedom can be discovered wherever we are, even in troubled times.

Tantra Illuminated Podcast with Dr. Christopher Wallis – “Dimensions of Non-duality”

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Tina was interviewed by Dr. Christopher Wallis for the Tantra Illuminated podcast, titled “Spiritual Practice and the Dimensions of Nonduality.” This may be her best and most complete interview yet! Join Tina and Christopher for their engaging and delightful conversation covering Tina’s remarkable path of awakening, which began at the age of 13 and unfolded through profound retreats, including a transformative year-long solo retreat in 2003.

She discusses her experiences as the first Western woman to complete the detailed Samatha path in the Burmese lineage of meditation master Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, who later authorized her to teach. Tina also shares her journey of taking refuge with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, a Tibetan Dzogchen teacher, and her initiation into the Nyingma lineage. This conversation explores Tina’s work integrating spiritual awakening into everyday life, her transition from being drawn from monasticism to embracing the dynamism of modern life, and the challenges of weaving awakening into daily relationships.

Topics include non-attachment, the transformative potential of practices like jhāna and somatic inquiry, and the embodiment of spiritual realizations.

Deconstructing Yourself Podcast with Michael Taft – “Can People Really Change?”

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Host Michael Taft talks with meditation teacher and author Tina Rasmussen about how psychology and meditation practice can work together to help people heal, working with trauma, the importance of heart-based practices such as metta, spiritual bypassing, using shamatha to build new brain networks, and Tina’s own story of her birth trauma and her path to healing.

Deconstructing Yourself Podcast with Michael Taft – “Dimensions of Non-duality”

Listen on Deconstructing Yourself

Host Michael Taft talks with dharma teacher and author Tina Rasmussen about ways to understand non-duality and the progress of non-dual experience in meditation and practice, including her own unique comparison between the Formless Realms known in Buddhism and the Boundless Dimensions as known in the Diamond Approach.

Imperfect Buddha Podcast with Matthew O’Connell – “Concentrating on Practice”

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Tina Rassmussen is one of our first meditation teachers on in a long while. Well, being a practice based series, this was inevitable. Tina was co-author of a book on jhana states and concentration that I have had on my shelf for a long time.

“After Awakening” Podcast with Ryan Burton – “Jhana and Non-duality”

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Tina is interviewed by Ryan Burton of “After Awakening.” This is Tina’s best interview covering aspects of awakening. Ryan has studied with Tina for many years, so they have a lot of fun!

Guru Viking Podcast with Steve James – “Tina’s Journey of Awakening”

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Tina talks to “Guru Viking” (Steve James) about her life-defining quest for enlightenment, undertaking a 1-year solo retreat, awakening, jhāna practice, and the integration of awakening into ordinary life.

Buddhist Geeks Podcast with Vince Horn -“Mastering the Jhanas”

Listen on buddhistgeeks.org

In this episode we speak with Theravada mediation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. In 2005, while on a 2-month retreat, they were the first Western lay practitioners (i.e. non-monks) to complete the traditional concentration practices of Pa Auk Sayadaw, a well-regarded Burmese jhana master. The Sayadaw encouraged them to teach what they’ve learned, and they have, as a result, starting leading retreats and have written a book entitled, Practicing the Jhanas.

Buddhist Geeks Podcast with Vince Horn – “The Jedi Mind Training of Concentration”

Listen on buddhistgeeks.org

In this episode we wrap up our discussion with meditation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder, two of the only lay Western teachers authorized to teach the jhana system of Pa Auk Sayadaw. They share the deeper purpose of concentration practice, which isn’t to attain any particular states, but rather is to serve as a purification of the mind stream, what they describe as the “thinning of the me.”