In this episode I am once again joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher.

Alan reflects on his search for true awakening, compares the spiritual traditions of the West and the East, and questions the liberal ideal of the universal man.

Alan presents Merlin as the archetype of the Western adept, asserts theosis to be the true purpose of Christianity, and reveals the language of the birds.

Alan also offers advice for those who have had an awakening, discusses Gnosticism and Pragmatic Dharma, and critiques the idea that contemplative neuroscience is the Fourth Turning of Buddhism.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep329-the-western-path-alan-chapman-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

…

Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:46 - Is Alan a book guy?
03:30 - Alan’s books
07:07 - Current writing project
10:02 - Insights on Crowley
11:17 - What Alan enjoys reading
13:53 - Eastern vs Western traditions
19:25 - In search of true awakening
21:05 - Cultural and ethnic inheritance 
21:57 - Western Buddhism and Sigalow’s “American JewBu”
27:04- The Christian revival and theosis
29:02 - Trauma for your own good
31:05 - Becoming a fit vessel
32:48 - The true Western tradition
36:50 - Western vs Eastern awakening
37:37 - Merlin 
41:23 - Language of the birds
44:33 - Entering the miraculous
45:56 - How Alan first encountered the language of the birds
54:01 - Transmission and birds as messengers
56:23 - Spirituality beyond states and stages
59:32 - The Liberal ideal of the universal human being
01:02:04 - The end of the WW2 cultural drama
01:03:03 - Perennialism, Traditionalism, and Magia
01:06:28 - Spiritual cultural exchange
01:09:07 - Denying difference
01:10:22 - Gnosticism, alchemy, and Merlin
01:14:09 - Beat Zen, Square Zen
01:15:46 - Misunderstanding foreign traditions
01:19:19 - Traditions fit their own cultures
01:20:29 - Scholasticism 
01:23:00 - Pragmatic Dharma
01:24:37 - A need to belong
01:26:08 - Morality and nondual realisation
01:27:07 - The real longing
01:29:51 - Follow the Silent Knowing
01:30:51 - Traditionalism and cultural chauvinism
01:32:28 - Problems with following foreign traditions 
01:37:44 - Fetishisation
01:40:35 - Post-awakening advice
01:41:48 - Basic Goodness and Chogyam Trungpa
01:42:58 - Syncretism vs divine inspiration
01:49:35 - Origins of Christianity
01:51:01 - History of ideas vs esoteric transmission
01:57:15 - 4th turning delusion 
01:59:24 - Critique of contemplative neuroscience  
02:02:13 - The winter of a civilisation

…

Previous episodes with Alan Chapman: 
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=chapman 

To find our more about Alan Chapman visit:
- https://barbarouswords.com/ 

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com 
	

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep329: The Western Path - Alan Chapman 2

The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development.

Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.

Ep329: The Western Path - Alan Chapman 2

GuruViking