an acre a second. 60 acres a minute. absolutely mind boggling.

In this episode, I am once again joined by Dhammarato: a lineage teacher in the Thai Buddhist tradition who is known for his unique, 1-1 teaching style conducted over Skype. 

Dhammarato challenges what he sees as the widespread misconceptions about meditation practice, focusing in particular on American Buddhism and the Goenka and Mahasi methods. 

Dhammarato discusses issues such as the dangers of meditation retreats, the problems with sleep deprivation and other austerities, and recounts stories of men he has known who crippled themselves through obsessive meditation practice in damaging seated postures.

Dhammarato also calls for a return to the original teaching of the Buddha, advises on how to find and keep spiritual friends, and shares his perspective on how to meditate well.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep241-myths-of-meditation-dhammarato

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

00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Challenging Western Buddhism 
03:54 - Drawbacks of Goenka Vipassana retreats
04:14 - Buddha’s advice for meditation
06:21 - Common meditation mistakes 
07:28 - How to see dukkah
08:16 - Coming out of victimhood
09:28 - Drawbacks of the Mahasi method
11:21 - The problem of pain on meditation retreats
13:48 - Following the Ānāpānasati Sutta and jhana practice
16:18 - Western practitioners who destroyed their knees and legs while meditating
17:47 - Sleep deprivation 
18:38 - Take it easy and be gentle
19:18 - Dangers of meditation retreats
20:31 - Essence of Buddhism
22:01 - Misunderstandings about meditation posture 
28:16 - Magical body postures and siddhi powers
32:29 - The Donald Trumps of Buddhism 
33:56 - What attracts people to extreme asceticism and psychedelics?
35:23 - Does Dhammarato’s approach merely suppress suffering?
43:00 - The myth of life enhancing meditation 
47:24 - Dhammarato’s advice for regular practice
50:22 - The value of noble friends
55:49 - The Open Sangha Foundation
59:23 - Getting out of magical thinking
01:01:08 - How to make Dhamma friends 

…

Dhammarato Episode Playlist
    - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=DHAMMARATO 

…

To find out more about Dhammarato, visit:
    - https://dhammaratoblog.wordpress.com/
    - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxg5GJFsRqnS-YLTzyrjLQ

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

…

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep241: Meditation Myths - Dhammarato

In this episode I am once again joined by Stephen Snyder, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of several books including ‘Buddha’s Heart’, ‘Trust in Awakening’, and his up-coming release ‘Soothing the Longing Heart’.

Stephen talks about the importance of working with one’s personality material especially after awakening. He points to an idealisation of the Buddha and other blindspots in Buddhism that he believes have led to the various behavioural scandals that have surrounded so many famous Zen masters.

Stephen discusses how to work with fear and anger, how to heal one’s core wound, how to convert the superego into Absolute guidance, and reflects on the pros and cons of American culture’s interaction with the Buddhist religion. 

Stephen also reflects on how he approaches leading meditation retreats, why he does not enforce strict Zen schedules, the deleterious effect of electronics on concentration power, and the subtle power of taking a dharma name.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep242-soothing-the-longing-heart-stephen-snyder 

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Stephen teaching in-person retreats in 2024 in Europe and the US
03:53 - Relaxed vs rigorous retreat approaches 
06:10 - Treating students like adults 
08:23 - Why Stephen cooks for his retreats
10:00 - Reworking the precepts 
11:40 - The damaging effect of electronics on concentration power  
13:03 - Stephen’s interview schedule on retreat
13:37 - Receiving full Zen dharma transmission to be recognised as a sensei 
17:00 - Combing Zen with Theravada practice
18:10 - Post-awakening problems with personality issues 
19:06 - Examples of post-awakening triggered behaviour and the core wound
23:08 - Working with anger and fear 
27:42 - Quickly resolving karma 
29:09 - Do meditation peak experiences heal the personality?
29:30 - Blindspots and scandals in Zen Buddhism 
31:41 - Going beyond cultural bias 
33:52 - How much cultural transfer is necessary in Buddhist practice?
35:36 - Stephen’s experimental teaching approach 
38:00 - America’s contribution to Buddhism 
40:57 - British class system
42:23 - Indian caste system
43:53 - How Buddhism assimilates indigenous cultural and religious forms
45:28 - Gregorian style Zen chanting 
46:50 - The importance of your dharma name
47:49 - Working vs wallowing in emotional material 
52:16 - What is your core wound?
54:52 -The personality as a shield 
56:44 - The tyranny of the superego
01:00:39 - Transforming the superego into Absolute guidance 
01:02:07 - True vs false
01:04:32 - Common compassion misunderstanding 
01:06:12 Parenting mistakes around compassion 
01:08:08 - Should we tell stories of awakening?
01:09:47 - The importance of doubt and trust 
01:11:59 - Stephen’s advice to practitioners 

…

Previous episode with Stephen Snyder:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=Stephen%20Snyder 


To find our more about Stephen Snyder, visit:
- https://awakeningdharma.org/ 

…

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

…

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep242: Soothing the Longing Heart - Stephen Snyder

In this episode I am joined by Charles Manson, author of ‘The Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi’ published by Shambhala, and librarian for the Tibetan Collections at the Bodleian Library (Oxford University) and the British Library.

Charles begins by discussing the remarkable life of Karma Pakshi, the second Karmapa, Tibet’s oldest continuous reincarnation lineage. Charles traces Karma Pakshi’s adventures as a yogic trainee, personal guru to Mongol Khans, figure of political intrigue, and reformer of monasteries.

Charles goes on to tell the story of his own life, from brutal treatment at elite British boarding schools to undergraduate studies at the renowned Columbia University. Charles recounts how arrest and deportation saw his academic prospects dashed. After a period of homelessness, he became a master woodcarver training under craftsmen in England and Germany. 

Charles recalls his encounter with Buddhism, his contact with spiritual teachers such as the 16th Karmapa, his reckoning with the untimely death of his son’s mother, and details his experiences undertaking 8 years of closed retreat including challenging group dynamics, the painful complications of energetic yogas, and the mechanisms of spiritual transformation.

Charles also discusses his remarkable time with the terton Karma Rinpoche, receiving sacred chulen instructions and witnessing the mahasiddha miraculously press a footprint into rock; as well as Charles’ own return to academia, with postgraduate studies at Harvard and longstanding work at Oxford University and the British Library.

…

https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep243-scholar-practitioner-charles-manson 

…

01:48 - Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa
07:57 - Summoned by the Khan 
15:26 - Imprisoned by Kublai Khan
25:58 - The tulku tradition
33:18 - Interest in Karma Pakshi and the tulku tradition
39:02 - Childhood in Venezuela 
45:28 - Suffering at boarding school
49:34 - Institutional cruelty and formation for empire 
52:07 - Coping strategies and intellectual rebellion
54:33 - Attraction to Buddhism
56:18 - Love of reading and research  
01:02:08 - Study at Columbia
01:04:42 - Changes in the UK private school system 
01:07:30 - The social and political scene at Columbia
01:08:36 - Joining the Black Panthers
01:09:30 - Psychedelic experimentation
01:12:21 - Arrest and deportation
01:16:34 - Homelessness 
01:20:32 - Resilience 
01:22:30 - Searching accentuated 
01:24:22 - Career as a woodcarver 
01:28:07 - Unplanned pregnancy 
01:28:41 - Finding Buddhism
01:31:07 - Seeking Chogyam Trungpa
01:36:17 - 16th Karmapa and ngondro
01:37:48 - Regrets about Sherab Palden 
01:39:33 - Early days at Samye Ling and meeting Kalu Rinpoche
01:45:12 - The charisma of the 16th Karmapa 
01:46:26 - What is charisma?
01:49:40 - How to develop spiritual power
01:53:21 - Private time with the 16th Karmapa
01:55:09 - Maggie’s cancer and a sacred pilgrimage 
02:01:53 - Regrets 
02:03:54 - Maggie’s death and the aftermath
02:07:44 - Entering into long-term retreat
02:13:20 - Were the 3-year retreats successful?
02:26:26 - Experience on extended retreat 
02:26:57 - Spiritual obstacles 
02:29:37 - Trulkhor heart attack
02:30:47 - Should 3-year retreatants call themselves ‘Lama’? 
02:37:24 - Advice for those coming out of retreat
02:39:23 - Reintegrating into society  
02:40:46 - Terton Karma Rinpoche 
02:42:58 - What is chulen?
02:44:06 - Karma Rinpoche’s siddhi 
02:50:50 - Journeys to Tibet 
02:52:34 - Mountain yogis in Tibet
02:56:40 - Chulen retreats
03:00:34 - Harvard and return to academia
03:06:46 - British Library and the Bodleian
03:07:38 - PhD work at Oxford and Paris
03:08:33 - Writing a book about Karma Pakshi 
03:09:05 - 1000 year old Tibetan documents at the British Library  
03:11:16 - The Bodleian collection and the John Stapleton Driver project
03:16:19 - Charles’ teaching activities and other work 

…

To find our more about Charles Manson, visit:
- https://www.shambhala.com/authors/the-second-karmapa-karma-pakshi.html

Ep243: Scholar Practitioner - Charles Manson

In this episode I am joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala.

Mattias reveals how youthful delinquency and substance abuse problems saw him kicked out of the University of Chicago and drove him to seek out martial arts and meditation instruction under a Taoist master.

Mattias shares his travels to China and unusual training adventures there including bodily purification through tree slapping, encounters with religious cults, and experiences with profound spiritual masters.

Mattias also discusses having a generational demonic possession exorcised by a Māori Tohunga in New Zealand and warns of the danger of incorrect internal practice such as psychosis, premature ejaculation, and more.

…

Link in bio.

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

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Why translate Taoist Inner Alchemy
04:58 - Trying not to be a scumbag 
06:50 - Attraction to Buddhism
09:06 - Meeting Red Pine and mentoring relationship 
11:59 - Red Pine’s influence and friendship 
14:02 - Chaos Elemental
15:01 - Professor father and blue collar mother 
18:34 - Childhood delinquency 
24:07 - Model of masculinity 
24:14 - Entry into the martial arts 
26:27 - Male role models and discipline
28:57 - Did UFC destroy traditional martial arts?
31:34 - How to win a fight
33:34 - Limits of Chinese Kung Fu schools
35:31 - Rock bottom and kicked out of University of Chicago
38:09 - Return to martial arts and finding a Taoist master
41:17 - Initial Taoist training
45:01 - Buddhist vs Taoist cultivation 
49:26 - Possession by demonic entity
55:58 - Generational demonic possession 
59:50 - Learning Chinese 
01:01:49 - Finding teachers in China
01:04:19 - Powerful purification experiences in Taoist cultivation 
01:09:58 - Encountering a spiritual cult leader
01:17:04 - Reflections on spiritual charlatans in China
01:18:43 - Discovering the power of the empty state
01:22:13 - Practicing Taoist Inner Alchemy
01:25:17 - Move to Taiwan and walking away from Chinese medicine
01:27:36 - The dangers of meditation and internal cultivation 
01:32:52 - Premature ejaculation and the lower Dantian
01:33:39 - Qigong and Tai Chi delusions
01:35:53 - Psychosis and Qigong fever
01:36:40 - Being in the presence of powerful teachers 
01:38:07 - The heart of the path 

…

Pre-order Mattias’ new book at a 30% discount with the promo code ALCHEMY30 at https://www.shambhala.com/ten-discourses-on-daoist-alchemy.html. Valid through March 11th.


To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit:
- https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html 

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

…

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep244: Taoist Adventures - Mattias Daly

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Chencho Dorji, Bhutan’s first psychiatrist and the Professor of Psychiatry at Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences.

Dr Dorji reveals the challenges he faced establishing modern psychiatrist in Bhutan, a culture heavily invested in a supernatural model of mental illness. He recounts stories of patients possessed by ghosts, local avatars of Shiva, reincarnations of Padmasambhava and more. 

Dr Dorji explains the role of religion and superstition in stigmatising mental illness, and considers whether shamanistic rituals and other traditional healing methods can co-exist with modern medical practices.

Dr Dorji also warns that mental illness in general, and borderline personality disorder in particular, is on the rise on Bhutan and shares his vision for a greater collaboration between modern medicine, the clergy, shamans, and Sowa Rigpa healers.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep245-padmasambhava-psychosis-dr-chencho-dorji-2

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Return to Bhutan to establish psychiatry 
05:40 - Programme to train primary healthcare staff
06:18 - Advocating for community based mental health services 
10:38 - DANIDA funding and mental health survey 
12:07 - Collaboration with and educating traditional healers
13:47 - Locating and treating cases in remote communities 
18:13 - What kinds of mental illness is commonly found in Bhutan? 
19:29 - Challenges identifying depression
21:16 - The stigma of epilepsy 
22:50 - Community fear of contagion of mental illness
26:55 - Culture of taboo and about mental illness in Bhutan
29:00 - Impact of the pandemic
30:29 - Using social media to educate 
31:22 - Psychological first aid
35:09 - Why is South Asian psychology and psychology training weak?
37:41 - Mental health as a luxury for the rich
40:40 - Borderline personality disorder encounters
43:36 - Rise in cases of BPD in Bhutan
45:05 - Social changes in Bhutan causing rise in mental illness
49:10 - Chronic psychosis and social disturbance
51:26 - Lack of compassion for BPD
52:17 - Economic aspiration and the rat race 
54:36 - Overlap and clash with religious professionals 
56:21 - Buddhism and shamanism in Bhutan
58:05 - Use of rituals in healing mental illness
59:00 - Personal indifference towards Buddhism
01:00:19 - Challenges engaging with Sowa Rigpa practitioners 
01:02:39 - Educating Sowa Rigpa doctors about mental health
01:03:34 - Do traditional healing modalities have a role in modern medicine?
01:04:17 - Different kinds of monk
01:05:41 - Religious control of the population
01:07:33 - Difficulties communicating with clergy
01:09:58 - Karma and the importance of openness
01:10:56 - Navigating patients’ supernatural world views 
01:14:42 - Example of a manic patient claiming to be Guru Rinpoche
01:17:18 - Impact on families 
01:18:05 - Cases of entity possession and mass hysteria
01:24:38 - Possession by Lord Shiva 
01:29:58 - Advice for working with traditional healers and shamans
01:31:01 - Future challenges of mental health in Bhutan
01:34:41 - Explosion of mental illness, obesity, and substance abuse
01:35:43 - Neglect of the elderly
01:37:31 - A model for the third world

…

Previous episode with Dr Chencho Dorji:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep237-bhutans-first-psychiatrist-dr-chencho-dorji 


To find out more about Dr Chencho Dorji, visit: 
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057403100633 

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep245: Padmasambhava Psychosis - Dr Chencho Dorji 2

In this interview I am once again joined by John Maki Evans, teacher of Japanese swordsmanship and several esoteric spiritual disciplines, and author of ‘Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent’.

John discusses his time at Oxford University, his depression as a student, and why it took him years in a monastery and extensive training in Japan to undo the effects of academic study on his mind. 

John shares his insights into ‘The Subtle Art of a Cat’, a little known, centuries old Japanese text with a potent message about spiritual cultivation, true art, and complete spontaneity.

John tells the story of the text and explores its hidden meanings, including how to maintain awareness during dynamic action, access freedom and flow, and move beyond self consciousness.

John also reflects on his powerful near-death experience, the art of teaching, and how to harmonise the primal forces of Thanatos and Eros, death and desire.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep246-subtle-art-of-a-cat-john-maki-evans-2   

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Getting into Oxford University
04:30 - John’s experiences at Oxford University 
07:57 - Struggles with depression
09:12 - Bad effect of Oxford on John’s mind
10:25 - Stultification and John’s personality 
11:04 - Time at the monastery and releasing inner stuckness 
13:26 - Time in Japan and developing a different personality 
17:28 - How John learned Japanese
18:43 - Study arc for reading Japanese classics 
21:19 - Gaining practice value from texts 
23:37 - Accessing the real thing
27:22 - The Subtle Art of a Cat
33:17 - The polarising ego 
35:14 - Spontaneity and beyond self consciousness
37:09 - Neti neti 
39:12 - Spontaneous action and the spiritual side of martial arts
41:35 - Freedom and flow
43:09 - Maintaining awareness and complete spontaneity
45:47 - John’s life changing near-death experience 
54:20 - Hara power, the unconscious, and the survival instinct
58:16 - True martial cultivation
01:00:06 - Common mistakes and hurting oneself
01:04:11 - Complete body-mind participation 
01:05:43 - Evaluating quality of movement and being
01:07:46 - Duende and art 
01:09:18 - England and the old white male
01:10:24 - Learning to be with Thanatos and Eros 
01:12:39 - The Gate of Killing and Death
01:15:39 - Harmonising intuition and manipulation
01:16:16 - Egotism in the martial arts 
01:18:00 - Becoming exposed and the art of teaching
01:21:39 - Letting go of feeling good

…

Previous episode with John Maki Evans:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep231-esoteric-arts-of-japan-john-maki-evans 

To find out more about John Maki Evans, visit:
- https://www.battodo-fudokan.co.uk/ 

Read ‘The Subtle Art of a Cat’
- https://terebess.hu/zen/neko.pdf 
…
 For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep246: Subtle Art of a Cat - John Maki Evans 2

In this episode I am join by Steve Donoghue, writer, nationally published book critic, and popular Youtuber. 

Steve details his remarkable daily routine in which he sleeps 90 minutes a night and devotes vast amounts of time to reading and writing. He recalls his Jesuit education and reveals the intellectual doctrines at the heart of the religious order famed for its rigour and learning.

Steve reflects on the healing power of high states of concentration, the art of memory and how to train it, and considers the threats posed to human attention by social media and smartphones. Steve considers strategies for more effective reading, how to grapple with difficult texts, and how to engage in criticism without losing appreciation.

Steve also offers his views on religion, shares his fasciation for religious writing, and expresses his passion for the Gospel of Luke and the works of Erasmus and St Augustine.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep247-a-life-in-reading-steve-donoghue

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

…

Topics include:


00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Background and career in book reviewing
03:54 - A Jesuit education 
06:28 - The brain is a muscle 
09:50 - Learning and reading Ancient Greek and Latin
13:15 - A breakthrough moment in Latin
15:48 - Steve’s favourite Latin authors 
18:06 - Common misunderstandings about memorisation
20:06 - What is the point of memorisation?
21:46 - Can memory be trained?
23:22 - Memory palaces and other ancient memory techniques
25:51 - Advice for those who wish to improve memory
27:01 - 21st century attacks on human attention
28:29 - A simple test of concentration
32:00 - The healing power of concentration
33:26 - People don’t know what they’re missing
37:18 - Experiences of transcendence and intrinsic reward
38:47 - The value of boredom and rest 
42:00 - Meditation as rest taken too far?
44:02 - Generational changes in attention 
46:08 - Meditation as attention training 
47:00 - Steve’s amazing sleep and reading schedule
52:39 - Sleeping 90 minutes a night
55:19 - The joy of starting a new book
57:20 - Grappling with a text
59:27 - Sub-vocalising slows you down
01:03:32 - Difficulties in discussion religion
01:04:36 - Steve’s view on religion 
01:06:00 - Steve’s admiration for religious people
01:11:37 - Steve’s fascination with religious writing and texts 
01:14:52 - Philosophers are priests
01:15:29 - Faith based on texts?
01:17:07 - The danger of criticism without appreciation
01:22:07 - Reluctance to examine scripture
01:23:01 - Cynical critics 
01:24:28 - A Christian meme of losing one’s faith
01:30:36 - The thrill of engaging with religious texts even without belief 
01:32:37 - Following the thread 
01:33:05 - The Gospel of Luke
01:34:10 - Steve’s love for St Augustine and Erasus
01:36:36 - Luke vs the other Gospels
01:38:25 - St Augustine’s Confessions 
01:40:40 - In Praise of Folly and mocking religious hypocrisy 
01:45:40 - Concluding remarks on faith and religion 

…

To find out more about Steve Donoghue, visit:
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1B9FfvVLRt8s6scUa79oag
- https://www.stevedonoghue.com/ 

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep247: A Life in Reading - Steve Donoghue

In this episode I am joined by Dr James Justin Sledge, a professor of philosophy and religion specialising in the Western Esoteric tradition and founder of the popular Esoterica Youtube channel.

Dr Sledge recounts how his working class upbringing profoundly influenced both his view of academia and his work ethic within it. He recounts his early fascination with philosophers and mystics, and recalls his studies in religion, philosophy, and the occult.

Dr Sledge discusses the importance of language learning in academic study of religion and shares his own practical strategies for achieving competency in several ancient and modern languages including Latin, Hebrew, German, French, Akkadian, and more. 

Dr Sledge also shares his views on education, diagnoses its problems and offers solutions, gives advice to the self-learner, and reveals his surprising view on whether attaining enlightenment is worth the effort. 

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep248-esoterica-academia-dr-justin-sledge

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Working class upbringing in Misissipi
03:03 - Limited access to education 
04:13 - Exploitation in academia 
05:20 - Fascination with Aristotle 
08:55 - Accidentally entering college
11:28 - Dr Sledge’s experience in college
12:58 - Double majoring in religious studies and philosophy while working full time
1408 - Studying Western Esotericism in Amsterdam, Holland
15:44 - Bad reputation of Western Esotericism in academia
18:07 - Lessons learned studying in Amsterdam
20:37 - Distaste of punching down
21:44 - Surprising difference between USA and European education 
24:47 - Toxicity in American academia 
25:57 - How should we educate ourselves?
28:42 - Intellectual aristocracy or a cartel?
29:50 - Educating through Youtube
31:47 - How would Dr Sledge fix the American education system?
34:42 - The importance for scholars to read French and German 
37:28 - Learning Latin and Hebrew, reading the Bible in the original language 
39:50 - How to learn ancient languages
41:56 - Philology and the dirty secret of The Key of Solomon 
43:56 - Copying out texts and scrolls 
46:46 - Dr Sledge shows scrolls he has copied by hand
49:59 - Dr Sledge’s highly structured work and study life
58:24 - Common mistakes when learning Latin and other languages
01:01:21 - Pedagogical data and living Latin
01:05:48 - Dr Sledge’s advice for young students who wish to go to University
01:06:56 - Advice for the autodidacts 
01:09:54 - The importance of education
01:13:30 - Why Dr Sledge doesn’t want to become enlightened 
01:15:10 - The horror of heaven 
01:16:15 - How Dr Sledge wants to die 
01:16:47 - Enlightenment isn’t worth it

…

To find out more about Dr Justin Sledge, visit:
- https://www.justinsledge.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel 

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep248: Esoterica & Academia - Dr Justin Sledge

In this interview I am once again joined by Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism.

Glenn discusses the mysterious Kālacakra ‘Wheel of Time’ Tantra, exploring its history, and uncovers its unique esoteric characteristics,

Glenn recounts his own connection to the Kālacakra tantra, including his memories of the Dalai Lama’s first ever public Kālacakra empowerment given to hundreds of thousands of people in Bodhgaya, and discusses the surprising pros and cons of mass public initiations.

Glenn reveals the subtle body yogas of the Kālacakra, compares its methods to other highest yoga tantras such as Cakrasaṃvara and Guhyasamāja, and considers the Kālacakra prophecies of Śambhala and a coming age of darkness over the world.

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep249-kalachakra-tantra-lama-glenn-mullin  

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:56 - Kālacakra
03:01 - Glenn’s history with the Kālacakra
04:25 - Dalai Lama’s first public Kālacakra empowerment
08:18 - Coney Island of the mind
08:49 - Blavatsky and Theosophical Society’s interest in Kālacakra and Śambhala
10:25 - Dreams and other signs during tantric empowerment
14:24 - Why give public tantric empowerments?
15:35 - Outer, Inner, and Secret levels 
18:14 - Exclusively secret traditions 
18:38 - History of public Kālacakra empowerments
20:06 - Tantric vows 
21:07 - Śambhala prophecies and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra
23:48 - Today’s signs of fulfilment of prophecy 
26:30 - Origin of Kālacakra in the Buddha’s teaching career
32:42 - Time capsule wisdom teachings 
35:09 - Highest Yoga Tantra’s characteristics 
36:29 - Cross-fertilisation with Himalayan shamanism 
37:30 - Later ways of categorising tantric systems 
40:20 - Unique and common aspects of the Kālacakra yogas
42:30 - 7 initiations of entering like a child
46:48 - Kālacakra completion stage  
48:18 - Subtle body yogas and rainbow body
53:35 - Misunderstandings about Śambhala
55:15 - A century of Russian interest in Kālacakra
01:00:27 - Limits of Helena Blavatsky’s understanding 
01:01:38 - Blavatsky’s world legacy 
01:06:50 - Why is Kālacakra so little practiced?
01:15:10 - How to receive teachings from Glenn

…

Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin 
 To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit:
- http://www.glennmullin.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn
 …

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep249: Kalachakra Tantra - Lama Glenn Mullin

In this interview I am joined by Dr Willoughby Britton, an Associate Professor at Brown University, the Director of Brown’s Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, and founder of Cheetah House which provides support to those experiencing meditation-related difficulties.

Dr Britton recounts her unusual childhood interest in consciousness, why a friend’s suicide drove her to meditation, and how a psychedelic peak experience changed her view of the world.

Dr Britton considers the overlaps between spiritual experience and mental illness, why deconstructing the sense of self in search of enlightenment can lead to lasting psychological damage, and questions if experiences of fear are a necessary part of the meditative path.

Dr Britton also covers the neurobiology of attention, reveals the hidden religious messaging woven into mindfulness techniques such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and shares how she deals with the negative responses from meditation enthusiasts towards her work.   

…

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep250-when-meditation-goes-wrong-dr-willoughby-britton  

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

…

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:15 - Dr Britton’s upbringing and early interest in consciousness
03:58 - Friend’s suicide and a life crisis 
05:02 - Powerful high dose psychedelic experiences
08:46 - Influence of peak experiences 
09:28 - Operative mechanism of Dr Britton’s epiphany
11:04 - Is redefinition of the self necessary for awakening?
11:50 - What is the ‘self’?
13:31 - A caveat
14:19 - Many possible modifications to the sense of self and identity
18:18 - What do Buddhists really mean when they talk about no-self?
19:01 - Surprising disagreement between Buddhist sects 
19:48 - Lack on consensus about the end goal in Buddhism
20:47 - Awakening or mental illness?
24:01 - Cultural differences in what constitutes mental health
24:58 - Cultural influences and personal goals 
26:39 - When meditation goes wrong
28:35 - When no-self experiences lead to negative outcomes 
30:46 - The importance of connection 
32:14 - Strategic ambiguity of enlightenment
34:34 - The enlightenment fantasy
35:23 - Absorbing a world view from meditation instructions 
36:31 - How to assess your meditation practice
39:04 - Stealth Buddhism
40:31 - Hidden frames of meditation techniques 
41:37 - Metaphysics of MBSR 
45:18 - Market forces and religion as product
47:50 - Negative reactions to Dr Britton’s work
51:48 - Does Dr Britton’s work threaten meditators?
54:39 - Nasty emails and internet comments
56:08 - Is Dr Britton upset by the negativity?
57:31 - What is the goal of Dr Britton’s work?
59:51 - Why look for problems?
01:01:07 - How often do meditation related problems happen?
01:03:03 - Founding Cheetah House to help meditators in crisis 
01:04:29 - Is fear necessary on the spiritual path?
01:06:20 - The neurobiology of attention
01:07:43 - Attention and arousal 
0110:12 - The phenomenology and meaning of fear in Buddhist meditation
01:11:46 - Is fear part of the path?
01:13:10 - Buddhism doesn’t have its story straight
01:14:30 - The desire for a comprehensive world view 

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To find out more about Dr Willoughby Britton, visit:
- https://www.cheetahhouse.org/
- https://www.brown.edu/public-health/mindfulness/people/willoughby-britton-phd
 …

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep250: When Meditation Goes Wrong - Dr Willoughby Britton

Today I’m joined by my co-teacher Michaela Boehm for a special interview about facing adversity.

Michaela's house was destroyed in the Thomas fire, the largest wild fire in California state history. We discuss the story of what happened, how Michaela used her extensive training and lifetime of practice to face this crisis, and the surprisingly inspiring themes of determination and community.

Disasters of any kind are something we all hope to avoid but that can happen to any of us at any time. There are many useful lessons and takeaways in Michaela's story for facing adversity and for supporting others who are in times of crisis. 

Topics include:

- Michaela’s house destroyed by Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in California State history
- 50ft fire walls sweeping across the landscape at the speed of an acre a minute
- The race from Europe to California and entering a disaster zone
- How different people coped with the shock and trauma
- Fight, flight, and freeze responses
- Michaela’s game plan and personal shock-prevention strategies 
- How to use the fight or flight response without being overwhelmed by it
- Working with trauma after the initial event
- Working productively in a stressful situation
- Body movement as the key to unlocking freeze and trauma 
- Why Michaela prioritises beautifying her environment and the positive effects of ordering your environment 
- The practice of Vastu and the practical tips on organising your surroundings
- Stepping down from daily activity to nighttime rest
- Using water to de-stress and cleanse
- Michaela’s favourite meditation approach to relax and open the body
- Journalling and Jungian dream work as tools of psychological integration
- Self-care in times of adversity
- Epigenetics and archetypal work around loss and fire
- Unusual conversations with the insurance adjuster 
- The inspiring resilience of human beings in the face of adversity
- How to effectively support others in a crisis (and not make things worse)
- Unexpected acts of kindness 
- The strength of community in a crisis
- Final thoughts

For more interviews, audio, and articles check out:
www.guruviking.com

Find out more about Michaela and the workshops we teach at:
www.michaelaboehm.com
https://soundcloud.com/michaela-boehm

Find out more about The Non-Linear Movement Method at:
www.thenonlinearmovementmethod.com

Ep7 Michaela Boehm - Thomas Wildfire Special - Guru Viking Interviews

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.

Ep7 Michaela Boehm - Thomas Wildfire Special - Guru Viking Interviews

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