Guru Viking Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep158: Why I Am Not A Buddhist - Dr Evan Thompson Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

Dr Evan Thompson is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia an Associate Member of the Department of Asian Studies and the Department of Psychology, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.  Evan recounts his upbringing in his father’s intentional community, the Lindisfarne Association, and shares stories of childhood encounters with teachers of Zen, Sufism, Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, and more. Evan traces his intellectual and academic trajectories, and reflects on the problems of community dynamics and religious perennialism that his father’s community faced. Evan then outlines his critique of what he calls ‘Buddhist Exceptionalism’, as laid out in his book ‘Why I Am Not A Buddhist’. As part of this critique, Evan addresses subjects such as why Buddhism is not a science of the mind (or of anything else), why presentations of the historical Buddha used by figures such as Goenka are a useful fiction, the problems of borrowing the authority of science for the purposes of Buddhist evangelism, and the surprising influence of Protestantism on Buddhism’s development in Asia. Evan also reflects on the future of Buddhism and explores the question, ‘what is enlightenment?’. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/158-why-i-am-not-a-buddhist-evan-thompson  Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - Evan’s upbringing in his father’s intentional community 06:38 - Exposure to Zen via Richard Baker Roshi 09:34 - Zen takeover of the Lindisfarne Association 11:13 - Childhood encounters with Buddhist, Sufi, Yoga, and Christian teachers 14:29 - Evan’s distaste for Chogyam Trungpa’s scene 16:48 - Fractious community dynamics and the Zen takeover 21:19 - Problems of perennialism 25:03 - An ecology of mysticism 26:32 - Religious superiority 28:18 - Evan’s intellectual development and academic trajectory 35:36 - Buddhist exceptionalism and the Mind & Life Institute 41:20 - What is Buddhist modernism 44:065 - Evan’s misgivings about Buddhist exceptionalism 47:37 - Evan summarises his critique 49:21 - Reactions from colleagues 54:44 - Why do elite academics engage in Buddhist apologetics? 56:58 - Goenka’s useful fiction of the historical Buddha 01:01:09 - B Alan Wallace and religious vs academic register 01:04:19 - Exceptionalism as evangelism and exhortation 01:05:20 - The core philosophical engine of Buddhism 01:07:41 - Buddhism is not scientific 01:10:56 - Personal experience and ‘test and see’ 01:15:59 - Is Buddhist philosophy uniquely rich? 01:21:12 - What is enlightenment? 01:25:00 - Awakening as a regulative ideal 01:27:20 - What counts as the experience of awakening? 01:32:28 - Protestant Christianity’s surprising influence on Buddhism in Asia 01:40:23 - What would convert Evan to Buddhism 01:42:22 - Exceptionalism harms Buddhism and science … To find out more about Evan Thompson, visit: - https://evanthompson.me/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep157: Mountain Yogini - Tseyang Osel Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

Tseyang Osel is a Buddhist yogini who has spent most of her twenties in solitary retreat in remote mountain areas. Recorded in Tang Valley, Bhutan. Tseyang tells the story of her childhood, the beginning of the inspiration to become a yogini, and her attraction to solitary retreat. Tseyang details the practicalities as well as the dangers of spending months in the remote mountains, and the unique challenges of being a female practitioner in today’s world. Tseyang also discusses her love of Vajrayogini practice, the effect of kye-rim naljor on the subtle body channels, themes of devotion and attachment, and gives her heart advice to those who wish to practice well. …   Video version:  Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Tseyang’s childhood and upbringing 04:25 - The desire to become a mountain practitioner 06:35 - Searching for female inspirations 12:07 - Solitary retreats and attraction to remote mountain areas 16:05 - Special qualities of mountain retreats 20:25 - Food and provisions on remote retreats 23:28 - Challenges and dangers in the mountains 29:07 - Five elements practice as sustenance 30:43 - Nomad encounters 32:30 - Vajrayogini practice 36:51 -Generation stage and the subtle body 39:33 - Tendrel and devotion 41:34 - Skill in practice 42:37 - Being a female practitioner 44:40 - Long hair and attachment 51:59 - Wearing religious robes 53:51 - Advice to male and female practitioners 59:51 - Tseyang’s upcoming mountain retreat 01:01:20 - What inspires Tseyang’s practice … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Steve James Interviewed On Sensual Sessions Podcast Jul 03, 2022

Show notes

Candia Raquel recently interviewed me for her ‘Sensual Sessions’ Podcast. Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/steve-james-interviewed-on-the-sensual-sessions-podcast 00:00 - What does Steve do? 02:00 - Does Steve have magical powers? 03:36 - Is Steve enlightened? 06:14 - Why is Steve interested in mysticism and relationship? 08:45 - Are Steve’s interests useful in daily life? 10:17 Applying sublime and subtle practices in daily life 14:31 - Falling in love with the mundane 17:22 - Feeling pleasure in meditation 22:37 - Do men struggle to describe feeling? 26:40 - 3 blocks to feeling pleasure 31:20 - Relaxations vs excitation 36:05 - Pleasure in martial arts and competition 39:11 - The ritual of preparation 42:53 - Winning 45:17 - Candia on ritual and the unexpected 47:08 - Biggest challenges for men in feeling pleasure 48:55 - Do men have unique stresses? 50:36 - Stoicism and emotions 54:47 - Candia on macho culture 58:42 - Repression vs narcissism 59:52 - How Steve works with people who want to feel more pleasure 01:04:52 - Mapping pleasure and going beyond method 01:07:39 - Movement as a portal 01:12:36 - Steve describes his present experience 01:13:20 - Steve online Candia Raquel: https://www.centrodepoder.com/ Other times I have been interviewed: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/category/Steve+Interviewed #guruviking #stevejames #candiaraquel

Ep156: Key To Enlightenment - Delson Armstrong 3 Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I am once again joined by Delson Armstrong, spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ‘A Mind Without Craving’. Delson draws on his scriptural knowledge and personal experience to take a deep dive into dependent origination, the doctrine believed by many Buddhists to be the key to enlightenment. In practical and relatable terms, Delson explains how this doctrine works, why it is important yet so often misunderstood, and how to use meditation to move from an intellectual understanding to the experiential understanding that is Buddhist enlightenment. Delson also compares the enlightened to the unenlightened experiences of time, memory, and decision making process, and gives a surprising answer to the question: can enlightened people make mistakes? …   Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-key-to-enlightenment-delson-armstrong-3  Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - How to obtain an experiential understanding 05:56 - Essence of Dependent Origination 07:37 - How choices create reality 11:09 - Delson explains the 12 links 21:38 - Common mistakes in understanding the 12 links 24:25 - 6R’s as a craving intervention 30:09 - Consequences of disrupting the 12 links via meditation 36:30 - Does the wisdom mind generate karma? 39:01 - Exhaustion of past life karma 41:09 - Enlightened vs unenlightened experience of life 45:14 - Enlightened vs unenlightened experience of time, memory, and future planning 48:38 - Enlightened vs unenlightened decision making processes 55:22 - Why do enlightened people make mistakes? 01:00:03 - Lifting the veil that filters reality 01:06:36 - Trauma how to recondition the mind 01:15:01 - Letting go of craving is wholesome 01:17:21 - Is cultivation of wholesome states necessary? 01:20:39 - How purification works 01:23:42 - Healing trauma and MDMA-assisted therapy 01:27:39 - Simply observing suffering is not enough 01:31:24 - Riding the 12 links to stream entry and beyond 01:41:46 - Practical advice for the practitioner ... Previous episodes with Delson Armstrong: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep120-meditation-virtuoso-delson-armstrong/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep127-siddha-tales-delson-armstrong-2/ - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep136-meeting-of-the-dharmas-daniel-ingram-delson-armstrong To find out more about Delson Armstrong, visit: - https://www.suttavada.foundation/our-teachers/ - https://www.dhammasukha.org/  For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep155: Hardcore Zen - Brad Warner Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I am joined by Brad Warner, Zen teacher and best-selling author of ‘Hardcore Zen’ and ‘The Other Side of Nothing’. Brad recounts his unusual childhood, his passion for Punk rock ethics, and reveals what thwarted his teenage desire to become a born again Christian. Brad describes his first encounter with Zen, shares the secret of his decades of daily practice, and explains why he is at odds with the culture and institutions of mainline American Zen. Brad also discusses his awakening experience, the significance of dharma transmission, his new book on ethics, and what Dogen’s mysterious metaphors have in common with the TV show ‘Ancient Aliens’. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.  … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Brad’s writing process 01:54 - ‘I’m not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens’ 03:25 - Brad’s unusual upbringing 06:22 - Finding Zen and moving to Japan 09:38 - Punk rock ethics 11:38 - Trying to become a Christian 14:39 - Practice vs belief 18:09 - At odds with institutional Zen 20:57 - Brad’s Zen vs American Zen 25:08 - American Buddhist politics 26:25 - The secret of Brad’s daily meditation practice 36:01 - Meditation consequences permanent or temporary? 39:11 - The danger of stopping practice after awakening 40:56 - Nishijima Roshi cutting Brad down 46:36 - Brad’s awakening experience 49:37 - Receiving Dharma transmission 54:01 - Links to SFZC 55:09 - Dharma transmission wars and institutional power 01:02:06 - Secret lineage of transmission 01:05:06 - Will Brad give dharma transmission? 01:09:35 - What if Nishijima Roshi had moved to the USA? 01:13:41 - Does Brad have a teacher now? 01:17:15 - Brad’s new book about ethics and non-duality 01:25:13 - Dogen’s elusive metaphors 01:30:44 - Brad on race and being a foreigner … To find out more about Brad Warner, visit: - http://hardcorezen.info/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/HardcoreZen For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Steve James On The Man Reimagined Podcast Jun 19, 2022

Show notes

Richard Ayling recently interviewed me on his 'Man Reimagined' Podcast. Topics include: 00:00 - Rich on Steve and interesting topics 03:07 - Steve’s background 08:46 - What is average? 11:06 - Growing up on the Shetland Islands 13:41 - Discipline and delayed gratification 22:54 - Guru Viking Meditation Club 34:10 - Strong determination sitting 36:51 - Dedication from enjoyment 43:07 - ‘Masculine and feminine’ 01:00:36 - Fundamentalism trap 01:03:08 - Rich’s doubts about men’s work 01:07:30 - Rich’s professional trajectory 01:18:36 - Methods are limited + Steve on men’s work 01:29:03 - Enquiry over imposition 01:34:23 - Movement Koan Method 01:42:43 - Meditation vs movement practices 01:44:40 - About relationship 01:49:27 - On conversation 01:51:42 - Steve’s future Richard Ayling: https://www.re-align.co/ Other times I have been interviewed: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/category/Steve+Interviewed

Ep154: Faith And Science - Dr Jonathan Lunine, Shinzen Young, & Chelsey Fasano Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Special guest Dr Jonathan Lunine, distinguished American planetary scientist and physicist, joins the ongoing discussion with: - Shinzen Young, meditation teacher and neuroscience research consultant - Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience student Dr Lunine is the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences and Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University. Dr Lunine has published over 380 research papers and is at the forefront of research into planet formation, evolution, and habitability. Dr Lunine’s work includes the Cassini mission to Saturn, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Juno Mission to Jupiter. Dr Lunine is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has participated in and chaired advisory and strategic planning committees for the Academy and for NASA. In this episode, the group question the compatibility of faith and science, explore the writings of St Thomas Aquinas and the radical theology of T.S Eliot, and consider the controversial theories of Sir Roger Penrose. Dr Lunine also discusses his research into life on other planets, reveals the possibility of cyanide-based life, and speculates about the role of God in the universe of the Big Bang. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep145-faith-and-science-jonathan-lunine-shinzen-young-chesley-fasano Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - Faith and Reason 04:42 - How big is life? 07:57 - Physics & God 08:57 - Buddhist exceptionalism 09:33 - Are science and faith compatible? 13:59 - The Society of Catholic Scientists 15:17 - Georges Lemaître and the Big Bang 16:03 - Dr Lunine’s search for life on other planets and moons 17:36 - Titan’s methane seas and hydrogen bonding mechanisms 20:03 - Cyanide-based life and information molecules 28:52 - Future missions to Titan 30:57 - Definition of a habitable zone 33:20 - Detecting water on extra-solar planets 37:04 - How big is life and where is information stored? 43:55 - Is life on Earth the ultimate pinnacle of self-organisation? 45:42 - Meta-life and Sir Roger Penrose 48:04 - The radical theology of T.S Eliot 50:24 - Aquinas on diversity as an expression of order 52:14 - Time and timelessness 55:44 - God as the Infinite and eternal foundation of all reality 56:46 - Chaos and Dr Sanguinetti … Previous episodes in this series: - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknxjhwG5wmXRVfrkeGczVPVI … To find out more about Dr Lunine, visit: - https://astro.cornell.edu/jonathan-lunine To find out more about Shinzen, visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep37-shinzen-young-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ - www.shinzen.org To find out more about Chelsey, visit: - www.chelseyfasano.com For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep153: Kundalini & The Occult - Mary Shutan Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I am joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Mary shares her journey from a traumatic early childhood to adoption into an upper-middle class family, and how spiritual overwhelm in her teenage years, and a subsequent kundalini awakening, drove her to in-depth study of spiritual themes. Mary details her own kundalini experience, including challenging side effects, kundalini traps, and the role of sacrifice on the spiritual path. Mary also discusses her love of reading and magical realism, recounts her time as a ritual magician working with the dark feminine, advises on encounters with entities and extra-terrestrials, and describes the different types of spiritual protection employed by institutions and public figures. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/153-mary-shutan-kundalini-and-the-occult Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.  … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Prolific publications 01:41 - Mary’s writing process 02:35 - Upper-middle class upbringing as an adoptee 04:56 - Early childhood trauma 08:28 - Spiritual overwhelm during teenage years 13:03 - Magical realism and Mary’s writing influences 17:29 - Spiritual truths in fiction 18:41 - Pan’s Garden, elementals, and Clive Barker 20:34 - Magic in art 22:37 - Mary’s kundalini awakening 26:04 - What is kundalini? 28:04 - Challenging side-effects of Mary’s kundalini awakening 32:35 - Active vs passive surrender 34:49 - Common misconceptions about kundalini 37:59 - What triggers kundalini awakening? 40:58 - Spontaneous kundalini awakenings 42:46 - Direct methods to awaken kundalini 45:40 - Kundalini traps 48:07 - Sacrifice on the spiritual path 49:48 - Losing martyrdom and other identity markers 52:31 - Years in ritual magic and occultism 55:31 - Misogyny in Western Occultism and the dark feminine 59:01 - How to know if an occult ritual has worked 01:01:29 - Are occultists hired by governments and celebrities? 01:07:12 - Different types of spiritual protection employed by institutions and public figures 01:09:09 - Mary’s near death experience 01:12:23 - Working with non-corporeal teachers and other entities 01:14:39 - Voluntary possession practices 01:18:06 - Encounters with extra-terrestrials 01:20:25 - Adi Da’s ‘Knee of Listening’ 01:22:38 - Working with Mary … To find out more about Mary Shutan, visit: - http://maryshutan.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep152: Voice of Bhutan - Ashi Kunzang Choden Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I travel to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where I visit world renowned Bhutanese author Ashi Kunzang Choden at her family seat of Ogyen Choling in the Tang Valley, Bumthang. Ashi gives a tour of her home, which her family have occupied for hundreds of years, including a rare look into a remarkable multi-story temple with rich religious frescos, sacred artefacts, and entire floors dedicated to Tara and Guru Rinpoche. Ashi also recounts her remarkable life that embodies so much of Bhutan’s recent history. Ashi was born into a family of feudal lords, witnessed the reformations of the 1950s, was educated in Catholic convents in India, and worked for the United Nations, before returning to her family home which she now runs as a cultural centre and guest house. Ashi also recalls the spiritual advice given to her by Dudjom Rinpoche, reveals why her exposure to Christianity opened her up to the heart of Buddhism, and discusses the impact of feminist thought on her perspective of Bhutanese culture and her place in it. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/152-voice-of-bhutan-ashi-kunzang-choden Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.  … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - About Ogyen Choling 04:53 - Entering the temple 06:15 - The main temple featuring Buddha Shakyamuni, Dorje Lingpa, & Longchenpa 08:55 - Bardo Thodol fresco 09:28 - Sacred relics 12:49 - Frescoes of Guru Rinpoche and Kalachakra Shambala 16:53 - The Tara temple with unique family statues 18:36 - Frescos of the 84 Mahasiddhas, Avalokiteshvara, & the Buddha 20:44 - History of Ashi’s family temple 22:26 - Preservation of Dorje Lingpa’s texts 26:43 - Tour of the family museum 28:14 - About the local spirits 30:48 - Pre-reformation life of self-sufficiency 32:44 - Effects of global warming on crops 35:14 - Rice, grain, and alcohol practices 38:16 - History of Ashi’s family 42:44 - Ashi’s memories of Bhutan’s reformations 46:43 - Education at Catholic convents for 11 years 50:28 - Opening to Buddhism to through Christianity 53:41 - Meetings with great Lamas and the advice of Dudjom Rinpoche 01:00:03 - Ashi on feminism 01:06:28 - Ashi’s writing career 01:11:19 - Ashi’s closing remarks   … To find out more about Ashi Kunzang Choden, visit: - https://www.olingheritagehouse.com/about - https://www.riyangbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Ep151: Scottish Mystic - David McMurdo May 27, 2022

Show notes

David recounts his upbringing in Scotland, and how a lifetime of frustrated spiritual seeking was resolved in a profound spiritual experience that changed everything. David details the results of this transformative experience and discusses themes such as religiosity, the zeal of the convert, falling into the spirit of God, advice for prayer and meditation, and the mystic’s view of identity. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/151-scottish-mystic-david-mcmurdo Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - David’s upbringing in Scotland 03:50 - David’s love of the Scottish town of Thurso 05:56 - Frustrating spiritual seeking 07:57 - A life-changing spiritual experience 10:56 - Piercing the roof of the intellect 12:32 - Jesus Christ 15:43 - The Mystery 18:01 - Changes in David after the experience 20:06 - Gnosis and experiential spirituality 21:55 - Zeal of the convert 26:50 - Disagreement with the doctrine of the trinity 30:52 - Zealots aren’t fun 31:48 - Leaving the tribe 34:12 - Falling into the spirit of God 36:43 - The ultimate truth 40:04 - Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul 42:13 - What is God? 47:04 - Heaven, hell, and the afterlife 49:57 - Experiential vs intellectual knowledge 54:35 - Advice for spiritual practice 59:56 - Prayer and meditation 01:02:39 - How to meditate 01:04:51 - What is love? 01:09:26 - Pacifism and conflict 01:14:35 - Repentance and purification 01:17:57 - The mystic’s view of identity 01:23:25 - David’s YouTube channel … To find out more about David McMurdo, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidMcMurdo For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

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